MR WILFORD AT PETONE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5737, 4 November 1905, Page 5

MR WILFORD AT PETONE

WORK FOR THE DISTRICT. Tho Oddfellows’ Hall at Pctoue was packed to tho doors last evening, when Mr T. M. Wilford, M.H.R., addressed the electors. Tho sitting member was in excellent form, and with his usual cheerful confidence, jovial humour, and smart repartee was at onco on tho best of terms with his sympathetic audience. Tho chair was occupied by Mr Alf. Coles. Mr Wilford said tie would divide his speech iu three parks—(l) rendering an account of his stewardship: (2) dealing with the criticism of his opponents; and (3) his platform policy at present and for the future. After that ho would reply to questions. It must be clearly understood that ho would not discuss or comment upon his opponents—ho would merely make a statement in reply to criticism, leaving the electors to vote whatever way they pleased. In rendering an account of his stewardship he had to be egotistical in speaking of what ho had done for the district, which for thirty years before he represented it had been neglected by every administration. They were now getting their share. (Applause.) At Akatarawa they wanted a school and two bridges. They had now got tho school and the bridges had been erected. At Mungaroa they wanted two bridges and a special milk train—tho bridges had bean built and the train was now Tuning. Silvorstream’s wants bad been met. At. the Lower Hutt they wanted a special bill 1o enable a library to be established by tho local authority, and at Petone land had been acquired for workmen’s homes, and many local requirements attended to. Then there was tho straightening of tho lino between Wellington and (ho Hutt. They all knew how many years lhat had taken, but ho had hammered nt Ministers day after day until they had. bccome sick of tho mention of the Hutt line. That work, giving employment to hundreds, had been got by him, and him alone, by constant and regular trying for years. Ho had done a great task for Petone this year, having got three bills through for Petone alone last session. The first w r as in reference to tho huge claim made by tho Petone Wollen Company, the second was tho bill to acquire (he laud near Packwood's for a. water, shed, and the third was the Petone and Hutt EmiJowering Bill, which was I bought to have been among the “slaughtered innocents,” but was now' upon the statute book. (Applause.) This act gave power to the Harbour Board to erect a wharf at Petone (at a cost of .£12,000). It only remained for the little bit of railway to bo acquired by the Government, and all wants satisfied. It had been mentioned that ho was responsible for the loss of tho old wharf, but ho traversed his action as a member of tho Harbour Board, and quoted from a letter sent by the Petone Borough Council to the Board, after the sale of tho wharf by public auction, which stated that "the Council could make po arrangeifients for the retention of the structure.” Was he then to bo blamed for the loss>of tho old ramshackle structure P He had finished with the wharf. (Applause.) The straightening of the Hutt railway was a great work, but would increase the value of every properly in tho borough, and, as ho had prophesied in 1893, it had transformed tho district from a farming one to a suburban area. The development of the district in tho last few years had been marvellous, almost phenomenal. To get public votes was no easy task, for the Minister had eighty men worrying him for money. But the Government had recognised tho requirements of tho district during the last three years as no previous Government had ever done. (Loud applause.) Referring to tho Hutt and Petone Empowering Bill, Mr Wilford said it had “got through by the skin of its teeth,” after’ being blocked by the Public Works Department and the Marino Department. Yet, after all ho had done, a prominent member of a local body had gone into town apd asked Mr Ell if ho (Mr Wilford) was not blocking tho bill. Ho got an emphatic denial. Tho bill gave tho borough tho right to the foreshore: gave tho Harbour Board power to erect a wharf as soon as the beach line of railway was acquired; gave the right to erect stores and sheds, and tramlines to them; gave power to make by-laws X'egulating tho use of tho beach for volunteer corps and boating clubs; and for, improving and beautifying the beach area. This year these three bills wore law—were on tho statute book—and bo had done what ho had been asked to do. A word or two about his opponents. Mr London differed from him iu politics. They would never quarrel over politics, and ho would tell them why. Ho read a most laudatory and complimentary extract from a leading article iu the "Hutt and Pobone Chronicle” (which appeared when Mr London was editor), having reference to Mr AVilford’s work in connection in straightening the Hutt line. In another extract Mr London expressed bis admiration for Mr Wilford’s efforts in getting the duty taken off kerosene. What sort of a man would ho bo if he said anything against Mr London? Mr London had said Mr Sodden was “a heap of mud on tho hillside. Dear brethren! wo are all dust!” (Loud laughter.) He could not help remembering those lines— Oh, don’t the days ecem lank and long When all goes right- and nothing goes wrong. And isn’t vour life extremely flat When there’s nothing whatever to grumble at.

Mr Yorex did not believe in party Government, Yet be was one of tbe New Liberal party. That gentleman had made certain statements which he would deal with without comment. In doing so he referred to his (the speaker’s) action in reference to old-age pensions, the .£250 grant for Whiteman’s Valley, the Petone Foreshore Bill, the High School for Petone, and the cost of the Hutt railway station, and his attendance at the House, in each case satisfactorily dealing with the criticism that had been offered, and answering all that was said to the satisfaction of the audience. In concluding hie remarks under that head, he said that the life of a member was not all “beer and skittles,” but ho had that feeling of a New Zealander that when he was there he did not wish to bo kicked out. It would hurt him to see the district represented bv a stranger, instead of one New Zealand-born (Hear! hear!) It was easier to criticise than to be correct, and, quoting from Mr Yerex’s apology for being absent from his Hutt meeting, he said “forgive—if you cannot forget.” (Laughter.) The candidate confessed himself strongly against the aggregation qf large estates, In this colony, there were 861 persons who owned £22,000,000 worth of land. He declared for the freehold with a limitation of area. He would give the man who wished to go upon the land the option of leasehold or freehold, but would limit the area if he was after the freehold. He thought 610 acres (a square mile) of firstclass land was ample for any one man to hold. (Hear! hoar!) He was not a prohibitionist, and did not believe in prohibition, but he believed in local option, which allowed each district to say whether they would have prohibition dr not. The man, however, who said that if he was elected he would vote for prohibition was "leg-pulling.” (Laughter.) It was not a matter for Parliament—but for the people. If the people said "no-li-cense,” there would be "no-license.” As for the man who says that he will vote prohibition if elected, well, it was a legpulling game that would have little effect. He voted for the "Slander Bilj” because he thought it a good bill. A slanderer had need to fear it, but no fair critic. (Hear, hear.) Mr Wilford gave as his planks in his future platform the following:—(1) The prevention of the aggregation of large estates; (2) increase of graduated tax on absentees and large estates; (3) revision of Customs duties; (1) legislation to strangle American invasion by trusts; (5 Civil Service superannuation; (61 fixing the status of temporary clerks; (7) re-ad-justing wages of tradesmen in the railway service; (8) uniform school books and free to all; (9i settlement of native lands under the bill of this session; (10) extending tbe advantages to all borrowers under the Advances to Settlers Act; |

(II) lax Chinese out of existence in tho colony by poll tax; (12) reducing Customs tariff on articles of daily use and consumption; (13) excessive rates of interest' prevention bill; (M) greater powers to school committee in selection of local teachers: (15) extending tho franchise for election of members of Education Boards. A number of questions were asked, and rapidly ami satisfactorily answered. At tho conclusion of the mooting a vote of ihanks- and confidence was moved andcarried practically unanimously.