THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12991, 7 October 1905, Page 6

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THE CITY CENTRAL SEAT.

MR. BAGNALL AT ST. JAMES' HALL. The Opposition candidate for the City Central seat, Mr. L. J. Baguall, addressed the electors at St. James' Hall, Wellingtonstreet, last evening. The chair was occupied by Mr. Ambury, and there was 1 large audience.

The candidate declared himself an Oppositionist, and said so long as there was representative government there would be two parties. There had been times lately when it might have been said there had been no Opposition. It was really in the interests of the Government, as well as of the country, that there should be a stroug i Opposition to watch the Government I measures, and to criticise them, so that the I utmost light should be thrown on legislation. (Applause.) A strong < Government might easily create the danger of legislation for one side or party only. The Government had been far too long in office(hear, hear)—and he referred to the name given by some of the present Government party to the last Administration of " the continuous Ministry.". He (the candidate) was entirely opposed to some of the legislation passed by the present Government. (Applause.) Sonic of the legislation was opposed to the interests of tho country, and lie instanced the legislation passed with respect to the public accounts as against the interests of the country. (Loud applause.) The position of the Auditor-Genera! had been created so that tho .finances of the colony might, be carefully and properly checked— (applause)and the colony had every confidence in the system giving the AuditorGeneral control." ■ (Loud applause.) But the Government found it rather irksome to have its expenditure challenged bv the Au-ditor-General, and passed the Public Revenues Act, taking away from the AuditorGeneral some of the powers he possessed, and now some of the expenditure was not audited by the Auditor-General, but by the heads of Departments, which was the same as if a business man allowed the accountant or cashier to audit his own books. (Loud applause.) INJUSTICE TO THE NORTH. The administration was unfair and unequal for different parts of the colony Auckland had been most unfairly treated, and the differences were too glaring. A few weeks ago he landed at the Bluff, which was in Sir J. G. Ward's electorate, and there he noticed a very handsome post office, although the town seemed a small one, and hot of much importance, except as the port for arrival and departure of Melbourne steamers. He also saw the splendid and costly new railway station at Dunedin, on which £100,000 was being expended, but the settlers in the North could not get roads. (Applause.) If the whole list of public works were gone through, roads, post offices, railways, university colleges, railway stations, it would be found that the South Island was much more favoured than the North. This was not fair, and it was not right. (Loud applause.) Auckland was entitled to its fair share, and in this connection he instanced the votes of £100,000 each for the Midland railway and Otago Central railway, while the North Auckland line only received £30.000. He did not object to the Southern lines being completed to a paying point, but the North Auckland line was entitled to equal justice. ' (Applause.) He characterised Mr. Hall-Jones' statement that not more than £50,000 could be spent on the North line as ridiculous, as any contractor would undertake to prove. THE PARNELL TUNNEL. With regard to the Parnell tunnel question, he instanced Sir J. G. Ward's statement that the duplication of the Penrose line was i one of the most important works in the colony, and would be one of the first taken in 1 hand, yet the Hutt railway had been started first. The Hutt line might be important, but it could not be more important than the Penrose line, while the evidence of experts was that the tunnel would not cost more than £14,000 to duplicate. (Applause.) The speaker also contrasted the ! votes for the Victoria College in Wellington, with the offer of £5000 for a technical school at- Auckland, provided the Auckland people found £2500. (Laughter.) In the district of Westland the public works expenditure was 45s per head per annum, the rest of the colony got 10s per head, and Auckland, 9s per head. POLICY OF THE OPPOSITION. :. * V . ' .■ . • . ■< The Opposition had nothing to do with the old "Continuous Ministry;" it was a new organisation under a new manager, and it was a new Liberal reform party. Firstly it, stood for sound finance(applause)economical administration, and reduction of borrowing. (Applause.) Public money should only be expended on works that were necessary and that would give fair return. 1 The Opposition also stock! for reform of the Legislative Council, by making it elective or else abolishing it altogether applause)and for local government reform. (Applause.) The Opposition would hoid out for land reform," the independence of the magistracy, and the lenient of the native land question. (Applause.) With regard to local industry, he favoured proper aid and protection being given to industries in the colony. (Applause.) NATIVE LANDS. . One of the most- important matters for Auckland city and province was the native lands question. (Applause.) There was a tremendous area of native lands lying idle, and worse than idle, for many of them were infested with noxious weed*. He instanced cases where natives had been anxious to sell, but were not allowed to do eo by the Government. The Government, by recent legislation, had placed the natives in the position they were in now, unable, either to sell or work their lands. The only way to deal with the lands was to set aside certain areas for the natives, and deal with the rest under the Lands for Settlement Act, putting the money into a fund, and paying out the interest to the natives every half-year. (Loud applause.) Thirty years ago ne had advocated this, and now*a Land Commission had to recommed the same thing. (Applause.) In conclusion Mr. Bagnall said, if elected, he would bo always found voting on the side of pure administration, and he was quite certain he could do better than many others who had been sent to the House in the past. . (Loud applause.) VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. Mr. A. J. Entrican moved a vote of thanks to, and confidence in. Mr. Bagnall as a fit. and proper pereou to represent the constituency in Parliament, and this was carried unanimously. WAIT EM ATA The Government candidate for Waiteniata, Mr. Cecil CUnkard. addressed the electors in the Mayfield schoolroom on Thursday night. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried on the motion of Messrs. T. Heap and Gracie. Mr. Andrew Geddes presided. Mr. Clinkard speaks at Lake Takapiina to-night. Mr. J. Dixon Ward will address the electors of Franklin in the Tuakau Hall on Tuesday, and in the Waiuku Hall on Wednesday, both meetings commencing at halfpast seven p.m. Mr. J. M. Shera will address the electors of Parnell in the Oddfellows' Hall, Paruell, on Tuesday evening next; when the Mayor of rarnell will preside. On October 16 Mr. Shera will give tin address in. Cairns' Hall. Ellerslie: on Qctober 24 in St. Mark's Hall, Remuera: on November 1 in the Public Hall, Newmarket; and at St. Heliers and West Tama Id on dates to be advertised.

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