THE LINWOOD ELECTORATE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5993, 30 July 1887, Page 7

THE LINWOOD ELECTORATE.

Mv Flesker at the East Belt. Last night Mr W. Flesher, one of the candidates for the Linwood seat, addressed the electors at the East JBelt Oddfellows' Hall, which was crowded. Mr Henry Toonier, Chairman o£ the Town Board, presided, and very briefly introduced the speaker of the evening. Mr Flesiier, who was received with cheers, spoke for just an hour, to the following effect : — He had contested the Stanmore seat six years ago, and in 1884 had been earnestly requested by a large number of the electors to allow himself to be again nominated. On this last occasion business engagements of a pressing nature had rendered it necessary that he should decline the honour. At that time he had advertised his willingness to place his services at the disposal of the district on some future occasion. fApplause.) Shortly after the defeat of the Government he had been again requested to come forward, and had received the assurance of the support of a large number of the electors. The condition of public affairs was now becoming of such an urgent and pressing character a 9 to deserve the attention and deep thought of all classes of the community. (Applause.) THE STATE OV THE COLONY. When the Colonial Treasurer brought down his Financial Statement, and showed the necessity for a large increase of taxation, a feeling of great disappointment was sreated in the whole community. In addition to this increase, the Treasurer also announced that considerable retrenchment was required. Credit was due to the Government for the manner in which they determined to adjust the income and expenditure of the Colony so as to necessitate as little increase of taxation as possible. (Applause.) Those people who blamed the Colonial Treasurer for the pre3ent depression were the very men who had benefited most by the Public Works scheme — men who should rather hide their diminished heads and blush for shame, considering how Sir Julius Vogel'a provision, whereby districts which failed to meet a reasonable share of the interest on the public works were liable to be rated, had been rejected. (Applause.) It was sometimes said that the knowledge of a disease was half its cure ; therefore it would be well to consider what had led to the present condition of affairs. He found that for the past year the railways had returned a revenue of £992,187, while the working expenses had been £695,772, leaving a balance of £296,415 with which to meet the interest on the cost of their construction. The cost of construction had been shown to be .£13,453,363. This large amount had been borrowed at various rates of interest, averaging say 4-b per cent. To pay the interest it required the enormous sum of £308,980 to be raised by taxation. Not only was there a deficit on the railways, but there was also a deficit in every other department of the public works. In addition to this there was also the effects of the land speculations of a few years back, which caused people to enter into engagements which 'are still crippling the resources and damaging the prosperity of the Colony. Then also there had been a tremendous falling off in the prices of the exports, amounting in the case of wool to a difference of £1,700,000 between what it would have brought at the prices ruling in 187G and what it brought last season. Wheat, too, had fallen from 43 Id to 3s 4d per bushel, while the quantity exported had fallen from 4,897,3-10 bushels in ISS3 to 1,2n 1,622 bushels last year. The consequence of all this was that the spending power of the community had been greatly reduced, and employment had been proportionately scarce.

TCETRENCHMENT.

Hence it was now acknowledged on all sides that the greatest economy and retrenchment both in private and in public expenditure was absolutely required. (Applause.) There should be a reduction in the expenditure of the Government, beginning with the Governor's salary, the salaries of the Ministers, and coming right through the whole of the Civil Service. (Applause.) There was, however, one department of the Government in which retrenchment should not be made, and that was the Department of Educa,tion. (Applause.) He could not agree with those who said that children should not be sent to the public schools until they were seven years of age, and that the teaching should not go beyond the fourth standard. He did not say that more economy in management was not possible, but he did say that nothing 1 should he allowed to impair the efficiency of the present system. (Applause.) The Colonial Treasurer had said that economy was not only a saving but also a profit, and that was true, only the country did not get the hard cash for it.

SETTLEMENT ON THE LANDS,

He was glad to see that the Government had set themselves to putting the unemployed on to the lands, and though he couid not approve of the irregular expenditure by Mr Ballance, he must say that considering all the circumstances great allowances ought to be made for this. (Applause.) In fact he thought the Government ought to be commended for the manner in which they had met the difficulty of the " unemployed."

