THE ASHLEY ELECTORATE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVIII, Issue 12910, 2 September 1902, Page 3

THE ASHLEY ELECTORATE.

I MR A. W. RUTHERFORD AT CHEVIOT. Mr A. W. Rutherford', a candidate for the Ashley seat, addressed, a. large meeting of electors in the M'Kenzi* Hall on Saturday night. Mr John Vaughan, president of the Cheviot Settlers' Association, presided. Mr Rutherford, in opening his address, stated that his previous speech had been simply for the purpose of announcing Ids candidature. He wished for criticism, and had got it, both from the Press and tha public, but the only criticism worth noticing had been the statement that he was not pronounced enough, in his opinions. He attributed a certain" truth in this charge to his omniverous acquaintance' with newspapers, which led him to think there was always something to be said on the other side. This was an admirable trait in a> magistrate, but not, perhaps, a desirable feature in an up-to-date politician. In future he would take only one newspaper, and then he would be "cocksure about every subject under the sun." Dealing with labour legislation, lie said that he did nob propose to support the repeal of any of this legislation. The alarmist cry that this legislation had crippled and almost stopped many of our industries was amply aisproved by the. building that was going on in our large cities. The exact reverse had been the caso; the wages of skilled artisans had been increased, and the price of material had alao gone up. This was beneficially reflected among the country settlers. The Conservatives had also complained that the. Arbitration Act did not work fairly, and that the workers had only to ask and get all that they wanted. This was disproved by the recent decisions in the ca.ses of the Thames miners and the Kaiapoi Woollen Factory operatives. The workers were entitled to a share in the general prosperity, for they were undoubtedly the first to suffer if bad times should come. With regard to the Legislative Council, if the best men available wero recommended he thought the present system would work fxirly well, but this, unfortunately, had not been so. Many of both Mr Seddon's recommendations and those of the previous Conservative Administration had been bad, and some Councillors had had nothing to recommend them for substantial old age pensions, conferred by » seat in the Upper House. As ai remedy he would propose that oaoh island! should be divided into four electorates, each electorate returning three members, on tha Parliamentary franchise, for a six years' term of office. If this were done it would: hardly bo necessary to have the referendum. As to the referendum itself, if every Bill had to be submitted to the peoplo there would be no need for a Parliament-; and though its advocates said that only important near sures were to be submitted, hi was afraid it would end in Parliament shirking its duties. He favoured the establishment of a Stato Bank by the acquiring of the Bank of New Zealand as a going concern. This would obviate the necessity of sending out of the colony much of the money now annually paid as interest charges on our debt of fifty-four millions. Addressing himself to the question of prohibition, the candidate repeated the views previously expressed by him. Quoting statistics, he held that there was every sign of the liquor traffio decreasing. The oonnunption, of spirits per head of population had decreased 1 from £2 12s in 1881 to £1 19s 7d! inl 1901. Wine in tho same period had decreased from 2s to 8d 8 and ale and beer from 2s 7d to Is 3id. He would like to see the Aot amended in the direction of making tie result of the poll apply to the whole colony, and nob, as at present, to each separate electorate. He did not consider -the increase in, gambling of late years was due to the totalisator, but attributed it rather to tho increased prosperity of tho .colony. .Gambling in soro* form or other could not be stopped by legislation, and cards, dice, two-up, football, cricket, and even the innocent " bike " were equally associated with it without the help of the totalisator. Towards minimising the evil he would'' suggest that those newspapers which periodically denounce the totalisator as the concentrated essence of all that is bad' should refrain from pi;blishing betting odds. The bookmakers were ju»t as pernicious, and even in Chrietchurch would lay the odds to a shilling at any time. The fact- was that tho people who objected to the totalisator objected to horse racing, and would' like to see it legislated out of existence, but were not honest enough to say so. He did not approve of the suggested Customs Union with either Great Britain or any other country, except perhaps Australia. Freetr-ada would not suit this colony, for, unless they wanted the land to bear half the taxation, they must obtain a large revenue from the Customs. Freetrade also meant that our artisans would be unable to compete with the cheap labour of older countries. With regard to borrowing, he favoured moderation in raising money outside the colony.' For every million that was borrowed, tho colony sent away £40,000. In England borrowing did not mean sending money out of the country. This meant that her national debt was beneflciai rather than anincubus. It was against cur principles, however, to encourage capitalists locally, and for obvious reasons Socialists would be able to do very little to help them in this respect. The'development of the colony's resources necessitated borrowing for vea-rs to come. He did not think Sir Joseph Ward's demand for £1,750,000 excessive, but he questioned the wisdom of the reductions on taxation of £200,000, unless the reductions meaaib more that-com-mensurate gain in the revenue, as had happened in the case of the penny postage, where the initial reduction had resulted ultimately in a gain of £4700 to the revenue. Turning to the land question, he expressed the opinion that the Government were pushing on well with providing land for settlement purposes. The returns last year showed that purchases had been completed in tho case of twenty-four properties, aggregating 82,887 acres, for which £406,576 had bean paid. Since these returns ten more properties had been" purchased. In addition- to this, 641,994 acres of Crown land had been.- placed on the market. This showed that the Government Avas doing well, and ; thait there was plenty of land available. It was satisfactory, too, to find that a large number of estates were beingl offered in the Cheviot district, comprising some excellent pastoral land. He did not approve of the suggestion to burst up large estates by increasing the graduated tax, because he disapproved of any form of confiscation. There was machinery to take large -estates when required, and when the interests of the individual conflicted with those of the State, the individual must give way. Referring to land tenure, the speaker said that he had been misunderstood at his last meeting. The lease in perpetuity tenure was working so well ia Cheviot that most of the lessees were in a position to convert their leaseholds into freeholds, and; some were desirous of doing so. They might obtain power to do this some day, but not until they had increased in number sufficiently to make their power felt at "the polls. As the existing systems of land tenure were working so well, he would, if elected, oppose any vital change

