THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2230, 24 October 1908, Page 5

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

THE GIS3ORNE SEAT. MR. CLAYTON’S ADDRESS IN THE THEATRE:

Mr. W. Lissant Clayton, who is contesting the Gisborne seat, as an Opposition candidate, addressed the Gisborne electors in His Majesty’s Theatre last evening. Mr. W. Morgan occupied the chair, and there was a large audience. In introducing Mr. Clayton, the said that it was only a short time before the people would be called upon to elect their representative to Parliament. My. Clayton was so well known, that ho would need no introduction, and he was sure lie would, be given an attentive hearing. (Applause.) . Mr. Clayton, who was received with applause, said that on the last occasion on which lie had the honor of addressing them on electoral matters, lie was leading a forlorn hope. Ho had felt it and ho thought the people 'recognised it also, but he dui not think it detracted from the fight which the Opposition party then put tip. Pie felt now, however, that the lime for a forlorn hope was past, that this time it would not bo a forlorn hope, that the Opposition party would rally in Poverty Bay. That party, during the last three years, had educated public opinion in the country in a manner reflecting great credit upon a party so small numerically. There was n.o doubt that the country required pushing ahead. filio Government held, naturally, that it was the most progressive Government the country had ever had, but it had a great many defects which gieat y lessened its claim to the title. He would like here to say that when, cnliaising the Government and the woik of its various departments, he would have nothing to say which would be personal as regarded the Hon. James Carroll. He yielded to nobody m admiration for Mr. Carroll’s Pomona charm and eloquence. Mi. Clajton proceeded to say that lie oftered hum eelf ns a candidate with confidence, md yet with confidence.because lie felt that the 'Opposition’s good work diu nig ‘‘ three years had been such as to lender it desirable that recruits should be added t 0 that party in the House; with diffidence because ho was conscious of his own weakness. He felt, however, that they would look kindly upon the shortcomings of a S man; and he could say hat fn the event of his being returned lie would honestly serve the e.cctms and would honestly do his best ioi tno country and the district. He would point out that it was not tlio piokritk Seethe administration, though the sff sic?; Sr; ment had"^effipted' and carried out, Tim- Opposition, for instance, U long contended that the public - aecounts should be audited bj the Auditor-General instead oi bj xue heads of Departments. The Governmei,t Had now mloploll t-)*| The Opposition could also take credit for tho reduction of interest oil loans to local bodies, a matter ot Jital importance to a district such as tb s. Aeain, the Opposition could take credit for the Workers Dwellings Act. Ho ivas not referring to the o d Torv party, which was absolutely dead, but'to the present Opposition, which was progressive. They were told that the Opposition were not the friends of the workers-, but Mr. Dollafd, an Opposition member, was the first to bring up the question oi workers’ dwellings, and every member of the present Ministry voted against it- Again, it was Mr. Massey wlio ? wlicn flic Advances to Sottlois Bill was under discussion, proposed that it should bo extended to the workers. He (Mr. Clayton) certainly thought that tho advances to settlers and the Advances to Workers Department were very valuable to tho country, but lie had been told on pretty, good authority that, though £60,000 of loans had been granted last month in this district, there was no money immediately forthcoming. If no money were available, the Government should have been straight- 1 forward to people and not have put them to inconvenience by promising loans which they were unable to supply. One of the most notable instances of where the Opposition had done good was in saving the country from the disaster threatened by the Land Bill of 1906, a direct gravo attack on thee freehold. Mr. Clayton, amid applause, expressed his opinion that tlio freehold was in the best iivterests of the country, and proceeded to deal with the land question on the ■lines of liis I?atutalii speech. - He then gave the history of the small grazing runs in this district, and aroused applause by remarking that there was hardly a man in Poverty Bay would not say that a nasty taste hail been left in the mouth by the transaction in connection with these runs, and that there was a suspicion of political influence and favoritism about them. After dealing with two of the three grazing runs which had co-mo under notice, Mr. Clayton said t-liat they then came to the third tenant who, he said, was a man of considerable importance, and reputed to be of vast wealth, and of whom it was said that ho lia-d rendered pecuniary assistance to a very important personage. This gentleman was Mr. Frederick Hall, amKit was his grazing run that had been reported upon by the ranger as being suitable for sub-division. It was then that Mr. Hall went down to Wellington, but apparently not to see the .Minister for Lands, but the Native Minister. At this stage the Hon. Mr. McNab had made an unfortunate mistake, and, thinking that the run had been reported on as unsuitable lor sub--division, gave orders that it should be returned. The)-candidate eulogised the action of Mr. Lane, as a* member of the Land Board in. regard to these transactions Mr. Lane’s name evoked -a- round of applause, whereat Mr. Clayton said he was ghul that there was a spirit of British fair play in the audience which could applaud the name of :a man who had stood up for fair play, justice, and freedom of speech. In referring to the -Native land policy, which, he said, was better known in Poverty .Bay as the ‘“taihoa"’ policy, Mr. Clayton mentioned the iMara-etalia block. This block had been brought under the •jurisdiction of the Trust Board, and he claimed that it .was not right for such to-be the case, because the Board was only to realise on secuw-

