HAWKE’S BAY SEAT.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 202, 14 August 1911, Page 7

HAWKE’S BAY SEAT.

LADIES AN!) GENTLEMEN,—

IN asking for your support at the coming election. 1 cannot refer you to any public record as an index of ability and character. A private record, however, is possibly, after all. quite as useful in this respect. Born in Hawke s Ray. practically all my life lias been spent amongst you. If you approve of my Political Platform and are uncertain whether I van be safely Trusted with its advocacy, inquire of the hundreds of people who know me as to my private character. If they do not give me a clean sheet as an honest man. then I do not ask your Vote.

J decided to stand for the Hawke s Bar Electorate because 1 believed I could represent ideals, and principles not shared by any other candidate in the livid. I feel that I owe no apology for coming forward. It is the duly of any man. if he thinks he van really serve his country, to seek election in the People's Parliament. I be- 1 lieve. too. that this is the day of the Young New Zealander : that there is a growing feeling in favour of giving the native-born an opportunity to take a hand in the mam agenient of their country. But I do not claim your vote simply because I had the luck to be born in' New Zealand. I hope to merit your support on the platform 1 shall sub-, mit to you.

My objection the present state of affairs is the disastrous method of administration exercised by the present Governuieiit. These are shown in the ineffiviemy of such important public Depa rt nients as Laud. Finance, and .Ju>li< < . and in the growth of political influence in our < ivil Service. Any of you who may have been in the In it ed States, or who have follow ed its political affairs, will not need to he reminded. of the dire results that follow njmn Tammany methods. There the people have allowed the public! affairs to get out of hand, with the' result that Trusts and big Corpora-' tions entirely control the country, I and no Department -not even, of Justice is free from their dia-; bolical influence. We haven't Tam-; many here, or anything approach- j ing it. The country is too small for j wholesale robbery, but if we don’t ; watch it, political corruption will grow faster than the country itself, i Now is the time to insist that the i administration of our public affairs! shall be

Absolutely Above Suspicion. j At the present time we are face! to face with a crisis in the history of a young nation. We are at the parting of the ways. One road leads not only to national prosper- i ity, but to the true greatness that will last through the centuries. The I other leads by an. easier route —the; way of apathy and thoughtlessness I —to a conventional prosperity that' is rotten to the core. For, do not r forget that the loveliest country; can be made a Hell for those who live in it if it its public affairs are| allowed to get into the hands of a ! set of time-serving, corrupt politicians. I Which is Your Choice? 1 Will you be satisfied to diverge, even in seemingly small matters, from the straight path of national rectitude ? I believe our people are beginning to recognise the importance of this issue, and will place it before any question of persons or party. If you had a private busi- f ness, you would not employ a man. ; however capable, if you suspected ! he might help himself to the till if i he got a chance ; or if. without act-1 ually taking cash, he was liable to I pass the pickings along to his I friends. i

GENERAL ELECTION, 1911.

H. M. CAMPBELL FOR STRAIGHTFORWARD ADMINISTRATION. TO THE ELECTORS OF HAWKE’S BAY.

Work in Business Hours. Another thing you would see to is that he did his work in business hours, when his brain was clear ; not at three, four, or five o’clock in the morning. The afiairs <>f the country are too important Io lie rushed through nt a time when half of your legislators are absent in bed. and the remainder, physically weary ami brain-fagged, are lying asleep oa the benches. i think the time has arrived whim yon should particularly elect those who will criticise and vote against an) measure which they consider detrimental i o the very best mt crests. of the country. Holding these views, could I go to Wellington amt become, as many are. a mere voting mm-lii’.ie : .Most certainly not. There are enough trimmers and rail-sit ters there? already , and 1 do not propose to add another. In tins contest I claim to stand as A True Liberal.

ami seek the representation of tho<c who desire Progressive measures. ami also honest and efficient heWlatiom The conditions under v. hich Parliament has been carried on dnrimi the last rem <>r fifteen veins has been such as co make for an autocratic rule by the head of the Government. The late -Mr. Sodden was an autocrat., and Sir Joseph Ward lias iolloxved in liis footstep*. Instances of this I shall t laboratc in my addresses ; hut in the meantime let me say that 1 am entirely against this autocracy, and if sent to Parliament will tight with al! m\ mi'_dii. not any person, but the system that has allow cd our pi’i '-viii Premier to obtain andexert ise |i<r.vc? such as no one man should have. whoever he may he. There i> m> mom m our public affairs for an autocrat, and I stand for i>emo.-i av\ a.-against Autocracy.

Legislative Council. I believe Hie spirit of the times is absolutely opposed to a system which permits a nominated body io have the power of veto over the work of the people’s chosen representatives. If you elect me, I shall use every emleai 01.1 r to abolish what everyone admits is a grave anomaly in such a country as New Zealand. Local Government. Tii ere is no matter that can possibly engage the consideration of Parliament more urgently requiring consideration than that of Local Government. The powers at present wielded by Parliament enabF, any unscrupulous Government to utilise the Public Works Fund as an indirect method of catching votes. In this connection it is not individuals I attack, but the system, and in my future addresses I hope to be able to show you that rny views on this question are worthy of your cordial support. How I Will Vote. To make my position clear from a party point of view I would like to say that, if elected, I shall vote against the Government on a NoConfidence Motion. I make this pledge deliberately, because I believe the country is fully ripe for a change. It is not in the best interests of a country that any Party should hold undisturbed control of the public affairs for so long as has been the case with the present Continuous Ministry.

