THE ELECTION FIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13846, 4 September 1908, Page 7

THE ELECTION FIGHT.

, , «. —— WAITEMATA SEAT. SPEECH BY MR. PHILLIPPS. , Mr. L. R. PmxLir-ps, a candidate in the Opposition interests for the Waitemata seat at the forthcoming election, addressed an audience comprising some 200 electors, at the Foresters' Hall, Devonport, last evening. The Mayor (Mr. Wm. Handley) presided, and in introducting the candidate, said Mr. Phillipps was a young New Zealar.der, and was born in Auckland. For 50 years lie had resided in the Waitemata County, near Helensville, and was an electv of Waitemata until the boundary was altered some little time ago. He became identified with tho New Zealand Farmers' Union in his own district, and for four years was provincial president. Mr. Phillipps, added the Mayor, had not long returned to the Dominion from a trip round the world, and a sthey all knew, he was acquainted with "every inch" of the Waitemata, County. Mr. Phillipps, who, was well received, first, expressed the regret he felt that owing to ill-health, Mr. Alison, the present member for Waitemata, was compelled to retire from politics. Mr. Alison was a member who enjoyed the respect of the community, the House, and, he believed, > of tho Ministry. The candidate also referred to the unfortunate accident which had befallen his opponent, Mr. W. J, Napier—(hear, hear)— expressed the hope that it would be but a short time before he regained his full vigour for the political fight that was before him. (Applause.) Continuing, Mr. Phillipps. said that if returned in Mr. Alison's stead, ho hoped to show his appreciation of tho honour accorded him by endeavouring to devote his best ability to the interests of Waitemata and the progress of tho Dominion generally. OPPOSED TO SOCIALISM. Probably the most important question on which a candidate could express himself at the present time, continued Mr. Phillipps, was clearly that of socialism, which was agitating the mind of all civilised communities. He was opposed to that system ! of socialism which aimed at State control | of all means of production, distribution, ! and ■ exchange. He believed socialism was ; an ideal state for an ideal world, but it ; was impraticable until the heart of man ; was inspired by the Sermon on the Mount. It was either necessity or expedient that the State should engage in certain services, such as education, post offices and rail ways, but it did not follow that the State should control all enterprise, lie believed that if the State endeavoured to control | ali enterprise it would do away with ; the necessity for effort, and take : away the hope of reward for ex- ; tra skill, industry, and ability, so losing the efficiency of the individual that it would be lost to the State. The State could and/should assist in the development of the individual as far as possible. Democracy sought to make man l'reo and enlightened, but socialism sought to take away the freedom of the individual by compelling all to live, under the dictates ; of the Stale. The best way the State could improve the conditions of the individual was by education. He believed in the present system of education, but they should not allow themselves to think that "their system was so sacred that it should not be touched even in the direction of improvement. EDUCATION FOR ALL. , | Education, continued tho candidate, '■ should not be placed only within the resell, ! of the cultured classes. He believed a perfect system of primary education should bo placed within tlie roach of all, and by a system of scholarship there should be provided means for-the highest educational training for all. Tlieti there should- bo within the reach of the average the" best ' technical education, which now played such an important part in tho future of "nations. ! Then, as fax as practicable, they should | endeavour to inculcate in tho minds of tins I rising generation those measures which ! would be in the interests of their health, i for health and strength were amongst tho best assets a. State could have. (Applause.) Ho would also likn to see schools of domestic science established for girls to attend 1 after leaving school. " I believe," said Mr. Phillipps, " that our education is of so much importance to us that it can no longer be left to the dictates of one or two, but | should be governed by a council of educaI tion, composed of the heads of our different branches of education, possessing a knowledge of its details which would tend to the improvement of the system as a whole." WANTED, THE FREEHOLD. During the last few years, ho continued, there had been much tinkering with the land legislation in the direction of preventing •Crown settlers front obtaining tho freehold. This had beep at the instigation, not of those who wished to settle on the land, but of the opposite class. The legislation of i last session, by which nine million acres of land were set aside as endowments, ho believed to be a step in the wrong direc- ; tion, and if ho were returned he would i unhesitatingly vote for tlie repeal of that measure. (" No, no.") He wanted to see ! the whole of tho Crown lands thrown open under the optional tenure, and every selector to have tlie opportunity of acquiring his freehold, subject to the limitation of areas and the provisions in reference to residence and improvements. There must bo the optional tenure if they were to attract to the Dominion the people they most required, when so many other countries were in the field Canada, for instance, which gave the freehold for nothing, a thing that