NEW LIBERAL PARTY.

Colonist, Volume XLVII, Issue 11434, 13 September 1905, Page 2

NEW LIBERAL PARTY.

Messrs Tavior, Fisher, and Laureneon, members of Parliament, addressed a second meeting in the Theatre on Monday, commencing at half-past two. There were about 300 people in the building when the meeting started, and the number gradually grew to about five hundred. Mr Tfaos. Field occupied toe cbair, and briefly introduced the speakers, remarking that they had come from Wellington to address them. They wanted to know all about mattera, and he was sure these gentlemen would enlighten them. Mr Laurenson expressed pleasure nt seeing so large an audience at bo unreasonable an hour. The New Liberals had held three meetings charging so much a head, and they had taken nearly £200 in cash to benefit philanthropic objects — a record such as no other political party had. He also said that before they were dead they intended to put up more records. In speaking of the objects of the New Liberals, he claimed that they had secured the provision whereby the possession of a home worth £150 did not lead to a reduction of the old age pension. Secondly, they would not allow the present abuse of the telegraph system. Ministers could have free use of the wires, but not th^eir families. They had, he said, so mused public opinion that next election woul^ be the most lively they bad ever had. (Applause. ) They might make mistakes, but if they did they would be made with good intentions. In. political life they had to begio with little things, and he referred to the results of John Hampden's action re ship money. It was said that in Americajbalf the legislators could be bought — that had not come with a rush, but had begun with little things. If they did not grasp the evils when they were small they would not when they were large. They intended to keep pure and clean. He intimated hie intention to speak on three vital economic questions, and he spoke first on the incidence of taxation. He said that though the average wage had increased, the cost of living had increased at a greater rate, the result being that the condition of many was worse than before. He quoted Pitt as to the ease with which indirect taxation could be imposed, and said that of the ordinary taxation two and a third millions was obtained through the Customs, and a third of a million by direct taxation, on land and income. He compared a wage-earner with a man enjoying a thousand a year, and said the latter paid 43^ per cent in taxes, while the former paid 11. The boot should be on the other leg. It was the same with the land tax, and he instanced a farmer who paid 7J£ per cent, while a more wealthy one paid only 4 per cent. Alluding to the increase of wealth, he said the increase was secured by a few. The aim should be to prevent abject poverty at one end and millions at the other. Of the income tax 3400 persons paid on 1% millions of income, but 170 men paid on 1% millions— that showed how wealth was distributed. H<* complained, too, that capital was- taking too. great a toll on labor, and he quoted as to the conditions in England, where more than a third of the population was below the poverty line. However fast wealth increased there was ruin ahead if the people did not maintain their virility. He then spoke on the land question. In New Zealand they had 66 million acres, • but in the North Weßt territory of Uaoada they had practically four New Zealands. Out of their 66 millions of acres some 11 millions were left to them. They said they wanted to keep this for future generations — they ought to do something for posterity, a 9 their, fathers did for them. At present ninf-

