POLITICAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 440, 5 November 1908, Page 2

POLITICAL.

Mr Stevens at Newbury.

(Special Reporter.)

Mr John Stevens addressed a large meeting of electors in the Newbury Hall last night. Mr Marshall Knight occupied the chair and introduced Mr Stevens as the Government candidate in the forthcoming contest and mentioned that Mr Stevens had been a member of the House of Representatives for 15 years, having been first elected in 1881. Mr Stevens said he was a political newcomer in Newbury as formerly the Mauawatu Electorate ouly came so far as the Oroua River instead of as at present extending to the KairangaBunnythorpe line. He was in consequence seeking their suffrages as a Government supporter and the candidate chosen by the Government to contest the election in the interest of the liberal Party. The Opposition had for a prominent plank in its platform the handing over of the control of pqblic affairs into the hands of non-political boards. There was no such thing as a non-political board because every person who attained majority held and exercised political opinions and if the .hoards were appointed by the Opposition should it ever again come into power, which was not likely, these boards would be composed of men of their own calibre and political opinions. The cry raised was that the debt was increasing. But the Opposition critics omitted to mention that on the other side of the ledger were interest-earning liquid assets that, could be realised at short notice. But they should not be realised. The means of distribution of our products and dissemination of our knowledge should be kept in the hands of the people, controlled by the people, for the people. The people of New Zealand must not come down to the miserable cramped notion of weeping over trouble that did not exist. There was no trouble in New Zealand. There was a slight depression caused by the influence of Wall St., New York, and over speculation on the part of dishonest _ tradesmen elsewhere, but the Go-' vermneut of New Zealand bad made ample provision to withstand any sudden call which might be made on its finance by purchasing in London worth of liquid assets bearing a satisfactory rate of interest and available at call. In answer to questions, Mr Stevens said the Farmers’ Union had first selected a candidate andA then put certain questions to theT candidates consequently the questions could be regarded as superfluous. He was not in favour of abolishing Conciliation Boards. Mr G. Rickard asked if Mr Stevens was in favour of the Government candidate being provided with a uniform so that the electors would know who to vote for. Mr Stevens Yes —If the elector seeking information was so ignorant as not to be able to distinguish good from from evil otherwise.

Mr John Small proposed a vote of thanks and confidence which was seconded by Mr Thomas Knight, one of the oldest and mod successful farmers in the district and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks was accorded to the chairman.

Mr Edward Newman, the Opposition candidate for the Manawatu seat, addressed the electors living in the western suburb of Feilding in a marquee last night. Mr Morton occupied the chair. In introducing the speaker, the chairman referred to his public career. Mr Newman thanked his hearers for their attendance on so inclement a night, and said that although he was new to Feilding and a Parliamentary contest, he was not new to public life, and he proceeded to detail his career on various public bodies and the attention he had given to local politics, which attention he would devote to the larger field he was trying for. He credited the Government with many good Acts but he differed with them in regard to their land policy ; he was an out and out freeholder. At the conclusion of his address a vote of thanks and confidence in the Opposition was carried.

The rolls were closed on Saturday (s'ays the Post) but applications received on Monday, and bearing Saturday’s postmark, will, if otherwise in order, be allowed. The polling for the Maori election takes place on December 2nd.

Mr Edward Newma'n, Opposition candidate for Manawatu addressed the electors in a marquee at Feilding, on Tuesday night. Mr Morton was voted to the chair and briefly introduced the candidate. Mr Newman spoke on similiar lines as at Foxton. He was not a follower ot the old Tory Party of Sir Harry Atkinson’s day. Mr Newman said he hai not anywhere previously referrea to his opponents, but as they had favoured him with their attention it was perhaps only courteous that he should return the compliment. Mr Stevens, speaking at Taikorea, said he would put the Opposition candidate aside as belonging to a party that would revive retrogressive. Mr Stevens had also said that Mr Newman belonged to the old National Association, and to the party that had opposed Manhood Suffrage. Both statements were incorrect. Mr Franklandhad advised the Liberal candidates to stand side by side and so prevent the return of the Opposition candidate in other words to defeat the will of the people by means of the Second Ballot and they had to thank Sir Joseph Ward for making such m

infamous thing possible. Mr Frankland had also stated that the Opposition party had not been true friends of the people ; and had not given the country a constructive policy! Was it the place of the Oppo.ition to formulate a policy while they were an Opposition party ? Sir Joseph Ward had defined no policy for the future. None of the speaker’s opponents had either refuted bis arguments or been able to prove that his statements were otherwise than correct, and there was really nothing in any of their speeches to reply to. ■ln reply to questions, Mr Newman said he would support the Local Option Poll remaining as at present, as he considered a bare majority would be detrimental to everyone ; he was not in favour of the Government borrowing money locally; he considered Chinese employers of labour should be amenable to our labour laws ; he would support anything to prevent Chinese entering New Zealand. If the new education lest would uot keep them out then he would support something more drastic still. On the motion of Mr Percival, seconded by Mr Bramwell, a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Newman and confidence in the Opposition party was carried unanimously. Mr Frankland at Marlon. (By telegraph—Special reporter). Mr Frankland held a splendid meeting at Marton last night, 250 being present. Mr MacEldowney, (mayor) was chairman. Mr Frankland spoke for i 4 hours on Immigration, Old Age Pensions, policy etc. Numerous questions were answered satisfactorily. Mr Bishop moved a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Frankland as a fit and proper person to represent the district, etc., which was carried unanimously. Mr Stevens at Awahuri. (By Telegraph. Special Reporter.) Mr John Stevens addressed a large and enthusiastic meeting of electors in the Awahuri Hall, Awahuri, Tuesday night. Mr Petei Canity occupied the chair. Introducing Mr Stevens, he said the candidate had been a resident of the for fiftyfour years, and for many years had represented the district in Parliament. He was the best known resident of {he district, ahd thought the candidate for their sufferages well armed with qualifications. Mr Stevens dealt at length' with land legislation and Maori lands, in connection with which, Mr Massey stated ,£BOOO had been spent and there was nothing to show tor it. That was intentionally misleading the electors. A commission had been appointed, consisting of the Chiet Justice, Sir Robert Stout, and Mr Ngata. The order of reference by His Excellency the Governor to the commission was exactly on the lines. •Mr Stevens had suggested in an article written by him and published in the New Zealand Times, in 1906, pointing out the several systems by' which the Native Lands could be settled for the mutual benefit of the Maori and pakeha alike, Mr Massey well knew the commissioners final reports had not yet been made. How, therefore, could he justify that the cost of the commission had been wasted, as the interim reports clearly indicated that the value of the commissioners recommendation, when completed, would be worth to the Dominion not but ,£BO,OOO. Mr Stevens also dealt with the dairy regulations, Land Settlement Finance Bill and the Advances to Settlers Act.

In answer to questions, Mr Stevens said he was not in favour of a salary being paid to the leader of the Opposition. What machinery had been provided was tp enable natives to deal with their lands but there was no intention of compelling natives to part with their land if they wished to keep it and cultivate it and otherwise use it.

A vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Stevens as a member for Manawatu, and of renewed confidence in the present Government was proposed by Mr J. C. Collingwood, seconded by Mr R. Garritty, and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting.