MR HISLOP'S CANDIDATURE

NZ Truth, Issue 177, 7 November 1908, Page 6

MR HISLOP'S CANDIDATURE

Mr Hislop, candidate for Wellington Central, delivered an address full of facts and sound reasoning with regard to the present condition' of the Dominion and to its future prospects. He stated that there could he. no doubt that the present was a time when we were suiter ing witli the rest of the world on account of one of those unfortunate reversals which happen partly from our. .own. fault and partly through circumstances over which we had no control. The fall m the price ot wool had affected ths money market \and the money available for employing people. It was for us to find out .ways to make the injury as little as possible. Mr Hislop showed that we had borrowed a great deal of money during the last 20 years, but our lairds under cultivation had DOUBLED, OUR EXPORTS - of butter and cheese had gone up from about £50,000 to about 3^,350,000 and were still increasing. One .matter which mjust be looked m the face and cither stopped or improved was the present system of iniinigtation. For a time we could only absorb such people as were necessary to increase the quantity of land cultivated. It was sinful to introduce i..3ie clerks and artisans, general laborers and other n-.civJoers of cQa.-cj who found it difficult and sometimes impossible to get employment now. If we 'managed things carefully and extended """se industries such as butter and meat, whose products were ./anted elsewhere, and took the necessary steps to increase settlement, we should be all right. We must continue to bring more' land into cultivation. We must see that the. hither to (unproductive native lands are brought into the market and '■!.-. NO LONGER ESCAPE TAXATION as they have done. Our exports of meat m 1887 were £'345,000; last year year they were £3,400,000, or about ten times as much. The quantity of wool was also tremendously increased and the price would before long be again satisfactory. There was every reason, therefore, to have faith m the future. We had only to act wisely and prudent", m the meantime. In former times when we bad trouble our exports were much less than our imports. Last year they were less for the' first time for CQ y years, —but by care m regard to imports and by expanding settlement they would, soon right themselves. We had to be careful not to check progress by allowing the money market to be deranged. The Governinei>t ought to arrange to have an addition to money available lor ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. It was most essential to do this. Out of income during the last 20 years we had added many millions to our wealth m the shape of roads, buildings and other things. We could now afford to borrow money to 'help on settlement and the arranging of loans to local bodies. .Mr Hislop appealed to all to help along tl.e country to surniount the present difficulties which he felt were only of a temporary kinxl. No doubt the public revenue would-re-ceive a check, people would suffer for a time as compared with their condition m the times we had just gone through, but we had got through under greater difficulties ai>d much worse times. Let us not lose hope and patience. Insist on the necessary remedies. .' Immigration must be stopped or regulated as he suggested. Much could be done TO HELP THE WORKERS ALONG;. A scheme should be adopted by which municipalities, aided by the Government loans, could provide workers' homes. Settlers should be encouraged by roads and loans. In our little financial troubles do not let us fight great social reforms. The preservation , of health m our population was one of the greatest aims. Much had been done towards this— much more could be done. Great advances had been made towards regulating matters so as to distribute more equally the necessaries and comforts of life— more remained to bo done. Consider the condition ot people m the Old Country before ' the introduction of Acts dealing with labor. Think of the boys, girls and women, m the mines.' MUCH BETTER CONDI TIONS obtain now. This has been brought about by the determination of the people themselves, that society mjust exist for the benefit of all. Let that principle continue, and with care we shall improve conditions. We must m our public ser- . vices show care and honesty of management, and demonstrate that public management can lie as effective as private, and we must go on dealing with each question as it , arises. Mr Hislop dealt with many other subjects, such as the Conciliation and- Arbitration Act, Education, Attention to Physical Wants of Children, and closed a thoughtful, instructive and interesting speech amidst demonstrations of approval and applause.