THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13874, 7 October 1908, Page 8

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

WAITEMATA CONTEST. SPEECH BY MR. NAPIER. Mr. W. J. Napier, who is standing in the Government interest for the Waitemata constituency, delivered a political address at the Foresters' Hill, Devonport, last night. The chair was occupied by Mr. J. B. Gilfillan, in the absence of the ; Mayor at a Council meeting. The hall was well filled, there being a large audience [ considering the inclement state of the weather. Having been briefly introduced by the chairman, Mr. Napier opened his address by thanking his opponents for their sympathy and courtesy in connection with his recent accident. He claimed to be a representative man in the district, having resided continuously in Devonport since 1883. He referred at length to the necessity of members of Parliament having some special knowledge to fit themselves for the making of laws, and went on to say that he believed we were on the eve of a time: when questions of vast importance .were likely to be brought forward in this country and Australia. Notwithstanding the great importance of social laws, to which New Zealand had been directing its attention in the past few years, he believed that great problems would arise in the next few years that | would tax the wisdom and experience of ; the most eminent statesmen. He indij cated complications arising out of the control of the Pacific as being likely to give rise to grave problems. > NECESSITY FOR ROADS. Anyone going through Waitemata County in winter realised how vital was • the connection between even elementary civilisation and roads and bridges. He had seen places in Waitemata that had remained in a state of nature for 47 , years, and he had been talking to settlers I who had been waiting that period for even passable roads in winter. Those people were isolated by impassable quagmires for a great part of the year. The absence of roads meant insanity to a'great extent, and, taking a period of 20 years, too large a percentage of pioneers who went out into the wilderness were-ending their days in the lunatic asylums. The women who went out to these places faced difficulties and dangers which classed them as heroines. Five miles from the North Auckland railway, people were living in parts where the mud was from six to 10 feet deep, and they might, just as well be in the Sahara desert. Road feeders should be made side by side with railways, so that when a station was built the people should to able to get to and fro in half an,hour from distances that now took half a day, and were impossible for women. (Applause.) If he were elected, he would make the provision of metalled roads the fundamental plank in his platform. (Loud applause.)

EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS. There .were three other things Waitemata was urgently in need of, experimental stations, fruit canneries, and agricultural schools. The North. Auckland country required special experiments and special treatment of soils. The gum industry had been a very valuable one. Over a million pounds' worth of gum had gone out through tha Wade estuary alone,-arid lie supposed that those> .who produced that, gum- paid £100,000 in Customs taxation, but, not £1000 had been spent on the roads. ' He would, -if elected, ; endeavour to, got experimental stations. placed. at convenient intervals, and ho believed that the gum lands, in productivity, would, properly treated, ; equal even the volcanic lands at Wliangaixsi. What was the so of ah"experimental farm at Whangarei to solve the question of the ! gum lands? (Applause.) The' fruit inI dustry., would never attain the proportions j it ought to till the country was covered I with canning factories almost as thickly as.with dairy factories. (Applause.) Agricultural schools were needed throughout the i country.. - • " | THE LAND QUESTION. I ; The land : question, was only a question | because some people sought to make it so. ; Ha, thought the Land Act at 'present: ; in. L existence one ot the fairest and most com- ! prehensive in the British' Empire. ' The | leasehold , was '.excellent thing' where a j man had not money', to go in for a freej hold. -He knew of wharf lumpers who had 1 taken up sections, and were now worth .'£4ooo to £10,000. " (Cries of "Oh -and * Boo.") 'Of . course ■ those men had (•worked, and(they were not' the kind who i.spent-their., time at street comers calling. lout - l, 01i" , and "Boo." (Loud . applause ■ 1 -': ,, .'aud'"' laughter.);..; The " freehold tenure . • ■ was the • best — (applause) 'but •**, it ; could. Vbe>\; abused, 'and was abused in .the of large estates. A reform he would advocate was the establishment sound finance for local bodies. i At : this., stage considerable interruption took place .at the back of the hall.;, One interrupter was asked to- leave the building by. the ■ chairman, and ':} then . by Mr. Napier, who. said he was, sure the candidate' whose supporter the interrupter was would ; deprecate euch practices. ■ - The • interrupter > called " for : three cheers for Mr. Phillipps •'■ (the Opposition ■ candidate)'*aud' then retired amidst cheers and hooting.' . , ,; ', Mr." Napier went on to say that the votes to local- bodies should be - paid \ so' that they could be 1 "expended: before V winter. 'He would -advocate a -proper . set ~ of; books being' kept by .the Treasury, with' a double ' entry system, . and ■ a proper balance-sheet. (Applause. ; -~' " *• ■ ' _;.'■" EDUCATIONAL MATTERS. * : He thought education should be free from the primary school to the university. He was one of the group of young men who really brought about the foundation of Auckland University College. The time had now arrived when there should be greater co-ordination between the primary schools, secondary schools, and university. Salaries paid to teachers were tor low. Out of 3207 teachers in New Zealand 2500 were not getting £200 a year. In. Auckland province, out of 890 teachers only 18 were getting £300 a year. In the Dominion there were 708 adult teachers getting £45 to £95 a vear, and . 695 '! getting £100 to £125, and 450 getting from £125 to £150. How could the country expect to attract the best material to its teaching profession when such miserable salaries paid? (Applause.) He praised the Superannuation Bill. : SUPPORTING THE GOVERNMENT. Mr. Napier spoke generally in favour of the Mexican route for a mail service. He thought the Government should endeavour to foster the Islands trade, which was fast slipping away from New Zealand. He proposed, if elected, to give a general support to the present Administration. (Applause.) He would make an exception if any measures were introduced which, in his opinion, were opposed to the fundamental principles of Liberalism or against the interests •■ of his ' constituency. He believed Sir Joseph Ward : was head and shoulders above any man at present in. Parliament. (Applause.) Unless Sir Joseph Ward was taken away to an Imperial Council, he was the one capable and indispensable leader for the New Zealand people. (Applause.) FINANCE QUESTIONS. Although the public debt had "increased in 17 years to 66 millions from 38 millions, the money had been wisely spent. It had really only changed in form, and good assets were held for it. Eight millions had been lent to settlers, and three times the value was held in security; three millions were lent to local bodies, five millions were expended in land for settlement, 24 millions in railways, and £425,000' in telephones, so that there were very tangible assets for the expenditure. (Applause.) But while : the " debt :■ increased • by 71 per cent., the revenue increased by 118 pet cent. (Applause.) The Government policy had been a Wise, prudent, and statesmanlike one, and on those grounds there was no need for a change of policy. It had been said that if there was noi coalition, ■•' red-hot a&HiUi fa ra»san| ju the aefe

