THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 283, 28 November 1905, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

MR JOHN DUNCAN AT SEDDON

An enthusiastic gathering of about two hundred electors assembled in the newly erected Town Hall at Seddon to hear Mr Duncan explain his political views, and also his reasons why electors ehould know how inadequately the Marlborough province has been, treated in relation to the expenditure of public monies. The audience were enraptured with Mr Duncan's contentions, and at times the spacious "hall" re-echoed with applause. The Chairman, Mr F. M. Foster, said that he had much pleasure in introducing the Opposition candidate, Mr J. Duncan. At the first election contested by the present candidate he had acted in the same capacity. Since then a great number of laws had been made; no doubt some of them beneficial, and some otherwise. The extending of the franchise to the ladies made it a difficult problem to solve how an election would terminate.

Mr Duncan, who was most cordially received, said that the burden of increased taxation was a very serious matter. During the last ten years it had increased from £3 7s Id to £4 8s 4d per head of our population, and the Customs duties were responsible for about 12s per head of this increase; therefore it must be patent to every honest thinking elector that the surplus, if real, was the resuP* of this heavy taxation. The speaker contended that the electors of Wairau had a very just complaint against the present Government considering that the small sum of £11,000 was Wairau1 s share of public money placed upon the Estimates of the past session, as compared with the Premier's own electorate, which receives £35,000. It was further found that the electbrates which returned Opposition members j were bountifully treated with the Treasury cash. The Government simply said, "we hold Marlborough [an easy 'prey,' therefore any small j amount will satisfy her, as we require our gigantic plums for electorates that have Opposition members representing them." Mr Duncan said that, although the Premier would like to take credit for the prosperity of the colony, he submitted that the refrigerator and separator were the true factors which had undoubtedly b-<mght about such good times. The Advances to Settlers Act was also a most unsatisfactory concern, as it was intended to help the small leaseholder, but out of £175,000 lent in Marlborough only £21,000 went to leaseholders. It was a common thing for the owner of a large freehold to borrow money under the above Act at 5 per cent., and then lend it out again at 10 per cent., thereby making a profit out of the money which should be given to small settlers. The land questicin was still in a Yes-No state. The Commission

set up by the Premier, which had cost the colony =€15,000, had brought in a divided decision. The lease-in-perpe-tuity and the homestead system, introduced by the late John Ballance, were to be commended. Under the f6rmer, the holder of a lease could pay for the land in 30 years, and it becamehis own; and under the latter, after five years residence and making certain improvements, the Crown grant was issued. At the present time "chaos" was the land policy of the Government. No one was certain of his or her tenure. Accusations had been made against Mr Duncan that hewas in favor of paying low wages, and that he had actually done so. This he stoutly denied. In the year 1899, when times were hard, he paid 8s to 10s per day to his men working at the Ravencliffe gold mine, and any person could come and ; examine his pay sheets, where the name of every workman was recorded and the amount of wages received. The Land Boards of the colony, he contended,, should be elective, and not left to the whim of the Premier. This would produce a much sounder opinion in the public mind. In conclusion, he submitted it must be evident to every elector that the Government was not sincere in carrying on the Picton-Waipara railway. If they were honest, and intended to carry on this line, why was it not mentioned by the Minister of Railways as one of the most important lines in the colony? Not a word about our railway—Otago Central, Midland, Kaipara, and North Auckland were all specified and provided for. The taking of Flaxbourne was gazetted three years ago February next; therefore the excuse made by the Government that they could not proceed with the railway was idle and incorrect. In fact, he felt surf had not the Opposition been forthcoming against the present member, the Pic-ton-Waipara railway would be an unknown quantity, and the present labor which had so suddenly been introduced on the eve of a General Election would also be unthought of. Therefore he considered his candidature had been the means of having a "mite" of Marlborough's rights ex-, pended in the right direction. Only two questions were asked the candidate, which were answered to the full satisfaction of everyone present. Mr G. W. Armstrong moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Duncan for his very able and sincere address. He coincided with the candidate's opinion that the railway works at Seddon would not have ,been commenced had it not been to try and eaten votes for the present member. He refrained from adding confidence to his motion, as the ballot-box was the proper place to record "confidence." The motion was put and carried. The usual compliment to the chair was carried by acclamation, thus ending a most orderly and appreciative meet* mg.

[PKESS ASSOCIATION.] OAMARU, Nov. 28. file completed nominations for the Oamaru seat are:—Hon. T. Y. Duncan (Ministerialist.), James Mitchell (Liberal Independent), and Wm. MoTvenzxe (Opposition). T :■' HOKITIKA, Nov. 28. Harry Bowin, of Whareama, Watrarapa, sheep farmer, has been nominated i)i opposition to Mr Seddon for the Westland seat. He stands in the interests of the No-license party. CHRISTCHURtjrf^ov. 28. Owing to his indisposition, the medical adviser of Mr C. M. Gray, a candidate for Christchnrch North, haa ordered him to do no more public work this week, and to cut the telephone off from his residence. Mr Gray had to leave the chair at a meeting of the City Council last night. \ AUCKLAND, Nov. 28. Mr P. A. Bradley, a candidate for .the three city seats, addressed a most uproarious meeting last night. The crowd imaded the stage, upsetting the chairman, the candidate, and a table on to the floor. The candidate was listened to for about half-an-hour, the meeting finally breaking up in darkness and disorder. The crowd handled the candidate roughly. They chased him through an adjoining hotel into another hotel, and surrounded that building, hooting and yelling. The canddate escaped through a back door. PALMERSTON NORTH, Nov. 28. The greatest gathering ever held in the district assembled in Zealandia Hall and vicinity last night, when the Opposition candidate, Mr Fred Piram, was enthusiastically received Ly nearly three thousand electors, blowers were showered on the platform, and the cheering throughout * was most demonstrative. Features of Mr Piranrs speech were an allusion to a circular issued to the railway employees with the recent in-, crease of pay, which stated that the amount was only an allowance, and not to be counted for superannuation; and a criticism of the rate of progress of the colony during the last thirteen years as against the previous thirteen, greatly in favor of the previous term, with the demolishment of the Premier's claim to reducing the price of coal by the State coal mines, it being shown that the retail price of the State coal in Wellington is 40s per ton by the hundredweight— the highos* I? 1' I-? known for years. References to Mr Massey were received with greafc cheering and enthusiasm.