General Election.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2154, 28 October 1902, Page 4

General Election.

| MR JAS. BENNET AT CLYDE. ' Mr Jas. Rennet, the present member for Tuapeka, who has been a consistent sup- [ porter ef the present administration, adI dressed the electors at Clyde on Tuesday evening last. There were some 150 electors 1 present, and the meeting wu an enthu- > elastic one. the address being punctuated i with applause. Mr Naylor, who occupied the chair, had pleasure in introducing Mr Bennet. Mr Bennet had proved a conscientious and hardworking member, and ho bespoke for him a fair hearing. (Applause.) Mr Bennet, on rising, was received With prolonged applause. He thanked the electors for their expressions of approval, and the chairman for his flattering remarks. The electors had done him the honor to elect him, and he had done his best to keep his promises and to look after the interests of his constituents. As all were aware there was considerable criticism in reference to the financial condition of the colony. The opposition members were the principal complainers. There wa* nothing new in that, it was always the case. They were really trying to belittle the colony in the eyes of Home moneylenders. He thought it most unfair, as they only referred to one side of the question. Their remarks would have no effect. As a matter of fact the colonyjwas in a splendid financial condition (Applause) The question was. however, had we got the value for the money borrowed. Had it been reproductive. Opposition members did not consider that side of the question. Mr Bennet at some length quoted statistics which showed conclusively that the colony had made great progress, and that the money borrowed had been reproductive. There was no doubt that the : Advances to Settlers Act and the Lands for Settlement Act had proved remarkably reproductive. The money bad been ■ borrowed te open up and settle the ' country. Tbe consequence Was the value < of the land had been greatly enhanced. Jhe land values of the colony bad in- I creased C'pormously, Referring te the I colony’s debt Mf Bennet said the colony < was perfectly solvent. He did not think < the present generation should try and pay I off the debt. If they paid the interest < they would do very well. The taxpayers f were quite safe. It had been said that the t colony was borrowing far too much, but >- taking it on a population basis thin colony t had borrowed less, with the exception of « Tasmania, than any of the other colonies. 8 The Lands for Settlement Act had been * opposed by the Opposition and all sides of 1 the House, and considerable exception had * been taken to it generally, 14 had J despite the adverse criticism, proved a r splendid measure. (Applause.} If the Gov- 8 ernment had not acquired the mhu J Zealand would not have been in itsfpr.sent 8 prosperous condition. Tbe Advances to 8 Settlers and the Lands for Settlement v Act had done mere to foster tbe prosperity t of the colony than angthing else. The £ late lamented Sir John McKenzie was en* i' titled to great credit for the Land for Y Settlement Act. (Applause.) Under this 8 Act tbe land cov.ld be held for all time as b long as tbe rent was raid. Be believed in giving good value for the lund acquired, £ ,»pd quol#4 mi repprto to *h9W U

