MR PURNELL AT GREENSTREET.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1653, 3 September 1887, Page 2

MR PURNELL AT GREENSTREET.

Mr Parnell addressed the Ashburton electors at Greenatreet yesterday evening. About 80 persons were present, including several ladlen. Mr R. Anderson was voted to the chair. Me Purnell, who was received with applause spoke on the main topics dealt with m his Ashburton address, Referring to the Village Settlement scheme, he thought an improvement npoti the perpetual leasehold system would be to lee the settler, pay, byway of rental, 5 per cent interest upon the upset price of the land, with the option of buying the freehold at the upset prloe at any time. By this means he would get the full benefit of all improvements he might make upon the land, whereas, under the present system, the more improvements he made, the higher rental he would pay when the land came to be revalued. In reply to questions, Mr Purnell said he positively refused to bind himself to follow any particular party leader. He came forward as the advooate of certain financial principles which he believed were absolutely necessary to be put into practice If our finances were to be plaoed upon a sound footing, and he would support any Ministry which would give effect to those principles — Until the eleotlon was over, it was impossible to say who was likely to be the head of the next. Ministry, but he confidently looked forward to the return of a large number of new men and he trusted a strong party would be formed m the House which would be powerful enough to compel the next Ministry to retrench the public expenditure m a thorough and systematic manner and to reconstruct the entire Government of the oountry upon a simple and oheaper basis. He asked the. electors to return him as an Independent member, so that he might be free to uae his best endeavors to oarry into effect the principles which he had been advocating m his addresses, Mr Knox moved, and Mr Greely seconded, a vote of -thanks to Mr Purnell for his address. Mr A. Pataraon moved, as an amendment, ' a rote of no confidence In Mr Poraell " but as nobody seemed disposed to second the amendment, be appealed to an elector Kitting near him to do so, bu t received fit an answer "If Mr Purnell had as little brains as you, I would second it with pleasure." The amendment having lapsed, the motion was put and carried unanimously. The proceedings terminated with the usual compliment to the ohalr.