THE ELECTION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 13726, 16 October 1908, Page 6

THE ELECTION.

im>XOSWORTHY AT GEBALDIXE.

Mr W. Xosworthy, one of the candidates far the Ashburton '<***> addressed a meeting *of the elector* of that distr.ct m tut Volunteer Hall, Geralhine, on Veunesday evening. There was s a large attendance, aid the Mayor, Mr J- Malmg, irresided- " * ' ■'■••• -ln£ introducing the candidate the chairman made a protest against the late »eTisioii of • the electorate boundaries, by whiefr natural geographical lines had bejj ignored, and the result was absurdity. The Tillage of Woodbnry, for instance, was divided the store being in one ekctroaie, the- *J»atcber'« shop across the road in another. >, The alteration made in tin boundary between Aahburton and Geraldina afco led to injustice in uk nia.-ei oflTcensmg notels. 'l% rising, tq" speak Mr Xosworthy wa* recerced (with 'applause. He hrst expressed - his agreement with, the chair-1 inan.tn his remarks on the electorate boundaries, and then proceeded to state his political view*. Mr Noawotthy announced himself an Opposition candidate, and would look upon his win, if he won, as a proof that the greatest! wheat-growing and sheepfattening county h> New Zealand demanded a change of Oorernment. He replied *o the suggestion that the Opposition lea-ders-ought to state their polxy, by saying that tins was not usual. He spoke strongly against the proposal that the Government and *he Opposition should unite in order to stem the tide of socialism. The Opposition was not to be got into ibe- LEberal camp by in attempt to •rare tbcm into it by a cry of socialism If soetalttmi needed a check, it was more likely to "be given it by the party that ind\all along stood for the lights of in-drr-'dual - enterprise in regard to labour legiiiation. ' If the Labour Party was going. to s break with' the Government and form * third, a eoctalistic party, it would be the duty of the Opposition to prepare to take control of'the- great labour qoest r oa which the divided Liberals could no,longer manage. The Liberal party stooj condemned for its reckless borrowing and bad administration, and it would be too great a derogation of the dignity of the position ft had hitherto maintained for the Opposition to join hands with tne party whose doings it had so strongly and persistently criticised. Mr Matuey had »a!d that he would sooner break stones on the road, and be (Mr Xosworthy) echoed that declaration.

Speaking of the Industrial Conciliation »nd Arbitration Act, Mr Nosworthy mid the - Union for whose benefit chiefly it *k passed had themselves wrecked it, and' 4m Government had been too weak to sar« it 07 hkustmg on the application of it* penalties. Their shilly-shally-ing orer it had let the anions eee that, taer were stronger than the. Government. The weakness of the system wis the lack of grip upon the unions. The employer! could be fined, became they had eomething that could be levied upon. The unions ought to be placed :n the same condition by making a. sound deposit, uelore tbey wer« given the advantages of the Act. He approved of unionism, but not compuhory unionism. As to conciliation and arbitration, if the Act as now amended pro-red unworkable, be would prefer Wage* Board*, to settle hours and wages only, lea Ting all other detail* to -ne mutual agreement of employer and employee. - , Turning to the land question, Mr nosworthy declared himself a freeholder, and • •*]»cqucntly adTene to the system of leasing Crown lands and repurchased estates. There was no good reason for the State ading as landlord. The repurchase of estates for closer settlement was a justifiable policy, but the land should be sold again, on deferred payments. If there was any unearned increment in land it »bouid be-long to those principally concerned, the coltvators of the soil and not to the State. If the resumed land had been foWL countrr would be over five millions less in debt, and in no other way

r*e off. The leasing system was the thin cod of the wedge of land nationalisation, which would be a ruinous policy. The (forenunent ought not to be afraid of soc'aliam; they were socialists thefselve* in their land policy. Tbey had given up the vaunted kase in perpetuity for a «till hum 66 years' lei.«e, at the end of which term the tenants would be taxed with higher rento. He contended that the uo-•ernox-nt idea of settlements was quite it rung. They said the man wthout capital should go and conquer tbc wilds. On the contrary the man without capital lonld make a better start as a tenant on

small farm near civilisation; the capitalists make the best of the back blocks. Ilv Amendment of the perpetual lease that p-rtnitted a tenant to pay off 90 per cent, of the capital value was to his nvnd ob-j»-iioa*ble. because the balance of 10 rwr • ent. mortgaged to the Crown, left open

