THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13413, 10 May 1912, Page 6

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

SPEECH BY HON. G. LAUIiENSON.

[Usitjsd Press Association.]

Stratford i May 8

Tho Hon. G. Laurensou addressed a crowded audience here to-nigiit. He said ho regretted to not.co Uiab many newspapers in Huwko's iiuy had ]alien into the hands of wealthy people. Ho trenchantly criticised a Wellington print and prophesied that ii all mo notvbPre&s of tho Domiaiou would degenerate to tho same iovel as the American rro&s. Tho Opposition bkuiuxi the uo\orn l nent for wasting money and putting, up tiw national debt. In live years the debt had increased by £iy,UOu,WKJ, £0,0W,----(XX) of which was for advances to settlers and workers. He .said that one of the best ways to ensure the 'prosperity of any country was to sue- that every nlan owned his own homo. Tiio Opposition got on the platform and condemned tho expenditure, but they sat in tlie House and never voted against the loans. Such people were- political humbugs. Mr Massey (continued Mr Lauronson) 6aid thoro had been too gmit an increase in the annual expenditure; but where- had the increase gone- lo '< A quarter of a million extra had been spent on education. Nobody had voted against it. Ho thought that expenditure would bo still further increased. Expenditure on old age pensions had increased by £120,000 ; and £700,000 extra .was spent on railways, but railways produced a revenue of £1,150,000. The same tiling occurred in regard to the Post and Telegraph Department. Ad expenditure iiad been increased in such dnvct-itas as no sane person would object'oj. J/hu Government was blamed with being nonprogressive ; but the detailed directions in which legislation had been were in a forward direction. As to corruption, Mr Laurenson said that i no charge had been proved, Tho Hine- charges were well known before tho election, and the persons charged were tried by their constituents. Charges were not brought again st tho por&oiiß concerned, but wero made in tho hope that tho Government would be besmirched ; but this had not been done.

The Part.v had bc«n in power for 20 years. During this time bankruptcies had been reduced by one-half, tho averago life of man had increased .from 31 to 40 years; the numbers of persons who paid income tax had increased by 5G per cent. There was a pressing necessity for more Ministers. Since 1873 the number of Ministers had increased by only one. Either the country had too many Ministers then, or they were too few now. Since the number of departments had greatly increased, perhaps it would be bottor to have Parliamentary secretaries. Til© Hon. A. M. Myers held a number of portfolios, including liai.ways; but it would take tho undivided energies of the best man in the Dominion to look after the railways. "We intend," said'Mr. Laurenson, "to go in for rapid settlement of lands, and wo desire to put an ond to the big estates. It is improper that the town population in New Zealand should be greater than the country population. This is especially had in the case of a growing country." A vote of thanks to Mr Lauronson, and of confidence in the Government, was carried by acclamation.