MR HANNAN’S LAST SHOT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8482, 17 July 1913, Page 7

MR HANNAN’S LAST SHOT

GREAT MEETING AT GREYMOUTH. Special to the " Times." GREYMOUTH, July 18. Mr M. Hannan, the Liberal candidate for the Grey seat, gave his final address in the Town Hall to-night. The building was packed to the doors, a large proportion of those present being ladies. The Mayor (Mr G. B. Perkins) presided. Mr Hannan said that, so far as he was concerned, he was in the fortunate position of running the election by himself. He had no one to make speeches for him. A Liberal organiser had come down and offered to assist him, but he had declined his services, for he thought that if he could not run the election himself in a place where he was known he had better leave it alone. He referred to the statement made by the " Reform " party that the Liberal party had been responsible for locking up 2,000,000 acres of land by means of what was known as the National Endowment Act. That, declared Mr Hannan, was a fabrication. These lands were set aside as endowments for education and other purposes. The quantity on the West Coast for that purpose was 8000 acres. These lands could not be sold with the right of the freehold, but in all other ways they could be treated as Grown lands, and could be leased in the same way as other Crown lands, and all revenue derived was, after paying for administration, paid into the national endowment fund, and 70 per cent, was allocated to edumation and 30 per cent, to old age pensions. It was unfair, therefore, to say that 2,000,000 acres of land, was locked up, for the power was given to the Government under the Act to lease them or not. (Applause.) ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. Mr Hannan then referred to the allegation made by the " Reformers" about the small amount given to the West Coast under the Advances to Settlors Act. He, reminded his hearers that there was very little land suitable for settlement on the West Coast, and, therefore, it was unfair to say that the Coast had got a very small portion ot money allocated in his way. The Coast had got all that it had asked for. Since the present Government had come into power instructions had been given to the department no tto lend money in mining districts, which included the whole of the West Coast. . PUBLIC WORKS STOPPED. Mr Hannan next referred to the stopping of work on the Ross railway and on the Reefton-lnangahua railway by the present Government. Work on the Glenhope section had also been practically stopped. Thus three out of the four railways in progress on the West Coast when the Massey Government came into power had been stopped. The delay in the building of the Reefton Post Office was also touched upon. As late as April last the Hon. W. Fraser had been approached by a deputation with reference to it, but no reply had been given, except the stereotyped one that the matter would receive consideration. Nothing had been hoard since until a letter was received when the election was coming on that plans were being prepared and that afterwards the specifications would receive consideration. He (Mr Hannan; had toid the people of Reefton that if ho were successful at the alection Reefton had a poor chance of getting its post office. (Applause.)

PROMISED “SQUARE DEARS." Although he was opposed to the “Reform” party he would nevertheless support any measure worthy of consideration. As fqy the “Reform” party, he preferred to deal with their performances in the past rather than their promises for the future. They had heard a Rreat deal of what was known as “the square deal.” Ho (Mr Hannan) saw no reason why the police