New Zealand could not do. NATIVE LANDS. The native lands at present, said Mr. Phillipps, were "blocking settlement and handicapping districts that were settled. In districts where there were large areas it was a serious handicap to the settlers already there, because in the matter of roading it was impossible with the rates at their disposal to have proper roads. Again, on native lands in many districts noxious •weeds flourished and were a constant menace to the white settlers. He was of opinion that sufficient of these native lands should be set aside as reserves for the sustenance of the natives, and that the remaining lands should bo disposed of, either to the Government or private individuals. The money paid for these lands should be handled by publicly-responsible men, so that it should not bo used by the natives to their own debauch. Moreover, all lands held by the natives beyond these reserves should carry after a number of years an equal responsibility with those owned by Europeans. RAILWAYS. Mr. Phillipps went on to refer to railways. For many years, ho said, the Government had favoured the South Island, whore there were 1513 miles open, as compared to 943 miles in the North, and the proportion of railways being opened in the South was as much as in the North, in spite of the fact that while the South was stagnant the North was progressing. For one thing, there were 800,000 more sheep in the North, though this was an industry on which the South Island prided Itself. There were 11 lines in progress there to seven hero, though tho earnings in the I South were decreasing, while those of the North;were increasing. During the period . from 1900 tol9oßAuckland and Wellington sliowed average net increases of 4£d and 4]d per train mile respectively, while the Hurunui-Bluff section showed a net loss of Is 5Jd ner train mile run. The candidate also referred to the increases in the capital cost of open lines and in the proportion of working expenses to earnings. There was a great scope for the extension of the railways northwards, alone the East Coast, ! and to give Auckland communication with ; Taranaki. (Applause.) % COMPULSORY ARBITRATION. Mr. Phillipps said he was opposed to compulsory arbitration. To carry it out in its entirety was impossible, taking away, as it did, the liberty of the subject. It would require a very stringent penal clause to prevent strikes, and, what was more, it

would require a very strong Government to carry this out. He believed that the onlv thing they could possibly do was to recognise that an honest attempt had been made to solve the problem, and with human nature as it was it had failed. He hoped everything would bo done to assist in amicable agreement between employer and employee. There whs one point he thought the Minister should have insisted on: that unionists should not have a secretary unless he was actively engaged in the particular trade. (Applause.) He was strongly opposed to the limitation of apprentices, because it was unfair to certain ot their youth that they should bo prevented from learning the trade of their choice. (Applause.) He would gladly support legislation giving to the workers an opportunity of acquiring the freehold of a home in any of the settlements acquired for workmen's homes. He was also hi favour of extending the benefits of the Advances to Settlers Act to them. Thorough factory inspection had his entire approval. GRANTS FOR ROADS. It Mas impossible at the present time for many local bodies, especially those in new districts, to fulfil the obligations cast upon them, and he thought greater assistance should be forthcoming for roads, and where it was impossible for the local body to '' face the music" the Government should take over the main roads, or, by a system of subsidies, render some assistance. He did not believe in the present system of grants, which were often used by Parliamentary candidates for eleeioneering tactics. He would favour legislation giving a fair and automatic finance for local bodies, so that no member should go begging to a .Minister for that which should be statutory, and fixed. (Applause.) THE PUBLIC DEBT. The public debt was rapidly ■ increasing. In 1900 it was £46,930,077, or £61 17s 3d per head, and in 1907 it had increased to £61,276,542, a net debt per head of the population of £67 Is. Last year the gross debt increased by £2,274,857. • from 1898 to 1907 the taxation per head increased by £1 0s Bd, and this item was calculated upon taxation alone, and not upon the gross revenue including those State services which were revenue producing. The average increase of population from 1902 to 1903 had been about three per cent, per annum, while the public expenditure increased in 1906-7 by eeven per cent., and in 1907-8 by five per cent. Borrowing must be continued, and the question was how to manage it so that the burden should fall a* lightly as possible. Accordingly none but necessary and reproductive works should be undertaken. The present system of co-opera-tive works should bo either modified or abolished, so as to obtain a more economical expenditure, and also purity of administration. (Applause.) IMMIGRATION. New Zealand, said the candidate, could easily support four or five times her present population, and every endeavour should be made to attract suitable people here. If they could not obtain immigrants from Britain and Canada, why not—(A Voice: "China.") No, not China; he was utterly opposed to Asiatics, but why not try Denmark and Scandinavia? DEFENCE MATTERS. Speaking of defence, the speaker said he was in favour of the compulsory