THE BATTLE OF THE SEATS.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 542, 17 October 1908, Page 5

THE BATTLE OF THE SEATS.

MR BYRON BROWN'S VIEWS,

A WHOLE-SOULED REFORMER

There was (writes our Shannon correspondent) a good attendance in the Town Hall when Mr Byron Brown, a candidate for the Otaki electorate, gave an address. Mr

Brown emphasised his view as to

"the absolute necessity," for a change of Government or if not possible, of a stronger Opposition. The Government had, he said, taken credit for the large number of statutes which had been rushed through instead of putting quality before quantity. With regard to taxation there had been an enormous increase per head of population while the Liberal Government had been in power. Electors voted for the Government candidate in order to insure expenditure of public money on local requirements. At the last election taxation per head was £4 8s 4d ; now it was £4 14s 7d. Contrasting the Otaki electorate with Mr Guinness' electorate, £8000 had been spent in the former within the last 8 years although there was a vote of £20,000 on the Supplementary Estimates beforo tho last election, and £80,000 had been expended in Mr Guinness' electorate, although £50,000 was paid in rates every year by the Otaki electorate. The cus-

Toms' tariff was the great revenue producing source in New Zealand and the shopkeepers were the Dominion's tax gatherers. The time had come when we could no longer attord to pay such excessive taxation. A time of depression was at hand when slackness and stagnation in trade would be prevalent. The speaker compared the Government to a horse which had taken the bit between its teeth and beltod. A self-reliant policy was urgently wanted. The country had been tolerating trusts too long. Referring to the Co-operative Flour Millers' Association, ho said that owing to this combine flour had doubled in price. The Association had been formed to keep down the price for the farmer, and to put it up for the consumers. The raw material had increased 25 per cent while the price of flour had doubled. This trust had strangled competition and cornered out daily bread. Owing to the Woollen Manufacturers' Trust, and in spite of the drop in wool, the price of the finished article was as high as when wool was Is 3d. Mr Brown also referred to the ' Butter Combine" and to the "Banking Trust " This last trust had begun when bankers charged 5s every half year for keeping accounts. Banks had stopped all advances. Mr Foild, Mr Brown said, was not a talking membre as he had never made a speech of any length in the House, and yet he was only on one committee, the Statutes Revision Committee, and all lawyers were on that one. The speaker advocated that the Public Works Department, Advance to Settlers and Workers, and Lands for Settlement Act should be placed in the hands of a non-political party. Loans were used for political purposes applicants being referred in instance! to their members. The thin end of the Tammany wedge was being introduced. Members should be allowed access to public aooounts. Under the Public Revenues Act, a bare majority could set aside the constitution. Mr Brown contended that the Legislative Oounoil should be eleoted by the people. The Second Ballot Bill had never been asked for. It came as a thunderclap to bilk labour being represented. Honorariums for members of Parliament should not be more than £150 a year for six months' work.

At the conclusion of the meeting a number of questions was asked and

the candidate briefly fipoke on the "No License" question.

A hearty vote of thanks was accorded.

OROUA

Mr D. H. Gutlirie addressed a large andence in the Foresters' Hall, Halcombe, last night. He received a most attentive hearing Mr Barchain oooupied the chair. He spoke for nearly two hours on the principle questions of the day. There were no questions asked. The audience appeared to bo quite satisfied with the clear -way in which he expounded the polioy of the Opposition party. A hearty vote of thanks terminated a most successful meeting. DUNEDIN CENTRAL. Dunedin, Last Night. It is understood that Mr J. McDonald, Mayor of Dunedin, has definitely decided to contest the Dunedin Oential against Mr J. F. Arnold. INVEROARGILL. Invercargill, Last Night. The Political Labour League decided [not to nominate anyone in the meantime as a candidate for,the Invercargill seat. TUAPEKA.

Naseby. Last Night Mr Robert Scott, Opposition candidate for the Tiiapeka seat, addressed a large meeting of electors at Naseby to-night. He criticised the land legislation of the Government, declaring himself to be a supporter of freehold tenure and said be opposed the Government because of the methods it adopted to keep itself in power; because on account of its leaning towards Socialism, and because of its want of a clearly expressed and well defined policy He would extend the Bush and Swamp Crown Lands Act as an inducement to young men with email capital to go on the land. He snpported an elective Legislative Council, and the appointment of a Civil Service Board, and condemned the Minister of Mines for his inactivity in not spending the votes of Parliament for mining purposeß. Mr Scott was recorded a hearty vote of thanks.

DUNEDIN WEST. A LABOURITE'S VIEWS. Dnuedin, Last Night. Mr J. W Munro, Political Labour League candidate for Dunedin West, addressed a fairly well attended meeting of electors to-night. In the course of his nddress he explained that the reason for the Labour Party running a candidate against a member of the Cabinet was that it had not confidence in the present Government. Ho severely critioised several

sections of the Arbitration Act whioh lie regarded us being in par' ticular an attempt to stifle small unions. He opposed the Second Bal.lot Act as undemocratic. On cono.'uding he received an unanimous vcxte of confidence.