POLITICAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 14396, 12 June 1907, Page 8

POLITICAL.

THE HON G. FOWLDS AT GREY ILYNN. [Per Press Association.l AUCKLAND, Juno 11. The Hon G. Fowlds d elivercd a lengthy speech to his constituents at | Grey Lynn to-night. There was a big Igathering, and Mr Fowlds’e political lopponsat at last election, Mr John *Farroll, presided. Mr Farrell paid a tribuc-e to Mr Fotvlds’s character for integrity and high purpose. Air Fowlds said he thought the country would agree that all members of the Cabinet were imbued with the idea of serving their country to the best of their ability, and that they were men of earnestness and thoroughness. (Applause.) There wore few, if any, people in New Zealand who were not proud of th(i position which Sir Joseph Ward had won for himself in connection with the Imperial Conference. (Applause.) Sir Joseph had expressed this colony’s views on all questions before the conference with clearness and forcefulness, i and when ho recognised that the BriI tish Government would not accede to , some points ho did not say nasty things, but directed his attention to more practical methods, and a large amount of th© more practical portion of tho work of the conference was due to him. (Applause.! Ho (Air Fowlds) had occasion recently to criticise some of the other members of the conference. and he knew his statements had met with hostile criticism, but those who knew him would know he did not wait to consider whether a statement would meet with approval or not. He first made up bis mind that a thing waa right and required to be said, and then ho said it. (Applause.) He had nothing to regret and nothing to take back on_ that criticism. He was an. Imperialist and he believed in a great destiny for tho British Empire, and wanted to see the influence and strength of that Empire consolidated, for ho believed the British Empire was tire greatest force in the world to-day making for peace and justice, for liberty and progress and righteousness. Ho was anxious to see the power and influence extended, but what he was afraid of was that if they had a reputation at future conferences for the tone adopted by some delegates there would soon bo a feeling at Homo that England could not be bothered with tlie colonics. People at Home would got tired if the colonies tried to force them to adopt something they believed to bo inimical to the interest of tho country. “ What _wo have to look out for,” ho said, “ is that wo maintain our own independence of action. Wo. must bo ready to grant the same liberty to tho people of the old country.” (Applause.) Ho wan sure everyone in tho colony would j.oiu in regretting the illness of the ActingPremier, Air Hall-Jones, and in hoping that, be might soon bo restored to health. (Applause. Mr Hall-Jones was one of the most painstaking and able administrators New Zealand ever had, and it would be a severe loss if tho colony were deprived of bio services for a lengthened period. (Applause.) Mr Fowlds said that in the Governor’s (Speech and. tho Financial Statement several important. reforms were outlined which had since been effected. Amongst these was the provision of sinking funds for same of the old and unproductive loans, .and last year out of ordinary revenue £39,950 was provided. Thou there was an item that had stood for years before the present party came into office, £700,000 on debentures, and £150,000 was paid off that. (Applause.) Certain works carried out by the Public Works Department mere in the nature if maintenance than new work had always been, charged to loan, and some members contended this should ho charged to revenue; The reply to that was that so long as they were transferring large, sums'from the Consolidated Fund to tho Public "Works Fund, tho jnmey was not really paid out of loan. Still, as a matter ot proper bookkeeping, it was better to chargerthis to revenue, and last year all similar emus ’•ad been paid out of revenue. Pracically ail these reforms had been ad•coated by different members of the Ministry. The leader of the Opposition .raid these proposals were his, and took credit lor them, but his (Mr Fowlds’) opinion, was that if the devil himself was leader of the he would he found preayhing righteensnea'j. The chances were, however, that if ■tho Opposition got into power it would say tho time was inopportune for reforms. In connection with the Department of Education, he was very pleased when he got the House to agree to free education from the primary schools to the University. (Applause.) Under the present condition® of administration secondary schools were not as formerly practically the preserves of the wealthy, made so by tho heavy fees extorted, but a bright girl or bev could now, by means of proficiency certificates, pass on and receive seccudary education free, of charge. In regard to technical education several vears ago when ho entered Parliament tho total earn spent in that direction was £2296, and at that time it was generally regarded that New Zealand was a long way behind the most pro* grossly © countries. Tho system and rote had since been enormously extended. Technical and continuation Masses last year numbered 1173, the I’chool classes receiving manual instruction and teaching in cookery totalled 1839, the l number of .students lidding free places in Technical Schools aggregated 15,051, and the tot;I expend tn v c amounted to £63,186. In view of the rapid development of technical educaitm and improvement's made in educaiost in other directions, the Government had sent it® inspector general on a tour of other countries to examine their_ methods, and ho (Mr Fowlds) anticipated great advantages; to colonial education as a result. He aJr-o met the attacks of critics against tho ‘•'School Journal” recently’ brought out by the Department, and expressed tho opinion that the introduction of the journal into tho schools ’ would be accompanied by extensive, benefit®, while it would get over the difficulty of the heavy cost of school books to parents. In the early days of settlement endowments were- made in Canterbury and Ola go, but at the present time stern opposition was offered. “ Tho basis of the oppasi'icu 1 don’t quite, understand,” he- said, ” hut I am inclined to think that now tho democracy is entering into their own, and when wo democratise the secondary schools the- wealthy classes consider there is. not .so much value in endowments as when they themselves had a, monopoly of them.” (Laughter.) Referring to public health, the Minister remarked that the prompt and effective manner in which tho local staff of the Health Department set about combating the recent outbreak of disease in Auckland justified the existence of the ' Department. It showed, too, that an officer working independently of a. local authority was more likely to deal fearlessly with all owners of insanitary premises than ailj officer controlled by the, local authority. Although a succession of prosperous years had lately been, experienced, last year had been exceptional, uotwithetending the payments out of ordinary revenue which ho had mentioned, and the additional expenditure. The leader of tho Opposition had frequently stated that tlie upeaker was the- real author of the Land Bill, that- ho wa-s the strong man of the Ministry, the power _ behind the throne, and’in fac t tho tail that wagged tho dag. (LnngJi-

