THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

West Coast Times, 19 February 1914, Page 1

THE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN.

HON'. JAMES ALLEN AT HASTINGS HASTINGS, Eel). 18. 'lho Hon. James Allen spent » very busy day here. This morning he addressed the scholars at the Hukarero Native Girls’ School at Napier, and afterwards he visited the Technical College, He then motored to the -Maori Hoys’ College at Te Ante and addressed the scholars there; then proceeded to Waipawa and inspected the High School. He returned to Hastings in the evening and addressed a crowded meeting at the Princess Theatre, where he received a splendid reception, and although daring his speech he was subjected to considerable interruption, Air. Allen made a fighting speech, despite the fact that he was obviously tired after his day’s work. The main portion of his address was devoted to reviewing the work,, of the last two sessions and comparing it with that of previous Governments. Regarding the Advances Departments, he said that last session they did something that would materially help local bodies by putting on the Statute Rook legislation for the State guarantee of their "loans. This would make it easier for back-block settlers to obtain money for their roads and bridges. Under the State guarantee, loans could ho floated on the London market at a lower rate of interest, meaning a saving to the ratepayers of from one-quarter to one per cent. He claimed that the administration of the Advances Department was more liberal than ever it was, and was sound financially. Expenditure. Referring to the expenditure, and answering the criticism of the Opposition. he said that the increase in expenditure during the last year of the so-eallcd Liberal Party was .-£007,000, and at the end of the first financial year of the Reform Government it was £741,000. They- had lessoned the increase by £256,000, and had only been in power for nine months. He refuted the statements made by the Opposition that the Government had not kept its election pledges, and enumerated the measures it had passed in fulfilment of its pre-election promises. Raising of Loans. He condemned the financial policy of the Ward Government, and asked what sort of business it was to have loans amounting to twelve millions foiling due in one year. That was what he had had to face this year. He said that Sir Joseph Ward just hefole he went out of office could have raised at the same price, but for ten years, the loan Air. Myers was compelled by the underwriters to take on a currency of two years only, hut plr Joseph Ward preferred to pledge all our gilt-edged securities, leaving the liabilities to his successors. II was glad it was Air. Myers and not himself who had had to take the hurtle i during the first few mouths When Sir Joseph left the Treasury benches. Air. Myers was forced on to 11.0 London market and neither Sir Joseph Ward nor Air. Myers could have got a long-dated loan at that time. Immigration. The immigration policy. of the present Government was the same as that of their -predecessors. It was to bring nut the class of labour that would not compete with that on the market. The Dominion wanted farm labourers, hoys who would eventually become farm labourers, and domestic servants. The 7s (id offered to boys was a minimum wage, and would boinereased as the lads became more efficient in their work. Cultivation was not being carried on because there was no labour. There was a decrease in railway revenue because there was not the labour available to sow and reap the grain which should he carried to the ports. The Railways and the Strike. Replying to an interjection, Air. Allen said that the strike had redu-e----the railway revenue by from £200,000 to £250,000. Tlie railwaymen’s pay had been increased considerably, but it was impossible to give increases If the railways did not earn what the should. One of the evils of the strike had been to injure the railwaymcn, and all classes of labour had also suffered. The Naval Policy. He dwelt a considerable time on the naval policy, which, he said, lie did not intend to make a party question if. He gave a general outline of the Government’s proposals, going over the ground already published of I- , previous statements on the subject. ILi maintained that if New Zealand was to retain her self-respect, sicmust shoulder her responsibilities, and not allow the Pacific to be unprotoet"•d. History had proved that those who tolled on paying out money to somebody else to protect them came to grief. If New Zealand contributed money to /the Rritish Admiralty, it should have a say in the administration of the whole naval policy of the Empire. “If we are to have an Empire,” said the Minister, “we must have the sea ways which connect the distant parts of the Empire kept open, and this cannot be done by a fleet in the North Sea.” Other Subjects. It was the policy of the Government to continue to make the finances of the country more sound, although the--wore much better now than when/ they took office. It was also proposed to att end the superannuation regulations to make provision for widows of superannuated' officers. Other reforms would bo carried out. In regard to defence, they had done away with imprisonment of defaulters, and he hoped to make provision for alternative service for conscientious objectors. Further legislation would be introduced to improve the conditions of school teachers. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed by a large majority.