I that the lands acquired were not only paying for *ho .wed money, but that they were returning a profit. The prosperous cordition o* the colony was, however, not alone due to the beneficial character of the legislation passed by theg present Cb ver ment, but in a great measure t.r the enterprise of the people. j (Applause). 1 A burning question was that of the Midr land Railway. The Government had taken r possession of this railway as the company g could not carry on any longer. A comj mission was set op, and though the verdict “J w»s in their favor, the Government, d recognising they bad a moral claim, made e a handsome offer to the debenture holders 1 whion was however, refused. In consequence of this theie was trouble in the e money market. The Midland' Railway e had proved a millstone round their neok, and he had endeavored to get the bill ii passed. Although not yet completed this line had paid 3j per cent. The colony Lad a good asset in the Midland Railway, e A matter of interest to everybody was D the Otago Central Railway. It was some if *2B years since it had been started, and be c had himself seen bridges and oulveits * rotten long before the line reached them, a It should have been finished years ago. !• He toq£ a deal of credit for getting money for this lino During his rj term (three years) as their repreteulative £300;000 had been voted. He bad trouble in getting the money voted, and he thought he bad done as much as anybody for the line: (Applause) The trouble was that the railway had no friends in Parliament. There was no doubt that when the railway was completed it would pay handsomely. It certainly ought to hi pushed on to Clyde, There were ma iy industries at present dormant, which would spring _ up on the advent of the railway. The people in this district had a great claim on the Government. People at p esent 1 bad to send. (roods per waggon, and this of coarse hamptied operations generally, r He had taken a great interest in the j matter of Enginedrivers’ Certificate, and j he thought he was deserving of credit for having ths operations of this Act sue* * pended. If the Act had been given effect to many competent men could not have n passed, The Rill was brought in so that g town men in shops could, when a slump. came, come up and take these positkra. D He expained to the Minister that though hj these town men could drive engines they v could not run lines, and that they wolild r ( endanger the lives of other men. The Minister eventually promised not to put the Bill into force until after next session. ' He acquainted headquarters, and the inspectors were instructed accordingly: The great trouble is that there is no starting point. Cadets would have to be paid, and dredgemasters would not let them start until they were competent, (Applause.) Another matter was that of gorge claims He had been asked to get these claims e extended and bad interviewed the Minister , a Tae Minister, however, would not consent, as ha thought it would create a meuoply. , He (Mr Rennet) moved an amendment, when the matter was before > the House, but it was unfortunately lost, by four votes. He thought ic a great pity that this ceuld not have been done in reference to Masters’ Certificates. Ha trfed to get the Bill amended In com-* * mittee by substituting 1903 for 1003, but he could not get it carried. This would have enabled the masters te get ready. The same trouble applied to them as to ; enginedrivers—-there was no starting point. He thought it proper that only capable men should be on dredges The Testators Bill was a matter of par* ticular interest to Indies. In the past a man could leave his money where he chose, but under this Bill he could not . do so. Provision had to be made for the 1 widow and children. He thought it a very proper measure. The Solicitors Bill of Coats was another necessary measure. There was no doubt that many lawyers charged far too'much for their services, and it was necessary to be able to have their charges checked, The Government had been blamed for r the delay in connection with a Steam ' Service for South Africa, bat there -was ' only one tender, and the delay coaid not * be avoided. A tender was now accepted 9 and a, steamer was loaded with Mew * Zealand produce ready to proceed to 1 South Africa. Other steamers would fol* low. (Applause.) » Federation with Australia,-—The fact ■ was they were not a happy family. The 1 drought had * played up ’ with them, 1 New Zealand was in a very prosperous condition and he thought it would be 1 foolish to federate. The colony was in a * much better position and would do better i by itself. Colonial Produce in London was in » 1 much better position and received greater 1 attention than ever. Graders had bees put on by the Government, and the remit was more money was obtained. Every* body was indirectly benefited, thereby. (Applause.) Tbe Inspection of Slaughterhouses was one of the moat necessary measures. Ths state of affairs prior to the passing of the Act, was most unsatisfactory, and legislation was necessary to rectify,matters. The j Act had dote a lot of good, (Applause), It had been often said that there were too many inspectors, but they more than paid for themselves. There was a stock tax of L 20.000 which more than paid for this. The country was losing nothing by (be inspectors. Mr Bennet then referred to the tr jo ble experienced by County Councils in getting the money which had been voted in time to expend it. .At a caucus of the Government he had asked that votes be got in proper time. If they would authorise these votes the Councils could arrange with the banks for the money. The Acting-premier agreed that the suggestion was a good one, and agreed to give tho matter bis consideration (Applause) In reference to the Bible in ./Schools, this question had been handed *to him, though be intended to refer to it. At the present time a teacher can take the children in before school, and in soma places this right is exercised. It was a question that had to be dealt with carefully. He would like to see it given effect to., but there were great objections to it. Some concession would have to be made to Gath dies. If that were done he would . agree to it, but at present he could not do A so, He thought he It an hour before school -'M would be the west way, the children could then go or stop away. He thought there was no occasion to take a referendum The Referendum Bill pasted its second reading last session, but it was never seen again Many members were against it. Then again the expense would be heavy—a milter (I L 200.000 He thought the Referendum Bill would not die wise Ha would not pledge himself to do any more than the schools are empowered to do at present If Bible reading Jh Schools was inaugurated it would create a friction which would be hard so subdue We had a splendid education system and it would be a pity to break ic up (Applause) The chairman then intimated that Hr Bennet would be pleased to answer qoeg. tinea

Mr Fache : With regard to railway natters, are you in favor of the pieseiy system of [construct! -g ran*Mr Bennet: No, not altogether but if the co-operative work was as cheap it, w m good ns any othtr They had nothing to show that the present system was not Baying I am not wedded >o either, but pould like to see a tiialmade In reply to an elector : There was too Ouch of the hand cart about it Mr hache: Are you not satisfied Mr Bonnet, that our railways are coding too mmch to construct ? Mr Bennet : Yes, 1 believe they are tad I think the contract system would b« more satisfactory (Applause) Mr Welsford asked if Mr Bonnet agreed rith the main proposals of the Slaughterhouse Act ~ Mr Bennet: Most decidedly. Mr Welefoid : Do you think it correct ISr the Government to ask where a ; man hi his Stock from, and what he paid for J Mr Bennet : f do not think so, unless there was a suspicion that they had been dishonestly obtained Mr Welsford : Why are butchers singled out and looked upon'as dishonest people, Mr Bennet: I ’was, not- aware that kcCohers were singled .out, and 1 do not think- they are The intention of-the Act was to prevent ThSeased meat being killed, and In keep slaughterhouses clean Everybody agreed with this The health of the people must be ccnaideied Id reply to an elector Mr Bennet said Iho land ballot wanted amending Mr Fache proposed : —That Mr Bennet bo thanked forhis address. Mr Barry, in seconding the motion, ex pressed the hope that when it came to the ruto the electors would give him their m The mot’on was, carried unanimously. Mr Bennet returned thanks for the rote, and for their patient hearing. Tin ballot box would tell the tale. A hearty vote of thanks was, on the ■dlion of Mr Bennet, passed to the chairman.