THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 226, 17 June 1908, Page 8

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

WELLINGTON SUBURBS SEAT. MR. F. T. MOORE AT JOHNSONVILLE. About fifty electors attended Mr. F. T. Moore's political address last' night at Jolinsonvillo in support of his candidature for tho Suburbs seat. , Mr. A. J. May was chairman. Tho address was remarkablo for tho candidate's denunciation of somo of the Government's administrative methods. Tho Chairman said that Mr. Mooro had lived practically all his life in Johnsonville and its neighbourhood, and this was an advantage, because they knew his qualities. He beliovcd this was the -first occasion on which a Johnsonville resident had sought political honours.

Mr. Moore said he had come forward because ho felt that at this ueriod in tho country's history men with long and thorough business knowledge and of business capacity were required as administrators— men also who were true democrats. He claimed that he was a thorough business man, and went on to quote his private connection. with the prominent meat freezing firms, stating that he had tho best testimonials as to his ability and administrative initiative. Hie late Mr. Seddon had also ill letters testified to his ability and his knowledge of matters relating to the stapio industries of tho Dominion. Having had this business experienco, he felt he need have no hesitation in offering himself to the electors. Further, during the past six years lie had been chairman of tho Jobusonvillo Town Board, three years a member of tho Hutt and Makara County Councils, and a member of the Wellington Hospital Board. He related reforms iii tho above periods, for tho achievement of which he took credit. The speaker proceeded that he would > divide his political policy into eight headings," tho first five of which were "destructive" planks and tho remaining three " constructive." They were as • follow: —(1) Better administration; (2) to stop greedy land'owners and land speculators from mailing fictitious values and burdening posterity with excessive rents, rates, and ' taxes; (3) to stop-greedy combinations of traders and merchants from extracting excossivo prices for the necessaries of life; (4) to stop greedy manufacturersfrom injuring public health by vending impure and adulterated goods; (5) to stop greedy capitalists from exploiting industry and enriching themselves at the exponse of tho workers; (6) to return democratic members to Parliament; (7) Parliament to establish a State currency and medium of exchango, dispensing with the present system; (8) tho State to purchase tho primary means of production and distribution in order to secure tho benefits and profits derivable from such sources of wealth in tho interests of tho people of Now Zealand collectively. Dealing separately with his "planks" ho proceeded first to criticise the administration of the Government. In regard to land purchase transactions by tho Govoniment, the candidate said land had been offered to tho Government and refused;' then syndicates had purchased it, offered it again to the Government at four or five times the original price, and the Government had purchased it. It was for tho people to riso up and stop this sort of thing. Ho also attacked tho Nativo laud administration and the Prime Minister. Ho blamed tho incompetence and hesitation of the Government for the fact that the Manawatu Railway had not boon taken over earlier. Tho result, wao that tho country would have to pay £2000 more. Tho Mudgway and Nai Nai transactions next came in for criticism. Ho read The Dominion's remarks on the latter.- Ho also alluded to tho transactions' in connccifon with the recreation ground at Upper Hutt.

The speaker noxt dealt at length with other planks in his platform, and used strong language 011 the methods of trusts and combinations. The nationalisation of industries with boards of control, elccted by the people, was tho only remedy for tho labour trouble. He advocated the establishment by Parliament of a State currency and of a State Bank, and the nationalisation of tho lands of the Dominion, and enlarged upon tho advantages .of tho. State purchasing the primary means of production. Ho favoured an increase of the graduated land and incomo tax, an increase in the scale of death duties, reform of criminals by profitable occupation, a universal old age pension (without forfeiture for past oltencos), and on the temperance question 110 said his .leanings towards temperance wero well known. The less thay had of alcohol tho better, but ho was not a nominee of the prohibition party. Ho would also support adult sufl'rago for all elections, the maintenance of tho present educational system, the universal weekly half holiday (including tho Government service).In conclusion, Mr. Moore detailed various local wants, which lie would endeavour to have supplied. Ho was standing as a Democrat, and would go to tho poll against allcomers. The speaker received the usual compliment.