HON. G. FOWLDS’ TOUR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2114, 13 February 1908, Page 2

HON. G. FOWLDS’ TOUR.

ADDRESS AT DANNEVIRKE. (Special to Times). DANNEVIRKE, Feb. 12. The Hon. Geo. Fowlds, Minister ior Education, delivered a political address at Dannevirke last "night. The Mayor presided, and the re was a fair attendance of electors . Mr. Fowlds was received with appi a use. H© expressed pleasure at the opportunity to meet \,he citizens. He dealt mainly with, the departments under his direct control. Dealing firstly with, education, he said . that the positsan of a ny country depended on its* education system. The increase in .oxjvendittt're was alarming, but he believTjd it was the best investment thajfc coun try could have In 1901 the, expenditure was £578,090, and it had risehn to £923,572 at present. The ideal] of the education system was l to provide free education ironr the,-primary ('school to the university. He-advocated a better payment of coyintry tfhachers, and a properly.'classified sy/atem of promotion. He praised the work, of the Health Department, and/considered the Pure Food A(f t, arid Infant Life Protection 4 ct 3°/jM do much good to people. .\lr. .b of .vlSfe foreshadowed an improve--enth n the and Charitablo Aid Act, anc£ in the law regarding; ment/J hospital.:-. He commended the--1 remf ier’s ren\arks regarding the attitude of the« Government; towardsi. In V< ? iUtl ° nary ..-socialism, and echoed! tri©/sentiments! expressed by'his chief. securing lot equal opportunities >0? all was a (splendid ideal to have-/K-W- any No many Vim /n. ti to-more, than an squal l |and no man had the = /ight to prit.fup with less. The aim: of the Gojvifrnnient was to secure*, justice between man and man, and! the ypreventing of monopolies by .stato ownersh'p and operating. Lhore should bo, no granting of spe--waL privileges tr any man, riSless he* paijd annually the- value of the privilege held. He commended. the landeijdowment and • ax Bill, and claimed: f hat the Native Land Bill was an: ' lonest attempt to settle the native-* land problem The remission of .£4O-5,2-50 in the tariff would be of: igreat benefit to the workers, and he* anticipated that the system of annuities, would in tin e relieve the old age** pensions expenditure, and provide then old with the means of securing independence. Mention of a special grant of £200,000 per annum For roads was received with applause*. A hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Fowlds, and continued confidence in the Government- was carried with, applause.