THE ELECTIONS.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 22, Issue 90, 21 November 1911, Page 4

THE ELECTIONS.

MB DUNCAN AT HAVELOCK. Mr Duncan, M.P., addressed his Have-' lock constituents at the Town Hall on Saturday evening, when there was, in spite of Saturday . evening being most unsuitable for such gatherings, a very large attendance. Mr W. H. Smith, chairman of the Town Board, presided, and in ope ping the proceedings eulogised the Member, laying stress on the fact that Mr Duncan had proved a conscientious representative. Mr Duncansaid he regretted that his time was limited, as owing to the late sitting of the House he' had to hurry through the Electorate. He was elected as an Independent, and he saw no reason to change his platform. The other candidates were personal friends of his, and he expected.that the contest would be a very pleasant one, and that on his side he could say there would be no personalities. One, of the reasons he had taken an independent position was that the administration' of the present Government was not to his mind' satisfactory—there had been neglect in all directions so far as Marlborough was concerned. It was openly stated that for a man to come out as a Government supporter added at least; 25 per cent. ,to his chances, because of the* benefits that would be conferred in the matter of grants, but he maintained that was a wrong principle. The Government were in the position of trustees of the people, and th§y should do their duty irrespective of political beliefs. (Applause). The following, figures, for the years 1903-1905, would prove that Marlborough had not in previous years received its due in respect of the expenditure of public money :—: ■ , ' ■■

Auckland 693,328 Taranaki 128,602 , Hawke’s Wellington..... 512,782 Mar1b0r0ugh............... 23,592 Nelson 230,376 Westland ............. 131,496 Canterbury .. 335,356 Otago and Southland ... 517,062 The cost of (government (excluding the

railways, postal service and defence) had increased from £5 2s per head of population in 1901 to £6 2s 2d in 1911.: That* compared very unfavourably > with the conditions of other countries. In Great Britain, notwithstanding the - upkeep of the Army and Navy, the cost was £3 16s lid per head. Recently the Minister of Public Works had paid .more attention to the requirements of the province, but the history of the South Island Main Trunk line showed that the Government had (not kept faith with the people. The' Premier had distinctly promised that‘when the North Island Main Trunk was completed the South s Island line would be proceeded with, hut the meagre allocation for the line this year was not a fulfilment of that promise. ■ Referring to the grants for roads and bridges be said it was very satisfactory to know that a bridge across the Wairan was within measurable distance; Tt should have been built 25 years ago. If we are to progress as we should do it would only be effected by having the land available for closer settlement. The reason for the aggregation of population in the cities was because of the lack of opportunities for land settlement. In Denmark/ owing to their better land laws, the tendency . was for the population to go out Into the country. The Government bad not paid sufficient attention to acquiring! land and making it available for settlements—they < were not pushing forward the operations of the Land for Settlements Act in Marlborough. Not a single estate bad been acquired in Marlborough by the Ward Government since they came into power. Several estates had been offered to them* but they bad refused the offers.; Five years ago they*' were offered the Hilleredeu Estate for ; £68,0(10, but to-day they could not get .it under £IOO,OOO, and if it was taken at that figure the settlers would have to pay so mpch more to take it op. The day for the large estates was passing away, and the Government should obtain these estates at present; market value, and when it was taken over the settlers -would get the benefit. With regard to the Mokau Estate, be thought the Government had made a great mistake in not acquiring it when they had the opportunity. Year after year there bad been a Cromise of a 1 Local Government Bill, ut it had never been fulfilled, for the reason' that the Ministry would thereby be robbed of a great deal of their power. In New South Wales there was a system of graduated subsidies to local bodies, varying from a small subsidy for improved districts to V subsidy for back-blocks districts. He would heartily support any scheme that would be an improvement on the present system.

. He was not opposed to borrowing, but thought it should be kept within limits. Our taxation through the Customs was £3 2s 4d per head, one of the highest in the world, and it seemed that a reduction could, wisely be made in many items that were necessaries. It seemed an anomaly that £ISO,OQO worth of motor cars were admitted free, yet on perambulators, gocarts, anfi' bicycles duty on; nearly £280,000 worth had been collected. A change could very well be made as 1 between these items. (Applause).'' He : was not in favour of surpluses. They proved only that the Government had taken from the people more than they should have done. The Government had no right to take taxation from small settlers and working men for the purpose of creating a surplus, even though jt went jinn the Public Works■ Fund, for there were many parts of; the country that fiid not benefit' one 1 fraction from the expenditure oh, say,; railways. Public works should be constructed out of borrowed money, and not out of surpluses realised by excessive taxation.

He combatted the statement of Mr McOallam that be , (Air Duncan) bad made a mistake by voting for a proposal to discourage the importation of coal into New Zealand. The result of this would be to create a . preference for our own coal and employment for nearly 3000 more workers. He believed in tbe freehold tenureone that would lead up to a bolder getting ' tbe eventual freehold. He thought that l.i.p. tenants should get tbe freehold at the original value. Mr McCallum stated be (Mr Duncan) was prepared to give away millions by this proposal. But the Government themselves sw that the increase in the value of these holdings was not appreciable. Mr Duncan concluded amidst applause, and chairman invited qdehtions to wbicfc,tihe,candidate gave the following! replies ;-*• * ■' ''