.• door to nationalisation if the socialists W-aroe powerful enough to dominate the {-•ghUtion. He would give all tenants t-f resun>e<l estates the rght to purchase .•t ce»t. plus- 2\ per cent, compound mt r»s\, if bought within six yean., or -in ftcfened payment at 5 per cent, this to h' berth interest ami sinking fund. me

~.„,.nrit new borrowed for land settlement purpoM* would thu* be returned to th*> »i«*snry. and could he n»ed again, and hr <legrts»* save further borrowing for the same purrxwe. Give every wettW * fr»eh*'d. an-t th-t« need be m» longer an; fear of vxialVm. H* favoured relieving

the congestion of the cities by offering small farms on resumed estates on the ueferred payment svoiem, and in this connection he- refened to the Governments* acceptance of Air Mass*?* improvement of their Advances to Settlers Act, maKiug it of general applicat on instead ot pioviuing for wurkerb homes in uiban aud suburban localities only. The uuvernnient. admitted that Mr Master was right and thev were wrong. . 'lJie graduated land tax came under criticism as inequitable, because : .t applied /uivtobeonelonn of wealth. A man owning" unimproved land to the value of about £200,000, would have to pay £7OOO in and tax; whilst a man owning as much .apital invested otherwise, ana bring ng •urn in, say, 5 per cent., would only pay bout £SOO under the income tax. lne intention of the heavy graduated land tax vas to break up the" large estates*. What ,ronld happen when it had produced this ffect? Tbe revenue from land tax must lecrease unlet** the rate was raised, and the small settlers would not .-Umd that. There smust be a change in the Incidence of direct taxation, and the change be recommended was the abolition of the land, mortgage, and income taxes, and the substitution of a graduated property tax, exempting the working class and all with 'incomes under £l6O a year. Taking me total value of the private wealth oi the country at 210 millions, he proposed to divide it into seven grades of 30 milium* each, the taxes to range from 2s 6d I per cent, on the lowest grade to 30s per rent, on the. highest; and lie calculated that the result would be a revenue of £1,612,500, or a shade over 15s per ceut. on the total private wealth. At present the land tax produced £537,846, the income tax £304,905, together £842,751, so that his system would produce about three quarters of a mill'on moie, and the Customs duties on necessaries could be reduced by that amount. The country people complained that the cities were no; taxed in fair proportion to the country, .and, his proposal would .remedy that tn:eqiolity. Lite reduction of Customs duties should be made as far as possible with an eye to aiding trade with the Empire. It was vain to think of making Stir Zealand a manufacturing country. London was not only New Zealand's market but also it; bank, and large export* to London must be kept up. These could only be raw material. Therefore the trade question came back to putting people on the land. At present, out of every £IOO worth of exports, tne farmer contributed £B2 worth, all other industries only £l2 wotth. 'lhe relative importance of the two was also shown in the amounts of capital invested in them a little over U5 millions in farms, plus about 10' more lor live stock. The farming industry accounted for mote than halt the wealth of the country. Yet while manufuctuien Uml been coddled, farmers had been left to their own devices, instead ot being assisted, as they might Lav.- been in practical directions. For instance, there was no doubt that the quality of Xew Zealand wool had deteriorated during the last twenty years, and this might have been avoided by the Government establishing and maintainiug high cl.i.-* >tud flocks to cupply a good cla.-s of lam* to the back country Crown tenants. The Government claimed (o have reduced ,>ir tantt on neteaßare>, uud e*p*cuny ny m. much as £200,000 ou *ug..i. but \lt.-v did not mention that the bieuei-. bcm-liieu largely by that i-oucessiou. .Agricultural machinery wa» placed on the nee list by one Act, and by auoiii.r I turners wtie compelled to pay priu.i» tixed by luuti makers. lu consequence oi the Unci law, come prices weit- put up lo to 2l) per cent., so that the lite li-si was .< delusion.

