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Tiie Elections.
ME. RICKS SPEAKS AT
EINGEELY.
On Thursday night of last week,
Mr. G. II. Ricks, The local candi
date, spoke in support of his candi
dature in the local Mechanics" Hall,
before a fair number of electors.
Mr. E. C. Monger occupied the
chair, briefly introducing the spea
ker, whom, lie said, was well known
to most of them. u
Mr. Ricks, in opening, said he
was a man who believed in a pro
gressive polic3T, and one that would
help those who- were making the
State a credit to themselves, the
yeomen. He submitted a tabu
lated set of figures to justify his
policy of progression, and gave a
statistical idstor3T of the State's
increase in agriculture and pastoral
development', and gold yield during
the years between 1897 and 1907,
and on these he based his conten
tion that one of the brightest futures
awaited West Australia. He was
a strong S3'n;pathiser with the
Moore Government, as die consid
ered their actions in the agricul
tural districts justified his support,
and the support of the people as a
whole. He was with any measure
that would benefit the farming com
munity in particular and the sett
lers generally and regretted the
cry of many that the State was in
a had wav. He felt sanguine as
regards the future nrosperit\\ He
dealt at length with various ques
tions, and in regard to
Land SkTTLK.WLNT.
He quoted the progress in this
direction duripg the last ten years,
and pointed, out that that in 1897
the area under crop was only
171,777 acres, ■ but was now over
460.285 acres ■ during that time the
wheat vield had increased from
820,909 bushels to 2,758,567 bushels
in 1907, and the estimated 3'ieldfor
1908 was 2,933,340. They ex
ported last 3Tear'wheat to the value
of £960,675, which figures, he con
sidered, spoke for themselves, and
showed that his faith in the country
was not misplaced. As regards
the
Railways
He opined that the continue
progress and development of th
State warranted expenditure by th
Government in cheap light rail
ways, and it would be his duty t
urge them to construct ma 113' tha
were necessary.
Main- Roads.
He was a firm supporter of an
believer in the making of mai
roads as feeders to railways an
did not believe in cutting down th
grants for such, but rather favorei
an increase in this direction.
Agricultural Bank.
Mr. Ricks strongly favored th
liberalisation of the Agricultura
Bank Act, even so far that farmer;
could buy for cash, machinery
build houses, purchase seed wheat
stock, manures, and other necijssi
ties for a beginner on the land.
Taxation.
In- reference to taxation, Mi
Ricks would, support the pres
ent Land and Income Tax of th
M oore Ministry as a liecessary re
venue raising measure. He was as
eilred there was no intention on th
part of the Government to furthe
tax the people, therefore when th
above Tax came before the Hous
again he would favor it as a
urgent means of rinsing muc
needed mone3r.
Education.
He believed in education fo
country child/en to th.e fullest ex
tent, and would urge a scheme i
neeessaiy to provide a traveling
tutor as a means of teaching th
3'ounger generation whowere.no
within a reasonable distance 0
schools.
In conclusion Mr. Ricks said li
wopld consider it bis bounden dat
to purport an3T measure of beueti
locaihq and any request that cam
forward, in the event of his cdectiori
would receive the fairest and fulles
consideration. His politics were a
the broadest and most comprehen
sive kind, and he would ahvn\Ts ad
vocate the provision of necessar;
railway, road, bridge, and other rc
quirenieius of the settlers, even i
the Government had to furthe
borrow to carry out these works, a
he honestly believed the returns it
th.e near future would guarantc
the expenditure at the presen
time.
A number of questions were askei
the candidate, who replied to th
queries of his questioners in :
straightforward manner, and to th
evident satisfaction of all.
A hearty vote of thanks to th
speaker, and to the Chairmai
closed the proceedings.
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