THE WANGANUI SEAT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15971, 13 November 1919, Page 9

THE WANGANUI SEAT.

ADDRESS BY MR TE ITCH. H.P. (Continued from Page 8.) Was decided to refer the whole question to a board, partly representative of the men and partly by the Department, to bo presided over by a Judge. He hoped the result would be satisfactory to the raihwaymen. - POITHCAL RIGHTS TO STATE EMPLOYEES. The speaker said that he considered it unfair that because a man happened to be a State employee he did not have the same rights and privileges as other men of serving their country in Parliament if they so desired. He did not think it was fair that his two opponents, like he had dome, should have to , resign for all time their rights to employment by the State because they offered themselves for ti»e service of tho citizens. The principle was entirely wrong, and ho had always opposed it and always would. STATE BANKING. The financial system needed reorganisation, was the opinion expressed by the candidate, and in this respect he advocated the establishment of a State bank. Sach a bank would not lead to disorganisation of the finances of the country, as some people imagined The State Bank of the Commonwealth of Australia was a great success. It hail no capital except its profits, and it had saved large sums of money for the people in the raising of war loans. If it were a success in Australia there was no reason why it should not he so in New Zealand. He had introduced a State Banking Bill four times, and he would never cease to battle for ft. STATE COAL MINES. Dealing with mining matters, Mr Veiteh said that a clause had been introduced into the Coal Mines Act, which gir W. Prater frankly confessed was a strike-breaking clause. This clause provided that ibe clause in the main Act providing that experienced men should ba sent down below, could be suspended at any time, so as bo allow coal to be hewn by inexperienced men. It was absolutely wrong that the lives of men should be endangered simply to settle an industrial dispute. The clause was finally passed, with some modifications. CONSOLIDATED FUND. Discussing Consoldiated Funds, Mr Ycitch said that a few days ago the Chronicle printed an article dealing with the Consolidated Fund of Queensland, and pointing out that there had been heavy deficits during the last three years. The Chronicle proceeded to point out the dangers of having irresponsible men in charge of the finances of the country. In the New Zealand Government’s financial statement for the year 1919-1920, the amount said by the Min- ' ister to be available for Supplementary ■ Estimates was £478,108. When the Supplementary Estimates came down they totalled £1,238,000. This would leave a fairly solid deficit for New Zealand for one year. In addition there was the sum of £340,000 to be paid for butter-fat levy. The figures showed that it was necessary that there should either be a serious curtailment of expenses, or an increase in taxation. IN CONCLUSION. Mt Veiteh said that during his term in Parliament he had striven to do his best for Wanganui, and be could claim that be bad succeeded. It had been said that he had ploughed a lonely furrow. It was true that he had not attached himself tewjjjiy party, bnt he had by no means plmghed a lonely furrow. The position of representing Wfcnganni carried a great deal of responsibility, and if he had failed to earn the goodwill of his brother members he would not have succeeded in his work. If he had associated himself with a party the wort would have been very much easier. This coming Parliament would have many great difficulties and problems to solve, and if there ever was a time when men of experience were required in Parliament it was now. , Veiteh resumed iris seat amidst hearty, long-sustained applause and ( cheering. Throughout his address, which 7 as splendidly received, applause was frequent. QUESTION BOX. A large number of questions, principally written ones, were answered by the candidate. sai< J tllat he was not a member of c P.P.A., and did not intend to join. Ihe gratuity was a free gift, rfind the money was not subject to any conditions. He was not in favour of the age of concent being raised to 21. He was in favour of the time being extended curing which a criminal prosecution could be laid. The law at present provided for the appointment of women as Justices of the Peace if the Government chose, and he saw no reason why women should not act as jdrors. He was quite favourable to raising tho marriage age, but considered that 18 was too high. Repliyng to a question about the holding up of Protestant literature, he said that be did not know the nature of the literature held up, but if in the judgment of the Minister responsible, the literature did not appear to ba fair to any section of the country or likely to cause unnecessary dissection and trouble, then the Minister was justified in holding it up. People should put up with a little inconvenience, even with an error of judgment on the part of the Minister, to safeguard the wellbeing of the country, particularly during the crisis whicli had just passed. He was favourable to placing the South African veterans on the same terms as soldiers returned from the late war, in respect to pensions and land settlement. The D 3 was based on the amended Act, which tie Government introduced, and when that was withdrawn the D 3 had to be recast, and he did not think it would be available for a few days vet. He did not know how often he &ad voted against official labour, it all depended on how often it had been against his convictions. If tie Minister for Finance said the country could stand it, he would be to vote for Is a day more to be given to returned soldiers. He was not aware that the Education Department was paying large sums of money to the Railway Department for the carriage of Catholic children past State schools. He inquire into the matter and lay % put it right if it were so. He had not been waited upon by the P.P.A. He would take up the same attitude to it as he would to anybody else. He would hear what it had to say and give a straight answer. He would make no private agreement with it, and the public would know what took place. He did not know that the Alexander property now it was owned by, the Roman Catholic Church would Jiot pay rates. It was a new point and he would look into it. He voted to exempt tochers from military service because hr was assured by the Minister that the country could not stand losing any more of its teachers. Be did