THE FORTHCOMING ELECTION.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 4, Issue 204, 28 October 1896, Page 2

THE FORTHCOMING ELECTION.

TnE first gtra in the electioneering campaign in this district was fired last Wednesday night -when Mr W. H. Herries delivered his opening: address to the electors of the Bay of Plenty in the Shaftesbury Schoolhouse. Mr Herries spoke for upwards of an hour and was attentively listened to by a large audience. He prefaced his remarks by stating that he was an uncompromising opponent of the present administration but being so he was no blind follower of any man. The fol-

lowing trecis of his remarks, wLicli we submit without comment, will doubtless be of interest to our readers at the present time. Mr Hemes claimed to he a representative settler with a stake in the country and contended that the class to which he belonged, and the farming class generally, were not properly represented in Parliament. In his opinion, and in that of many others, there were too many lawyers and professional politicians in the House. He had good grounds, he considered, for regarding himself as belonging to a desirable class of candidates. Politics, as at present arranged, he contended, toooftin, afforded that most pitiable sight—a man casting his vote in the House against his own convictions. He held that with every representative of the people his first duty lay with his constituents; party came afterwards. Ho for his part, felt he had sufficient moral strength to resist from his own party if it went against the interests of those who had elected him. He detailed his reasons for the attitude he had assumed in respect to the Seddon Government, and instanced various cases which in his opinion justified the charges which had been laid against them. His great complaint was that there was too much legislation. Too much trenching on the liberty of the subiect. Their rights wero being menaced, and their freedom interfered with, by the number of bills that weio being thrust upon them. He did not decline to recognise that, in many cases, grounds existed for legislation ; that which he complained of was that the Government went too far and sought to make capital for themselves, whilst ostontatiously redressing well established grievances. Enactments became too drastic, and in many cases, the remedy was worse thau the disease. This was the opinion of many of the Government's own supporters and general opinion prevailed in the country that there had been too much tinkering with labor legislation. For the next three years they wanted rest and were inclined to cry ' Give us peaco in our time O Lord!' No other cobny had been subjected to such a dose of over legislation as they were suffering from to-day. With regard to the constitution of the Seddou Government, Mr Berries spoke of the lato Mr Ballance as being the last of the New Ze .land statesmen. The strong men left were Seddon, Mackenzie and Cadmrm. Mr Cadman while possessed of conspicuous ability, did not enjoy good health. Besides Seddon and Mackenzie, thero wero no names to conjure with. It was idle to nrguo that if the present government w s defeated thero were no men to iill their places. The Opposition could boast of having better men than those forming the tail of the Sedd n Ministry, The principles actuating the Government, in some instances, might be, indeed were, good, but their method of legislation was essentially bad. In a farming community, such as he soutrht to represent, the Lpnd Question was of paramount importance and interest. No one was more in favour of putting the people on the land than ho. Any movement to that end he would gladly welcome. The advantages to be derived from such a policy, were great. He believed that

ovary setlier cherished in his heart the desire of eventually becoming the freeholder of the land lie occupied. Under the present system of teuuro this was impossible. The land was held oti deferred payments or a leasee in-perpetuity. These tenures were hedged in by conditions. In certain cases they were forfeitable and the holders, : t the best of times, were under the thumb of tho Land Board. He considered a man should at any rate have a chance of acquiring tho freehold. It was something to work for and a stimulus to exertion. He was in favour of makinc: advances to sottlers and he would give tho Government credit for what it had done in that direction What he did object to, however, was the absenc3 of any provision safeguarding the expenditure of the money in tho improvement of the land. In regard to the Liquor Question, .Mr Herries said he was no prohibitionist, but would bo in favour of giving thejpresent system a fair trial. He would be inclined to enforce the law regarding Sunday closing. At present it was more honored in the breach than the observance. He believed the better class of licensed victuallers would like to see it enforced. He considered it would bo a misfortune if prohibition was carried by a bar 3 majority ; if it secured a-three fifths majority, all would be inclined, loyally, to abide by it. With regard to the Education question he was in favour of the pre-ent system. It was a pity to see children grow up without religion, but he would not have it taught in public Schools. Ministers could attend school after hours to impart religious instruction to those of their owu creed but there should bo no state teaching of religion. Ho was not in favor of co-operative work but favored a system of small contracts by which the gang might pick their own men. With regard to Native Lands he protested against the unfairness of legislation which constrain • ed the natives to deal with the Government only; equity demanded that th 3 native should be on the same footing as the white man. In conclusion Mr Herries said that he thought he might fairly claim to belong to the right class from which to recruit the House. He was no profesidonal politician; but a young man consumed with an ardent desire to serve his country to the best of whatever ability had been bestowed on him. Mr Herries received the customary vote of thanks for his address.