WELLINGTON EAST.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1279, 7 November 1911, Page 6

WELLINGTON EAST.

MR, M'LAIIIJN" AT KOSEJsEATH. Mr. D. M'Lnren, M.l 1 ., addressed a well-attended meeting of electors ill t'.ic schoolroom at HosoiiMth last night. -Mr. liowland Taylor presided. Mr. WLaren sketched the progress of the Labour movement ill Australasia since 18' JO, pointing out that in >"cw Zealand the workers had a!li'«i themselves with auoiher nnrly, and in Australia had formed their own party. As a result Labour in \ustralia had secured positions of power in most of the Stales and was the governing party in thu Federal Parliament. I'hero the public had como to recognise that Labour was in politics for constructive ends, and was not likely lo injure the affairs of tho country, 'file mosl urgent need? in Now Zealand wen io sefllo tho people on Die land and to develop our industries in order to give full employment. While somdliin;,' liad been done towards closer settlement, flion> was still a Keen, unsatisfied laud hunger. A return presented (o the House in 130il showed that whereas there were IHS own ers of property on March 31, lflOti, of a capital value of .£;>(!,(IflO or over, (hero were 210 owners of property of similar value on March 31, 11KI!). "The main divisions of properties had been in respect of tlie larger estates of from 80,(KKI to 150,000 acres; the areas irom 1.1,01)0 to fit),Mo wore still left to bo subdivided, lie believed it would be necessary to increase the graduated land ta.\ to coin pel the subdivision of these large estates, lor it was a mistake to siippnso that landholders were excessively taxed at present, lie advocated following tho lead given by the Federal Government in the matter oi establishing a .State bank and a State noto issue. liy means of a national currency of this kind the Dominion mignt materially assist the County Councils and other local bodies to carry out local works without: dop'tiding upon special grants from Parliament. In his judgment the Bank of New Zoaland might be mado

into a State bank by increasing tho amount of share capital which tho Government held in it. The dividend returns, 12J per cent.., showed that it was a good investment for the country to havo funds in. He detailed tho work he had done in assisting in the passing of such legislation as the Old Age Pensions Amendment, tho Workers' Compensation Amendment, and other "ameliorative legislation. -i voto of thinks and oinfidencc, proposed by Mr. A, Duncan and seconded »y Mr. Flaw, was accorded tho oandi-« date.