DR. NEWMAN AT PETONE.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 117, 15 November 1893, Page 4

DR. NEWMAN AT PETONE.

Yesterday evening Dr. Newman, a candidate for the Suburbs, addressed a crowded meeting in the Oddfellows' Hall, Petone. There was only standing room for scores of people. Mr. R. C. Kirk, the Mayor, was in the chair, and, in introducing the candidate, said that the meeting was, he believed, the largest ever held in Petone. women's 1-eanchise. Dr. Newman began by referring to the extension of the franchise to the women. As one who had for years fought and voted for the privilege, he was glad to find that the women of tho constituency were alive to the advantages which were conferred upon them, and were taking a warm interest in politice. The women were most enthusiastic in political matters, and he was glad of it. (A voice — " Oh, give us your policy.") The greatest policy yet placed before the people of the colony was the giving of the franchise to the fair sex. In future, politics would be greatly tinged by the influence of women. Women were going to be a great power in this colony.^ (A voice — " Too much soft soap.") He had engaged the hall, and his friend who had interrupted could get it tomorrow. (Laughter.) Ho was too old a hand to take serious notice of interruptions. (ApplauEO.) ■DUCATION. If there was one thing the people of the colony should be proud of it was our present system of education. He did not believe tho women would alter it. The system was an admirable one, and he should not like to see it abolished. He should like to see a set of national school books adopted, and he was glad that the present Minister of Education was, acting npon representations by himself (Dr. Newman) and others, getting out a reading book for use in all the pnblic schools. The establishment of bursarieß as in Scotland would be a good tiling, and he hoped before long to Bue a change mado in that direction. The distribution of school-books by the State to children whose parents were unable to bear the expense thereof was also desirable. THK LICENSING QUESTION. He had made up his mind about the Alcoholic Liquors Act. When the Bill was brought down he voted against it almost all through. Tho old system had worked well. The Bill of last Bcssion took away from the people a good deal of power, and for that reason he did not like tho measure. The Act required that half the people on the roll mnst vote, and that there must be a three-fifths majority, and he maintained that with such a stipulation it would be impossible to reduce any of the licenses. The old power was a wise one, and he hoped the people would never rest until they had got it back again. Mr. Seddou, the ArchApostle of Liberalism, said — " Trust tlje people," but he did not bclicvo in trusting the people where licensing matters wore concerned. That was a nice kind of Liberalism. If elected he (Dr. Newman) would strive to give the people the power to decide whether the number of licenses should be reduced or increased. He maintained that on thid question he hod not wriggled like a coekebaffer. He knew that he had lost votes because of his views, bnt he was determined not to alter them, believing that ho was in the right. (Applause.) PARTY GOVERNMENT. The question of Party Government was one which could not be shirked. The Swiss initiative system was a good one. When the present Government oamo into power it found that it could not carry some of its measures io the Upper House, and a number of persons \yere called to the Council. Now the Ministry wanted a further addition. Where was this sort of thing going to end? The system of conference in vogue in Norway and other countries was an excellent one. When a deadlock occurred the two Houses met in conference, and tho difficulty was sottled. Nomination to tho Council by tho Lower Houso was all fudge. If there was to be an elective l.pper House, the election must be by tho people. (Hear, hear.) The question of the olosnro must be considered. Members went on talking to a \\ earisomo extent, and he should like to see tho Knglish bystcra of olosure adopted. It was absurd to say that Government by Party wa not a success. In his opinion the Liberal Parly had not made up its mind whether it should wed Mr. Seddon or Sir Eobort Stout. (Cries of " Mr. Seddon.") He was not snro of that. The elections would decide the quesiion. He believed that Sir I{. Stout would go in, and then the people would ecu what would result. Ho (the speaker) did not think much of Mr Seddoh. THE LAND QUESTION. ■ It.was well known that trade was very dull. No doubt it was hoking np again, butit was not looking up enongh. Depression must continue so long as tho lands « ere locked up. We had in New Zealand large areas of Crown and native land lying waste, and he wanted to see a vigorons po'icy of bnying up the native territory, and throwing it and the Crown land open for settlement. Tho land should bo leased to small settlers, and, if this were done, there would be an era of prosperity such as tho colony had not known for a long time. Tho Maoris were, willing to sell and Europeans were anxious to take up the land, and it was high time that an active system of bujing and settling the land was adopted. RAILWAY EXTENSION. New Zealand had a very large debt, but it had to be admitted that a great deal of the money had been wisely spent. There were now 2000 miles of railway 'in the colony, and very little more work required to be done in tho near future. The completion of the railway through Ekotahuna was a most necessary work, and he should also like to see more active operations in connection with the North Island Trunk Line. Fo long as the latter work was allowed to log things in this distriot would not be particularly pioßperous. In the South Island, there waß no groat ory for moie railway lines in that part of the colony. OUR FiNANCES. That great Panjandrum of Liberalism, Mr. Seddon — (laughter) — was fond of tolling the people that the Government waß reducing the debt, bnt that was all humbug. Ministers maintained that they were not borrowing, but it was apparent to anyone that they had gone in for borrowing from the outset. They were borrowing at every nook and corner, and they should bo fraDk on the subject. Tho Premier had asserted that the interest on the debt had been reduced .£67,0.00 a year, but he had forgotten to tell the peopla that the Government had increased the annual payment for interest by .£BO,OOO. (A i oice— What about the runholders f) The rnnholders bad tfeen burst up and were going to glory. (Laughter.) The Government was borrowing £50,000 a year to buy Maori lands, .£50,000 a year to bny other lands, .£50,000 a year to make roads, and was also borrowing on Treasury bills, and for the purposes of paying the claims of the old soldiers. SOCIAL LEGISLATION. One of the great aims of Parliaraentshbuld be to grapple with the question of preventing poverty. In Switzerland the profit on the manufacture of tobacco was to be devoted to the prevention of poverty, and he should like to see some snob system in vogue here. In a young country like New Zealand the poverty problem could be grappled with much more easily than in the older countries. The existing Crown lands might be taken and set apart in connection with a scheme of charitable aid. Great strides in the direction of improving the social condition of the people had been made during the past few years. There were people who at every election wanted some great radical change brought about. The Government should proceed from worse to better. A groab deal depended upon a Government. If the present Premier remained in power little real good would result. (A Voice-" Good man, dootor.") Mr. teddon had not the decent policy of a jumping cat. (Applause and laughter.) After further reforence to Womanhood Suffrage, the speaker resumed his eeat amidst loud applause. QUESTIONS. „^ljn to questions, Dr. Newman said tnat ne had always advocated opening np the waste lands for settlement, and 3 he were returned he would be still more active in that direction. He had gono into the House pledged to vote against the ropeal of. the Property Tax, but as a change had been made he would gnpport the retention of the present system of taxation. He was n °t in favour of granting compensation to pnbheans whosa licenses had been taken away. Ho had always voted in favour of exempting improvements. He was one of those who hnd voted for the Bill by which the poll-tax on Chinamen had been increased, and he was prepared to support a proposal to prevent a great influx o{ undesirable foreigners. He was in favour of purohasing land for settlement, but as he considered the BUI of last session-Was a vicious one, he did not support it. If a Land for Settlement* Bill with 1 tho ~ safeguards proposed by the late Premier were introduced next session, it would receive' j" 8Bn PP. ort - ?J? "ad given his support to th s»S,n >P r °y idln g for the expenditure of 450,000 a. War in acquiring Unds. In his opinion, tue state of tho finances warranted a reduction in the Cnitoms duties. Tbe presort taxation was quito high enough' and ho wa* opposed to any increase A fair wage for c labourer or artizan was as muoh as he could get. Iho statement that he had said that 4s a day was sufficient for a labouring man to lire upon wa» absolutely false, and had been oiroulated by people who were

