MR WILLIAMS AT WAIPIRO BAY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13546, 25 November 1914, Page 5

MR WILLIAMS AT WAIPIRO BAY.

Mr K. 8. Williams addressed the elector^ of Waipiro Bay at the Hall on Saturday. 'at 7 o'clock. As the hall was engaged' ior Fairs Pictures and the proce&ta were being." devoted to the Belgian Fund, Mr . Williams' address was" curtailed, the hall being cleaved shortly after eight. Mr O'Ryan occupied the chair. Mr Williams declared himself as . a freeholder, though he believed m the optional system, as it gave the poor, man a chance. There were 134,000 acres of Crown land south, and west ot Til t. Hikiirangi', reserved for scenic and climatic purposes. ;This, he -thought, should be thrown open, and-.it would cause the circulation of £200,000 m the district. His idea was to let m large areas, and when the country was broken m -to subdivide it. A great . area of poor land near Rotorua should be valued, and.. ..given rent, free for a- jieriod of five or 10 years to bona fide tenants, and at the end of that time it could be sold to. the tenants, or leased at the original, valuation. ...- He was not ... m favor of the compulsory taking of Maori lands, - but believed m the consolidation of titles. He was firmly of opinion, that, the. tinte had-. .now- arrived when the .-Maori, should be treated as- a European^, and taxed accordingly-, as he had now aji the priyilegies aiid none of -t.be responsibilities.' When a' number, of Maori? , farmed the land conjointly, he thought they should be registered . under the Companies Act, .which would compel them to keep books • and> have them ■ properly audited. • He' was uo-t---in favor of Govei-nment grants to local bodies, but preferred .a subsidy oh, rates to be... given. p.n a- sliding scale. Then alocal body would know '. its financial position and could plan arid carry out its work accordingly. . „- ' Regarding -the . Bible-in-Schools, he thought the people should have' the right" of. -having the Bible taught 'before or after school hours. Proper, teachers should be -provided by the dehomina•tions interested. * He was m favor of an amendment, of the Death Duties Act, giving' ;a.. rebate to men op. active service, and also pointed out tha-t when money: had to be .subdivided among members "of a large family, it was unfair as compared with one or, two legatees. A -few questions were asked and answered, and- on the .proposal-' of Mr C Nurse, seconded by Mr A. Tuck well, a hearty vo'.t.e of thanks , to Mr Williams and confidence m J\lr Massey's Government Was declared carried on - the voices.