SUBURBS SEAT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1236, 19 September 1911, Page 7

SUBURBS SEAT.

MR. FITZGERALD AT KAIWARRrt. HIS POLITICAL VIEWS. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, who is a candidate for the Wellington . Suburbs and Country Districts scat, addressed the electors at the'Wesley Churchroom, Ivaiwarra, last night. The chair was taken by tho Mayor of Onslow (Mr. F. Holdsworth). , Mr. Fitzgerald at the outset thanked tho Mayor for presiding and tho electors for attending 011 such a. boisterous night to tho first address in what ho hoped would be a successful campaign. He was not discouraged or dismayed by his defeat at tho last election, and ho hoped that now when his opinions were more widely known and his judgment improved that he would bo ablo to turn that narrow defeat into a victory. He declared that his experienc-o on the City Council,' the Harbour Board, tho Technical Education Board, Hospital and Charitable Aid Board,- and many, other institutions must. weigh with, tho electors. He claimed not only expe-rienca but a clean and honourable Tecord, for he had always worked from the point of view of public good. Tho candidate then declared himself attached to the Government party, becauso he said Liberalism, as enunciated by tho lato John Ballance, had always stood for solid progress. Ho supported the Liberals against the Opposition, not becauso they were perfect, but because in his opinion they possessed the best material for improvement. But he reserved tho riff lit to opposo any measure introduced by tho party, if it was not m accordance with tho true Liberal policy. He was determined to oppose all attempts to increase the burden of taxation on tho working man. Though wages had increased in rccent years, tho purchasing power of money was not so great now as it was, and he considered it tho duty of the Government to do something to minimise tho great wrong that existed. I The Land Question. He considered it an iniquitous thing that land should only return the small proportion of the total-tax that it did, and lie wanted to see such a system of graduated land tax as would destroy land monopoly. As regards Native lands, he would support any measure that would tax them m tho same way as land owned by the whito man. Crown lands ho considered should be kept for public purposes solely, and as regards tho leasehold and freehold 110 was firmly of opinion that it did. not matter which system obtained so Ion" as they got the people on tlio land. Ho believed in- State-owned railways run upon business lines. The Main Trunk railway was the greatest triumph of the Liberal party, but he considered tho line from Picton . to Christchurcli should bo completed to break down the shipping monopoly and give a faster, cheaner service. Further, he considered tho Manawatu suburban service wanted.improving.. Socialism as preached by tho Socialists in the Dominion found no favour with tho candidate, but lio announced himself as a supporter of any real scheme of social reform,' and he referred to tho National Provident Fund as the finest- legislation over placed on tho .Statute Book of any country. The national debt he considered could be termed a national asset, because 3G millions of tho 42 millions borrowed by the Government had been expended in interest-bearing schemes. Other measures he was in favour of were Government steamers to carry State coal, extension of tho provisions of the Old Aee Pensions Act, aid to widows, Workers' Dwellings Act, medical insnection of school children, tramway to I\aiwarra. • Ho was opposed to Biblc-Teading in schools' and to the bare majority yoto on tho liquor question as that might mean a change every election. Ho criticised the' action of tho present member for the - Suburbs in regard to a measure, moved by Mr. Hogg, for the removal of taxation from the necessaries of life, and in regard to the Hutt Road Bill. Ho refused to. voto; in. favour of tho first measure unless the tax on imported farm implements was increased, while on tho second measure if lie had had his way the people of Onslow Borough would have had to pav double to the Hutt Eoad work of what they will actually pay. ne described Mr. Luke as a "cook of ono gravy" and challenged him to point to one speech ho had made without the iron industry being introduced. A member should represent the electors, not . tho Ironmasters' Association. - In conclusion, the candidate contended that his work on various public bodies entitled him to tho voto of tho working man. •

On the motion of Mr. H. Kyle, seconded by Mr. J. C. Morrison, the candidate was accorded a voto of thnnlcs and confidence, while a vote of thanks to the chairman was carried by acclamation. A committee was formed after tho meeting.