THE ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5736, 3 November 1905, Page 6

THE ELECTIONS.

THE NEWTOWN SEAT. Dr Chappie addressed an _ open-air meeting in Newtown last night amt had a good attendance. Ho taid the no-license issue bade fair to loom large in tin; coming election, and nowlieic was it of more importance than in an electorate where the “trade” and Parliament co-operated to do lea t and delv the will of the people. It ceased to bo :i question of drink or no drink it was a quo d ion of whether a free people would tolerate the tyranny el a section of the community made wealthy and powerful by tho drinking habits or {-he people. He warned his hearers that no stone would bo left unturned to defeat the will of the electors again, and tho solid concentration of its force by the “trade”’ on its nominees indicated that some move might bo expected next session if the no-license party allowed liquor representatives to carry the polls. Ho referred to the heavy handicap of the three-fifths majority in the elections, and the equally heavy handicap in the House of lour .Maori members voting solidly with the ‘ trade on every occasion. A hue it was n principle of Liberalism that tne btate should prevent the exploitation ol one man’s labour by another, it had remained for the present Parliament to invade a man’s right to order ins own labour as lie thought lit. Hi the Shops and Offices Act Parliament had dared to say at what hour a man should put down his tools, nut out his light, put up his shutters. Neither the State nor any majority should, be permitted to thus invade the individuals liberty so long as ho did not violate the rights of another. Employees could, of course, bo protected by the limitation of hours of labour, and the fixing ef an hour limit beyond wlrch they need not work, except under special terms. The great difficulty was that so many legislators were opportunists ami vote-catchers, and did not reason and act upon basal principles. He pointed out that in tins colony many men held land in areas of 100,000 acres and over, and 10G holders owned 10,000,000 acres. The Land for Settlements Act did not wholly meet tho difficulty, and was never intended to replace tho graduated land tax for tlic purpose of getting the land for tho people. This act operated in isolated districts only, and during purchase negotiations raised tho local price of land, but a graduated land tax heavy enough to be effective operated all over the colony simultaneously and lowered tire price of land, making purchase by the land-seeker easy. Millions of acres were locked up. and thousands of farmers wanted to get nt it, but tho lands for settlement system was too slow, too expensive, too cumbersonio, and too inefficient. Off the food and on to land should be the fate of the taxes, and tho cry of the worker. Asked his attitude on the Bible-in-schoo!s, he replied that the Bible had been too long the subject of a jeering and disrespectful public controversy, and he thought the matter should bo set at rest by a referendum. The schools and the children belonged to tho people, and they surely had the right to decide what should be taught. It was certainly not a matter for Parliament. What attitude ho would take in the event of a referendum being granted depended on the demands made. Ho was opposed to the introduction of the Bible as a class book into the schools to be taught by individual teachers during school hours. A conscience clause for teachers and pupils would create invidious and sectarian distinctions that should not be encouraged or tolerated in State departments. If the Bible was thus thrust into the schools against the pronounced protest of other denominations whose views deserved respect, he thought it would make their claim for special grants irresistible.

Air Field will address the electors at Otaki this evening, and at Porirua tomorrow evening.

Mr George Loudon invites Hntt electors to meet him at the Muritai Schoolroom this evening. Mr Wilford will address the electors at Petono this evening. Members of Air Barber’s late committee and other supporters are asked to meet at the Seatoun tea kiosk next Alonday evening. Mr Field’s Jolxnsonrillo committee is to meet this evening.