try. He saw no fear of the nationalisation of all industry. Such, a scheme was .visionary, and not within the sphere of practical noli tics. -j ' defence: Mr. Napier then referred to the question of defence. He much regretted tlut there was a disposition "to sneer at volunteers. He thought the system should be set on a proper footing by the authorities, and he advocated the arming of cadets with more suitable rifles. The naval contribution >of £100,000 from New Zealand was too small considering the benefits received. (Applause.) ■:;;■■■.- CONCLUSION. Is'answer to questions, Mr. Napier said ho was in favour of the unsold Crown lands being disposed of on the optional system. If tramways were established in Devonport, they should b.- municipalised. (Applause.) ' ■■- ~_. ,'. Mr. J. C. Froude asked: "Would you be prepared, on the assumption that your requisition is,genuine, to produce, it for inspection, or accept this question <as a challenge? ■ '. . _ Mr. Napier: That is an insult. (Loud applause.) , . ~ A vote of thanks to Mr. Napier, and ol confidence 'in him, "as s fit and ; proper person to represent the electorate in Parliament, he being the most capable candidate coming forward," was moved from the bodv of the hall. , , An amendment was -moved, "J. hat we thank Mr. Napier for his address, butcannot afford to have confidence in him," but. this was not seconded, and the motion was carried by a fairly large show of hands. EDEN ELECTORATE. Mr. J W. Shackelford. Government candidate for Eden, addressed, a meeting of electors at Swanson on Monday night in the schoolroom, which wad well filled, Mr. Mettahi occupied the chair The candidate had a good hearing, and a vote of thanks was unanimously accorded him. THE MANUKATJ SEAT. Mr. G. Wilkinson, Liberal candidate for the Manukau seat, writes:—" Owing to the division in the ranks of the Liberal party in Onehunga, I have decided to withdraw from the contest.'.' : , THE MAORI SEATS. [BT TELECiKAPH.—SPECIAL CORESPONDENT.] Wellington, Tuesday. As far as can be ascertained, the can-, I didates for the Maori electorates at. the general election will be as. follows: — Northern Maori electorate, Mr Hone Heke (sitting member) -Western Maori. To Heuheu Tukino of Taupo, Heina Te Ao of Otaki, Pepone Eketone of Te Kuiti, Eruera To Kahiii of Wanganai, and Mr. H. Kaihau (sitting member); Eastern Maori, Mr. A. T. Ngata (sitting member), Tiki Paaka (R. G. Park) of Wangauui, Mohi To Ataihikoia of Hawke's Bay; Southern Maori, Mr. T. Parata (sitting member), Mr. W. H. Ura of Kaiawi.