THE RANGITIKEI SEAT

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 611, 14 September 1909, Page 6

THE RANGITIKEI SEAT

- NOTES ON THE CAMPAIGN. ' MR. HOCKLY AT TURANGAREnE. IMPORTANCE OP THE LAND PROBLEM. (By Telegraph—Special Beporter.) Wanganui, September 13. Before a largo audienco Mr. Hockly, the. Reform, party's candidate, delivered" an address at Turangarere on Saturday evening. . Mr. D. Campbell, who was voted to the chair, mentioned that the candidate had a big stake in tho electorate, and that it was well known j that he was fully acquainted with its require-1 ments. > •- |

' Hockly claimed that the experience wilich he,had gained.over a number of years in local politics, together with tho close attention, which ho had paid to national questions, made him the most fitted'of all tho candidates to represent the constituency.' There could bo no doubt but that tho country was now only awaiting an opportunity to pive Mr. ; Massey a mandate to tako up tho reins of government and .bring forward tlm splendid reforms advocated by him. (Applause;) It would give him great pleasure to bo allowed to lend Mr. Massey; his 'assistance'in the .House/but he might say-.that (if-elected) he would go to Parliament with a free hand.' He had no gjeater quarrel with the Ward Administration than the fact that they were a Socialistic Government. Some of tho measures introduced by the ..Government -were founded on principles which he approved, but there could' be no doubt that tho whole tendency of the Governments administration had been disastrous to the-best.interests of the country. .. . The Land Question. . Ho considered that' tho;most/important work in front of New Zealand was to initiate a successful land policy, which would mean more to the; Dominion than anything else.- VTliilst advocating; that the-Crown tenants should be •allowed the option.of the freehold, ho did not favour doing away with the leasehold isystem. Holdere of land on l.i.p. and occupiers of land lor lands should be allowed tho freehold, jf .they so desired, on. torms to be ascertained by actuarial valuation, but in all tho value of the Igase must'bo preserved to tho tenant. . (Applause.) Any movement against-the aggregation of estates would always have his heartiest, support. The terms upon which, the . Government now gave 1.i.p.. tenants .the right .to convert, viz.,-on payment of pre-sent-day - valuation, less were very inequitable. The continued looking up of tho Native lands had-been a distinct hindrance thV progress of/the ; country. (Hear,' hear.) There were proposals now in the air with regard to; them/but,. judging by the .experience of tho past, they ran no risk of being pushed ahead; The only hope of that and other probloms being tackled would be the advent, into powerof the Reform party. (Applause.) Per-' bonnlly, ho would like to see the Natives seriously take-up farming, for he thought that it : was, only , in that way' that they would regain their lost prestige. There should, he thought, be one law .for' European 'and Native like. '

