POLITICAL CAMPAIGN

Waikato Argus, Volume XIX, Issue 3028, 8 November 1905, Page 2

POLITICAL CAMPAIGN

THE WAIKATO SEAT. MB LANE, M.H.R., AT TE AWAMUTU. Mb E. W. La nii, M.U.R., add reused tliu Hectors of Tc Awamutu in the Town Hall last evening. The chair was occupied by Mr J. B. Teasdale, chairman of the Town Board, and there was a record attendance, the large Town Hall being packed to the door, many at tho back having to bo content with standing. Ladies wore present in large numbers.

Mr Lang spoke for close on two hours, his remarks being closely followed. He was in great lighting form, and never before has ho been heard to speak with such force. The interjections of some ten or so strangers only went to make the meeting more enthusiastic.

In reply to questions the candidate said he was in favour of the referendum on tho question of Bible reading in schools.

He was in favour of universal old age pensions fund to bo provided by every person contributing to a fund in proportion to his earnings, and on reaching the ago of (15 years ho shall claim the pension as a right. Ho was always in favour of a speedy completion of the Main Trunk railway lino.

Ho would vote in favour of the tote rather than to keep the bookmakers. The tote was the lesser evil of the two.

He favoured the Maoris having the same right as the Europeans when dealing with their lands. He was not in favour of Hamilton having tho same number of public houses as Westport. There being no further questions, Mr John Clarke, of Parawera, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Lang for his address and confidence in him as their future representative. The motion was seconded by Mr Roger Kay, of Rangiaobia, and declared carried amidst much cheering. An amendment moved by Mr Hutt, creamery manager, that a vote of thanks only bo accorded to the speaker, met with a poor show of hands. It was seconded by a stranger who was not known,

ANOTHEI4 EICHMOND. AVe have received from Mr J. W. Taylor, of Kihikihi, the following communication : Mr James W. Taylor, M.A., who is standing as an independent candidate for the Waikato electorate, addressed a large and enthusiastic meeting in the Town Hall, Kihikihi, on Saturday evening last. Mr Harry Levien occupied the chair. In introducing himself, Mr Taylor said he was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, in 1847, and educated at the Glasgow Hill School and the Glasgow University, where he took his degree of Master of Arts in 1871. He was educated for a Scotch barrister, but just as he was about passing, his health gave way, and he had to come to the more congenial climate of Australia. He very soon entered the Lands Department of the Civil Service of New South Wales, and rose rapidly to the responsible and honourable position of Crowu lands agent of one of the largest and most important pastoral districts of that colony, so be considers himself an expert in the land laws, not only of Australia, but also of New Zealand, for he has thoroughly studied them. Ho has a pension for life from the New South Wales Government, so bo can devote his whole time to Parliamentary duties. On reviewing the main topics of political interest, Mr Taylor spoke strongly of the shameful treatment of the Blaoris in dealing with their lands. He strongly advocated giving to the Maoris the same rights in regard to laud matters that were enjoyed by Europeans, and granting to each Maori the freehold of a sufficient area of land on which to rear his wife and family, and allowing him to lease the remainder of his land, the rents from which to go to build his house and erect his improvements. Ho strongly approved of granting the freehold to selectors with an option of short leases of, say GO years. He was much in favour of working men’s homes, with almost free railway fares, and every facility in the way of loans of money. He spoke most favourably of the Old Ago Pension Act, the Laud for Close Settlement Act. the Advances to Settlers Act, and the taking of a referendum of the people on the question of leaving the Bible taught in schools. He condemned the roads and bridges question, and said that a system of local government would do away with the most obnoxious creature. He had no objection either to Mr Greenslade or Mr Lang, for both of whom he had the highest respect, but he opposed them because he did not approve of this party Government, members always quarrelling with one another. He advocated strongly a combination government, composed, say of three or four members from the Government side and a similar number from the Opposition, and thus much of the time of the House would he saved. Mr Taylor, who is a fluent speaker, had an excellent reception, and at the close of his address a vote of thanks and confidence in him as a fit and proper person to represent the electors of the Waikato was moved, seconded and carried unanimously. Mr Taylor will speak at each of the principal centres in the course of the next few weeks.

MR LANG, M.H.E. Mr F. W. Lang, M.H.R., will address the electors iu the Matangi Hall this evening at 7.iio p.m. Mr Lang will have an office on the Claudelands showground to-day and to-morrow, where he will be pleased to meet any of hisconstituents who may wish to see him. The chivalrous attitude of Mr Lang (writes the N.Z. Herald) in refusing to be drawn into any personalities during the fight for the Waikato seat is what wo should expect from one of the most respected and capable of our Auckland provincial members. It is always invidious to make distinctions among a number of members who do their best to secure reasonable consideration for the Just claims of the North, but it may fairly be said that Mr Lang is a representative who does credit to his constituents, and whose loss would bo felt not only by bis own electorate, but by the entire province. Fortunately there is no prospect of such a misfortune. The Waikato people not only know a good member when they have him, but they have felt too severely the effects of bad admini-tration to wish to strengthen it. High prices for butter meat and wool have made the Waikato prosperous in spite of tho maladministration of the country and the locking up of tho native lands,'but tho possibility of prices declining makes all the more reason why administration should be made a help to agriculture instead of a burden, as it is at present. MR GREKNSLADE AT NGARUAWAUIA. Mr H. J. Greenslado, the Liberal candidate for Waikato, addressed a crowded meeting in the Ngaruawahia Town Hall on Monday evening. Rev. Father Corcoran presided. On the motion of the Rev. Potts, seconded by Mr George Graves a vote of thanks was carried with only four dissentients. Mr Greenslade addressed the electors in the Maungatautari schoolroom on Saturday afternoon. Mr T. Hicks occupied tho chair. THE FRANKLIN SEAT, Mr Massey. Leader of the Opposition, is vigorously prosecuting his campaign and is everywhere meeting with cordial receptions. Despite the efforts of his opponents to discount his chances, his supporters are sanguine that tho result of the poll will bo a crushing defeat for