THE OTAKI SEAT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 74, 28 March 1914, Page 5

THE OTAKI SEAT

MR. W. H, FIELD TO HE A CANDIDATE To a question put to Mr. W. H. Field by a representative of this paper as to whether he intended to be a candidate for Otaki at the next General Election, Mr. Field replied : "Yes, most decidedly, that has been my fixed intention ever since the 1911 election, and with that view I have been keeping a close watch on political developments. When 1 entered Parliament over ' fourteen years ago, 1 joined the Liberal Party, then led by the late Mr. tSeddon. At thatunie tne Opposition was, to a very large extent, d Conservative body, Dut as the years have gone by their policy has become substantially Liberalised, until recently the ditterence between the two opposing sides has been largely one oi leadersnip. Mow widely their respective policies may diverge in the future remains to be seen. The new Liberal pokey is as yet undisclosed. The Ward Government went out in 1912, and was followed by the short-lived Mackenzie Cabinet, whom the Massey Government succeeded some twenty months ago. Or. Massey holds broad and liberal views. He has adopted, and to some extent lurther developed, the Liberal measures ol previous Governments, and i trust that he will adhere to this course. 1 am, as a strong freeholder, particularly gratified at his granting the lee simple to Crown tenants. It will be reinemBered that when standing in 1911 1 reserved to myself the utmost freedom of action. iMy present position is that of independence, and my political views have undergone no niatenai change whatever. \ Asked what in his opinion were the principal needs of the country at the present time, he replied: — "(a) A progressive policy on moderate Liberal lines — evolution, not revolution ; (b) Economy in public expenditure ; (c) Encouragement of population of the right kind ; (d) Land settlement, including the opening up of large landed holdings whether Crown, Native, or European ; (c) The fullest measure of justice to .workers, including State servants, and the application of the Arbitration Act to industrial disputes j (f ) An- abundance of cheap State money for advances to settlers, workers, and local bodies, such moneys to be available to pay off existing mortgages at high rates of interest, as well as ror new loans ; ig) Effective measures to reduce the cost of living ; (h) Suppression of trusts, combines, and monopolies ; (i) Opening up of\ new markets, both British and foreign for our produce ; (j) A complete system of rural, education. In addition there is still much crying out to be done for the im•piovement of the physical, mental, and social well-being of the community. In our own district the chief requirements are a substantially-improved railway service, a level and double railway line, and also a much improved, and where possible a level, road from Wellington tc Paftnerston "North, th» Levin-Foxton-Greatford railway, and the control of the Foxton wharf by the Foxton - Harbour Board, with the improvement and development of the Port of Foxton as a natural consequence. I have been pressed more than once to stand for another constituency, but ha.ye refused. 1 am informed that the people generally are satisfied that I represented the Otaki district faithfully, and it is my desire to represent it again, i.e., if a majority of the people want me, as I am assured they do."