Mr R M Gaenby in the Opera House

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11728, 1 December 1905, Page 6

Mr R M Gaenby in the Opera House

Mr E. M. GATENBY addressed a crowded meeting of electors in the Opera House last night, feeing accorded an attentive and appreciative henring. Mr E. N. LIFFITON, who presided in the absence through illness of the Mayor, said that though, opposed to tho Mayor politically, he recognised that it was tlic dufcy of evory ebetor who look an interest in the welfare of his country to hear the views of the various candidates, and on that account he asked for a fair and impartial hearing for Mr Gatenby. Mr GATENBY at the outset said ho would give the Government unqualified support, and vote for them on all no-con-fidence motions, and he wa9 all the way with tho Government's policy as laid down by the Premier in his recent speech. Mr Gatenby then dealt with the spebch delivered by Mr Haselden the previous evening,, and refuted his statement tlmi tlr^ State Coal mines had been a failure, showing that the mines had yielded a net profit, oven in the first two years of over .£B,OOO, and it could be reasonably hoped that bigger profits would accrue in tho future. (Applause). As to tho charge thai tho • ' PUBLIC ACCOUNTS were not properly audited, lie read tho report of the Supreme Court Judges in the "voucher incident" saying that the accounts were properly audited, and that no payment could be made without a record, this b^ing borne out by the Evening Post, a paper opposed to tho Government. (Applause). Ho said that the country did have political honesty, but it would not have it if the Opposition got into power. As to the CRIMINAL CODE ACT, the object of it was merely to put spoken libel on the same footing as written libel, which was needed very badly. This had come home to him personally, as he had never known what a blackguard he was till he stood for this election, having heard of many gross aud scandalous assertions against himself. As to Mr Haselden's assertions that the 42 co-operative labourers landed the previous day in. Wanganui, were intended to vote for Mr ltemington he said it was ridiculous to say so, as everyone knew that Mr Remington already had a large majority and needed no additional votes. Applause). Dealing then with tho LAND QUESTION, Mr Gatanby -declared himaelf a leaseholder, and favoured a perpetual lease with periodical valuation. He deniea a rumour that he would, if he could, take a man's quarter-acre away from him, and all Ji« was opposed to was land hold in large areas. Already there were 21,000 people holding 17 million acres of land, and tljis was what the Oj>position wanted, and lie asked how could anyone support a party like that. (Applause). The Opjjosition agitation for the freehold was only a bribe to catch votes, and lie asked why it was that they did not propose to give the right to the freehold to tenants of private individuals, as they proposed to give it to those of the State. Mr Gatenby pointed out the effect of giving .-the freehold to tenants of local bodies, which coxtld only result in increased rates. As to Mr Haselden's statement that there were four million acres of land waiting settlement, and that there was consequently no need to buy up large estates, Mr Gatenby said a third standard jphild could deal with it. Everyone knew that the effect of putting a poor man on bush land was starvation and ruin. The buying of large estates was to give the poor man a chance (applause), and as to the Opposition cry that it was spoliation^ and robbery, they had complained that ,£BO,OOO too much had been paid for one of those' estates. That did not look like spoliation and robbery. (Applause). Mr Gatenby pointed out how anxious the people were to got on the land as evidenced by the large number of applicants for sections, and ho emphasised the fact that it was the present Government that was putting them there. (Applause). Ho could not understand how it was that Mr Haselden approved of the, freehold for the farmer, while denying it to the working man in town, which was by no means consistent, as the question was a matter of principle. Dealing with

NATIVE LANDS,

he approved of the Government's legislation, and hoped that a fair price would lie paid to the natives, and tho latter assisted to improve and farm what was left to them. He was glad to see that the Crown Lands Commission recommended that no hack country be settled in future until roaded, as the contrary entailed great hardships on the settlers, and it was not just of any Government to leave settlers without roads. (Applause). The

EXPORTS OF THK COLONS' had increased under the present Government from nine millions to fifteen millions, much of which was due to the good management of the Government, who, for instance, by tho appointment of graders, had given such a lift to the butter industry that it stood at the top of the London market. (Applause). As -to