On ordinary Political questions I shall vote as my conscience dic-jtat-es; bound only by the pledge i made in this manifesto and the un- ! dertakings I give from the public i platform. | I particularly want to see (1) the I whole financial position of the DoI minion laid plainly before the peoi pie. (2) The Courts of Justice con

ducted with open doors. (3) Absolute Independence of our Judges anti Magistrates of any political patronage or influence. In Conclusion. I offer my services, not as a liasbeen, but as one who Las his lies! years ahead, and J believe I can do good solid work on your behalf. The foregoing remarks are merely introductory. To further elaborate these, and to have the privilege of meeting you face to face. I intei d later on to hold meetings throughout the electorate. I trust. I may have the pleasure of your attendance at these meeting-*. You will be invited to question me on any of the political subjects you itnylie interested in. and any question put to me will receive my earnest consideration and .straightforward answer.

Yours faithfully, H. M. CAMPBELL.

THE MAIN PLANKS OF MY PLATFORM.

Finance. 1. Reform of the Financial System of the Dominion : a thorough investigation into the public Finances : borrowing to be kept within reasonable bounds. 2. Reform of the Fiscal System, by reducing taxation wherever possible on the necessaries of life, and fostering local industries. Land. Reform of the Land Policy of the Dominion. 1. By giving every possible facility to men of small means to get on I he land by means of the Leasehold as a. stepping stone to acquiring the Freehold should they de sire it.

2. Bv giving the option of the freehold to tenants of Crown Lands m Lease in Perpetuity, at the original value plus, the difference between the rental on the O.R.P. and the Lease hi Perpetuity.

3. By givitur the- option- of Hie Freehold to lemoits on .settlement

’and iu Lease in P< rp«-t uity. at the origin'll value.

■I. Rv strictly euforeing.. limitation of area, am: so effi'e-t mi I!y pro-

ve tiling a gizrega r ion

5. By prov idmg lor Hie payment i'l purrli.'i'<■ money bv instalments if so desired by I lie tenant. 6. By providing that the money derived from ■the sale of tire freehold be utilised for the acquisition of further laud for settlement. 7. By rhe abolition of the Ballot System of leasing Cyovvii lands, arid leasing all lands thrown open f>-r settlement by pifl.’io render, vi'id so avoid the robbing of the "f-niuiif settler by t lie hand sperm lator.

Reform of Native Land Legislation

1. By a determined am! sustainml effort, to <r-ttlo the Native Land Question. 2. Bx the rajiid imlividitalisalion <4 Native Land xx’herever possible.

3. By affmaling the Native race the comm.-m privilege of disposing ('under proper safeguards) of their land whii-h mit required for their persona! use. I. By tie- strict enforcement of flic provDimts n.uainsf the creation of large boldines. Legislative Reform. 1. Reform of Legislative. Council by rep lacing Ihe priwnt. nominative Council l>y erm' elected by the people, on the same franchise as the. House of R.cpresentaf ix es. on the proportional system of voting by larger electorates.

2. Abolition of Special Native Representation. Natives to be put on same footing as Europeans politically. Reform of Civil Service.

1. By improving the conditions governing the employment of Civil Servants.

2. By eliminating political influence and patronage. 3- By providing that all appointments and promotions shall be made by a Board responsible directly to Parliament, and absolutely free from Ministerial control.

L By granting Civil Servants the right to appeal to a competent tribunal from a decision of the Board. Local Government.

1. The reform of Local Government in the rural districts of the Dominion, by giving extended powors and assured finance, thus making it unnecessary for local bodies to depend, to the same extent as at present, on the wasteful and unsatisfactory system of Parliamentary grants for local public works. Industrial and Social Legislation. 1. Reform of the Old Age Pensions Act by making the qualifying age for the pension for women sixty years instead of sixt-y-five. 2. Reform of the Industrial sysDominion by promoting legislation providing for insurance against sickness and unemplovment.

3. Reform of the Economic system. in the direction of promoting industrial peace and restoring public confidence in order to encourage local indu st ri es.

4. To introduce legislation giving the Arbitration Court more power to award rates of pay according to value received. 5. To provide that the Arbit*'-. tion Court shall, wherever possible, make Dominion awards. 6. To support the present law that every child in the Dominion shall compulsorily have a good, sound, free, secular education, and that every child shall be given the opportunity and facility to go from Primary to the High Schools and Universities. 7. To support existing legislation on the Liquor Question NOTE.—If you or your friends

do not receive a copy of this Manifesto and Platform from me I shall be pleased to post you err on receipt of postcard bearing your address. Yours faithfully, H. M. CAMPBELL.