: Education and Defence. ,/ .In regard to' education, the candidate declared that /if .more money, were needed he would not object provided that the Government got fall value in return. In this, connection, he might mention that the mouthpiece of tho Government 1 in Wellington had charged him with,wishing, to increase the-cost of education iu New Zealand. What: he held was that he ;did not wish, to see every boy and girl go right through: from the'primary schpol to the übiversity/but what ho did,wish to.see was that r no deserving boy or girl should be! prevented from developing their power owing to the lack 'of facilities. ; (Loud: applause.)' Speaking with respect to defence, Mr. 'Hockly said that the oversea Dominions could bo of little assistance ,to the Motherland unless they were in a state of preparedness. . It would; bo 1 time enough to consider the defence conference proposals -when, the details of the scheme came to hand,: when' Neiv Zealand would, he knew, make any sacrifice that tho situation demanded. (Applause.) 1 D.e'spito.ihe jlargoamount that had, been'-W pended . ;by 4 the New Zealand Government tho" Dominion was in no better position to-day. to repel attack", than (it . was'ten years ago. Nor had the Government,given' the volunteers and ( nfle clubs ' the encouragement which they de-' -served. .It -was his'opinion that any : system which madd arbitration compulsory must fail, and,: that Government. workers should ■ work under the same conditions as were fixed in awards* T! jen, again, a non-political' board should be established to control the ,- public : service.•• ■ ■ Reply-to Misrepresentations. : : .Some, foolish, 'criticism had. 'been levelled at nim by' the 'journal .to) which he Had' already referred in regard to his' attitude on fiscal | matters. . .He' emphasised, the. fact that-he did notxfavour .the making, of the British/'Empire into a.;close r corporation.. Still, .he would like i;to see the peoplo, of Great Britain eating New Zealand, meat in: preference l to Argentine meat, aud consuming.New. Zealand butter, .instead of Danish butter, and he.-would 'also-like to see' .givei preference' to .-goods' manufactured by the; people' of: Great Britain, many; of. whom, were at > present unemployed, Md -thus unablp . to. purchaso .produce sent Homo from, tho Dominion. (Loud applause.) -•Ojnets JgaW.ihaa circulated a.rumour to the .effects that-his sympathies really lav with the wealthy. Ho claimed that nono : of the other candidates had a- more, practical and a more honest ; T sympathy with the - workers than he haa.,. .:It :had; ! also .been stated - that-he was' .in .favour of _ opening the doorp v of New Zealand ;to cheap lpbmir. .\He.' gave that assertion; an .eraphafcio. denial. No one. who knew him would, •he said, .say-such, a thing- about" him. (Hoar, 'Hear.)) Ahpther. allegation that he. was in fav- . our ,of . doing - away with the ; poll. tax • was equally untrue. As a. matter: of : factj he believetU New s&ealand could; do perfectly well without the . • In : conclusion, - Mr. Hockly. saidthat. .briefly to olatform was' eood,' strong, honest government?' (Loud appiause.) Having .. replied ;to . a few . questions which were' put / by s> Hr.j Mulvay, ,; tho candidate' was,. oh the : motion of Mr, ; Gardiner,accorded a hearty vote rof thahks;v. 'Xt was at first 'proposed by' Mr.: Gardiner, that' the vote: should also be one. of confidence, • but Hockly said he would: prefer that the electors would show their confidence in him on Thursday next.

WHAT IS MR. SMITH'S POSITION? HE SAYS THE GOVERNMENT DID APPROACH HIM.' . During the 'course of ; his.:meeting at Pordell to-night, Mr;. an interesting statement nith reference to his. position : as a . candidate at this and the previous election. After what:ho.had to say that night-there could not,lio thought bo any farther misconception on the point. -Only, that day ho had been handed: aboard, - wluch ; . was 'being . circu'luted, ,ahd was worded as •: "With Mr. Meldruin's compliments. . ■ Kangitikei by-election. . Mr. W. Meldrnm,' . iGovefnment .candidate,, will address • the. -Jelectors'iat ,'^—.-Hall on- — Jday,. atfp.m. Ladies' cordially: invited." : V' '.. •! ';M "-■would.. be. .swnV- ho continued; that the ;card. was .capable of being misconstrued, as : there-was-nothing on : it to. indicate the true-in-tention ."of, tile -Government, namely, to 1 leave ;the matter-of.''selection of the,candidate: to re- ; Present ■ the, -in - the ..hands of - the >electors, , xieople might ;, bo misled into, believing ( that -Mr. -Meldrum was not'/only. a 'Government candidate, . but' the accepted ' Government candidal,l. . That wu« one of his Teason3-for again jtonching. on. the, subject,'for it gave hini . an matters in their true light. 31v.> Smith, proceeded; to say: . , :. i ;;'Lust_electiou imy only reason for. standing as; an Independent- Liberal'was because of tho fact that :I" was .iu sympathyivitli'- the Liberal .(jovernmfent, excepting in,.regard to tho question 1 of land, tenure.: My. ou. tliat occa'sion ;clearly defined-in tho speeches .which . I delivered 'during tlio/campaign.' It will bo found,-'for'instrtnee, in the report of my speech at vraihape on, Nov'embCT 10, 1908, as follows defined - ; his:-position as a true Liberal, :though, np'tVslavish'followbr : of the. Ministry. His Sympathies wero ivith: tho Government, but ■the question ;of 'land ' tenure necessitated his holding a freo hand.'.,,l:quite.recognise," Mr. Smith, proceeded, "that I got a number of Opposition votes last year, and-,1 expect to get ii'good-sharo of, them this time. . It is totally untrue.', that','(asW in some quarters) I led somo Oppositionists• to believe ithat,my lo'aningS;W6re towards the Opposition, and not towards the Government.' As a.matter of fact, ■ a nuiuber of Oppositionists did not vote at. tho last: elcctioii> si'mply.' because Mi;. Remington :was"a;Liberal-'i;arididate. ( hnd the accepted Gov'errimenticandidate, 'whilst 'I .was' opposing, him us.-, tin, Independent '. Liberal, ;, and . tliero was, therefore,'.no Opposition candidate for' them to support.,"'/Lrat.j'car 1 (the Oppositionists recog.rased that-tlioy hiul no,chance of winning, the seat ' with an/Opposition cahdidato ( and .as my - views, were'.hearer.; to theirs than:, those of the silting member, i' take .it that that was why tliiy! supported imo.' 'As : regards; this occasion. :.the facts aro that .when 1 the vacancy occurred theiGovernmonfc; 'approached me with a view to contesting ■ tho" seat : in their interest, but out J of- respect :for: the memory of Mr. Kemington I I dalayed^gotng- to ;'di6MBS tho mattce «iU»'