ties over- which the Bank of New Zealand held mortgages, and the Bank held no mortgage over the Maraetaha block. This block bad been recommended for sale at from 30s to 35s per acre, but the Trust Board had seen fit to allow it to go for 16s 6d per acre, and, strangely enough, it had gone to the same gentleman who had been, fortunate enough to have his grazing run restored. This was four years ago, and as yet the Native owners had received nothing for their land, and it- remained to be seen what recompense would be granted to tho benfieiaries. Mr. -Clayton • remarked that ho feared that the Royal Commission, which had recommended sandhills country .for the purpose of being taken "over by tlio Government for ! disposal- to settlers was not very s-ym- ! pathetic wi th' t-lie progress of settlement in this county. The Goveruiincn, lie pointed out, .had excused the slowness with which native lands were being opened lor settlement by the difficulty of getting surveyors to survey the lands, but this difficulty was due, not- to the scarcity of surveyors, but to the absurd departmentai regulations. The surveyor had to get the application signed by tho owners, then go- to the Surveyor-Gen-eral, and there were so many delays in the Department that it might be delayed for even 12 months. Then, there was- no security for payment except a lien on the land, ami. all knew the trouble involved in taking a mortgage over Maori land. Finally, the rate of pay for the work was the same which had obtained 30 years ago under very different circumstances. Mr Clayton condemned the present system of special representation of the Maoris in Parliament, and said that while foreigners of all colors, white, black, and yellow, were naturalised and allowed ,to vote for the general representatives of the people in Parliament, that right was denied to a- race which dwelt among us and on whose land we lived. He dealt with the question of finance, condemning the expenditure of the Public IVorks Fund, the capital - account of the colony, on items which should have been paid for out of income, and the issuing of debentures m the . Dominion,' thus "taking money out of circulation. Another question of great interest to the Poverty Bay district was the votes for roads and bridges in the back blocks. For that work a sum °f £250,000 had been placed on the Estimates, hut the vote on 1 y existed on paper, and he (Mr. Clayton) was prepared to show the correctness of that statement, and to show that the grants for this and that work were never expended. The position was that the Hon. James McGowan, Minister for Roads and Bridges, could not expend £IOO,OOO of the vote last year because, in his own words, he could not find the labor, and he (the candidate) would like to know how lie was going to spend an additional £BO,OOO this year. Last year a sum of £20,000 had ■been placed on the Estimates for the Gisborne-Rotorua railway, hut only £9OOO of that sum had been spent on the work. This year £60,000 had been voted, and how much of that did they (the electors) think would be spent. But this year was election year, and consequently a fit- year, for New Zealand had two lean years and a fat year, the year when the elections took place. The Government had put 300 men at work on the railway line to •show how anxious they were to please the electors. But the district was not indebted to Mr. Carroll for the increased railway vote, but to Mr. Herries. Mr. Massey and Mr. A. L. D. Fraser, advocated the East Coast railway as a national work, and the 'Minister i'qr Native Affairs feebly joined in *the chorus when he woke up. (Loud applause.) They were often told that an Opposition member in Parliament was of no use because he could not get anything for liis district. Such a statement was not true. The vote for roads and bridges in the' Warn mi electorate was £19,000, and for the Bay of Plenty electorate, represented by Mr. -Herries, an Opposition member, the vote was £41,332 for roads o,lxl bridges, and yet- Gisborne was represented by a Government supporter and Cabinet Minister combined. Another evil in Government grants was the going about of the members of the Ministry with cheque hooks in their hands, to try and show the people how dependent they were for everything upon the Ministerial pleasure. The Education Board had time and again recommended that additions should he made- to the Maugapapa School, hut nothing was clone. -However, Mr. Fowlds paid a visit to the district and. at once the money was forthcoming. Tlio Minister for Education desired to show his Ministerial power. The Minister for Lands and Agriculture also camo to Gisborne early in tho year, and was surprised to find a town of such size and importance, and with such large commercial interests. Yet Mr. McNab had sat alongside his colleague, Mr. Carroll. On that visit Mr. McNab showed liis Ministerial influence by graciously granting a railway siding at Pulia. It took a- visit from Mr. McNab to get -tile siding, and Mr. Carroll was not heard in the matter. Referring to the controversial question of (Socialism-, Mr. Clayton said ho had a -great respect for many people who held socialistic views, but he found that the advocates of socialism were either people wild were idealistic or, on the other hand, to 0 ignorant to fathom the teachings of their creed. Ho was afraid that if socialism was allowed to obtain a strong h-old in New Zealand it would work incalculable harm, and he' believed it would never come to New Zealand or any part of the British Empire, for the greatest writers on the question agreed that under .socialism there would be no personal property or no family ties:, but a kind of barn-yard fowl existence. Still, tho members of ‘the Ministry had been coquetting with socialism. One Minister. was an advocate of land nationalisation, and the 'Prime Minister had declared, while in New York, that the Government of New Zealand was a socialistic one. Socialism desired to nationalise- the means of production, distribution, and .exchange, and while certain evils did exist in commerce, jh'e (tlie speaker) did l not believe that socialism was-a cure, but that it would work incalculable harm.

