POLITICAL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16551, 15 May 1914, Page 7

POLITICAL.

LIBERALS IN THE NORTH. MR RUSSELL AT ROTORUA. CRITICISM OF THE MASSEY GO? ERNMENT. [From Our Correspondent.] ROTORUA, May 14; Mr G. W. Russell, M.P., addressed crowded audience here last evenin Mr King, County Chairman, preside Mr Russell, who spoke for over fcv hours, received a most entbu6iastio r ception. He said that many of tho present had grown up during the twe ty-two years the Liberal Party had be<

ni office. They were now learning I practical experience the difference b tween Liberalism and Conservatisr The latter sought to protect existii privileges and interests, hence Mr Ma sey attracted to his side the wealth a'l vested interests of the country. Thi made the main backing of his pari; Liberalism sought to improve the coi dition of those who were handicap!* in the race of life. Its legislation pro ed that. Much remained to be don and when the Liberals regained offi< under Sir Joseph Ward, as they wou at. the next election—(loud they would again carry on the got work. He denounced the reckless mi statements of the Prime Minister at the Minister of Finance regarding tl falling-off in the Post Office Saviiy Bank deposits prior to their advent'; office. There was an unbroken series < excess of deposits under the .Liber; Governments to the very date tht left office, and now at last, when tl Government was able to announce tht the deposits for the March quarter e: eeeded the withdrawals, the Ministe were as delighted as dogs who discove ed they had two tails. Mr Russe criticised Mr Massey's statement J Auckland that on the advent to offi( of the Government it found the £800,0( of_ gilt-edged securities pledged ft £775,000. As a matter of fact, 1 Myers's loan, raised five weeks befoi they took office, provided the money fc repayment of all floating debts an left a large sum for expenditure in th dominion. The Government was no playing for votes. If they did not wi at the elections it would be proof pos tive that they should never have bee in office. They were promising grant and votes for railways.: roads an bridges everywhere, to try and buy sut port. Mr Massey sat in the cloud like a demigod scattering brib< and promises in a manner never don before. They were going to curtai borrowing, but it would take man millions to cover Mr Massey's promise during the last six months. Two nei additional loans were already pledget by him, one for back-blocks roads an< another for railway improvements. Ii every district the Prime Minster -visit ed he told the people the railways ,i required w-ero the most necessary it the dominion and he would increaa the vote. Was this the pure govern ment they were promised? The Governmept, said Mr Russell was one for the capitalist and money lender. Its policy was to secure th) .highest interest possible for the classei who supported it. Sir Joseph Ward'i great cheap money scheme was beinis emasculated, and until the Liberal! got back to power the rates of iriteresl would continue high. : i The speaker made references to th« Boyd Garlick appointment, the Rhode! Hauraki affair, the Wesfcport Harboui Board scaudal and the Public Trus< trouble. He said Mr Fisher appearec to be never in Wellington and a re turn would be moved for of the number of davs he had been in his officii between the close of last session ant the beginning of next. . One day h< was playing tennis, the next .openine a Salvation Army citadel, and h< followed this with opening a grand stand on a country racecourse. Mi Russell predicted a great win for thf Liberals at the election. The people were roused, the whole country was with them, and Liberals and Labourites were united in the determination to sweep from office the Tory and reactionary Government and to replace them, once more with a Government of the people for the people and by the .people. At the close of the speech there was great applause. Sir James Carroll received an enthusiastic reception and delivered a short speech on Native matters. Mr Pollen, Liberal candidate for Taiiranga, also spoke. A vote of thanks and confidence, with support to Sir Joseph Ward and the Liberal Party, was carried unanimously and the meeting broke up with cheers for the Liberal leader.

PRIME MINISTER AT GISBORNE.

THE EAST COAST RAILWAY. ; [Per Press Association.] I GISBORNE, May 14. | Mr Massey was accorded a civic welcome to-day. He received deputation* in the morning and was entertained at luncheon by the local bodies at midday. Referring to the East Coast Railway he said_ it was probably the most important line under construction at the present time. The Government proposed to ask Parliament to do full justice to it on the Estimates for the ensuing year. The Prime Minister indicated that the Government would purchase an area of Native land around Lake Waikaremoana in order to preserve the bush. " ■ ; ■ r ■'. ;

In the course of his speech interesting figures were quoted by the Prime Minister in connection with the, subdivision of rural land in Hawke's Bay as a result of the operation of the increased graduated land tax. During the twehe months ended March 31, 1914, he stated, a total area of 37,500 acres of freehold land was subdivided and 'disposed of. The number of subdivisions was 336, or au average of 111 acres per siibdivisionr Mr" Massey added that the figures fo* other portions of the dominion were not yet available. CLOSER SETTLEMENT. - GOVERNMENT PURCHASE '', OF ESTATES. ! Regarding the operations of the Land for Settlements Department, the following comparative return was read by the Prime Minister in his speech last evening, showing the area of prk vately owned land purchased by th* Government during the last four years, and the amount expended iu the acquisition of these lands:—

