MR F.R. FLATMAN, M.P., AT GERALDINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 5681, 18 June 1908, Page 2

MR F.R. FLATMAN, M.P., AT GERALDINE.

Mr Flatman a'ddressed a meeting a£ electors on Monday night in the Volunteer Hall, Geraldine, Dr Hislop, the deputy-mayor, presided over a fair at - i tendance, there being about 150 pile- , sent, with a fair sprinkling ot ladies. Mr Flatman's speech was very much ' I on the same lines as the one he do livered tat Temuka last weeW Ho first !of ail referred to the alteration of the electoral boundaries, again emphasising the fact that the Government had nothing to do with the: change. He then went on to refer to the GoveVnment, and gave his reasons for supporting Sir Jos. Ward. Sir Jo*. Ward had been chosen as Mr Seddon's successor, and was following in the s.teus of that gireat Liberal statesman. No doubt there were men in the Cabinet who held views that were distasteful to some Liberals, and he would mention Mr Fowled, who advocated the single tax, but Mr Flowlds knew if he tried ifco force his .views. he would lose his seat in five hours. But to take the average., they wcire all concerned in promoting the best interests of the dominion, and it would be difficult to find anyone to take the place of thd present Government. The Government had nothing against them to 'their discredit, and had done nothing Ho ishako the confidence of their supporters. Would the country like Mr Massey and his party to be in power, the party that has strenuously .opposed every Liberal measure brought forward, or ( would they like to see a Socialist Government ? He could not see- thafr any change wo*lid bo an improvement, and would, therefore continue to give the present Ms Support. There may have befen mistakes niacin, but was there any man 'alive who had never made a mistake ? If there was, ho had hotter 'get a pair of angels' wings and fly to another -world. He was too good for this one. Mr Flatman then touched on the amended Act which placed the control of the rnvttnucs of the country under the Audi-tor-General, and also spoke on the charge brought by Mr Massey agniwst the Government of subsidising the Presri, and the Land Bill, which had occupied a largo part of his speech, .'at Temuka. He next spoo'e of the work of the Agricultural Department, and showed hov much the country was dependent on agriculture for its pros-, perity, for out of a total of nearly £20,000,000 exported millions was made up of agricultural product.-*. It was only (right the land should bo properly looked after, and as it was impossible for any private individual to conduct the necessary - experiments, the Government ought to be encouraged in their wc»rk of scientific farming, which was for ultimate benefit of all. The Monopolies A'et and the Apiaries Act were next dealt with, as reported in our- last ssuc. He spoke briefly on 'the grading of butter and the weight of cornsacks. He pointed out that the size of the sackj was not in dispute, people coutd put their wheat in a "woolpnck if they liked, but the weight was restricted only to 2001 b. Evidence *jc*n doctors and others before the Commission showed that a great many men had been injured by. carrying tho old weight when employed loading vessels or <on .threshing mills, and aersanally he was g-ad the matter had been remedied* Regarding the Advances to Settlers' Act, after mentioning what he had done to prevent delay in getting 'advance?; under the Act, and tho remitting, of solicitors' charges on ■ transfers, he said they had been told in the loca. paper that ho (Mr Flatman) co.ulld nolt mention an instance of a worker getting any benefit under the Advances to Workers' Act. Well, it vf as none of his business to ferret out any particular case, but he mentioned the amounts that had been paid tinder this Act, ,£203,1)78, having been loaned up 'to tire A poor man has every right to borrow for bu lding a house at the same rate of interest as the man who wishes to purchase a farm. Mr Flatman replied to a speech made by Mr Massey on Juno 12th at Mangere, where Mr Massey had. been urging the 'Farmorr' Union to ,bestir them selves and take an in politics or they would find themselves groaning beneath the burden of wingle tax or Socialism, quoting a statement alleged to have been made by Mr Fowlds in support of his gloomy forecast. He showed that. Sir Joseph Ward bad proved that Mr Fowldr, had made no such statement, and that it was only another calumny of the Opposition*. Mr Massey says Sir Joseph Ward is a Socialist, ami the Socialists nay they won't have him at a gift. All ho could say about Socialism was this, that after tho disgraceful outbreak at Sir Joseph Ward's meeting, in Christchurch, where a man had waved a red tie, if Socialism, was carried, in New Zealand it would bo impossible in two- years' time to get change for a pound noee if you travelled from North Cape to tho Bluff. Socialism would never do.. They are not- Socialists but 'grab-alls. Referring to the Arbitration and Conciliation Acts, Mr Flatman said the Government vote accused of pandering to the workers, but ho showed that a large percentage of tho fines imposed had bem recovered. Tho Government was tin ug what was fair, and the men must sul.-m L to the 'award. He also alluded to the flourishing state of the country's finances, und repudiated tho Idea of national insolvency. Fancy ix banl-rupt country with an export trade of neatly 20 millions ; a trade Unit is inereu-s iiig every year, which made biui licpe lie might live to see it U) mil.ions. The boat way of developing the r<;- , sources of the dominion was by extending tho railways, and he pointed to the' rapid advance Cheviot had made since the ra lway uud lei n exi tended thorn. livery acre of land that j Can bo opened by the railways tended j to increase the wealth of the i-ountry. Although we have- to borrow l-n curry on t'hoJe works (railway extension) yet in the long run the rapid pounds of tho country made up for the ■.arrowing. Ho did not give the, Cowniment all the praise for the prosperity of the country, but ho was sii'to i:o other party could shaw such good results. Tho increase in revi'nuo in four departments for the year ending 31st March, was £<>O7,ooO, "and out of that .015(1, 000 had been paid oil tho war loan. Coming to local mutters ho had spoken to the late Mr Seddon when he visited Gern-dine, on the poor arcominridatiau at Orari railway station, and pointed out to him the desirability of getting u verandah erected. Mr Si'ddon got his Becivinry to make a nolo und promised 1o have tli" matte!) attended to. but nothing had, yet, been done. He Ij/ojied to be able to press (he (piestion in the proper -.jiinrler, and that tho improvement would soon be effected. Seein;/ tluit 10.000 pa--se lr e.vr< used (he station e\e|-y year i (. wa--nially desirable lo have the plae<> im proved. In conclusion Mr I'iatnuin thai|k/'d tlie nudieiAv for th«-ir attendance, and uieiilioned fhn't as he would Ik: absent in Wellington on th: couu-