during the next three years, except in the lease in perpetuity. He thought that in regard to this system the Act should be amended in the direction of having v revaluation of the unimproved value made every thirty-three years on all land let in future. In the case of the grazing runs, the holders of these leases should have the right of renewal for a further period of twenty-one years, the rent to be based on a fresh valuation of the unimproved value, on the expiry of the present leases. He was aware that ihis declaration against the right of conversion would lose him many votes, but to those who were wishing for conversion he would say "Bide a wee; your time has nob yet come." There would be a big fight on this question some years hence between those who wish to see New Zealand a nation of small freeholders, and' those who desire to see the land occupied solely by Crown tenants. On the one side would be arrayed the majority of the Grown tenants and the residue of the old freeholders, and amongst those on the other side would be found the "failures," the dreamers and the "tired." " Call them Communists, call them Socialists, as you will. Their idea is to create a Crown tenantry who will perform the nation's work while they dwell in the cities and lead a Utopian existence." With regard to Land Boards, the speaker approved of the principle of half the members being elected so as to keep the Board in touch with the tenants. He disapproved of the Elective Executive, as there could be no continuity of policy'under it, and it was an agitation fomented by a number of disappointed politicians who sought to enter the Ministry by a side-wind. He favoured free, secular and compulsory education on the existing lines. In conclusion, Mr Rutherford said that, although a large landowner, ho supported Mr Seddons Government because he had made more money under its administration than he had under any previous Ministry. The good old Conservative asserted that the colony's prosperity was despite the bad Seddon Adminisistration, but if so, why were times so bad in the good old) days!under the good Conservative Government? The Government's legislation had fostered the dairy industry to immense proportions, and what was true of this industry was true in other directions also.

In reply to questions, Mr Rutherford stated that ihe was not in favour of Bible reading in schools. He would pledge himself in any mo-confidence division to vote with the Government, hut would reserve the right to differ with it if he thought necessary on measures. The rumour that he intended to buy Parnassus was absolutely without foundation. The question of whether Cheviot should have a publichouse waa on© for the people themselves to decide. He was unable bo say whether the Government could produce a surplus if it ceased borrowing.

Chi the motion, of Dr Inglis, seconded by Mr W. Hodgßon, a hearty vote of thanks was 'passed to Mr Rutherford for his address, the candidate expressing a desire that

all questions of confidence should be di* pensed with. a A vote of thanks to the Chairman cHo«4 the proceedings. . ________