not bis friends. He bad offered to give .£lO to tbe Hospital if auyono could prove tbat bo had ever advocated such a thin);, but no one bad token up the challenge. reiuinus were paid to peoplo who had entered the Public Service many yeava ago Ho agiei'd that Mr. W. B. Edwards was entitled to an impartial onqniry ns to whether be should receive compensation in connection with his appointment as a jndge of tbe Supreme Court. He considered that a Minister Bhould be on the Board wbiob managed the railways. He had supported the Industrial and Conciliation Bill, and if il were re-introduced he would again vote for it. He bad voted for the principle of enabling local bodies to raise revenno from unimproved valueß. The statement that he was interested in the liquor trade was not true. He bad always paid Mb liabilities in connection with evory joint stook concern be had bad an interest in. He had voted for Mr. Dutbie's motion to reduce the duties on tbe necessaries of life. Mr. John Alexander moved "That this meeting, having heard Dr. Nowman'saccount of bis stewardship dnring the last Parliament, returns its beat thanks for his past services, and having every confidence in him, pledges itself to do its utmost to secure his retnrn as member for Wellington Suburbs." Mrs. E. Jackson seconded the motion, which was declared carried. The candidate having returned thanks, a section of the meeting gave three cheers for Mr. Seddon and his Government, whereupon some of Dr. Newman's supporters gave three groans for the Ministry. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting. During the proceedings tbere were a number of interruptions by a body of* men near the mam entrance, and the Chairman had several times to call them to order. ME. BELL AT NEWTOWN. In his address to the electors of South Wellington in tbe Newtown State Schoolroom last night, Mr. H. D. Bell again dealt with the questions of tbe clearance and settlement of forest lands, the acquisition of native lands, taxation, and the liquor traffic. The principle of the Labour Bureau, he said, was essentially sound, but he was inolined to think tbat tbe question of politioal colour hid been unduly considered in its administration. It must work well if well administered, because, the principle being right and the object just, tho end must be good. Whether in or out of Parliament, he would do all he could to aid and extend its operation. (Applause.) If elected be would pledge himself to do bis best to secure a grant for a University for Wellington, because it was a matter of importance not only to Wellington, but to the whole of the colony. Ho Had opposed the Shop and Sbop Assistants' Bill, because he objected to any interference with the freodom of the subject, bnt it having been passed tho logical sequence was compulsory closing, and he would accordingly support any legislation to tbat end. He desired to see the functions of local authorities, especially municipalities, extended, so that a man who held the position which he had held — if there was the desire and the nurse —could improve tbe life of his fellow-citizens. His solo ambition in desiring to serve them in Parliament was an earnest desire to aid, as in some things he believed be conld do, the condition of the masses of his fellow-men and women, and by that he was prepared to stand or fall. (Applause.) In reply to a question, Mr. Bell said lie thought it was the duty of parents, and not that of the State, to teach religion — (applause) — and it was mere laziness on tbe part of the parent whioh created this ory abont Bible-reading in schools. The questioner (a woman), on receiving this reply, remarked very emphatically, "Well, the women won't have you, Mr. Bell." On tbe motion of Mr. J. B. Mack, secondod by Mr. T. Shortt, a vote of thanks and confidence was accorded to the candidate, and the meeting conducted with the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman, Mr. Charles Swiney.