BAY OF PLENTY SEAT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15318, 14 September 1920, Page 5

BAY OF PLENTY SEAT.

ADDRESS BY MR K. S. WILLI_V_d£. Mr K. S- Williams held an enthusiastic meeting at Ruatorea last night ih con^ nection with his candidature for the Bay of Plenty seat. Mr R. Walker presided over a good attendance m the Ruatorea hall, many-' of those present having ridden long distances, despite the friclcmcnt weather, m, order to be present. ' '„ ' * /In tho course of bis rciiiarks Mr Wil* l liams said he had decided to contest the i{ seat m tbo Government interests'. He '* deeply regretted the cause of Clio liy- c election, ; aud paid tribute to tho sterling h cliaracter of „tlrc late Hon. W. D. S; r Mac Donald. Though he had fought two V previous elections' against . him' they had h bepn on clean and just lines, and the.o n was an entire absence of veriom and personalities. Apart from political ; view's they ,were always on the best of". terms' i: and friendship. He had always bccii treated by the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald S courteously and kindly, and had the P greatest respect for that gentlemen. ' j> Referring ' to . . tho party question, Mr Yd Williams said that he considered it was a not so much a -man holding Government, I Liberal, or Labor Views that meant the F representation of the best grado for the t district,' but his knowledge of the district t and conditions prevailing therein. Iv this n respect ho claimed to have tile best gen- r eral knowledge of such matters. He in-, i tended to conduct the contest for'; the v seat m a clean aiid* above-board manner s and free from any mud-slinging or per- c sonalities. — '•' '; c Touching on the question of breaking up of large estates, he said that so c much had been said on tho matter that I the Government should publish a. list of I those' who had offered their estates- to. 1 the Government. Personally he had offer- 1 ed his, but it had. been refused. Though x he did not consider it altbgother suitable t For closer settlement, still the Government could/ acquire, his freehold . for soldier .settlement. Something should be I done, he considered, 1 to stop land' specula- 1 tion,' and one solution appeared to him i to bo that of enforcing the occupation- of ] all acquired land - for fivo years. This t would abolish the tendency ' for specula- i tion. ' . In; regard to taxation, Mr Williams said 'ho felt that 'the people who .had means should bear tho burden "of taxu-* tion, and thb responsibility of tho small •' man should be mado lighter. - J In. educational matters the speaker ' contended that greater facilities should be given to peoplo to educate their ! children when, m the country, back-blocks. ; People at present had to move to town ' m order to educate their children m a fitting manner.' Better facilities 'should bo available to country children and more comfort provided for teachers. Nursing and . medical attention should be provided also for these .children.. . . j .-' In respect ,to /Labor,, he .said' he had : always given it sympathetic cousidera- j; tion,. and would continue to do so m the J, future. What he. advocated as a solution ! of the , problem .was- a strong progressive '■• Government, to deal-' with the -question, of j cost of living, for the betterment of the ; Dominion," and the establishment of a better market for the country's primary -' products. ' : . ■ • ' ■ ' On tho motion of Mr Mcßae, seconded, by Mr A. Reidy, a vote of thanks and j confidence was carried unanimously. j