With regard to tlie Ihjuur iiuej; un, he was not a prohibitionist but was in favour of continuing the present syetstn of local option, and the tbre*. tifthr* majority, tiie latter because a bare majority would have an unsettling effect upon each Us.tut ~nd upon th<; wuole country. He hail mjiik- leauing towards State conttol. 111 tlieoiy, nu'feated that in piaciicc o womel be even more objectionable Uian Mk.c coiiUol 01 land, And be a te.iuy inlet lor -annually ism.

Dealing with the railways, Mr Nov worthy advocated the adoption of a national policy, in the completion of tnaii: .luuk Jme-«, at a more rapid rale thai that ot the North Island main tiunk, which had taken 22 years to complete, lire neat sretion to be undertaken am;

. on am quickly as possible wa* i li> Waipara-lileuheim section. "Conctntralion iflJ completion" wa> the railway policy of the Opposition; extravagance and driblet* that of thv Government; backing op the log-rolling of members returned for the purpose. As to working railways, these should be made to pay. or show the deficit'; and when they could be made o pay. they should devote all surplwe* » paying off charges to capital for additions, and then create a reserve fund. Tie prcrat administration bad piled np deficits in ten years amounting to over a million. The railways could not be. made to j>ay without raising rate* and charge*; these whoald be raised and concession* to farmers dropped. Thto rail ways should be treated as commercial enterprises and made to pay. Appointment" l<» the civil l'rvi«. Mr Xwworthy considered, were too much opi-n to political influence. Apart from those who were appointed through baring passed tb* civil service examinations, the Governmrtjt, had the whole matter in their hand', and H* considered that tlw doty i>f miking appointments should be

placed in the hands of a non-political .suaid.

The education question was one of vital importance, and there must be something wrong in the conditions of the serrice when the number of certificated teachers employed was falling off as it was. The n.xt "Parliament ought to do something to improve the situation. As the quesof B3>1« in Schools might come up for consideration, he would say that thoee no wished to have their children taught

liKion should take advantage of the facilities no-vr afforded for voluntary teaching. He would oppose any grant for denominational teaching of any kind. The Second Ballot Act he characterised as '*a most retrograde and undemocratic measure. It seemed to him ■pecially designed to defeat the Tadical section of the Government party. As an example of its probable effect he quoted the general election in Germany, when three and a quarter million socialist-democrats were able to return by the second ballot only 45 members, while less than one million and a half of Conservatives returned 83 members. If any change was desirable • our electoral methods, McNab's Absolute Majority Bill should have been adopted. He, however, did not think any change was necessary. He wished to" avoid all personalities, but he could not help expressing hisTegret that Mr Flatman had voted for the Second Ballot Bill.

The future of New Zealand hid* lie in the hands of the present Opposition, for the influence and prestige of the Government were waning. They had lowered the standard of political dignity and nprightness -which had previonslv characterised the politics of New Zealaiid. There was no reason why the House of Representatives should not be as highly thought of as the House of Commons. The present Government had departed from the traditions of the past, when Governments stood by their policies, or fell bv them: did not trim them to suit the patterns of expediency and the desire for retaining office; nor resort t obribery and corruption to ward off defeat at the polls and in the division lobbies. The remedy for existing political evils was for the people to insist upon a clean, clear, national, commercial and imperial policy bv returning representatives pledged to support it and every effort made to realise it

At the conclusion of the address quesions were invited and answered. In replv to Mr Maslin, Mr Xosworthy explained" that when he said that, necessaries of life should he tariff-free, he included implements and manufactures that would assist the farmers or other produ-cers-He approved of the three-fifth' majority in the local option poll, tliough he adnntted that it was unfair that Geraldine should now have to vote threefifths to retain the prewnt licenses.—He approved of the restrictions that had been placed on gambling or race*, and wished the Taring clubs\ would cut out short rac*s, as these were chiefly used /f*: ling; and long-distance races would tend to improve the breed of horses. In refply to Mr Brett, he sa.d it would be bett-r to hold " consultations in ISew Zealand than send the money »W; Mr Maslm proposed a vote of tnanxs to Mr Nosworthy, and this was carried by acclamation.

THE TIMABU SEAT. MB CBAIGIE A CANDIDATE. At a meeting held last Saturday evening, forms were distributed lor ihe collection of signatures to a lcquisil on asking Mr James Craigie to consent to be nominated as a candidate for the reprusen-. ration ot the electorate of 'liuiaru in the House of ilepiesentatives. and a deputation of four— Bothwell, Bowie, Schmidt, and Harney—was appointed to receive the signed sheets and present the requisition to Mr Craigie. The presentation was made at Mr Craigie's office last evening, the four uelegateo appointed being pre.-cnt. Mr Schmidt briefly stated the origin of the requisition, and the deputation,, and invited Mr B. H. Howie to present it. as Mr Bowie had pie-eiitc<i all pre'vious requisition* to Mr Craig ic to accept nomination for the Mayoralty. Mr Bowie said he accepted the duty with pleasure. He believed it was aw largest requisition that had ever been presented to any one, certainly the largest in South Canterbury, for it contained nearly 1200 names, and there were still a number of sheets out, and he had heard of one lot of 150. He had great pleasure in handing the requisition to Mr Craigie, who had b.-tn long beioie liie public, taking part in public atfaiib. and the io-quiVtionii-.t* thought it that a man who had iloiH-t-o well in ptiltln- arF.iii.- in a smaller w.'y -tumid have ;m ••ppuiiuiiity of doing MMiiethutg in a luig-i w..y. . llil requisition hud lieen u i»y ;i.i chutes, and in all pans ut ill eiecioiaie. and he hoped that Mr I'laigi.- nould accede to the request it contain-<l. Mr'Bowie prevented a budgt-t of ,-heets bearing 1194 name*, and ie|n..U-ti that there were more to coin- . | Mr Schnrdt added that lime had been no organi>ed or »ygtejuatic attempt to collect the signatures; peuple took them and "went on their own.

Mr Lraigie, in reply. »,mi he had been approached on the mbj. ct i> .-.if. lie wished to make it char thai ev iy thing had been above boani 111 wii„t h,oi bap pened, by refen-ing to tin po i.u.n 01 the Hon. W. Hall-Jone*. M, naii-Jom- had been mtmlxT lor Tim,mi tor < i-hlc.-n years, and a Min stei !<u un-he ..f thhteen years, and everyone admitted that he was the best Public Woik.- Minister New Zealand had ever li;i<l. Therefure when the Hon. \V. lU-evot resigned Uie High Comuiib»ioner.>liip, all the pa|k.-rs recognised that il his r>uecessor wan '•<» be chosen fioni the Ministry, Mr Hall-Jones had the best right to the position. H< thought Mr fl.tll Junes would 1>- ap po : nted, but, there was no certainty ot :■ until last we. k. .-o far as lie knew. " When Mr Hall-Jones went Home in ill h- allh. eighteen months 01 >o ago, he IMI t i.ugi.-i went to bid liiui goodbye at Clnir>li liui i-lt. jlid Mr Hall Jones mentioned to him ih.it if anything hap]>eiied to Jiiiu. if lie <iiii not iclutn. he hoped that he i.Mr Ciiiigic would succeed h in .is iiicmh. T for Tiiiuru, .in he had tile confidence of the (K-ople ; and he understood hiui to say that the Government would be pleased It tie ill.l mi in the I.ib.-ral intetent. When going tu Auckland ;»o uioiiths ago he met Mi Hall-Jones, and mentioned to him that all the papers weie saying that lie to 1m- appointed High Coiiimis>io»,-r. .Mr Hall-Jones said that the appointment uimld not be settled until the •nd of tin vision, and lie dd not knou whc.hci he would Ik the man or not; but if lie did go Horn,.- he hoped that he -Mi Craigici would come foiw.nd 111 in- place 111 the Liberal inViest. 'lheie iieie all .-ortx of rumours about the matt. r. but he believed that Mr Hall Jones really did not know that he was to go ilolne until the day the aiim-niie. mem «... m.n-ie. Being approached by rci»ortcrs last Saturday he made ;t statement, that, ho would not force himself upon the jienple of Tiin.irti ; hj.» did not think it right fur any on p to do such a thine: but h<> took it as a very great compliment to be asked to K.md. He had In-en working for the people for the last seven or eight years ; and if they thought, that he had capacity

and worthiness to rrprevent, them in Parliament, and if it was the general wish nf th« elector- th.it he should go to Wellington a" their representative, and they «.h«w«'d it in no uno-rtain way, it would lie his duty to accede to their r»-<rucs»r to h-.i.in.- .1 t'.indidate. He beli-"Ved this was she l.srgest requisition ever given to any in hi in Tiiiiaiu. .in-l !«• wMild l>e v. ry ungrateful if If did n«.t ,u-< ede !•> it;

and whether elected or'not, he would look upon'the requisition as a very great compliment indeed. To have the confidence of so many people was indeed something : to be proud of. He would leave himself in the hands of the people, and would come forward a* the Government candidate. In general he approved of the policy of the Government, and of what they had done since they had been in power. It was impossible to please everybody, and whatever the Government might do, some would criticise it. All men had their failings, but on the whole he thought the policy of the present, Government was what the country required. The Government at any time was only the reflex of the aspirations and desires of the people. If he had the honour of being returned as the Member for Timaru, though generally approving of the policy of the Government, he would not vote against hi* conscience, or be subservient to any man: nor be a "dumb dog" at any time. Any man working for the public should be given a certain amount of latitude, and even though a supporter of the Government, he would claim the right to differ from them in .smaller matter. Mr Craigie repeated that he would place himself in the hand* of the people, and if returned to represent them, he would be very proud indeed. Even now, he felt very proud of having so large a requisition presented to him, and he thanked the de--'.at ion and others who had interested themselves in the matter for doing him such an honour. He had met people who told him that thev did not sign the TequisitioH, but that they would support him if lie tame out. and he had had encouragement even from Christchurch and the North Wand, in telegrams urging him to stand, and from people who he had not thought would vote for him because of differences of opinion about local affairs. Mr Bowie thanked Mr Craigie for his rourt«nus reception to the deputation and for hh favourable reply to the prayer ..f t1... requisition. He took it that Mr Craicie would come out? . Mr Craioie : " Yes. I will stand against all and in the Government interest-" Mr Ttoilnrell said the sisnaiures to come in would make up the total to at least 1300: and if Mr Craigie made half as good a member as he bad been a Mayor, the neonle wo»ld h»ve nothing to TOtrret. The deputation thanked Mr Craigie for his reception and reply, and withdrew.

ADDRESS BY Mil MASSEY Per Press Association. ;' PUKEKOHE, October 15. The Leader of the Opposition delivered a tpeecn at PuKettohe to-nigUi, and had an enthusiastic reception _ Mr Massey referred to the legislation of the. session condemning the second ballot and dairy regulations. He said the issues oefore the country were whether men were to be sent to Parliament 10 oupjAni cleaner adminisration, an elective Upper House, to condemn extravagence and waste of the public works funds, and settlement of native lands. Were men to be left in office who had shown themselves the national enemies of settlers by their land legislation and dairy regulations? Were large sums of money to be voted and unexpended, leaving the settlers in', mud and misery: Was the public service to be leit. open" to improper influence in appointments, and the people bribed with promis is of expenditure of tiiei.r own money? He thought that youths under 21 should be trained for military service. He favouied th; conciliation and arbitration amendments, but thought that there should be more conciliation. , ." _ Mr >lassey was. accorded a vote of thanks and confidence amidst cheers.

NEW PLYMOUTH, October 15. Mr*U. E. Belliinger, who has beeii .selected ab the Government candidate for Taranaki, acidised the electors at *e»r Plymouth to-night. He reviewed the history of the Liberal Government, traversing die" lines of popular legislation, and giving strong adherence to the policy of Sir J. G. Ward. He claimed that the daily regulations as amended by the Su>ek Committee were in the best interests of the dairy industrv, lie urged that *he defence policv' Vhould be continuous from the ischool cadets to at least the age of 21. and title clubs should receive greater encouragement; He defended the railway policy of construction and finishing main limb, and! defended the right of labour to coiubim, instancing the success of the co-operative system i" dairying, particularly in laran'aki, as un example that had a perfect light to tollow. While a bvliever in the optional tenure, he claimed that the Government, by the >iigge»ud means of diaptviug of native hunts, and a!t>o the Land .SetlkiiKlil Association ocheme. would nie--t the demands for tin freehold. He claimed that tiie opeiatwn of the Advanct*. to Settlers Act m New Zealand had prevented a ik <-l from 1 io 2 p<r.ceut. in money ouiing the p..nt year. Mr Bellringer was .iccorded u unanimous vote of thanko. The other-candidates in the li*ld aiv Mi H. Okey, M.P., and Mr W. G. Mhl.hi-. who is standing as a Liberal. DUXEDJX, October 15. Mr H. D. Jkdford has been pressed during the last few days to enter the iLsU for Dunedin North at the general . Lction. but has definitely decided not to stand.

MILTON, October 15. Mr Jmues Allen, M.l'., ioi »iuci\ opened his campaign at Milton to-night, when there »•»."> "• v«ry large am-iiiiuncx-;il iln; Coronation Hull, the .u»v«,i '..ir J. A. Duthie) presiding. Mr Allen, who had a cordial reception generally criticised Uie administration o( the Government and advocated the nayiwrt of the Opposition as ti check on iuviv and ill-considered I<Relation. A vote of thanka and coiitideiKi- wa.- accorded.

HIUASKS IN POLITICS. To the Kilitor of the "Tiinaiu IK-mld."* Sir.— Your Mil. ItiitU-r n vest-i day morn inn's isMie. '" l'hnirv> in Polilic.-." is reailv amnsin;;. too aiim-hiK >nd. cd lo be ~e,io'us. an-1 ealctilaled '<• make ..ne ~>k-~ What do vou mean' You -ay : " I he ehiel difficulty aii-es hum the Kiel tln.l -o maiiv people are so easily ii> .-led '<y a phiase. - "' granted that this is ink. do vou iitt-umaie that the. t»r«-al Liberal party alone mnstitute* the hulk " ( " deluded, timid, electors." and that the Opposition party, of whose quality th- " Herald " is .1 sample, to above smb weakly ami «h-k ed wavs". Thank -oodn.-s. a phtu-c • not enough to kdl at.ybodv. If H «*ie I alii afiaiti lh.it »e<-«mlm>l '» the M:i--ey ILnioAllan -and " 11. raid .•ombina.iosi. the pus-in tJovernment and l.iheial party iMietally have Iwn eoitvieted. diaivii atld quartered, for all the infainoiv. pol:t eal nam. able, while ihe -ame Ma--ry aid «'o c hiiiiitimi to its. If' i« sutfi-ririK jK»liiical maityrdom. .Vitur dlv. an <)p|w*itioii candidate has .« h.id row to hoe in Tuiiaru. or -l-ewli<ie foi that mailer. So far. ««- have had n: U< eUe from the Oj.pu»'ii«n hut phrase* ; , n d .halves, hut the ate not politic Ti inaru h;».s been al.lv r.-pnvnled in ' I"j..i,i. and i» iiiirlligeiu enough, in -pit. of the -deluded, lin.id .1-etois." to ~ linn a man who i> pledged t" Mippi.it the )•!• —-lit admini-l ration, not « th. tinker tips*' what. v. r that n.aj in. .Hi! of Heine* Allan and Co. ■ .r th- nam. tin- ol th- "Hei.ild." I am. I'. U. LITIC. l.'i 10 Vr W-. .<•■ r-aid ahotit Mi Wadd-ll'. letter i.-r «■••!.. «oine p.-..pi- have :.. 1..- . on •.•i-itidit-d "it tiwir ..pa.iv Mr W.ul'l'll w.m ov-tlak- f, \-y

confusion- through his idol leaving him in the. lurch: perhaps this corro-i>«iident will be equally, fortunate.—Ed. T.H.]