MR BRUCE AT TURAKINA.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIII, Issue 1500, 5 December 1899, Page 2

MR BRUCE AT TURAKINA.

About 100 people attended Mr Bruce's meeting on Saturday night despite the exceedingly wot weather. * Mr B. P. Lethbridge took the chair, and, in introducing the candidate, advised his hearers to accept what Mrßruee said as facts. . ' Sfv Bruce was well received, and announced that'he he was again before them as a pronounced opponent of the Seddon Government. He was pleased to have Mr Stevens as an opponent, as there was never a shadow of illfeeling between them and he 'hoped that feeling would impart itself to the supporters of both parties. Bef ening to Liberalism he contended it was only a cry to catch votes and had no weight and significance through the manner the word had been prostituted to meet the selfish views of Seddon, who was the Government, and the Government Seddon. They had endeavoured to make it appear that a selfish few wished to place the foot on the necka of the working man by abolishibg the legislation passed by the present party. No sane men would carry-out such a policy which would lead to chaos, He thought land should be taken up at, say, the rate of !00 acres at £4 per year.'with right o_f purchase. He admitted that the right of purchase was sentiment, but contended that sentiment was the most powerful factor for the good of an empire'. As instance that it was sentiment that sent our men to the Transvaal, The sizes of holdings must hp controlled from a social and economical standpoint, and blocks divided into areas for rich and poor whose interests' were identical. He regretted that both parties favoured labour legislation, but he thought it unnecessary, though at the same time he would give his]) support to anything beneficial to the working ofasses. He considered the Board of Conciiliation of no use, ] as its discussions were not binding on either party. The only good II did make was to mrtke room for agitators at big feds to sit on the Board. He thought that if the present policy of spoils'to the victors went on ', the population would soon be in equal parts — inspectors and Inspected. The spoils to the victors and American Tammany were in full blast in New York. He instanced the stand taken up by such men as Messrs Kelly, Earnshaw, Hutchison, Pirani and Taylor, in regard to the corruption. The Premier was t now going round drawing the red herring across the scent by referring to the cost of scandals. Policy and "Quackery were synonmous terms, ] and any party wishing to get info power had to tickle the palates of the electors with a polioy. The Premier was now the wonder of the hour, strutting about the country to the music of a policy, but no one wonld benefit by that policy, which was to keep Mr Seddon in power, move than Mr Seddon himself. In ( speaking for himself, he was not an Opposi- ; tiotiist, and contended that' no Government < pvould set to work to repeal legislation passed "by their predecessors. He would rather prefer the people to have experiences of it. It was impossible for him to be a Prohibitionist as he was an Individualist, and he thought the present three-fifth majority was fair, and would allow the Act to remain in force till it hud a fair trial. He had no compact with the Prohibitionists, and would decline to have one with anyone. Anything clean could bear the light of day, and therefore any private compact would not be so. He would like to see a fight for the whole of N.Z. on the question. He was a fyeefaader an<l Would vet|uge as far as possible the taxation on the necessaries of life, The" last revision had meant an Increase of £008,000 per year on household goods, and that money was principally used to keep the present party in power. No Government could bring prosperity to a. country. What could six weak, erring men on the Treasuary benches do? It was the bushman and farmer who made the country. It was as fair for the barnacles on a ship to take credit for a fast passage as for a Ministry to take credit for prosperity. It had been alleged he was favourable to workmen receiving ss. per day. This had taken its use from a speech he made in the House on the -wages of railway men. He then said that if the market wage was Ss. per day. so would railway men have to take the game, but 'if they were 10s. the rajlway employeos should he paid at that rate. I He did not think the Government' were saving money by their loan conversion, as it was not likely the -cleverest financers in the world, the men on the Stock Exchange, would lose, and that they would have to do if the Government gained. He quoted the figures appearing in Mr. Carson's speech in regard to favoured Westland, and compared it to the collaring of £84,000 of the Local Bodies Sinking Fund in this Island. He also referred to the Premier's travelling expenses, and again characterised tys'?! Keep "in Power 1 ' nqhey as enoyigli 'to throw him out. ' •■.■• H§ believed in Party Government, but admitted it had broken down in New Zealand '■ through abuses. The present system of controlling Upper House had his approval. The difference between ■.him and Mr Seddon on this subject waOhitt Mr. Seddon believed in it because it gave him votes, and he believed in it because it was the best method. l\v Seddqn h.ad yuiuefl it qwing to the nature of the appointments. He did not believe hi the referendum, but [ would apply it to denominational education, as he .considered that not a question of politics, but of faith and conscience. The question for the 6th was either the reelection of a corrupt, waste, and extravagant Government, or, the election of a hew- party. He would not ally himself to Government or Opposition, but would support a party that would kick the Government out. Mr. Uracc eat down amidst applause, nnd ask"ed that' it y'pfe M 'thanks' only bij nassed. After several questions had been tujkepl find answered, Mr. ltopket then pioved.'and Mr. Grant seeondetj a hearty ypte o£ thanks to Mr. B,ruee, whjeh wns parried neiii. con.