THE NELSON SUBURBS ELECTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 358, 31 May 1881, Page 2

THE NELSON SUBURBS ELECTION.

: Mr Levestam's Address. Mr Richmond in Explanation. (by telegraph.) Nelson, To-day. Mrj Levestam addressed a crowded ‘meeting of electors last night. He said the class to -which he belonged would never be properly represented till it returned men from the masses. He claimed for their children, as a right, a liberal and secular education ; but he said the adminatration of the education system was too extravagant. On the land question, he thought it would bo better to give the land away, in order to make it productive. , He opposed the property tax, and beer tax, advocating an income and land tax, on a sliding scale, with ad valorem duties. He advocated a slight rather than bonuses, and would support a capitation grant. He thought modified . Provincial Councils, without power oflegislation, would give better local government. He applauded Sir George Grey’* 7 Liberal measures, but censured him for, certain actions, and said the preaent Igo ■ vernment were not Liberal. They did not deserve credit for economy, and he charged them with dishonesty regarding the District Railways Bill. He was opposed to Re-distribution of .Seats on a population basis. He would support all measures he believed to be good,;but lacked confidence in the leaders on either aide. The candidate received an unanimous vote of thanks, with an addition, expressing confidence in him as a fit and proper person to represent the constituency. Mr. J. 0. Richmond, in the morning paper, said he did not roundly declare himself a Socialist, but in common with the great Liberal party, of which ho was ’ one, he sympathised with the aims of Socialists, which 'he understood to be to secure to the working man a fair share of the fruits of his labor, and mitigate, as for as possible, inequalities of lot. I