MINISTERS' SALARIES, Mr Ssddon got .£IOO a .year less than the secretary of the Wellington Harbour Board, and the 30s a day allowed to Ministers for travelling expenses, was no more than that given to any commercial traveller. Mr Haselden had said- he did not bo^ lieve in Protection, but has leader, Mr Masscy, declared his belief in it for big industries. Mr Gatenby declared himself a STRAIGHT-OUT PROTECTIONIST, and advocated a policy of fostering and encouraging local industries. (Applause). A stiff Customs tariff should- be put on all articles that could be made in New Zealand, only the neeeasitieg ' of. life, and articles that could not bo manufactured here being allowed frca, or lightly taxod. Protection meant plenty of money, and prosperity. He had not the slightest fear of a tax being put by England on Now Zealand mutton, as. Mr Haselden feared, as it was well known that England could not grow her own food, "being 1 absolutely dependent on ouiside countries for food supply, owing to her own land being hold in such largo areas by private individuals. Mv Gatenby pointed out that the value or woollen goods and clothing imported into Now Zealand last year was a million and a quarter, a much larger, amount than was manufactured by our own mills. This should not be, and extra duty should be put on these goods. If this were done he did not think anyone would grude it, even if ho had to pay slightly more for them, as the money would be spent in the country. (Applause). Mr Gatenby defended the GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL POLICY, and was quite in favour of borrowing as long as it was for a good purpose. Tho Government had made a profit by a wiso use of its borrowed money, and surely that was good business. (Applause). As to Mr Ilaseldcn's complaint at the slow progress of RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION, he asked how quick the Opposition would go if they got into power. He pointed out that a largo proportion of THE PUBLIC DEBT was directly reproductive and interest earning,, and of the increase of twenty millions due to the present Government, no loss than sixteen million was reproductive. (Applause). Mr Haselden had said that every child born in. Now Zealand had an overdraft of .£65 handing round his neck, but he forgot to say it had also .£3OO of NATIONAL ASSETS hanging down its back. (Laxiglitor- and applauee). He warmly, com men d-ed th© GoverinHont's action -jjf saving tho Bank of Now Zealand, which was one of the best things it had ever iione. He pointed out that"tho ATKINSON GOVERNMENT, during its three years of office had borrowed .£2,92(>,000, and what had they given tho country? ,Ruin aud misery, and a Joss of population amounting to 20,000. But the population under tho present Government had increased by 50,000, without counting ' national' increase. (Ap--plaiisp). He then. ,weot on to commend the able manage'm*^ o^tlio^ ,

RAILWAYS hy Sir Joseph Ward, which contrasted strongly with the condition of things under tho Atkinson Government. At the same time the Nortlr Island, with a larger population was nob iustly treated, tlif South Island having 560 miles more line, and the North Isi'and ireinlvers should band together and on the Main Trunk Eailway being completed. (xVpplause). It would Jiot, -as had been asserted, be injurious to Wanganui, and would be the means of bringing a large amount of trade to this (own. ITo thoroughly believed in State Fire Insurance, ini't not the way it wvs now being run They should have joined the ring instead of fighting it, which would have been much more profitable, and briug big ger business. He then went on to declare his belief in THE EEFERENDUM, and with regard to those who called it "the sheet anchor of the shuffler," he said they w?ro glad enough to get oue responsibility off their shoulders in the local option poll. Every largo question should be submitted to the. referendum. Dealing with DEFENCE, lie- rombatted the statement that social position was required j>s a qualification for volunteer officers, pointing out that every one of the officers of the local corps had risen from the ranks, no pointed out that in regard to no-l£cense, evory candidate but one was on the same plane, and none of them favoured any interference with the 'present law. Tho Nolicense poll had nothing to do with the Parliamentary election. Ho did not bolieve in STATE CONTROL. If, as tho Prohibitionists asserted, it was an immoral traffic, why should the Stato take it up? If on tho other hand it was a respectable trade, private enterprise should not be interfered with. (Hear, hear). He spoke in favour of the removal of Civil Servants,' disabilities, and the election of members of local bodies by popular franchise. Dealing with" TRADE UNIONISM, Mr Gatenby reminded his hearers that he' was the only one of the candidates who had stood up for statutory preference for . Unionists, which the workers, who had . fought for their privileges, had every right to. (Applause). It would strengthen <he Unions, and would be no hardship to" the employ6r. He was not saying this ; to catch votes, as six years ago he had ; sent in his name as an honorary member ' of a Union, but it wps rejected, because he was an employer. That would show his ; sympathy was always with them, and that he was a real ' friend to the worVin* man. (Applause). Mr Gatenby then dealt with ' education, saying that discretion should be given *o Magistrals in dealing with, truancy cases. He reiterated his opinion, that

