MR. MUNRO'S CANDIDATURE.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13272, 24 November 1911, Page 2

MR. MUNRO'S CANDIDATURE.

On Tuesday night Mr. F. Munro addressed tho electors of Murchison in Dun-ant's Hall. Mr. R. Win occupied the chair.

la tlio course of his speech Mr. Munro said he thought that after a session the member should address his constituents, and put before thorn the position of the country. People would then be hcttcv informed as to tlio laws. Particulars as to what it had cost to get the £5,000,000 Ioa>) had been refused the House. Afterwards Sir Joseph Ward at one of his meetings stated that it had cost £110,000 cash ;ind .-ilmiit X'-i in every. £100, making a total of about £,¥>(),6no. In his opinion in Government legislation too much scope was given to lawyers, commission agents, land sharks,' etc. Why could Sir Joseph Ward not sco that a widow was paid her eonponsation under the Compensation Act without any difficulties? He said that now before a widow could get her compensation it was almost necessary for her to employ a lawyer to act for her. There was, lie said, tho samo delay in getting loans under the Advances to Settlers' Act. He also mentioned some remarks made by Mr. Graham in 1909, in which he said that tho present Cabinet was the most incongruous Cabinet since he had boon in the House. He then proceeded to speak of the shipping trade, which, ho said, was all in the hands of one big combine, tho Union Steam Ship Company. If tho Government could run railways for the peoples advantage, why could they not run steamers also? Then freights and passenger rates would be greatly reduced. He said he was in favour of the Old Ago -Pensions Act, but that he thought tho benefits of the pension should also bo extended to workmen who had bee it maimed for life. In his opinion compulsory training should first have been submitted to the will of the people before, being made law. The settler had, he said, been well looked after by the present Administration, but the miner was in his opinion neglected. He was in favour of State batteries and water races where they could be of advantage, and subsidising of prosnectinpr. He thought that the exemption clauses that iißod to bo in tho Lands Act should bo again brought into force, and that settlors in bnd climates, etc., should have five years' exemption from payments, rates, ntc. With regard to the methods of acquiring lands ho was in favour of the optional svstern with nVht of purchase. Ho thought the Government should do moro to onen un the Mnruin, Hot Springs, so that they could be more conveniently reached.

A vntf of thsitiVo in Mr. Munrn waa carried'unanimously by acclamation.