The Prime Minister 6tated that these figures were a conclusive answer to those who said the present Government were not pursuing a vigorous closer settlement policy. In addition • an area of 75,000 acres of Native land had been acquired during 1913-14, and the expenditure was £176,149. The , area purchased for last year was jg class of land suitable for settlementyfii

mall holdings, comprising such blocks ts Porangahau, Maungamair©, Tahoaiti and Tiritu. MR MASSEY TO SPEAK IN DUNEDIN. .[From Our Correspondent.] DtJNEDIN, May 14. jlr Massey has consented to deliver in address in Dunedin on the occasion >f his visit to the winter show, probibly on May 29. ' THE MASTERTON SEAT. [From Oub Correspondent.] MASTER-TON, May 14. Though Mr G. Pv. Sykes has been selected as the Government candidate for the Masterton seat, it is thought probable that another . Government supporter, Mr A. H. Herbert, who contested' th«» seat at the last election, will •gain stand. , A number of Reformers are of the opinion that Mr Herbert has a better chance of winning the seat than the Government nominee, and are consequently using every effort to get him O'come forward. No definite announcement has, yet been made as to who will be the Liberal candidate. It is stated that Mr Hogg's family do not wish him to again contest the seat, as he has not been enjoying the best of health, and a political campaign would be a severe strain on him. Those who profess to be in Mr Hogg's confidence state, nevertheless, 1 • that the ex-member will again come forward. If Mr Hogg does not jjtand there will be no lack of Liberal candidates, as no fewer than five men ire isaid to be willing to offer their services. They are," moreover, all good men; who wfll command strong support, and the difficulty will be to make a choice. THE TEMUKA SEAT. • MR BUXTON DECLINES. A meeting of Mr T. Buxton's Liberal committee and prominent supporters was held in Temuka on Wednesday evening. In spite of the unfavourable weather there was a fair attendance. Mr.D. M'lnnes presided. Mr M'lnnes explained the object of the meeting, and expressed the pleasure with which the committee met their member, Mr Buxton. The chairman referred to the deputation that had recently waited upon Mr 0. J. Talbot and asked him to stand in the Liberal interest for the Temuka seat. He did not propose to go into all that matter again; it was regrettable that Messrs Craigie and Doyle had not seen fit to leave the matter entirely in the hands of the committees in the electorate. He declined to make one of the party solely on the ground that it "' was fit and proper that the local committee should first be consulted as to the choice of a candidate. He had riot taken that attitude because he had any objection to Mr Talbot personally, or as a candidate. ' Mr John Fitzgerald was the only member of the deputation who was a Temuka elector. He understood that if Mr Buxton chose to stand again that Mr Talbot had expressed his intention of standing down absolutely. Mr T. Buxton, 1 M.P., stated that he did not intend to stand again. He had given the matter much thought, and his determination was not arrived at because., he had any reason to believe he would be unsuccessful if he did stand. •He had friends, he believed, sufficient to ensure his return at the poll. He had received requests from all round the electorate to stand, and if ho had only "himself to consider he probably would stand. He felt he was consulting his friends' interests and.the interests of the Liberal Party if he stood down on this occasion. What might happen in the course of two or three years he could not say, time would tell its own tale. Meanwhile ho would urge them to hold fast to the principles of Liberalism, and do their utmost to return the Liberal Party to power again. He could tell them now deeply he felt the necessity of standing down this election, for the fascination of politics was indeed great. Mr Buxton .said he was not consulted in regard to the deputation to Mr C. J. Talbot. Mr Talbot's name was never mentioned to him nor was he asked if he intended to stand again. Still, they -were not to blame Mr Talbot for that. Of Mr Talbot he could only speak as he had found him, a really splendid young fellow, one who had always worked zealously for the Liberal cause, and for the speaker. Nobody had worked harder at the Fairlie end than had Mr Talbot. He had received a letter Trom Mr Talbot, explaining the position and 6tating that he would stand down and support him if it was his (Mr Buxton's) intention to stand again. Mr Buxton then referred to the position of £ member of Parliament, which some people considered a lucrative job. Unfortunately, he had proved to his cost that it .was quite the reverse. Mr Buxton then dealt with Apolitical questions and regretted that the experience and knowledge he had gained in his trip abroad he would not - be able to use publicly to the people's advantage. He eulogised the 1 work of Mr Lloyd George, and said jthat he recognised that there was something wrong economic system when some men made millions while others starred. His sympathies had always been with the worker and al- • ways would be, and even though he [would not be in the political arena he would not cease to do what lay in his (power to diminish the distance between ■ the wealthy and poor. i A large number present expressed their sympathy with Mr Buxton, and voiced their Tegret at not having him 'to contest the Forthcoming election. It was agreed that Mr Talbot should ';be asked to come to Temuka to express his views on politics. Pending the hearing of his views, the meeting provisionally approved Mr Talbot's candidature.

It was also agreed to ask Sir Joseph Ward, to speak in Temuka two or three weeks hence; ,' . ,

Yea re. 1910-1911 1911-1912 1912-1913 1913-1914 Acres. . 14,399 . 44,447 . 52,098 . 141.062 Price. £158,796 381,483 428,044 560,708