POLITICAL ADDRESS

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 489, 19 September 1899, Page 4

POLITICAL ADDRESS

MR LUNDON AT CAMBRIDGE. Mr D. London, of Tanranga, who intends to contest the Bay of Plenty seat with Mr VV. H. Herries, at the -forthcoming election, addressed the electors in the Public Hall, Cambridge, ou Friday evening last. There were about 100 present. Mr W. F. Buckland, Mayor, of Cambridge, occupied the chair and briefly introduced the chair. PERSONAL. Mr Lundon, in his opening remarks, thanked the Chairman tor his brief introduction, and said that, considering the fact that Mr Buckland had not known him intimately, a few words about himself would not be out of place. He had been a business man the greater part of his lifetime and had resided at Taurasga, in the Bay of Plenty district. He had been elected to nearly every position in local politics it was possibleto e'ect a man to, ami ho had been Mayor of Tauranga, chairman of the Tauranga County Council for some considerable time and » member of the Auckland Waste Lands Board for six years. During his caieer he had been compelled to make many trips to Wellington, aud, if they elected him to represent them, they would find he was no stranger in Wellington, as he was well acquainted with the heads of Government and many of the members of Parliament. He could claim connection with Cambridge, in that he had moved very actively to aet the Tauranga-Cambridge Road via Kaimai, opened some little time ago. The speaker then proceeded to point nut the many advantages that would have accrued both to Tauranga and Cambridge had the road been opened. If this work had been accomplished Messrs Nelson Bros', would have established freezing works in the Tauranga harbour ; all they required was a guarantee of 25,000 sheep annually. A canvass of the Cambridge district had disclosed the fact that a supply of 45,000 sheep annually could easily have been obtained. The only thing in the way was the road and this wus still uncompleted, and the freezing works were still a dream of the dim and distant future. The road, if opened, would be of great benefit commercially, and if returned, he would never rest content until the road was completed. (Applause). He was seeking their suffirages as a Liberal candi date and an ardent supporter of the present Government. He had been pressed on many occasions to stand for Parliamentary honours, but he had always declined, and now, after due consideration and thoroughly weighing the merits of the different Parliamentary parties, he had come to the conclusion ttiat he was not qualified to take part in the frequent scandals which arose on the Conservative side of the House, the cross benches would not suit him, as it was' all bunkum for a man to pose as an an Independent, au he was bound to support one side or the other, and, therefore, could not be Independent. As a Liberal candidate, he would reserve the rights to criticise any measures that he thought were detrimental to the interests of his constituents ; but if his vote was required to keep the Government in office they would have his warmest support. public works. Ho could not help introducing the matter of public works, which were going on in all parts of the country, and it was pleasing to find that in different parts of the country, where a few years ago it was difficult to get through, beautiful roads and tracks wero now formed enabling one to travel with the greatest of ease, and for this work alone the Government deserved the gratitude Of the people of the colony. SCANDALS. In referring to Mr Herries, the speaker said he had no intention of saying anything disrespectful concerningMrHerries, but he found it necessary to refer to some remarks made by that gentleman in his recent electioneering tour. Mr Herries had introduced the Wrigg case. The speaker excused the Government in the matter on the ground that Wrigg had been recommended for the New Zealand Cross by military men, and acting on. that recommendation it had been granted to him ; but as soon as it was found that a mistake had been made, the Government took steps to dispossess him of it. Coming to the Bushy Park scandal he contended that the sale oi the estate to the young McKenzies was a perfectly legitimate one and stated that had not the McKenzies been related to the Minister for Lands, nothing would have been heard of the matter. As chairman of the Assets Board, the Premier had only one vote, as any other member, and had he sold it to the McKenzies he would have been perfectly within his rights in doing so. The police scandal had been productive of some good, but after all there was not much in it. They had 500 police members, out of this number charges had been laidl against 12 ; nine charges had been dismissed, two had been partly proved, and one proved. Tho verdict of the Royal Commission he claiinsd had completely exonerated the Government from all connection with the Marine scandal, about whioh so much fuss had bee.o made. Referring to the matter of the Premier's expenses in England, the speaker Baid the subject was threadworn, and he contrasted these expenses with those of the trip up the Wauganui River mads by a party which included Captain Russell, Dr Newman, Mr Christie Murray, and either one or two others. The trip lasted 14 diiys and cost the country £419.

THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COLONY. He would like to point out that the honour of granting ladies the privilege of voting was due to the present Government. (The chairman :' Oh, no.') The speaker adhered to his opinion and expressed the hope that at the next general election the ladies would show their gratitude by voting for the liberul candidate. The colony he said was now in a most prosperous condition, and it was ooly necessary to travel through the country to see the spread of population, and undoubted signs of prosperity. He contrasted the state of things with those ruling previous to the present Government taking office, when relief works at starvation wages were started, and people were flocking from the colony in thousands. The present condition of the colony he said was in a great measure due to tho abolition of that abommiable tax the Property Tax and for that the Government deserved the gratitude of every person in the colony. Under the present system small settlers were exempt from taxation on improvements, and there was no doubt it had had _ tho effect of vastly improving tho conditions of the small farmer. The speaker then referred to the marvellous increase in the number of buildings in Auckland during the last few yeurs, and it was only lair to assume that the other cities in the colony had improved in proportion. Mr Lundon read an extract from the Governor's speech delivered at Dargaville at the conclusion of his tour of the colony, in which he laid great stress on the flourishing condition of the colony. The candidate read a long list of figures showing the enormous increase in the deposits in the Havings Bank since the Government took office which he held was a sure indication of the improved condition _ of the industrial classea. In addition to this the colony's credit was in the highest state in London. The increase in the population had been most marked, and the exports had increased during the present Government's term of ofjice in a most surprising manner. Mr Lundon here read a budget of figures in support of his statements.

ITBMC WORKS STATEMENT. (The Public Works Statement he de scribed as one of the plainest and most straightforward statements ever Jaid before the House iu this colony.

fts accuracy had been disputed by the Opposition, but the ba'auce shown had been audited and every one n.uat accept it ns authentic and truthful, and from the action taken by the auditor in connection with the technical voto all would agree that lis was not a man to be trifled with. RAILWAYS. Mr Lundon then proceeded to compare the condition of our railways under the management of the Commissioners, and under Government control. A surplus of £99,665 he said had been obtained from the lailways last year, and it was most satisfactory to see that they were paying 31 per cent on the actual amount of capital invested in them, and no better result ho thought could possibly have been achieved. They must also take into consideration the fact that very large concessions had been granted to farmers, and that the Government had endeavoured to foster the farming industry in every way by reducing freights Notwithstanding all this, the r-'it ways were paying 3J per cent, and the outlook for the future was a most promising one. He recognised that the railways should be used largely as a convenience to settlers, and not looked upon only from a money-making point of view.. LANDS ACT.

The Lands Act of 1892 said Mr Lundon was one of the best Acts ever passed, and under it the colony had advanced onormoudy, and it had the effsct of causing many farms to spring .into existence. He strongly defended the system of balloting for land which placed the poorest man on the same footing as the man with the longest purse. This system had had the effect of placing many hundreds on the land who would never have'thought of going there, aud was causing the country to be sett'ed very rapidly. The Opposition, he said, were desirous of introducing a freehold clause, but when one could lease land for 999 years he failed to see what more was required. Mr Lundon quoted from the Hansard report of a speech made in the House by Capt. Russell in July of this year, in which he said that the tenant in getting land for 999 yearß was receiving a magnificent gift from the Crown for a loDger time than from the Norman Conquest 'to the present date. How then, asked Mr Lundon, could the Opposition improve it by inserting a freehold clause? It was monstrous for people to trouble about getting a freehold, and hampering themselves when they could get land for such an extended period, and could allow those who came after them the same opportunities as they had themselves. (Applause.) He woull like to see the double improvement instead of residence clause reinserted, as in his opinion its abolition had had the efft'c l ; of keeping out many of the best settlers who were debarred by the residence clause.