l 9 - Ministers j for some time. . AVhen T ?il t I was. , informed that in the. interim twu other siiitablo Liboral candidates had 'approached the Government, nnu expressed their determination of going to the poll. In, any event, tho Government explained to mo-tliat under tho circumstances it would ho inadvisablo on their part to make any selection, but would prefer to leavo. the selection to tho electors. Under the! circumstances 1 concurred with their now, hut only on tho. distinct understanding' that I was accepted as a Government candidate, despite my sworn pledges on : tho land tenure : question, rarii'sorry to fiiid that some of the supporters of another candidate appear to bo conveying the ' that as a matter of-fact their candidate is preferable in the eyes of tho Government, for that assertion is quite incorrect. It has also been rumoured that on the occasion of the last election I approached th 6 Opposition yrith a view to; becoming a candidato in their interest. To that assertion I wish also to give an emphatic denial. Being to prccuro a copy of one of the Acts which I wanted to discuss from'the platform, I mentioned the fact incidentally to. a gentleman who was standing in : the-Opposition interest for an adjoining seat. That gentleman ! 6 ?i j '• Martin, the Opposition organiser, would send you .a copy if yon wired him/ I said: But - would it be • right ?* He replied, \ Of course it would/ I then sent to Mr. Mar- 1 tin, who forwarded mo a copy of the Act. ,1 may also mention that I was assisted in the same way,, even, by Mr. Remington's;secretary. As. I have said before, I have always favoured the policy - of. the Government, with; the 'escen- * ? i?. their attitude on the. land question, and the Government would be as pleased candidates 6 ? s . an y"°. f th ® other. Liberal

MR, HUTCHISON'S, WITHDRAWAL.

APPRECIATIVE TELEGRAM FROM MR. HOCKLY. Uponl his arrival at Turangarere. on Saturafter his back-country .trip, Mr. Hocklv received word. from Mr. Hutchison, the other Reform party; candidate, that .he. had withdrawn in lus favour. Mr. Hockly immediately telegraphed to Mr. Hutchison as unser:— ' ' Your wire reached me here. ' Wish to ex.' • press my appreciation of your publicspirit and loyalty to party—always a conspicuous ioatUre ot .your " Parliamentary career, buck spirit all too.rare in public meii.to: day. Irust-thd' country will sooii (have an ' opportunity of -availing itself of your invaluable services; My prospects of success excellent.—(Sighed) IV.P. Hockly.

