MR MOFFATT'S CANDIDATURE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 26 September 1908, Page 1

MR MOFFATT'S CANDIDATURE.

(Communicated). Mr Moffatt, a candidate for the Nelson seat at the coming elections, addressed a meeting of electors at Ranzau the other evening. The meeting was well-attended, and a fair number of ladies were present. Mr Schwass was voted to the chair. The candidate spoke on the same lines as Appleby, urging the desirableness of leasing rather than selling the lands of the State. He dealt very fuly with the land question, advocating* direct taxation as preferable to indirect, as through the Customs. H© favoured a further increase in the graduated land tax to reduce land values, which at present were abnormally high, and consequently prejudicial to the advancement of the best interests of the country. At the conclusion of the address a large number of questions were asked relative to the land and liquor questions, the Second Ballot, and concerning the doings of the numerous inspectors who were spokenpf by one questioner as "pests," requiring inspection themselves. After answers had been given, on the motion of Messrs Neumann and Homer, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded tlu candidate for his interesting address. In acknowledging the manner in which the vote' had been carried, Mr Moffatt expressed himself as well satisfied with his reception, saying that while addresing them he felt conscious that the views he had given expression to were in sympathy with those of bis audience. This statement was received wit loud applause. The usual vote to the Chairman terminated the meeting. There was a very fair attendance of electors at the Appleby Sunday Schoolroom on Wednesday evening. Mr Kingsland, as Chairman, in introducing the candidate, said that Mr Moffatt was well-known by repute as a public man, and he had great pleasure in asking him to address them, especially as his own views on the land question coincided with those held by the candidate. Mr Moffatt spoke for over an hour on the land and labour questions, local government, education and defence, advocating the elective executive system as preferable to the party system of Government.' He also contended that his statement made in Nelson some weeks ago that the increased cost of living could be largely attributed to the increase in land values,' was amply borne out by evidence adduced by Mr Laurenson, member for Lyttelton, who last week in the Parliament said : "During the Tast 12 years the increase in wages has amounted to 17.9 per cent., thus covering all wage coiners, industrial, transport, agricultural, pastoral, distributing, and professional. This means an annual increase over the whole body of workers of about £3,500,---000, as against what would have been drawn by the same number of workers 17 years ago. On the other hand, the increase in the value of land during those 17 years has been at the rate of £4,750,000 a year, and the interest on that enormous sum has to bo borne by the community. The annual increased charge for interest on the value of land i» £3,692,511. This means a charge of £25 10s every year on a family of seven. The value of the land in Wellington and suburb's to-day is £11,100,---000, as against £3,569,000 in 1891, or, on a 5 per cent, basis, an increased annual charge a head of £5 10s Bd. The cost of living has been increased much more by <he increase in land values than by the increase in wages." After a number of questions, principally on the liquor question, had been put to the candidate, and satisfactorily answered, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr iloffatt, on the motion of Messrs Best and O'Connor, for his address, appreciation of the address, and his attitude on the land question being expressed, a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting. J [United Pbibb Associate.] . WANGANTTI, Friday. Mr George Hutchison, solicitor, will be a candidate for the Wanganui seat in opposition to the Government. GISBOENE, Friday. 1 At a meeting of Opposition support- ' ers last night. Mr W. Lissant Clayton was selected to represent the Opposi- ! tion interests in the Gisborne electoe rate at the General Election.