MR AITKEN’S ADDRESS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4803, 5 November 1902, Page 4

MR AITKEN’S ADDRESS.

Mr J. G. W. Aitken, Mayor of Wellington, and a citizen universally esteemed, made his firsir appearance yesterday evening in the capacity of one seeking the suffrages of the Parliamentary electors. As was to he expected from a gentleman who takes a keen and intelligent interest in p|ublio affairs, Mr Aitken gave an able address and displayed a grasp of political questions that is not usual in a novice. His matter was well arranged, bis delivery deliberate and emphatic, bis opinions definite and decided, and, with one exception, logical and consistent. The exception may at once bo pointed out, and we the more readily draw attention to it because it is a feature in the speeches of Opposition candidates all over the country. Mr Aitken blames the Government for not pursuing a more vigorous policy of land settlement and railway construction ; at the same time he pleads for a redaction of Customs taxation and advocates greater' moderation in borrowing. It does not seem to strike him—and the other candidates who take the same view of things equally fail to observe—that there is absolute incompatibility between these lines of advocacy. Railways and roads necessary for the promotion of land settlement can only no constructed out of loan moneys in the main, though the present Government Jiai been able to devote annually to these purposes a sum of money out of the surplus revenue. If taxation were reduced, the surplus would vanish, and wo should have “sound book-keeping” at the expense of a curtailment of public expenditure. Should the Government, in addition, restrict borrowing, how is it possible to have an accelerated rate of expenditure on railway construction and the opening of land for settlement ? Bricks cannot he made without straw. It is an easy matter to find fault with Ministers and to impute to them various sins of omission and commission; but it would he more to the point were the critics to make an endeavour to show how the expenditure on railway construction is to he increased while at the same time taxation is reduced and borrowing is oiirtailed. . ■’ 1 Apart from ' these inconsistencies, there is much to commend in Mr Aitken’s political attitude. His views on the labour laws are sound and sympathetic on the whole, though some exception may be taken to his utterances regarding the miniinum wage. If the tendency to make the minimum wage the ruling and uniform rate is the result of economic, law, and not of deliberate action on the part of employers, his position would he unassailable; but as there is nothing to prevent employers giving higher wages to superior workmen, and as there is even provision made for paying less than the minimum wage to workers who fall short of the standard efficiency, the defeat in . the principle is not so obvious as Mr Aitken would have ns believe. On the subjects of land settlement and railway accounts, the candidate said much that demands more consideration, than we can give in this article. Sufficient reasons were not advanced for the creation of a Civil . Service Board. Abuses are incidental to every human device; and if it be granted that political patronage has introduced some undesirable features into the public service of New Zealand, it is not at all clear that matters would he improved by transferring the patronage from Ministers and politicians who support them to a Board and possibly another set of politicians. Viewed broadly, Mr Aitken’s attitude is one of approval of the Government measures and disapproval of matters of detail in the legislation and administration. It will require much stronger reasons than have yet been advanced before a majority of the constituencies will decree a change of Government on these grounds. As an upright citizen of broad and enlightened mind, and as one who is closely identified with the business interests of Wellington, Mr Aitken will command a large amount of support in his candidature for Parliament; it will, indeed surprise few people, to find him topping the poll on election day. Certainly, his public record and his confession of political faith- so far as made, entitle him to the cordial support .ot the community, more especially of those who desire to see business men of high character and ability taking part in guiding the destinies of tba -country.