•Mr. Clayton said he coufd not: agree ifitli the provisions of the Arbitration Act, which inflicted terms of imprisonment on the striker, because; lie recognised that a man had a right to sell his ilnficr for tho best- price ■and under the best conditions he cbuld get, Yet while the Govern-

einnt professed to befriend tbe worker, an attempt was made to put a “gag” clause into the Act. Why did the Government want to gag free ■speech and to gag the press? Why was an .attempt made to take away .British liberty ? Such a suggestion, as a gag clause upon the worker was iniquitous. Had the Government anything to fear from the worker, and was the Ministry afraid to let the light ol : day upon their actions by allowing free speech? Why could pot the people say what was thought of the Government and the Jaws without fear or favor ? (Applause.) He agreed that the professional agitator should be suppressed. The protracted farm laborers’ dispute m the South Island was the work of the professional agitator, and it had been shown that the Wellington Trades and Labor Council was controlled 1 by half-a-dozen- paid secretaries. Whit was "wanted was less agitation and more conciliation and amity between master and employee, fewer labor disputes, and more industrial peace. There were people who thought high wages were a panacea for all evils, but it. was no use to earn high wages if the cost of living was proportionately increased. The wages problem, needed a searching inquiry, and he would like to see a It oval Commission appointed to consider the matter, because it was necessary to the worker that wages should be regulated to the cost of living. (Applause.) The idea of the Opposition was that relief to the worker could ho given by a reform of the-tariff, and that raw material and machinery for industries and the necessaries -of lifeshould- be admitted free. The Govornmont had placed a duty on mining machinery, cotton, workers’ tools, and packet tea. They ■wanted to take the duty off motor cars, and yet allowed silks and satins to como m free. Mr. Kerries, an Opposition member, protested against such taxation of the working man by the Government that claimed to be the working man’s friend. Such taxation reflected back on the natural increase of population, for the man with his nose to the grindstone would always try t<> avoid rearing a large family. _ Immigration was essential under such conditions, but immigration should be regulated so that the imported labor would be obsorbed by tbe natural industries of the coun•trv. The candidate then dealt frith the defence question, and the need for compulsory military training if New Zealand was to bo made immune from the danger of the Yellow peril. He considered it absolutely necessary that all young men under 21 years of age should be compelled to undergo a. course of military training so that in the event of the need arising they would be able to handle a rifle and take a part in the defence of their country.

