Mr C.A. Wilkinson.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 23, 13 December 1919, Page 3

Mr C.A. Wilkinson.

A VOTE OF APPRECIATION.

At the opening -of. Mr 0. Hawken's Eltham meeting Mr C. A. Wilkinson ma do a personal statement, as already briefly referred to, and further fully reported in the Argus. Mr Wilkin-, son in the course of his remarks, said) his name had been used frequently and often incorrectly since the opening of the present political campaign, arid "he felt it necessary to make a brief statement. Before doing so he wished to thank the electors of Egmoht for electing him their Parliamentary representative, which position he had held for seven years—up to 27th November last. It w r a,s an honor which he appreciated. His reasons for retiring from political life were solely business reasons. He had not found it possible to continue in Parliamentary life as he had to pay more attention to his private business. Certain arrangements that he had made in connection with his business had not been completed, and he found that his business was suffering severe compotiiio'i frq:|i powerful rivals in tho town. Ho therefore had to give it closer and more personal attention. He w.ac giving up politic s and going back Lo business, and he felt that his political life had ended. Tn connection with politics he would like to mention that the salaries paid members of the New Zealand Parliament were very inadequnto; there was little, left after they had paid taxation. It was the lowest paid in Australasia. It was therefore impossible for the ordinary man to enter politics. He could not do it at the price. Mr Lee, of Oamaru, had refused a seat in the Cabinet because he could not afford %• The Prime Minister's salary—£l6oo—-was ridiculously low. They could well afford to. pay their Premier £SOOO.

Mr John Walsh: £4OO would do! (Laughter). Mr Wilkinson: It might do Mr Walsh. If he was paid £IOO he would be paid too much! (Renewed laughter and applause). Mr Wilkinson declared thafc if he was a candidate he would invite Mr Walsh to take a seat in the front row. Mr Walsh caus-ed a lot of amusement for the audience, and would give him (the speaker) a chance to score off'him. (More laugh-' te'r.) Mr Wilkinson then'went on[to refer to the West Coast native leases, and the Bill passedhv-Parliament during his term of office granting' the tenants the, right, to ohtain the freehold. It had been said that'the Natives were thus robbed of ;their land. That was incorrect. They had not been compelled to sell, but were given the opportunity to do so. They had previously given the white man a perpetual lease, and he did not th'ink it right that any man should be a perpetual tenant. Every Liberal had rated against that Bill! The Opuriake Railway, said Mr Wilkinson, had been started during his term of office. The work was proceeding very slowly, but nevertheless it had been started. Mr Clant: The Government is adopting the go-slow policy on the railway.

.Mr Wilkinson said the railway services were certainly slow enough. it that was what the ihterjeetor, meant. Continuing he said he had always supported the-development of -the New Plymouth Harbor, which woultf; :be 0.1 great benefit to the, province.: He Lad not, said the speaker,.!always rbeen; a dependable party man. He had opposed the Government upon the question of tho butter-fat levy from it& inception right down to the day it,was removed. That l ev .V was introduced by the Liberal Minister. Mr Massey was the man who had removed it and had it not been fpr Mr Ma-isev it would never have been refunded. In reply to interjections Mr Wilkinson said the money would be paid alter the election, if paid before it might bo termed bribery and corruption. In conclusion Mr Wilkinson said he ffitthat his political life was ended. He was not very sorry, as Parliamentary life was not always what one expected, and a politician was subjected to many inconveiences. He had, however, done the best he could for the people who had elected him, and hope] that whoever might be elected as h's *uecessor would continue to work not only for the good of that district but for the good of the country as a whoje.

Mr Wilkinson resumed his scat. a,mid,st loud and continued applause, find the chairman was proceeding to introduce Mr Hawken when Mr .Jacob Marx said it was a somewhat unusual proceeding, but he wished to move a vote of appreciation to the retiring member. This was permittpij and the motion was carried by accLunation