He would do hie beat to advocate tbe establishment of s Government sanatorium and tourist resort In the Sounds, as be tbe locality had been much neglected in that respect.' His action on a proposal ofno-eonfi-denoe in the Government would depend on what induced the proposal. In the Government as at present constituted be had no confidence, and if It came to a question as to whether they should remain in office or go out he would vote to put them out. (Applause). But at tbe same time he was not pledged to Mr Massey. The present Government 4id not include all tbe Liberals 4o tbe House by a long way, and he would not pledge)himself to support either V?de If be was returned it would be as an Independent, and he moat be left free to vote as he thought best on a no-con-fidence motion. (Applause). He was in favour of a three-fifths majority on tbe licensing question He was in favour of the present system of education, but would like to see instituted a system of scholarships for the benefit of country scholars, who had not the same opportunities as children in towns. He thought that the question of a , universal holiday should be! left to th« i various districts. Be could not an whether any particular day would suit say, Havelock or Blenheim ' 11 . »o favour of State control of tbe ferry service, as he though! tnere was at present too much Union Company. (Applause).

He could not explain why the Government did not push on with South Island Trunk* line j ( The q burner suggested that it 1 was either because the Government considered there were not enough votes at stake or sajrasajrr**- 9^*s He believed in a land' tenure leading up to the freehold, so that poor people couid take up landwithouthavingto spend all their cash in buying it ■ A. Heade moved “ That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded Mr Dooean. tive SrtSSP* “““ . Dr Williams said he had great pleasure in seconding the proposal. He haAheen very much interested in the stateemao- "».«*• by Mr Duncan, and predicted that if the rest of Marlborough thonShf m* n*' neopl * 01 ™vel<S thought Mr Duncan would be returned by a big majority. (Applause), The proposal , was earned with vJgorous and long-contiuoad. applause.one dissentient bravely, bolting bft L -hat' aloft as & token 'of disapproval ’ and about eight others howS? ?STf haSde up in opposition. - < , < , ' Mr Duncan expressed'thanks for hie * "*• THE WAIBAU CONTEST. Arthur Widen announces that be wifi address the fetors at Havelock next Saturday, at Pioton on Monday. 37th, at Te Awaite at nbon ; on Tuesday, ißlh. and at Uahakipawa at 8 p.m. on 28th , The oaudidatee for the Wairau seat saem agreed that Saturday night ill the most suitable upon which to address a Hsviilock audience, for each has chosen (hit evening. As U' matter of fact, however, it'ie a moet nnsnitabia and inconvenient night, for business people and their are 1 thereby debarred from attending the meetings. ■.

The Lltbam Argus is well known to be a whole-hogger in its support of the, Government, but here Is the paper’s opinion regardingoertaiu , Items of expenditure “ There are two’ items of*. Government expenditure that are being sharply criticised by the Opposition, and we think with, good reason. One is the item for entertaining toe Hon. George Fowldson bis return irons Africa. We cannot, see that the Government Were justified in thus expending public money. Mr Fowld* had just returned l/ora « very pleasant jaunt, and if Ministers were desirous of entertaining their colleague it la a pity they did dot. do it at theiy own personal expense. The expenditure—only some £7O or £BO —certainly was not large, hot the principle was not a good one. ff Mr Fowldf had.beep a distinguished visitor there might have been sqm* excuse for the entertainment; but surely it WM upt necessary to banquet a retoroiog member of the Cabinet who bad just enjoyed a very nice holiday. We’ think the v Government committed an. error of judgment in organising the banquet at the public expense, and wears not surprised at the Opposition, criticising their action pretty severely.. The next instance in which we think the Opposition have good grounds for complaint is in -the * purchase of the “Hon. Roddy” nugget to present to the King. Here, again, the expense was not very great—probably some £7OO or £BOO, which amount divided proportionately amongst the population does not constitute a very burdensome sum on anybody; But what 1 on earth was the necessity for such expenditnra 7 We think it borders/on the farcical to purchase a nugget pi gold to preseutto the King of Oreut Britain. In criticising tbsse two items of expenditure we think the Opposition an on solid ground. Mr A. W. Hogg, ex-Minister, and. candidate tor Masterton, dearly lovos a joke. Speaking to hia people the other night about the Baronetcy of Sit Joseph jWard, he 'told:'them of bow. a; wett-known Bniglish- ' aristoerat met an Irishman in Now York. The Irishman asked lor a match, whiob was gived bim.' Aod theQ the aristoerat re- ' marked upon thestrangeness ot the 'country and the people, 1 adding :— •* You don’t kno# who lam. I’m Sir Charles Duff. Knight of the Grand Cross, Knight of the Knight of the two Eagles, Knight ’of the Golden Fleece. Who may you be?”. The reply came ; ” Michael Murphy j To-night, last night, the night before last, to-morrow night, every——-night - Michael Murphy !* (Roars of laughter), In a speech at Palmerston North the other night, Mr Buick, M;P., said If the Judges wore not receiving enough salary, then, for God’s sake let it be increased, but, let us . have our judges pun, ” J don’t sav they are not purs, bat ’’ Kennedy Msodonald was now walking shout tbs slnstli of Wellington, _ If those in gaol could have got out by securing a certificate for being sick then our gads would soon bare to be made smaller.

THE PREMIER CONFIDENT. A HOSTILE PROPOSAL. Palmentoo, Nov. 17. Ths Prime Minister arrived in Palmerston last evening and was presented with an address of welcome. Addressing a public meeting Sir Joseph Ward said be had jut completed a remarkably successful .tour of his district, and, notwithstanding rumoon to the contrary, he was going to win his seat by a handsome majority. He denied that the Government had increased the taxation of the country ah alleged by tbe'Laadef