MR LOCKE AT WAIROA.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3194, 23 September 1881, Page 2

MR LOCKE AT WAIROA.

(BY TELEGEAPH.) (PROM OTO OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Wairoa, September 23. Mr Locke addressed the electors ia the County Hall last night. Mr "Vf. F. Shaw occupied the chair, and about one hundred and fifty were present, including a number of counter settlers. \j> Mr Locke referred at great length to the early history of Wairoa, detailing the service, rendered by bim in connection with tbe Hau Hau troubles, and the acquisition of native land for the Government Three-fourths of the speech dealt with native matters. He approved of tbe county system as a whole, and announced himself an opponent of provincialism. That institution might have done well in the old days, but was not suited to the country now. He supported the property tax, as it touched t)Je large property owner like him_elf,*flwcli an income tax did not. He thought the Government Bhould simplify native land .subdivision, and that land courts.should be held every six months. The policy of the Government as embodied in tbe Crown and Native Lands Rating Bill had his approval, and hefwould like to Bee some lands laid aside as Commonage,

t _ mmm tt m mm^mmmmmmmmm^-mmmUmm mm -*-.--—--W» i>ni'» i ii l Unl i ii ii fend the road 9 made before tbe land wa9 put up to auction. He mentioned the Wairoa, Gisborne, Patere, and Waikaremoana roads as having a legitimate claim on the Government. If returned he could not advocate half a million being spent on the harbor, but he thought some easy means could be found of keeping the entrance open the greater part of the year. He referred to the public debt of £30,000,000, little or none of which had been spent in Wairoa. He thought the county system combined with road boards would form a good basis for local government. The counties should be allowed to unite to erect any public works lying in two different districts. In that way the Wairoa and Gisborne road should be constructed. While in the Cook County he exerted himself to get funds for tbis road by continual applications, and got it, but since he left the Council the monies voted by the House bad been allowed to lapse. In concluding he said he was known as a " sticker," and if returned be would be a " sticker" for them. Replying to questions, Mr Locke sa id he could not say if he would support Mr Ormond's local government proposals, as no one knew what they were, nor could he coincide with Mr Sutton. He believed Waste Lands Boards ehould be elected by the ratepayers. Tbe Ministry's local government proposals had no permanency, but would do a tide over difficulties. He was in favor of taxing tbe income of absentees, but not tbe public debentures. Mr Aislab.p asked a number of questions, to some of which no satisfactory answer was given, the chairman answering one for Mr Locke. A vote of confidence was proposed by Mr T. Powdrell, and seconded by Mr J. H. Brown, a recent arrival in the district. An amendment was proposed by Mr Witty, and seconded by Mr G. B. Flint, for a vote of thanks only. A long discussion ensued as to the expediency of passing the vote of confidence at such an early date. The motion was declared carried on a ■bow of hands by a narrow majority. The general feeling is that the electors made a great mistake in pledging so early.