STATE AID

should b-> riven to Catholic schools, as a matter of fairness and justice. . He then dealt with

THE LIBERAL SPLIT, taking exception to a portion of Mr Wil- . liams' letter which announced his retirement, in which- he stated that none of the other candidates had* been willing to conaider a compromise. He had, he said, been , willing all along to anything that was fair, and not to anything that was unfair, and he did not consider the Premier's proposal a fair one as it gave Mr Willis two votes to the other candidates' one. Mr' Gatonby then traversed the different proposals put forward for a compromise, as given in oiir columns when reporting his Caetlecliff speech, and said that though

no one admired the Premier more than he, he denied his right to come and interfere between the electors of Wanganui, and their choice of a representative. (Applause). He ridiculed Mr Willis' Mosslown statement that 4000 or 5000 voting papers would be scattered broadcast over the electorate, pointing out that they would be forwarded by the post, with stamps enclosed for return, and if they were to be scattered broadcast, it would either be because the postmen were not doing their duty, or because the Liberal electors took no interest in the matter, and that was not his opinion. (Applause.) The candidate who had not sufficient confidence in his chances to submit to such i proposal could not have much confidence in his chances ai the poll. All this would show ho was not a vote-splitter as had been said, and he askeel them all to remember on the polling-day that tho votesplitters had been Messrs Hogan and Willis, who had refused to compromise. (Applause and cries of "No!") Mr Gatenby then explained that an attack of illness had prevented him going round the suburbs to speak, passing on to remind women electors that it was th-o present Government that had given them the franchise, applause.) Another thing the Government had done for women was, to give them the Factories Act, which had given more security of wages, and better conditions to women workers. (Applause.) The Government had also given them the Health Department, which had resulted in more cleanly houses, and improved health to the community. He commended Hie Premier's proposal to give half the freehold of the homo to the wives, as a fair and just arrangement. (Applause.) Mr Gatenby then concluded by saying it was the duty of evory member to give an account of his stewardship to his^constituents after every session closen — (applause), — and lie should also do tlie- Kfist lie- could to got local noeds supplied. This lie would pledge, himself to do; he would mate no promises in weak moments, and would not wander into the wrong lobby by mistake. Mr Gatenby then resumed his seat amid loud and continued applause.

QUESTIONS.

In answer to questions, Mr Gatenby said that with regard to having a rank Conservative- on Ilia committee, if that \v<MC so he had done the colony a good service by tho conversion ; it was an absolute falsehood that he had ever served on a Cpnscrvativc candidate's committee; it n'as untrue that he fought the Labour Department over the weekly half-holiday, he had been compelled to close merely because ho sold photographic apparatus, while other chemists kept open, and on taking the case into tho Courts he had beaten ' the Department ; ho would not break up the Arbitration Act foi; anyone, and old and incompetent worker's could easily get permits to work for less than award wages; with regard to Mr Haselden's statements that the socrocy of tho ballot was violated in regard to co-opera-tive labourers' votes he thought he must ho under a misapprehension, but approved of that gentleman's proposal that th? ballot papers should be counted at a central place ; if anyono could prove he ever votea for Mr Carson, he would tell why he did it ; he would not remove tho duty on VolimtceL' uniforms, but would give more capitation to corps j the kind of preference lo Unionists he preferred was the stiffest and strongest that could be . got ; he was eetrainly in favour of Mr J. Mciklo getting justice; he favoured preferential trade with Ihe Mother Country and dependencies, but would protect New Zealand industries all the same : as to convas.«in<» on Sunday, ho saw nothing wrong with it if it were done in a respectful and proper manner ; he thought 5s a day a fair daily travelling allowance for railway employ■ers; ho thought Chiii-oso were not desirable- inhabitants for Ndw Zealand, and would prohibit any more coming here, and send back those we had ; he would not advocate any reduction in members' sala- . vies, as to do so would be to have wealthy men in Parliament, who had no sympathy with the poor ; ho had not been promised n Government bilkt or a seat in the Upper House if he stood down; he was against Asiatics of any sort, and would even vote against the Government if they wished to bring tlfoam here ; lie would be quits prepared to submit the question of State aid^ to Catholic schools to-the referendum, and he believed 99 per cent of the people would voto in favour of it ; ho was not in favour ' of legalising sweeps in Now Zealand. On the motion of Mr F. H. Haselden, seconded by Mr Dunlcerton, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Gatenby for ' his address, tho meeting closing with the ' usual courtesy to the chair.