COLONIAL INDUSTRIES,

Bub something more than settling people on the land was required. During the last few years an immense number of young people of both sexes had attained an age at which it was necessary that employment should be found for them. This necessity had been met to a certain extent by the boot and clothing factories. At the same time it was quite evident that these did not supply all that was required. The boot trade employed 16,054 individuals, but on the other hand, last year there were imported boots and shoes to the value of c£ls7,<Ms. Then the duty on boots was unfairly placed, so that the working man paid 15 to 18 percent, while the wealthy man paid about 5 per cent on the value of his boots. Such a condition of the Tariff ought to be altered without delay. (Applause.) Then with regard to the woollen factories, which had provided work for so many;* what was the cases' Last year apparel and slops, &c, to the amount of £312,088 had been imported. Then there were many other articles imported for which tha Colony possessed the raw material and the necessary labour for their production, and this to the value of a million of money. Was it any wonder that there was such a difficulty in finding employment in this country? Those gentlemen who upheld the principles of Froetrade, when asked what was to be done for the growing population, were silent. They had no answer. But there was an answer, and that was — Such an adjustment of the Customs Tariff as would discourage importation and encourage local industries, thus providing employment for all classes. (Applause). TAXATION. Besides thi3 there was necessity for a revision of the incidence of taxation. He had nofc changed the opinions he had expressed six years ago on this subject. The Property-tax tended to discourage those who would import plant for the establishment of new industries. Would it not be time enough to tax that plant when profits began to be made? The Property-tax also discouraged people from improving their property, and so tended to diminish the channels for the employment of the people. In his opinion an Incometax, which would affect all parties, was a preferable tax. (Applause.) It must, however, not be forgotten that a large number of persons invested their money in land, which they kept in an unprofitable condition, hoping that the industry and enterprise of their neighbours would increase the value when they wanted to sell it. He said that a land tax would have to be levied in order to reach people of this class. (Applause.) Such a tax, however, must be so adjusted as not to touch the man who did his best to cultivate his land and bring in a profit to the country.

THE CANTERBURY RUNS. Another question which he would be expected to refer to was this. la 1889, or during the nest session, Parliament would be called upon to deal with what were called the Canterbury runß. He thought that it was desirable that men should be returned to the House that were free from anything that would hinder them from settling that question on an equitable basis, and who would favour increased facilities for the settlement of those lands. He thought all present would acknowledge that it would be better to hare the lands settled than that they should be kept simply in sheep runs. (Hear.) THE MIDLAND RAILWAY. The Government had deserved well of Canterbury for their strenuous and loyal exertions for the Midland Bailway, and if that great undertaking was to be brought to a successful termination, it was necessary that they should be supported by a united Canterbury. (Applause.) Therefore, he said, the constituencies should exact pledges from their representatives that they would sink all minor differences in order to secure the completion of that railway. (Applause.) And now he would come to the question of who the leaders were who were to be trusted to carry out the ideas he had laid before the meeting. (Cries of " Sir Julius Yogel, " " Dan Reese," and "Loughrey.") Were they to chooße for leaders Major Atkinson and Mr Eolleston. (No.) The experience of Canterbury was against those leaders who had neglected to carry out the retrenchment commenced by Sir John Hall, and who had been associated for many years with the [ large landed proprietors. The present Government, in his opinion, were more to be trusted than any other party in the House. (Loud applause.) If he had the honour to represent Linwood. (Cries of "No " and " Yes.") He said " yes." (Applause.) If he had the honour to represent them, so long as the Government did what they could to promote the measures he had advocated that night, he would try to carry out his constituency's wishes, and give the Government his support. (Applause.) THE " LYTTELTON TIMES." During the day, his attention had been called to an article that had appeared in one of the morning papers. Of course, when individuals came into a prominent public position, it was quite right that they should be subject to the most severe criticism. Any man that could not bear that was out of hia place when he came before a public audience. (Applause.) In the Lyttelton Times that morning, the editor deplored the division that had been created or rather that had arisen on the Government side in connection with this contest, and certain advice had been given to the constituency. He would confess at once that neither the tenor Hor the tone of that article, in his judgment, was worthy of the space it occupied. (" Hear," and applause.) He agreed a3 much as any : man that loyalty to party should characI terise all the members of a party, but, at the same time, he failed to see where the disloyalty came in in this case. He did not think, and he did not wish to Bpeak egotistically, that his vote given in support of the Government would be of any less value than a vote given by Mr Loughrey, and he did not see why he and his friends should be called upon to make the self-sacrifice recommended. (Applause.) He was now prepared to answer any questions. (Applause.) QUESTIONS. In answer to questions, Mr Flesher said: — He had no experience as to publicans' license fee 3 being too large, neither had lie as to the totalisator. He thought gambling should be checked. There should i be a reduction in the honorarium, but representatives should not be allowed to i lose. If there was an Upper House it j should be elected by the people. He pre- j ferred a protective Tariff to a system of bonuses ; he was not in favour of a bonus on exported wheat and mutton. He thought the religious question must be kept aloof from the public system of education. He coxild not see why the people should not have the power now given to Licensing Committees as to closing public-houses. Volunteers should, as far as the circumstances of the Colony allowed, be furnished with the best weapons. He could not see why women who paid taxes should not have the suffrage. He would give his support to the Stout-Vogel Government so long as they continued on the lines they now followed. A fortnight was quite long enough for a working man to wait for his wages. He was in favour of consignees being allowed to remove their own goods I from the railway. He was of opinion that there ought to be no difficulty on conscientious grounds in anyone sending children to the public schools. Every district should have the power to say on what basis the local taxation should bo levied. He was nofc in favour of reducing the number of members of Parliament. He was in favour of concessions for the Midland Eailway, as it was Letter that the land should be occupied instead of being useless. He believed proper regulations as to auriferous land had been made. More immigration of the labouring class was not required so long as there was such a dearth of employment.