The ‘Government -attempt to insert the “gag” clause in the Second Ballot Act was also referred to. Mr. Clayton advocated the appointment of a Civil Service Board. as a remedy for the evil of political patronage in appointments to the civil service. Appointments were now made by influence, and by establishing a Civil Service. Board, not only t’ne sons of Ministers and members of Parliament would he in the service of the country, but the service would contain officers who were, competent and efficient for their work. Ho fully approved of a scheme tor old age pensions, but thought the present system imperfect, as it left a stigma of charity in its administration. It was not to he forgotten tnat the old .people had served their country and played their part, and pensions should he given freely and without any show of charity. The only ■way to' remove the stigma was by a system of national annuities or national insurance. An illogical feature of the law was that if a pensioner got drunk ho lost his pension for six months, and was consequently fined to the amount of £l3, whereas the ordinary “"drunk” was only fined os. The man who served tlie pensioner with drink ~ should he. fined. (Applause.) Pensions, continued the speaker, should 'also be provided foi the prematurely aged. In conclusion, Mr. Clayton said the Opposition claimed the confidence of the country. The Opposition party was a truly Liberal party, and should bo judged by actions, for the members of the party did not go -around the country harping for votes and trading oil a name. If he was elected lie would act independently of party politics where the interests el the district and the country were concerned, and would not fear whom lie would vote against or whom lie would support. Tie was not standing as a representative of the worker, the sheep farmer, or the dairy farmer, but to represent every section of the community. He wanted to see puie laws and inflexible and just administration. If he was returned as the representative for Gisborne, he would come back in three years’ tune and bo able to say he had not ignored the interest of the poor or of the rich man, but had done Ins best—as far as lie was able—for all sections of the community. He wou.d not ask them to vote for linn, but to vote for straight principles, for the security of the freehold, and for honest administration. (Applause) On questions being invited, the following were luindeal up to the platform: —“Don you support no-licensc, and, if so, whv do you not advertise that you are a no-license candidate: —The candidate said that, he was very pleased tlie question had bee-, put. He thought it was improper and wrong for un\\ candidate to make political capital out of the question of no-jieenso, The matter was one that was altogether in the hands of tlie people, and lie thought tile licensing laws should be held to as they were at present. He was going to vote for no-license, which he thought would tend to,the cleaner administration of the town. (Applause.) He was not u. no-lieense candidate, and he was mot advocating it, hut he had his own private ideas and privileges. (Applause.) “Are you in favor of no-license for the whole Dominion, to be decided on a. bare-majority?” —dir. Clayton replied that the proposed change—was such a revolutionary one that lie could not say ho was entirely in favor of a hare majority veto. He thought that .a three-fifths majority was a little too high, and would like to see something fairer. At the same time some very emphatic expression of opinion on the question-was wanted-. “What do you think of the granting of a license to the Cosmopolitan Club .in opposition to the large maj-oi-ity iia favor of no-license, aiad the petition against it being granted \ do

you not think that Mr. Carroll was acting against the interests of his constitutents (whose interests he is in Parliament to protect) by voting in favor of the license-being granted ?” —Mr. Clayton expressed himself as being in accord with the inference contained in the question, and ( said that as far as he knew, the license had been improperly granted, especially as ’tlie electors had so pronouncedly expressed themselves in favor of no-license. “Why did not the Government go on with the Bill they brought forward providing that any ten persons could petition the Government to reserve any block of land suitable for settlement, if tlie price was agreed upon with the owner?”—The candidate said he thought the Bill was a desirable one. The -reason given for not going on with the Bill was that "money was very tight and that-the Bill might moan more loans. In answer to further questions, ■Mr. Clayton said that he was m favor of a post-audit provided that the regulations were compatible with the intention. He was an favor of the reform of the Upper House, and as the most effectual means of reform he would support a proposal for an elective Upper House. He understoodthat the Colonial Secretary had fud power to grant a charter, in defiance of any particular Minister of the Crown. His opinion of the Shearers Accommodation Bill .was that while some of its provisions were right, otnors were simply ridiculous, ami not desired bv the shearers themselves. The Government had recognised their folly in regard to tlie Bill and nail withdrawn it. He was in favor of Natives being placed on the same footing "as Kuropeans, pod would support a proposal to give them a vote on. thojiquor question. Mr. J. Blair moved a hearty vote of thanks to the candidate for his able address. Mr. T. Frazer seconded the motion, which was carried with acclamation, as also was a vote of thanks to the chairman, proposed by Mr. Clayton. BAY OF PLENTY SEAT. MR. GO AY’S CANDIDATURE. Air J. B. Cow. the Opposition candidate for Bay of Plenty, addresses the electors at Rakauroa this evening - at 8 o’clock. THE ASHBURTON SEAT. TIAIARU. Oct. 23. Mr. AA’. S. Maslin. Opposition candidate for Ashburton, opened bis campaign at Geraldine last evening, when lie addressed 200 electors, and was accorded a vote of thanks.

ISSUE OF WRITS. NOMINATIONS CLOSE ON NOA'EMBER 9. [Pbess Association.] DUNEDIN. Oct. 23. Tlie Prime Minister informed a “Times” representative to-night that nothing definite had been decided about the issue of the writs, but they would lie issued about the end of next week, or the beginning of the following w.eek. Nominations will close on November 9th.