MR VILE AT FEILDING

Feilding Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 108, 2 December 1905, Page 2

MR VILE AT FEILDING

Mr Vile, the Opposition candidate for Manawatu, addressed a good Dumber of electors in the Drill Hall, last evening. Mr J. Cobbe presided. In introducing the speaker he referred to the number of electors in the Manawatu district that resided in the fringe of Feilding. Mr Vile agreed with him in this respect, and stated that he had found out that the total was 185. He considered that when the Commission sits again they should certainly alter the electorate, as a number of the people in the vicinity of Feilding were interested in Feilding, and that their interests were in the Oroua. (Applause). The coming election throughout the colony was going to be one of the greatest fights that has taken place since the present Government came into office. The Premier realises this, and is travelling from one end of New Zealand to the other to try and strengthen his cause. The Premier has consid erable influence in politics and he knows how to use it, but the time has arrived when this Government should goby the board,and it would be better for the country. They have many good qualities, but their legislation has been bad. Mr Massey was one of the greatest politicians of the day. The Premier tried all he could do to set him aside but failed, and he believed that this next election would send the Opposition back eight or ten stronger than last Parliament. (Applause). Mr Massey is a strong and fair fighter and will not hit below the belt. By fair legislation and fair administration we get good Government for the country, but under the present Government these have been one aided. He is strongly opposed to the Government and his presence here to night was to criticise them. He referred to the Licensing Bill which the Premier brought down when clause 8 and clause 9 were introduced. It was a disgrace to the Premier. The Premier did not do away with that Bill as he thought he would. Three of the Opposition members from this coast went down to Wellington and blocked it. One of those members was the member for Oroua. The Shops and Offices Bill was a polioy bill, in which clause 3 was the principal one, and was brought down by (Sir Joseph Ward, the Premier being absent at the time. When he could not get chuse three inserted he said he would drop it. The Premier came back and the olause was inserted. Immediately it became law the shop keepers were up in arms throughout the country. It went to the Labour Bills Committee, then to the Legislative Council, and after four months' delay it was passed back in the position it was when it first left the House. On the Old Age Pensions Bill, he had been called to task be cause he did not support the increase. Well he considered more liberty should be given to those who had homes. The old age pension last year oost the colony £200,000, and this year nearly £300,000, and next year it will cost £350,000. He did not think it was right to put this extra screw on to the land. It should be made universal and every one subscribe directly or indirectly. He considered that he was perfectly justified in voting against the increase. (Applause). Dealing with the Workmen's Homes Bill, he did not mind this so much if the Government gave the workmen the rightj to acgujre the freehold and not restrict them like they do the Crown land holders. (Applause). The Premier does not want to give the freehold of land if he can possibly avoid it. The deferred payment sye. tern for taking up land was, he considered, one of the best systems that came into vogue in the colony. He had no objection to the reduotion, of duty on the necessaries of life. But the Premier's motive if he wants reduotion is to put another screw on the land instead of taking the burden off. The Land Commission was a farce, whioh cost the country £15,000 to find out noting. ' ft was ' organised for the sole object of protecting the Premier. The Criminal Code Act Bill was brought down to proteot the Govern* ment because certain individuals had said nasty things about them and they got their backs up. He believed in free trade and was not in favour of clapping on the 40 per cent on imported agricultural machinery. With reference to Civil Servants, the Government wanted to place a few of their friends on who had not paised

the necessary examination and he was strongly opposed to this measure. He supported the Teachers' Superannuation Bill because he thought it was a proper step to take. He objected to the Government taking over private railway* and making new railways before first taking the precaution to find out whether they were going to pay, as it was only enhancing the value of land to pri?ate owners at the expense of the country. During the last year the Government kept back £11,900 which ihould have been expended on roads in the backblocks. In Westland, they have no difficulty in getting the money spent more especially at election times (laughter.) This state of things has been going on for yeare since the Premier came into power. There are roads in the coun try which are of no valne. The Premier has been defrauding for his own purpose as far as public works are concerned. The Premier's surplus is a farce If the expenditure was charged to the Consolidated Fund there would be no surolus. Sneak ing of the estimates;tbe Government bring down supplementary estimateds in the small hours of the morning in such a mixed up way that it is an impossibility to understand them. We are asked to pass something like £483,000 in three or four hours without knowing what we are doing, and this in the small hours of the morning ; some of these estimates would never stand the light of day. The Premier takes great credit in boasting over the prosperity of the Manawatu and Oroua electorates, but what has he done for them ? Practically nothing. The prosperity of these electorates lies in dairying and farming industries, and further more the money to make roads was raised by local loans. The Government has power to borrow £4,689,000 and at the end of the financial year we will be in debt three millions and the colony will be in debt sixty three millions. In conclusion he con tended that in the interests of the colony the present Government should go to the wall. (Applause). Asked why he went for a trip to the Islands ? He stated that it was because he considered that the colony should be in a position to know what they had taken control of, and j further more he did not go at the expense of the country. He favoured a man being allowed to take up leasehold or freehold, and was a strong supporter of freehold. He thought the people were entitled to settle the Bible in Schools question. A hearty vote of thanks to the speaker and the ohair terminated the j meeting.