POLITICAL ADDRESSES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11058, 9 May 1899, Page 6

POLITICAL ADDRESSES.

MAUNGANTJI BLUFF. . „.. MB. Houston, M.H.E., Bay of Islands, addressed the electors at Maungamu Bluff Hall on Saturday, the 29th ult. He gave an effective exposition of tho Seddon Government polioy, dwelling mainly on the Old Age Pensions and Kauri Gum Industry Acts, both of which, ho felt confident, the country would endorso at the next general election. _ Ho concluded a clear address amidst enthusiastio applause. Mr. Thomas Somers moved » hearty vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Houston and tho Seddon Government. Mr. William Vincent seconded, which, upon being put by the chairman (Mr. John Smith, of Kaihu settlement], was passed unanimously, amidst great applause. At an after-meeting of settlers and British gumdiggers it' was resolved, "That Mr. Thomas Somers write the Hohson County Council re proclaiming tho Kai Iwi Crown gumfiolcl a reserve for British subject* only, and that another meeting be called to consider the result of tho Hobson County's ro'ply to such application."—[A Correspondent.] ARATAPU.

Mr. Houston, M.H.R., addressed a good gathering of olectors at Aratapu on Tuesday evening. Mr. Slater was voted to the chair, and asked Mr. Houston to bo as brief as possible Mr. Houston began by expressing his pleasure at meeting tho electors of this part of his electorate. Ho would like to bo with them oftonor, but distance prevented; lie had already spent two months on his present tour. Tho cxtont of his coircspondcnco and the thoroughness with which ho attended to it was gone into at somo length, and then Mr. Houston proceeded to explain why ho supported tho present Governmert, and what was meant by a Liberal. Hero ho wont ovor tho ground of his addresses of previous years, claiming that tho present Government had introduced more Lilioral measures than any previous Government. The substitution of tho land and income tax for tho property tax, tho Advances to Settlors Act, the Land Act, 1892, and the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, wore each touched upon as reasons of his support of Mr. Soddon's party. Tim Acts woro, tho speaker stated, somo of tho best that had boon passed in any part of tho British Empire, but he denounced ropoalodly the way in which they had been administered. Touching upon tho work of last session, Mr. Houston said 147 Bills had been introduced, but ho was thankful that only 69 had passed. Tho tono of tho House, lie said, had lieon lowered during last session, and ho urged that the people should guard against anything being said to detract from the characters of thoso in high positions. Tho Slander of Women Bill was specially commended. Tho Old AgoiPonsions ho claimed to bo tho most humane Act over passed. Ho did not caro what tho faults may bo, tho prineiplo was good, and tho faults could ho amonded. The Act had been charged as being of a pauperising effect; if old age pensioners bo classed as paupers, then soldiers and Civil servants who received pensions must also bo so classed. Tho old ago pensioner had performed liis work in tho country, and was entitled to a pension. Mr. Houston went into tho Kauri Gum Industry Act at considerable length. The Act had been much misunderstood and misinterpreted. Tlio Bill was drawn up by himself, tho member for Mnrsdon, and tho Premier, with the assistance of the law officers, and ho had sent copies to many persons, all of whom bad expressed approval of it. Tim history of tho passage of tho Bill through tho two Houses and tho alterations mado was given at length, and a rogrot expressed that thoro should ho any lawyers in tho House. Tho scries of amendments proposed by liimsolf, and the opposition from two Southern members, which led to their dofoat, wcro detailed. He was sorry that local bodies had been guided by legal advico in administering tho Act. The Act and regulations were clear that no alien should rcroivo a license under £1, and that no European should bo charged more than 5s for a license. As chairman of Mangnnui County Council, lie had taken caro that every aero of payablo gum land should lie declared a reserve, and ho had refused to issue a license to any alien that had arrived in the colony after January 1. As tc the benefit diggers had received, they woro now placed on a legal looting, and could dig on Crown lands for a fee of ss, and had the right to occupy two acres of land without further fee. Mr. Houston said ho cured nothing for what the newspapers said; their comments had no more affect on him than a fow drops of rain. Ho then proceeded to complain of tho comments on Ids (rip homeward in the Tutanekai. He explained how ho had taken his passage by tho Takapuna, sc as to reach home beforo Christmas, bin was denied a pair by tho Opposition Whip, and so remained in Wellington, as ho hod been informed that an adverse voto was to bo tabled against tlio Government. Ho told tho Premier why ho had not gone in the Takapuna, and tho expense of his trip in the Tutanekai was only tlio cost of ho; running from tho Manukau Heads to tho Onclmnga Wharf and back, as she was on her way from Wellington to Hokianga for sleepers, and only loft a day earlier to suit him. Ho was annoyed that ho should have been charged with costing tho country £120. The member for Riccnrt6n, with his adverse voto, and its four hours wasto of lime, was the man who had really cost the country £120, as the sitting of Parliament cost £30 an hour. Mr. Bradley asked who was responsible for the appointment of tho administrators whoso admin rat had been complained of, and was informed that no ono Government could bo blamed. Mr. Bradley considered tho appointments recently made to the Magisterial Bench disgraceful. As to reduction of taxation, ho was now paying moro in taxes than before. Mr. Houston explained that Mr. Bradley was referring to local taxation. Local bodies had tho option of adopting tho plan of taxing only unimproved values. Mr. Slater complained of Dm electoral boundaries, and was informed that a petition to the Houso would have no effect whatever; tlio matter rested entirely with tho Boundary Commissioners. Mr. Houston, in reply to further questions, said ho would support a petition for a subsidy for a steam ferry on tho Wairoa. He coidd givo no information as to tho surplus. A vole of thanks and confidence was proposed by Mr. 0. Moore, and seconded by Mr. Naysmilh. 'and declared carried.—[Aratapu Correspondent.] MR. FIELD AT OTAKI. [by tulequato.— association.] iv r -n-i, , WELUX(!TO Monday. Mr. Field, M.H.R. for Otaki, addressed a meeting in the Upper Hutt on Saturday, somewhat adversely criticising tho Government land valuations and the conduct of the valuers. He advocated work for the unemployed, especially in the Auckland district, m planting American rod wood, which ho is confident would thrive well and become very profitable