try's business until after the dissolve lion he liui-tecl they would ranombeC that he was to be a candidate for their district, and .that they would keep an open mind -in listening ta other candidates until he had an opr portuuity to address them again. Ho had to thank his supporters for their loyal «u]yjoit in. the past, and ho would always e.uloavour to study thoijr interests and the wedfare of -tliei dominion as a whole. He invited the audience to ask any questions! and promised to answer them to the best of his ability.

Se\ei'al -availed Uicmaelves of tho opportunity to heckle Mr Flatman, and some. amusement was caused by the persistent efforts of one individual to frame a lucid question: Mr J. South gravely asked when he tnignt expect the man round to look a.tcr the bees, as being a bee-keeper, he was interested in the matter. He s. iggested -that a frosty morning would be the best time for a visit, as the bees were quieter then.—Mr Flatman said it was all right to make a joke on the subject, but bee-keeping* if pro-pei-ly looked after was a very profit-' able industry, as he had shown in the ease he cited. The Agricultural Department would supply pamphlets and all information to those, interested. Mr Maslin asked whether Mr Flatman, was in favour of amending the Education Act to grant State aid to schools whete religious s. ibjccts were taught —-Mr Flatman replied no, but lie was in favour of subsidies being given to every Sunday school, nor [mutter the creed taught. Mr JMasfm asked various questions' dealing with the Land Laws Amendment Act, Land and Land Laws Amendment Act, Land and income Tax Assessment, and tho .Hon. Mr Me-Nab's notorious amendmenlt to the Land Bill, and the second preference clause in the same Bill relating to those having cifvildrcn under 17 years of age. Mr Maslin also remarked on Mr Flatanan's allusion to the increased ! wealth of th- country, and asked if ho (Mr Flatman) thought the present j population of .New Zealand were, ro- [ sponsible for whole of that wealth.— I Tha reply was that if there was no I population th'dro would certainly be no wealth to boast of.

The argument at timps became ra,ther warm, and reached a climax whan Mr Maslin alluded to what occumed at the time the Advances to Settlers Act was passed M years ago, and a few regrettable personalities wtfrc indulged

Mr Campbell askf'd what duty was imposed in Victoria on New Zdajand fruit.—Mr Flat-man explained' that each State imposed its own diity, and ho was not able from memory to q.iote tho various duties imposed by the. different States.

Mr Logan : You are not in favor of monopolies or trusts, tlren why w r as the duty not taken off flour to keep down the price ?_Mr Flatman. said ho had explained the attitude of the Government regarding that in the early pavt of his ■speech in. alluding to tho Monopolies Act.

Mr Logan also asked why the duty ha-d been taken off kerosene, and why tho Government had permitted tho Standard Oil Company to raise the price ?—Mr Flatman remarked that tho two questions were- quite inconsistent, in one tho Government was blamed for not taking the duty off flour and in the other they were blamed for removing the duty from kerosene. Mr Logan nl»o asked, why, under the employers Liability Act the worker had always to bo paid full compensation and tho employer had a difficulty in recovering n third or half of the amount insured for from thp com-pames.--M> Flatman said that was more n matter for settlement between tho -individual and a private Company, not a Government matter. Mr Goo. Ward moved and Mr J. South seconded a vote of thanks, and conlwlew* in Mr Flatman. Mr Mnslin moved as an amendment, hat the meeting pass Mr Flatman a hearty vote of thanks, leaving the quest .on of confidence to be dc'oided b v the ba.lot. •'

On a siunv of hands being- called for the original moHoo wos carried bv an ovoruhflming- maj'ority. A vote of thanks to the chairman •M-oposcd by Mr Flnlnmn, ternvhiolod the meeting at 10.30 p.m.