| tor.) I Ho often wondered whether Mr } Alassey believed these statements him- | self. (Laughter.) Those present know ’ him and his opinions too well to think ha waa the author of tho Land Bill, and ha believed Air Massey knew better. It was reminiscent of one of Barry Pain’s rjtoriea, in which a weak old missionary confused by Herbert Spencer’s arguments of an unbeliever, said, “ Well, perhaps you’re right. I’ve been bo busy teaching others I haven’t had time to learn much myself.” Air Ale racy called him a Socialist, a. single-taxor and a land nationalist. There was such | a wide difference between these things that he didn’t see how he could be all at ones. Mr Massey had hold him up as a " bogey man,” especially in country districts amongst the fanners. Air Aiaasoy threatened that tho Lund Bill would never be passed unless ho was first carried out of the House. That was tho threat of an Anarchist. It meant that whether the majority of members were, in favour or not, Air .Massey would set up a persistent stonewall until ho was carried out on a stretcher. That was hardly the position for the leader of the Opposition to take up. especially when ho had maintained tor years that Parliament was capable of dealing with tho land question, and had denounced tho Laud Commission, as useless and unnecessary. Last election altered Parliament a great deal, and therefore, in Air Auauftey’s opinion, the present Parliament was not so competent to deal with the. Land Bill, but Parliament and tho Government would do its duty, oven if it became necessary to carry out Air Alassey. (Laughter and applause.) _ Undoubtedly there woe a good deal of genuine opposition in tho Auckland district, and it was ail to the effect that no Bill would be satisfactory which did not contain the. ,opi tion of the freehold. Tho fact was that I an optional clause was in the Land Bill. I It was truo that the operation of option, j was considerably restricted, because of the largo endowments proposed, but ! tho Bill proposed that tho millions of i acres of Native, funds should bo opened i under tho optional system, and what | Parliament had to decide was whether iit would agree to tho endowments. A 'good deal of opposition in Auckland wiau due entirely to misrepresentation. There had been direct statement and innuendo that the Bill was an ’ attack on the freehold already existing. There was not tho slightest justification for that, except tho £50,000 limitation clause. (A Voice; "Too much.”). Yes, it van probably too much, but Mr Massey and his party dared not take up a position of out-uid-oi.it opposition to that, and that was tho only direction in which tho Bill infringed upon the fullest right to tho freehold, and to tho general ’ community that could be nothing but a | fair proposition. | Mr Fovvius concluded by referring to i a number of local matters, and the I usual vote of thanks was accorded.

AIR MASSEY AT HUNTLEY. [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND, Juno 11. Air Massey addressed a meeting under the auspices of tho Huntly Political Reform League. He said ho wan glad to acknowledge that the Treasurer had a (surplus, the country was prosperous. and the revenue buoyant. Ho remarked upon tho indcbteducfa of the colony, which was increasing at tho rate of two million a year. He did not sso how this could bo avoided,_ but urged that in a revision of the tariff the Government should _ reduce the duties on the necessities of life, and so keep down the cost of living for the_ multitude. An amendment was needed in local government law, doing away with the present dual control by County Councils and Road Boards, and to place the finance of local authorities on a more satisfactory basis. He advocated Natives having tho same privileges as Europeans and similar responsibilities, with a proviso that no Native should be sallowed to dispose of land necessary for tho maintenance of himself and Ids family. Tho Waikato sot-tiers were a« much interested in the Auckland harbour, as were Auckland’s citizen's, and an amendment of the law was necessary to give country people representation on Harbour Boards. Tho railway adnlinistration was severely criticised. Air Alassey said ho would speak in no. uncertain voice regarding the lack of rolling stock and Ircomotives., whereby industry was paralysed and inconvenience caused. Ralph’s mine alcao -last quarter lost thirty days’ work owing to the want of waggons. Locomotives ought to be built in tho colony. Advances to workmen were advocated, and tho Land Bill was criticised as in previous speeches. Air Alassey said tho Franklin -electors had stood' by him so well that he- could not desert that constituency, though ho had been requested to contest Waikato. A vote of thunks was curried amid enthusiasm.