MR W. FRASER. M.P., AT QUEENSTOWN.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 2660, 19 May 1908, Page 5

MR W. FRASER. M.P., AT QUEENSTOWN.

Mr W. Fraser, ill. '. f..r the Wakatipu Electorate, nddre.v>i d ins Queei>*town constituents on Friday evening last in the Town Hall. There was not a large attendance—only between 40 and SOpersons, including some 8 ladies- but the very wet and boisterous uigbt was the probable cause of this. ,

The Mayor (Mr John Edgar, senr.) occupied the chair and formally introduced Mr Fra*er to the audience. In doing to he said that gentlemen did not require much introduction as he had been working for them as their member for the last 15 years. He thought it was hardly necessary even to ask for Mr Fraser an impartial hearing as that had always been given him by a Queenstown audience. Mr Fraser, on rising, stated that the reason he had presented himself before them was to give them a chance to catechise him on what bad been done in the previous scssiou. Moreover, he thought it was the duty of all members to go atuoug their constituents at least oncp a year to find out for themselves their requirements and see personally what were the needs of the district. He was sorry to see such a small number present but he supposed it was due to the weather md the lateness of the hour at which to hold the meeting He had had to go to Glenorchy to see people there so as be was not sure at what time the boat would get back he had arranged the meeting for 8.30. However, he would not inflict upon them a long address. Indeed a broad hint would appear to have been given him not to prolong the meeting as he could uot see a glass of water on the table forbtm. (Laughter.) He liked a glass of water when he was speaking to Help him in bis articulation. He, however, w uld be only too pleased to a swer . ny questions that might be put to him after te meeting Mr Fraser then briefly dealt with the business of last session—the Land Laws, the Tariff and Finance— his references being on the same line as contained in his address at niversdale* which was fully reported in our columns Ist week. Mr Fraser further said that here would be a considerable amount o money available this session for Public Works. He would see that he got bis share for the district. He did not endeavour to get more than his share as he did not consider that would be fair. However, ho thought that he had done very well in the past and he would make a point of getting his quota of the amount available for Public Works when the allocation was made. In reference to the new steamer (applause), he had been pegging away for this for two or three years, always getting promises. Two years ago they told him to wait a bit as they were going to get a steamer that would go 20 or 30 knots an hour at a cost of £30,000. This was to work the whole of the traffic on the lake, hut he had told their it could do nothing of the kind. What they wanted was a pood boat that could go about 12 or 15 knots an hour; one with a large deck and with glass sides so that people could view the beautiful scenery in comfort. And the General Manager knew this. The new boat was much required and he ventured to say that, taking into consideration the great increase in the tourist traffic within the last two or three years, no private company would have continued to have such a boat in use as the Ben Lomond which was a disgrace. He had had some personal experience of the boat that d*y and he would have liked to have had the company of the Premier, railway inspectors or other Government official* as be felt surs tbey would uot have had a very pleasant time. It was a pity that Sir Joseph Ward when he went up, did not get such a day as tbey had tint day on the Ben Lomond. He did not wonder at tourists whose misfortune it had been to travel in her in bad weather saying that they would never come to the Lakes again till there was a better boat If those in authority wanted to give him a £30,000 or £40,000 steamer be would not refuse it but he thought that £IO,OOO or £12,000 would procure a suitable enough boat and have it here in 12 months. When he got back to Wellington he would peg away at them again, as he already bad been doing for the last two v or three years, and would not be put ofl with promises. His audience would like to know, doubtless, what was going to be done in the approaching session of Parliament. So would bo. He could tell them one or two things, or two or three things, however, which would be considered. One was the erection of new Parliamentary buildings in place of those burnt down in December last The business of the country would be conducted in the meantime in the Governor's residence, which had been converted for temporary use. Some members seemed to think that the coming session would be only a short one because of the incouvenience that bad been caused by the tire. To his mind this was ridiculous. Certainly Parliament would meet under a certain amount' of discomfort and inconvenience, but that was no reaaou why the business of the country should be curtailed. As regarded the new buildings, the site for these would be considered, also the amount of money to be devoted to same. Some most extravagant proposals were being made which would run into nearly half a million, but he was strongly opposed to any such suggestions as he considered that the money was so much more needed for, and would be so much better spent on, roads in backblock settlements, bridges, railways, etc. Th«n the Arbitration and Conciliation Acts would be brought up again. He regretted the action of the recent strikers. There should be no such thing as strikes The Acts were framed in the best interests of workmen and any difficulties should be amicably adjusted in the Courts. The action of these strikers in their defying of the awards was that of kicking jway the ladder by which they bad climbed.

Mr Fraser concluded by expressing his willingness to answer any questions that might be put to him. Nunc being asked, however, Mr K P. Anderson moved a vote of thanks to Mr Fraser for his address and a vote of confidence in him as member for the Wakatipu electorate. He thought that as time had gone on Mr Fraser bad gown in public favor and confidence. Mr A. Joss seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr Fraser thai.kxi the meeting for their vote of confidence and said he would have liked to have had a larger number present but seeing the wretched night it was he took it as a compliment that so many bad attended, although (jocularly) perhaps it might have been a greater compliment if no one had come at all. Mr Fraser then proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, which concluded the meeting.