military training of the youth of the country, and he did not wish this to be confounded with conscription. The cadet movement was a magnificent step in the direction of the realisation of their national responsibilities. ("Hear, hear.") Mr. Phlllipps referred to the. splendid achievements of Colour-Sergeant Friar in England, and said New Zealand possessed in its youth the very best material for soldiers that ho had seen anywhere. STRAIGHT-OUT OPPOSITIONIST. "I am not a Government supporter; neither am I an Independent} I am a straight-out Oppositionist," said Mr. Phillipps. (Applause.) "When Parliament has prorogued and we have a full gist of its doings, I will appear before you again, • and' give you my reasons for being an Oppositionist." }, VOTE OF CONFIDENCE. The candidate answered several questions, after which a motion of thanks and confidence in him as a prospective member, was declared carried with a number of dissentient*. ; . 1 ORGANISING LIBERALISM. [BY TELEGRAPH.—-OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Dunedin, Thursday. A reporter this morning saw Mr. E. Gallichan, general secretary, of the Liberal party's organisation, who is at present, on a visit to Dunediu. Asked as to whether be; would give his impressions as to the position of the parties), lie said: " There is one thing now quite beyond doubt, and that, is that the Liberal party are more consolidated and voluntarily united than uliey have ever been before. This remark applies particularly to the North, where * groat d«al of the Opposition strength has hitlierto manifested itself. This change is quite marked in the Auckland provincial district." Being reminded that for a few seats there was more than one Liberal can* didate in the fields Mr. Galliclnui said ''Of couree there is difficulty in this respect, but it should not be insuperable. When two or more candidates declare on our side our Liberal friends invariably make an urgent request to our leader to pay which of the candidates is preferable. In such circumstances lie takesevcry possible means of ascertaining the views of the electorate, and selects men whose chances show the strongest prospects." To a question as to the present prospects of the general election, Mr. Gallichan answered: "Whilst I undoubtedly think that tho Liberal party are safe throughout New Zealand, and will be returned stronger than at present, still, I would urge on any electorate where there is the least indication of division to sink all differences. I cannot give the date of. the election, but so far a« our party is concerned we are ready even if the contests were to take place next week. . It is said that one of the Northern Ministers is to have his seat wrested from, him, but from the information in my possession I feel satisfied that he is absolutely in no danger. Five Of the Ministers will be returned practically without opposition. As to other seats, I know that some now held by Government supporters will be keenly contested, but I do not apprehend any danger of their being lost to the party." i i i i i i in ■ IHIIIIII OHINEMURI ELECTORATE. [BT TELEGRAVIT.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Waiht, Thursday. Mr. H. T. Armstrong, one of the Labour caJndidates for Ohinemuri, addressed the Waitekauri. electors in the Foresters' Hall on Tuesday evening, Mr. W. Pocock in tho chair. The address was irtainlv on the lines of that given in Waihi, and at the close the candidate was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. , i r I ■ ■ - MARSDEN SEAT. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT,] WHangarei, Thursday. Mr. Meredith Soule, who has announced his intention of contesting the -Marsden seat as a supporter of the Government, addressed the electors of Whangarei in the Theatre Royal last night. His Worship the Mayor presided, and there was a large attendance.: The candidate supported the Government policy in the main, and announced himself in favour of State control of the liquor traffic, and opposed to no-license. He expressed his determination to go to the poll. The questions asked at the conclusion of the address indicated that the electors were not inclined to take Mr. Soule seriously. MAORI CANDIDATES. [FROM OUR own* CORRESPONDENT.] Huntly, Thursday. The dissensions among the leaders of the natives have evidently become wider, there being now two definite and distinct patties, oue acknowledging the mana of "King" Mahuta, M.L.C., and the other led byTupu Taingakawa, the recent native premier.

Th 4 question at issue does not appear to be connected with the land, nor with "a form of native self-government to which both parties are pledged, and which botn seem inclined to demand as being in accordance with the Treaty of Waitangi. It appears to be more far-reaching and involves the leadership of the natives themselves. To accomplish this end, Mr. Pepenc- ,Eketone will be nominated as the candidate to oppose the sitting member, Mr. Henare Kaihau, M.P., in the interests of the ex-premier's party, while, as far as appears now, Mr. Kaihau -will have the unanimous support of the " King" and his followers. On two occasions, Mr. Keri Toke has addressed the Kawhia natives urging them to petition Mr. Mahuta to stand . for the seat. In addition there are three other candidates in, or about to come into* the field. They are Te Heu Heu, the well-known Taupo rangatira; Hema, sou of the deceased M.H.R., Ropata Te Ao; and To Kahu, of Wanganui. Should ths "King" change his mind and oppose his late premier, the contest, besides being of considerable interest, would give rise to great excitement. ..