EXCESSIVE VALUATIONS.' -Hero is an. extract from tliev speech of a (.TOveriiment candidate for the Kangitikei. seat, Jlr. Hornblow: :.."We. often wondered wlir the farmiug coinniiuiity were .-growing so antagonistic towards the. present Government, ■ and tnoy, in their-turn, also wondered why. To tUose of ns-residing in the country -thorn was no disguisuig Urn fact that tho valuations wero one -oi tho • principal factors working against SSkJSiV 'v ' 5?" '■'•Ivnot think wo were justihed in tacking the hlnmc 011 fo" tho Gov- ° 1-'' it bis dut.v- to 'niako' public tne incomprehensible valuation. made in the case of a .-.averloy farmer. Thfe man farmed • 1 ??' the ca P ilal value 'of this property, including improvements,'was .£l777i- ■ unimproved value, ,£1206, 'and' value, of im?s2rf°T c ? ts ', *? s ' l- Z o ' wc liu'l in 1908-!) his £ ""improved nfnui rf M l 6 value of liis improvemil' irqi Pr ■ , I v | l llc,l ),t, lja <l spent M per acre) oMy .£l3l. .1 hero .was something radically wrong about this, seeing. the producing power's •t tl • lr " s 110 mor <> than in 1907, but worse. -• He'felt convinced tho Gov-. not be a party to such whole-i but rather the fault rested with the Valuation Department. Tho figures were placed before him, and- all, lie could do. was to let tho Department solvo the problem."

MR, HOCKLY PLEASED WITH' HIS i. PROSPECTS.

Interviewed by a Dominion representative at Tnrangarere,. oh Saturday night,', Mr. Hocklv n^lioV 3 m Par candidate, expressed himself fJaH»nlTl - Pl il SO i' Wlth - th <> SUCCCSS Which m r dect , l °" ecrin B efforts; Ho had up till thntstjigo addressed sixteen meetings ■ V n T U f^ rtli of electorate. andinckd-out-of-the-way centres as -well as the nrin. cipal. towns : °n the railway lines. His meotincs had all been well, attended-in |fact, most of nnT n f°th^ Muted records at.the various places: tlnn P. lcasln ß features in. connec- '&• '■!?*>. meetings was the: large proporf'! of ladies, who were attending them; JIo had evor j where " received promises ofhe'aw support. In .■ the back : blocks particularly hJs views-.on the land question lfad been warmlv approved: ; As far al he- could gather he™as « n n S t° i-P "1 of support from 1 every secj?r Yj t. or®* IH° remarked that Mr Meldrum, whom he regarded as his princibai r . eheil .entirely on what the GovernwSw t -°i?a : i the other, hand; ho (Mr fihiri «r ' to point the people to the Iw added. ™. TOry P le °sed with my chances,"

M , R \?" , . TH AT FORDELL. \riS e^« W « a ,n a « g ° '°^ ndiulce in «>nnection •S, address fnven bv Mr T? vr o—,*j.u ppnei itiously! :-?Abffl^ o n'7 ond8: « mmmiPf? ■which had recentlj; ■ been m rich nearonra'r than New t!TnJk a enm fo pay by way of defence insurance, when it -was remembered that this • mm try was worth.at least>£soo,ooo,000 It vi rm , Mwf ,that more .money shonU bf e i '^ift^M^?^ 4T3r -- tha ? on i defence. rood t^nJ if hirfT gratl< ; n ' he , 6aid {t was a gooa tmn- it -hnd been stopped for manv nf. ™ nld never make the type of settler that was required. The .Arbitrationa C fair°H*Jni" T?5 dem I ncd Mtil it,had had nWrf ■» • He dl - d ; not think all men employed in the, same class, of work should -re.' ceive the: same,' wages. If emplorera would 1 onlj recognise merit always better work 'wouffl' be Obtained from:, the ' workers. (Apphuse ) Eoplying . toV, auctions, the ,'cSte said .he m ,a .favour .of a : uniform- svs. used °fnr°nnW'^ 00^6 ' and .against schools boing nrth. p Ptoses to the inconvenience of the children, when halls w°ro available A »5T vot ® : of thanks ;wa,, ; accoided . the

METHOD OF VOTING,

Contrary to -a statement contained- in yes&LT 6 '. it bean pointed outtous •™ .'. h6 lttw recognises only one method of Tho nlilftn, ; , a , ",. I arlilu " o ntary ' election. The elector must striko out the names of the fuS °?J he ' l d(>es not wish 'o gco reT !> 6 "I'ernative method-of; putting a cross opposite: the name of the favoured camlihL ? : on) y ;in municipal' elections, and,there is no provision for its recognition in .connection, with ,a Parliamentary pofi.