By the permission of Mr Flesher,

Mr Martin addressed the meeting in favour of the abolition of the San Francisco service, and the doing away with the Government workshops.

Mr J. L. "Wilson, after eulogising Mr Flesher as a man with a backbone, and not a "namby-pamby, squamby jelly-fish," moved — " That Mr Flesher deserves the thanks of the meeting for his address, and is a fit and proper person to represent Lin wood in the coming Parliament."

Mr Thomas Atkinson seconded the motion, which was received with applause.

Mr Bergh, who was loudly cheered, proposed a hearty vote of thanks, but declared that the electorate could not stultify itself by carrying a motion of confidence, after carrying one the other night in favour of Mr Loughrey. Mr T. King seconded the amendment. The Chairman said that some one on the stage had just referred to " Toomer and Co." He would take that opportunity of saying that he had not asked anyone to be present. It had been said that at Mr Bruce's lecture the Tuam Street Hall was packed with his employees. Now, 600 or 700 people had on that occasion voted for the Mayor to take the chair, and how could these be his employees ? As a matter of fact, no personalities had emanated from his side. He now put the amendment, and as a difference of opinion arose between him and Mr Flesher as to the number of hands held up, he requested them to vote again, and as this produced confusion, he again explained that he wanted a vote on the amendment.

Mr Flesher rose and exclaimed that such a deliberate attempt to induce the electors to hold up their hands had never occurred in Linwood before. (Applause and confusion.)

The Chairman put the motion, and on the vote being given there was loud cheering, followed by " Three cheers for Loughrey."

The Chairman : I think it will please you best to say that the motion was carried.

MtFlesher; Or course, gentlemen, at times like these it is very easy to be carried away by excitement. (Cries of "Don't insult your Chairman !") I beg to thank you {for the manner in which you have carried the vote of thank 3 and confidence in me. (Cheers, and cries of "No," followed by reiterated cries of " Apologise to the Chairman.") Apologise to the Chairman ! When Ido wrong lam prepared to apologise. (Cries of "Be a, gentleman!" " Apologise !" and cheers.)

Mr Plesher moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

Mr D. Eeese, who was received with cheers and hooting, seconded the motion, and deprecated the least reflection being cast on the Chairman's conduct. During the whole of the last contest no man had been able to say that Henry Toonier had done anything dishonest. The motion was carried by acclamation, and was followed by loud cheering for Mr Toomer.

This closed the proceedings.