tenths of the landowners held a Quarter of the land, and one-tenth field three quarters. After a figurative description, in which he put land users at the bottom, and kings, loafers and prisoners at the top, he B&id they should make it impossible to 1 , hold large blocks for speculative purposes. Incidentally he claimed that they had been . the means of putting up the valuation of a block of land by three-quarters of a million. Having given some Canterbury experiences, he said we don't want, to see the land monopolised, therefore we advocate an increased land tax,not on the small landowner, fou-fo when a man holds more than 5000; acres unimproved it is time a check was placed on him. (Applause). His^next topic was educa-, tion. In the last five years he said the children attending school had increased 7 per cent, while the cost of education had increased 42 per cent, but he doubted if there were ever more complaints than at present. The reason was that the head was overburdened with work. Mr Seddon was a very able man, and could do a great amount of work, but he took too much upon himself. They should have a better system, and the salaries were not enough to entourage the brightest to become teachers. They also svanteH to estend technical and manual instruction to fit the boys and girls for life. They wanted to make education more live and more practical than it had ever been. (Applause). He regretted he had not time to do his snbject justice, and concluded by savin? that the New Liberal Party aimed at making the country better than it . han ever been, and to raise its moral , tone. (Applause). ] Mr Fisher said tbat from the slating they had received in the newspapers it might be thought they were something like the KellySullivan gang, but, by holding that meeting, people could see they were tnon of some ability, and trying to turn it to account. They knew that Mr Seddon was the most autocratic man that had ever touched politics in New Zealand, but if they would persist in placing in the Lands of any one man such despotic powers they would bring about ruin. It was testimony to the strength of Mr Seddon that he was not worse than be is after the way they had treated him. He had more power than the King yielded. They said, however, that the time had come to put down their feet. They didn't want a democracy turned into an autocracy, and if the price was to be Mr Seddon they wouldn't have Mr Seddon. Ij Mr Seddon wanted to strengthen his position to-morrow he could do it by reconstructing his Cabinet, so strengthening it that no man could shift him. In order to preserve power, Mr Seddon had adopted the same attitude on the Liquor, the Land, and other questions declaring them non-party questions, but he maintained that the Premier should say here are our proposals, we have carefully considered them, we believe it is to the interest of the Colony they should be placed'on the Statute Book, and the Government should stand or fall by them. But what did Mr Seddon say— Leave it to the people. This was evasion and shuffling. They ought to run on constitutional lines, and not on despotic, purchasing votes by Public Works grants. The Premier was reported to have said that the New Liberals had done a great deal to lower the tone of Parliament. He Baid if they wanted language degardtng Parliament they had only to hear the speeches of Ministers. He quoted Sir J. Ward and the Premier to support his assertion. (Mr Taylor: What was that to cover up?) It was to cover up the travelling expenses of Mr Mills and the Pemier and the memo system which they exposed. He then spoke at some length on Defence. The vote had reached £298,000, and it was about time they asked — are wo getting value for our money? In 1891 the Premier asked what the people wanted with a torpedo corps, and j then the expenditure was only £79,000, but the Premier had now changed his mind. He said there was sinful waste, and the sooner it was stopped the better. The Department was utilised for the purpose of finding billets, and he said there was an Inspector-General of Rifle Clubs appointed who never inspected a rifle club. He had mentioned that morning another, matter, and they were on the track of it. They were going to see if by earnestness they could force honesty. The Premier complained of their invading the sanctity of his, home, but if the Premier put any member of his family in a public: position they were going to criticise them as well as others. (Applause). He would be glad if they could make it possible to prevent the employment of a Minister's family. He refarred then to the Head-quarters, and read and ridiculed some of the regulations. He complained, too, that practical work was neglected, and said the £300,000 sped; on defence could be infinitely batter spent in some other way. He proceeded to say they were not socialists in the worst form. They did not want to share in the reward men had earned by their own exertions; they did not want to inflict hardships on the large landowners and the W6atlhy but they wanted them to bring r up their children so that they would not get their wealth at the expense of others. As far as was equitable thny wanted to see the land with as many men on it as it would hold, and then, one day in going from nhritchurch to Dunedin they would be practically travelling through suburb. They did not want to do injustice, and they did not want to take from the producer, but only when it passed from those who earned it; and they would not allow men to take up large areas as in the early days. (Applause). He complained that Civil Servants were not treated fairly, instancing a £5 rise to a man receiving £240 a year, and £100 rise to one receiving £700. He objected that the Government had a block vote of 40 against them. The people should send men to Parliament who were more independent, men who were fearless, and he ventured to say that they four were in that position. His impression was that they were going to awaken interest throughout the Colony. He alluded to the attitude of Auckland members relative to Public Works expenditure, and said that Mr Seddon in respect to Public Works expenditure was regarded as though! he was a very rich man who gavej donations of money. Why, he asked, i should they put themselves_ in thati position. The people, being edu-j cated, should have expenditure out side of Ministers, and this bribery of districts should be done away with. He gave Mr Seddon's remarks in reference to the Waihi tramway, and said these meant that if they had returned a Government man the money would have been spent. He urged that they were doing better work than^if they had remained in Wellington, and had loafed from Friday till Tuesday. He then touched upon representation, and said the question of quota had to be mef. He also referred to the Maori Members, and said they did not care for European politics, and he compared the numbers they represented with those he did. This, he said, ought not to exist. In conclusion, he said they came hoping to render some service to the people of Nelson by instructing them as much^ as they

