THE WAIKATO'SEAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17327, 26 November 1919, Page 10

THE WAIKATO'SEAT.

SPEECH BY MR. YOUNG. NORTHERN PUMICE LAND. SETTLEMENT OF SOLDIERS. [BY TELEGEATH — CCaBESI'ONDENT.] HAMILTON, Tuesday. Mr. J. A. Young, M.P., Government candidate for Waikato, delivered a political address in Hamilton to-night. There was a large attendance, and Mr. J. R. Fofr, ex-Mayor, presided. j The candidate said the first considera- ! tion of the Government should be the carj rying out of such a policy as would make ! for the contentment of the returned sol--1 diers, and secondly, the development of j all the resources of the Stats for the pro- | duction of wealth to enable the country I to fill all its obligations to the eold.ers and their dependants and all other liabilities arising out of the war. The gospel of 'work and production must be preached and fuiniied to enable the country to pay its way and maKe good." A vigorous policy of public works, land settlement with roading and railway construction, was much needed. Mr. Young, in speaking on the land question, said that in the centre of the North island, not far from the Waikato, there were many hundreds of thousands of acres of virgin country, commonly i known as the pumice lands of the North : Island, parts of which had of recent i years been brought into profitable occupation by men who had, in the face of many discouragements, proved their value. He advocated that the Government should take these lands in suitable sized blocks under competent management and supervision, employing returned soldiers, paying them current rates and wages, and -bring them into use. He | pointed out that in about two and a-half vears these lands could be brought from their native state into a condition of pasture suitable for dairying. The experiI ence and knowledge of the country and i how to work it which would be gained j by the soldier would be invaluable, and I as soon as the land was fit to -return a I profit it should be cut up into suitable I sized holdings, and soldiers given first i preference of selection. The same system should apply to the ' hinterland of the Bay of Plenty, where . the Government had been purchasing j large tracts of land in the Urewera i Country. .' '■ I Allied to land settlement was tbe subject of taxation. He advocated that the dividends of small shareholders in public companies should not be taxed on the highest rate of graduated income tax as at present. Small investors with small incomes should be entitled to a refund of the difference between the ordinary taxable i amount of their income and the higher graduated rate of tax paid by the company. ; In assessing income tax en an income ! derived from the use of land, the amounts paid in land tax should, in tbe assessment for income tax, be allowed for, and not charged with income tax. I The Land Valuation Assessment Courts I came in for some consideration at the I hands of the candidate, who jirged that : the constitution of the courts should be j amended so as to provide for objectors to valuations having equal representation on the Bench with the Valuation Department, a magistrate to hold the balance of equity between the parties. j The speaker made a strong point that everyone should be afforded the fullest of opportunities to rise to the best place pos- j sible-in the community. j The Housing Act was explained in de- j tail, and Mr. Young claimed that it was ! a measure which truly marked Mr. Massey ' , as a man whose sympathy was broad and • genuine in the people's interests. He touched upon the subject of education, and I urged a strict maintenance of the compulsory, secular, and free education system. : All" schools should be properly lighted, well ventilated, well heated, and adequately furnished, and should possess sufficient playgrounds. The new increments to teachers' salaries should be definitely ! and permanently adjusted by Parliament. All school books should be supplied free by the State. Every opportunity should be open for bright children to continue their "studies on to the university, if they . so desired, without cost to their parents. : "Mr. Young received a most enthusiastic ! hearing, and was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence amid cheers. THE WAITEMATA SEAT. MR. HARRIS' CAMPAIGN. LARGE COUNTRY MEETINGS. [BY. XEXEGBAPH— CORRESPONDENT.] ALBANY, Tuesday. Mr. A. Harris, M.P., Government candidate for Waitemata, addressed a large meeting at Riverhead last evening, being particularly well received. The candidate explained the legislation recently passed, and advocated a vigorous policy of development to enable the Dominion to 'carry its heavy burden of war indebtedness. This, he said, was only possible if the country was soundly administered. Road and railway construe- ' tion should be expedited and every acre of cultivatable land should be brought into profitable occupation. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Harris was unanimously accorded a heartyvote of thanks and confidence, and continued confidence was expressed in the Massey Government. Mr. Harris addressed the electors at Dairy Flat school this afternoon, there being a large attendance. He referred particularly to matters of local interest and explained the system under which New Zealand is to obtain a percentage of the Nauru Island phosphates. After answering questions he was unanimously accorded a hearty vote of thanks and confidence. MR. GREENSLADE AT NORTHCOTE. ' Mr. A. E. Greenslade, Opposition candidate for WaitematS, addressed the electors in the Masonic Hall, Northcote, last evening. The hall was crowded, and the candidate received an attentive hearing. Mr. W. E. Richardson, deputy-Mayor, presided. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by a large majority against an amendment of thanks only, coupled with appreciation of Mr* Green- , slade's work as Mayor of Northcote. TO-NIGHT'S PUBLIC ADDRESSES. | Sir Frederick Lang, M.P. (Manukau), Foresters' Hall, Onehunga. Mr. C. E. Major (Manukau), Public Hall, Mangere. Mr. H. G. R. Mason (Manukau), Town " Hall, Papatoetoe. Miss E. Melville (Grey Lynn), St. George's Hall, Kingsland. " ; Mr. L. J. Garmson (Grey Lynn}, St. Barnabas' Hall, Bellvue Road. Mr. V. H. Potter (Roskill), Maungawhau School, Mount Eden. Mr. R. E.'Hornblow (Eden), Hirst's Hall, Morningside. Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central), ! Masonic Hall, Eden Terrace. Mr. M. J. Savage (Auckland West), Richmond Road public school. Mr. J. Rea (Franklin), Manurewa. Hon. J. G. Coates (Kaipara), Kaipara Flats, noon; Tauhoa,, in evening. TO-NIGHT'S COMMITTEE MEETINGS Miss E. Melville (Grey Lynn), Methodist schoolroom, Grey Lynn: 2.30 p.m. St. Barnabas' Hall, "' Mr. J. H. Gunson (Roskill), committee rooms, Dominion Road. Mr. J. S. Dickson (Parnell), 162, Remuera Road.