THE GENERAL ELECTION

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13161, 7 July 1908, Page 12

THE GENERAL ELECTION

' MR MASLLN AT ASHBURTON

Mr W. Maslin. of Geraleline>, one of tho candidates who have definitely decided to contest the Ashburton seat in the. Opposition interest at the next election, gave a political address in the local Oddfellows' Hall last evening. The Mayor (Mr H. Davis; presided, and, iv spit© of a bitterly cold, wet night, there Mas a fairly goeid attendance.

Mr Maslin, who was well received and patiently listeued to, spi.ko niuch on the lines oi tin. »{>«i_ii m- ivce-nt.y deliyered at Geraidine. He said it might appear strange that he should be speaking before mere was actually a vacancy, and while Hie .House wa.s still but having addr.-.ed a -meeting at Geraidine, he thought it was only fair that he should adore-, s a meeting at Ashburu.n, _.«.-■ ing tuat it was the head centre of the cle.-tonne. He wished also to disi>el any illusion a certain gentleman rmgut ha\<- in thinking that he practically in-ld £. pocKt-t seat. Besides, there m;is pjeiuy of fresh matter to speak on. lie then went on to warmly dt.i.'iid the actietn of Mr Massey an-l .he rust ot tiie -.'])- position members, and contended Unit Jar more good v. .:_> none g. ;..-ia_.y .\* -the Opposition than they were given Credit lor. They were ny ii-» im-aiis a party opposed t<> pro;..-.; .-s. Mr.»l-is-sev M-as a practical l.ii'ini-r, -ii'l <""• who had the true ineere.sts of th" p- "- plo generally al bean., lie wr-. a. iruc Liberal, and so Mas he ,:lie .- H 'iiker>. Here in New Zealand there were no Snch lines of political eli_:i;...: ..'.iti-ni :'-* to stamp one party as Conservatives and the other us Liberals, indeed, a number of the mos. liberal measures wero largely due to the action of the Opposition members. Referring to his'action when he Mas in Parliament some years ago, .vie Maslin said he had been opp _ _.• v to and had voted against __0 ae-ivs oi liistclass Qovernnient land being leased or sold to one pors-iu, and wan of opinion that'2oo acres Mas sufficient, lie had also been opposed to the M\) years' teiiturc without a revaluation. He _ri.iciscd _Xlr McXab's action over the land question, and stud that be (Air Mc.\al>; was not much in advance oi M'hai Air ■Kollcston and others advocated many years ago. He .Mr Aiaslin; was in favour of both a freehold and a leasehold tenure M'ith certain conditions, and hold that th_ general in teres ts oi tho Citato ihouid be saieguaieleci ami considered as well as tuoso of the OM'ner or tenant. Speaking on the graduated tax question, Air Maslin contended that the town or capitalist should pay in e.ual proportion to tho owners of land, but thoy liad no right to make that tax a penal one anei tax a man out of what ho had legally acquired. Ho had no sympathy with laud monopoly, but he was opposed to any form of penal taxation. The present Government was a capitalistic Government ; for thoy tlid not tax tho man with money capital the same as they taxed tho man Mho held land. The incidence of taxation wanted readjusting, so that one particular form of wealth should pay in equal proportion to any other lorm. !

Mr Maslin delivered a scathing criticism of the way in which the State farms were being managed, and said that a searching enquiry should be made by practical men, not by politicians. He aehnitfc-d that the Agricultural Department was doing some good wort, but this was being done by experts, in Wellington, not on the State farm- themselves. ,

Speaking of the Conciliation and "Arbitration Acts, Mr Maslin contended that thoy had outlived their usefulness and should be abolished and wages boards substituted. He was opposea to tho State giving subsidies to Sunday schools, and was also opposed to the proposed alterations in the a__miui_tration of hospital and charitable aid. He did not think the present system could bo much improved ilpon. Tho present proposals would largely increase the expenditure, and consequently would mean extra taxation.

•Mr-Maslin concluded by saying that he .voald give several other.addresses in Ashburton, and alter stating that a largo portion of the Lagrahor estate should have been acquired for closer settlement in sections of from five to ten acres each, he resumed his seat amidst warm aplause. He then replied to a Dumber of questions, and was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.

(riOSS ASSOCIATIOI. tslkskax). AUCKLAND, July 6. Mr J. W. Shackelford, of Mount Albert, and formerly Mayor of Grey Lynn, will contest tho Eden seat against Mr J. Bollard, in the Govern-ment-interest, at the general election.

The Lawrence correspondent of tho Dunedin "Star" stales that Mr J. T. Johnston, of Waipori, has definitely decided to contest tho Taieri seat at the general election. For a numl>or of years Mr Johnston has followed mining . piijsuits, andi has held the i>o_it_on of mine manager of tho Bakery Flat ' Sluicing Company's claim (Waipori) since the formation of that company. In politics he has always been ielentified with tho Liberal party, holding very decided viows of a progressive character.