THE OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15620, 19 May 1911, Page 7

THE OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN.

MR HERRIES IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.

OPENING SPEECH AT TEMUKA.

[From Our Coeresvondent.]

TEMUKA, May 18

Mr W. H. Homes. M.P., addressed a well-attended meeting at Teinuka tonight in continuation of the political campaign which he commenced reccntlv in Nelson and on the West Coast. The chair was taken by Mr T. Buxton, who is Mayor of Teinuka and member for the district. Mr W. Nosworthy, M.P., was also present on the platform.

The chairman explained that he presided as Mayor of the town without any joolitical partiality. He could assure Mr Herries of an attentive hearing. He had taken the chair with a perfectly free mind, for he realised that, while he was supporting a particular party, it would be a very poor party if it could not withstand the fullest criticism from Mr Herries or anybody else. Mr Herries had a very hearty reception on rising. He said that he was not actuated by any hostility to Mr Buxtou personally in speaking at Temuka, but was merely carrying out a general campaign for placing the views of the Opposition before the country, and particularly those portions of it represented bv Govern** merit supporters. He said that he would not attempt any general criticism of the Government other than to say in opening that the wave of Liberal sentiment which had flooded the country in 1892, obliterating the old landmarks, was beginning to recede. The oountry in 1892 had embarked on a Liberal policy which, he was free to admit, had done an enormous deal of good for the country in legislation such as the Land for Settlements Act, tha Factories Act, Advances to Settlers Act, and Conciliation and Arbitration Aot, but there was not now the same enthusiasm that there was in the timo of Mr Seddon. The management of Government Departments was cot satisfactory, and in the Railway Department there was discontent among the men and those using the service. The Prime Minister, able mau though he was, seemed to be without convictions or ideas of his own, but was ready to listen to this or to that man. and had no enthusiasm on any subject. One who was looking for compromise was not ail ideal leader, and there ' were such signs of disruption that he considered the party in power would be replaced by a stronger party at the next poll. INCREASED TAXATION. Mr Herries contended that the production cf surpluses, while they sho wed ' the prosperity of the country, yet indicated that money was being taken out of the pookets of {fie people unnecessarily. The Prime Minister in 1909 had undoubtedly increased taxation in the shape of death duties and graduated tax, which was calculated to produce £300,000, part of which was tor the Dreadnought, yet it had produced £448,000, or £IIB.OOO more than was required. Further than that, the mousy had not been spent, and he held that the extra- taxation could have been delayed until tho money was wanted. REPRODUCTIVE LOANS. Mr Herries, in passing, referred to the statement attributed to the Minister of Public Works, that the Government couid not be expeotc-d to make grants in quarters where the loudest clamour took place against borrowing. He himself agreed with a moderate borrowing policy. A great deal was heard or reproductive loans, but h? maintained that many of them were noil so reproductive as they should be. A prodigious waste was going on in many directions, and the backbiccks of the North Island were monuments of waste And incapacity, as the system of issuing grants was rotten to the core. Then, again, tho cost of railway construction had risen from £7958 per mile in 1900 to £10,494 per mile in 1910, while the cost por mile during Sir Joseph Ward’s Administration had been £19,092. It would be said that the cost of labour and material had increased, but similar increases must have taken place in Australia, where tho cost of construction had decreased. BORROWING* Dealing with borrowing, Mr Herries condemned tho increase of short-dated debentures, and complained that since 1900 members had had no detailed information as to the cost of raising loans. The five million loan had been a great failure from a financial point of viow,_ due, he believed, net to the absence of prosperity in tho country, but to the general discontent of Home financiers with the loan operations of the dominion. Sir Joseph Ward’s method of raising loans was peculiar, and ho was very difficult to follow. THE OPPOSITION POLICY. The land question was foremost in tho Opposition policy. There were only two systems, either of nationalising the land and letting it cut to farmers, or allowing the farmers to own and cultivate tho laud. The Opposition favoured the freehold as the ‘only system that would serve tho interests of tho country. The ultimate object of the Opposition would he to settle the land in small holdings, big enough for a man and his family. He would give all Crown tenants the right to convert their holdings to freeholds at any time, possibly in instalments, and he would give lease-in-perpetuity tenants the freehold at the original value. A Voice: Rot. They will never get it. Mr Herries: How do you know Sir Joseph Ward will not propose it next session ? A Voice: If he does he will go ont. Mr Herric-s, continuing, said that the State had an interest in thirty-three and sixty-six-year leases, and it Simula bo ascertained. NATIVE LANDS. From a cor,damnation cf tho singlo tax system Mr Herries proceeded to discuss Nativo lands. Millions of acres, ho said, were awaiting settlement, which could never take plaeo without individualisation of titles. The Opposition policy was to bring the Native under the same law as the European, with jvo’.rcr to sell his land without going before a land board. OTHER PLANKS. An Upper House elected on the present franchise, under the proportional system of representation, was advocated by Mr Kerries, who said that a nominated body was not good for a democratic country, especially when ita leader was not a representative cf thcpeople. A civil service board was worth a trial, as it would abolish the system of political appointments. Although he did not believe in the old system of Railway Commissioners he behoved that the dominion would have to get a commissioner from England at a good salary, say £3OOO or £4OOO, to run the railways in a businesslike vay ; leaving mattei-s 'of policy to the Minister. THE LABOUR LAWS. Tlie Opposition was prepared to stick to the Arbitration Act, wnich had prevented sweating and reduced hours, but ho did object- to political interference in connection with the Court and tho harassing manner in which awards were enforced against employers, _ who were haled before the courts on trifling points and mado to appear as criminals. In conclusion, Mr Herries urged his hearers to study the Opposition policy, and if it was sound record their approval of it at the ballot-box. On the motion of Mr From a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to Mr H erries by acclamation.