'. cou'd on some questions of the day, and he wanted to Bay that if at any time they would like them to deliver lectures or addresses they had only to write to Wellington, and fie Was sure they would be glad to come at the week's end. . (Applause). Mr Taylor, after .reference .to the local Press, and to the reference to their leaving their Parliamentary duties, said that the old Liberal Party did not want to be disturbed, and some of them spent more time in curling their hair than they spent in their visit. There were some who never entered the House but to vote for the Government. If they JeP* quiet they were good, but if they were active, they were excrescencies, and were lowering Parliament. Me said they were degrading because the facts were degrading. He alluded to the Premier as putting on his best chrst measurement, and said Ministers bad grown too large_for their political boots. They, the New Liberals, said they wanted information, but they were refused. The Member for Chriatchurch was told he was lowering the tone of Parliament, but he claimed he had a right to every public document as much as the Premier. He claimed they were there to represent the people, they were trustees, and would hare information about travelling or any other items. Suppose that their information regarding the voucher turned out wrong, the four postal officials were clean men ; they tell public men they believe there was a transaction tbat was not clean ; their representatives said they wanted information re the payment, and the Premier said they were attacking him through his family. If he did not want to be attacked, let him keep his children out of the public service. He said a man had no rights to steal billets for his children. As to the voucher, the four men were men of experience, snd they said they handled the document. They wanted to see the blocks of the cheque books and other records, and they wero denied. He said that till there was full enquiry their veracity was suspected. He referred to the Dreyfus case, and made comparison. Mr Taylor went on to say that he believed Ministers were their servants, but the fact was they were their masters. They four, New Liberals, stood to the principles of democracy. Their representatives were in consultation with the Ministry for four months, and they needed to scrutinise what was done in the other eight. Legislation did not come from Parilament, but germs of reform grew, and were planted in other brains till public opinion was formed, and Parliament was the channel through which their wills flowed. The public ought to feel grateful that a small group of men were ready to do their duty as scrutineers. He believed that they would not only win their own seats, but aid young voters to be strong enough to carry into effect a large number of constitutional reforms. | (Applause). The first of these was that one man should not create their Ministry — they elected the Parliament, and Parliament should elect the Ministry. They said the Premier had misused his power in selecting colleagues. He ought to have got the most capable and experienced men. Mr Taylor commented on the men the Premier had chosen to surround him, and said that; by selecting mediocraties he had magnified his own talents. He also strongly commented on his appointments to the Upper House. He had put in men because they had fawned upon him, had fed him, or had been useful. The Premier, who_ had created the Council, now said he would make no more appointments. He, Mr Taylor, said let the people chose if they wanted Lords, or let the Revising Chamber be elected by their representatives. He proceeded to say that the Telegraph service had been grossly abused, and said speeches had been telegraphed to party newspapers declaring that newspapers getting wires had no more right to get them free than the people had. In America a Minister's son could not be employed in the public service, and it would be better if no member of a Minister's! i family could be employed in New ; Zealand. From May to June last! year the Premier was on a holiday j trip — he was not well He did j not suppose anyone envied him the trip, but they were surprised to know .that although he did practi- ! cally no business he drew an addition \ to his salary at the rate of £1600 a] year, 30s a day for travelling allow- i ance, Having made a comparison. ; he said that when they talked, of this he put on his full chest measurement. One question that. | would have to be solved was the employment of the 130,000 children in their schools. If; they could not find them land they must find them employment other- J wise, or exile them tc a country j where they could get a living. In the South the agricultural imple- j ment makers were face to face with the competition of an American trust that had started business, and j they declared that this combination j threatened to close every agricultural implement factory in the Colony, or reduce them to mere repairing shops. They had passed labor laws, and had guaranteed a living wage, but though he had seen fortunes made on the land, he could not recall the case of a single artisan who had made a competency out of his work. They must be protected, not only from the Asiatic but from the American trusts. He was a freetrader, but he was prepared to make a sacrifice to keep his family near him, and they all wanted their boys and girls to remain because they were born here, and to so arrange that they could secure employment in their own land. They were not going to allow American trusts to throttle their industry, and crush out thier workers; neither would they build up the industries of Great Britain if that meant a shnnkage of those of New Zealand. Their first duty was to New Zealand, and they must build up their industries. He said there were few who desired a return of the old order of things when a few wealthy people had the power. They wanted the return of Independent Liberals, and it was only the people who could bring about the change. Were they going to have a member, who, for appearances, might bark, but who would not bite. The system of party politics was all right before the people had education and power, but it was opposed to democracy. They might have made mistakes, and there were very few who did not, but their instincts were sound. He referred to Mr Fisher as a real good fighter, and proceeded to say that they stood firmly by the four Christchuruh officials, and would never let go believing them honest and clear. (Applause). If they were to be dismissed it could not be helped— they might have been guilty of some breach of regulations— but their abilities would command other employment. He believed there was a chance of Nelson sending a man back after the next elections who would be a real live foree — who would not go begging for what he had a rght to demand. In conclusion he referred to that meHting as unique, the^peoplo turning out to discuss dry politics in the day, and'by urging that they should ieturn 'to .Parliament free men, not slaves. 'Mr Taylor resumed his J'seat amidst continued applause.

The Chairman having invited questions' „.„,, *t Mr Orotieher asked if the New Liberal tarliy would support measures for assisting those with large families. Jftr Laurenson said tbey would. Other things being equal, a child, the member of a large family, should have preference in appointments ,to the" public service, and such chifd should have preference in the ballots for land. Mr Croucher thought there should be direct bonuses. : Mr Laurenson said families might then increase too fast. Mr Haddow asked whether they were in favor of Nelson being connected with the Midland Eailway. Mr Taylor believed all the main inink lines should be completed, and had no hesitation in spying that the Colony having pledged itself 3hould complete the line. He aleo advocated a daily steam service with Wellington, and said the cost might be taken off the Defence vote. Facilities for travel created traffic. I No more questions were put. i Mr P. Milner moved :— That this I meeting desires to express its ap- ; proval of the New Liberal Party, and wishes it success in its campaign and in the forthcoming election. He said be had enjoyed the bold, intrepid and magnificently fearless speeches he had heard, and stated that the four men could not only be judged by their public lives, but by their private lives as well. They were doing a great work as a vigilance committee, and posterity would gain.