LAND FOR SETTLBMENS. Mr Lundon referred at some length to the Land for Settlement Act. The Government, he said, were to be commended for their action in acquiring 80,000 acres in the King Country which was nearly all open for settlement. They had also penetrated into the Urewera country where the last of the hostile tribes are to be found, and settled the native difficulty for ever not by bloodshed, but by wise legislation and prudent action. In that district they had acquired a large and valuable block of laud close to the Opouriao Estate which would no doubt soon be taken up. (Applause). In 1898, 14 estates had been taken over representing nearly 56,200 acres, and this year just half tke number of estates had been acquired but they represented over 90,000. acres. In the Auckland District, Rangiatea and Karapiro had been taken over. They would all remember that when offered for sale by the Assets Board no purchasers could be found, but as soon as they were ballotted for by the Government in the ordinary way, they were eagerly snapped up and were now all taken up. There were very few people indeed who would plump down cash, or buy land under the conditions of the Assets Realisation Board, and he thought it would be wise for the Government to take over all the properties at present offered for sale by the Board, and he felt sure if they did the lands would be settled immediately. Referring to the success achieved by the Government over the Opoumo Estate, Mr Lundon stated that whereas a tew years ago it used to carry seven hands all the year round, there were now 52 homesteads and over 250 souls on the. property. The settlers were doing well and in many instances a single man was employing more labour than the whole estate formerly did. (Applause). The land policy of the Government had been a huge success, and a return of 5 per cent on the amount of money invested was being obtained. The Opposition made a great deal of capital out of the forfeitures ; but in nearly every instance the laud forfeited was taken up again by fresh settler?, they however forgot to show this side of the picture. The speaker also instanced the Cheviot Estate, and quoted figures to show that notwithstanding all that has been said to the contrary, the estate was paying handsomely. Nothing had contributed more largely to the prosperity of the colony that the Advances to Settlerb Act, under which the Goveiro ment were lending money at 5 per cent, and it was fully expected that before long this interest wou'.d be reduced. Mr Lnndou proceeded to point out the immense benefit conferred upon the struggling settlers, who had borrowed money upon mortgage years ago at rates of interest ranging up to fO per cent, thus condemning themselves, their wives and familes to a life of everlasting toil and si.very. This was now a thing of the past.. The Government had stepped in to relieve these struggling slaves ; in many instances making them independent. It was a significant fact he said that uot one single section had fallen into the hands tf the Government as mortgagees, and that in 1898 the arrears of interest amounted to £4 18s only. If a man failed to get land now it waß certainly not the fault of the Government. (Applause).

OLD AOE PENSIONS. Coming to the Old Age Pensions, Mr Lundon said he was entirely with it. He thought it was the duty of every Christian country to provide for the aged people who have betn unfortunate in life, in many cases through no faull of their own. During their 25 years' residence in the colony they had contributed largely to its revenue, and he thought they were justly entitled to some consideration if they needed it. (Applause). They had been paying pensiona for many years, and the speaker instanced one man who retired on a pension of £3OO a year at a comparatively early age in order to enter into business in the city. That class of man had been well cared for all his life and well paid for his work, and did not require a pension, but the other class of person he thought justly entitled to some assistance. And if the finger of charitable aid was pointed at one class of pensioner, thare was no reason why it should not be levelled at the other. People should look upon the Old Age Pension as their right, and should receive it as such, and not as charitable aid. No doubt many abuses had been practised, but no doubt before long the law would be materially altered to meet the circumstances that had arisen. He was not quite sure that Maoris were entitled to it, as there was great difficulty in proving their ages, but in his opinion the chief objection was that they puid no taxation in the counties where they resided. He fell sure in many cases the pensions, though drawn by the old natives, were enjoyed by the younger ones, Some alteration would surely have to be made. New Zealand's example was quickly being followed by the different countries, and but for the federal movement would before this have been passed iu Victoria, while the English

Government had been recommended to adopt a pension of five shillings—equal to 8s or 9a a week here—on the name lines as NciV Zealand. The Opposition expressed the opinion that the pension would sap away the self-reliance of colonists, but he thought the ambition of the young colonial soared above £lB a year on reaching the ige of 65 years. It was preposterous to think of it. Mr Lundon concluded by thanking his audience for the patient hearing accorded him, expressed his willingness to answer questions, and resumed his seat amid applause. No questions being forthcoming, Mr Rout proposed a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Lundon, who ty his speech'had given them every confidence in his ability to represent and defend them in the House of Representatives. Mr F. O'Toole seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. Mr Buckland said "he wished to explain his reason for making an interjection when Mr Lundon was referring to the female franchise. The Act, he said, was passed by the temperance party—which included Sir John Hall and him self—and was composed of members of both the Government and the Opposition. Mr Keeley: " Are you a member of the temperance party now?" (Laughter). Mr Buckland : Yes, certainly, and always was. Mr Lundon thanked the audience for the vote of confidence, and expressed a hope that at the election they would confirm it at the ballot-box. The meeting then closed with the customary compliment to the chair.