MR PYKE AT ALEXANDRA.

Dunstan Times, Issue 907, 5 September 1879, Page 2

MR PYKE AT ALEXANDRA.

On Saturday evi inn g last Mr Pyke met the electors in Ihe Town Hall A large number were present, and Mr James Rivers Mayor, oceup'ed the Chair,

Tlie Chairman exp’ained the object of tlie me ‘ting, and cl aimed for Mr Pyke a patient hearing.

Mr Pyke. who was suffering from a very severe bronchial affection claimed the in•lniireiicc of the meeting for any shortcomings in liis address. an I explained that having called' the meeting he had attended so as not to cause any disappointment, but, in fact, he felt that ho was quite unfit to do that justice, either to his hearers, or himself, that lie would have liked. He then explained the causes of the dissolution of Parliament, and the coming election. He then took smatim the Bids and Measures that would, in all likelihood, claim the attention of the coming Parliament. The Chinese Immigration Bill ho explained, proposed that every ship arriving in any port in New Zealand having a greater number of Chinese passengers slum in the proportion of o ic to eve.rv ten tons, the Master shall l>e liable to a penalty not exceeding LlO for every passenger so carried in excess ; that, ho said did not go far enough, and ne would support that every Chinese in living iu the

Colony should be taxed LlO. The Bill to make provision for the representation of the people in the General Assembly he sail’ c mtained a clause limiting each Parliamerit to three years ; he explained that hitherto he had voted against triennial Parliaments, but experience had shewn him that it was the correct term, anil he would strongly support it, the Bill, however vested in the hands of a board of nominees the power of fixing the number ot representatives ; this he would not agree to, as that was a part of the duty of the House ; it also dealt with the question of representation hy population, which he condemned as unjust. He briefly referred to the Charitable Institutions’ Bill. He would support the Bill giving power to Counties to borrow—the Government were, however opposed to it ; in fact, they were ever en- ~ deavoring to eripp’e the Counties, with the W view of abolishing them and returning again to Provincialism. By the large works being carried nut by the (’outnies was evidense of their usefulness—he believed the Counties would be enlarged, their usefulness would he accordingly increased. He did not approve of the Land Bill before the House ; he had a Land Bill of his owi) which would do away with enforced red - dence, reduce the price of land making the 30s per acre the maximum price instead of the minimum as proposed in the Government measure, and do away with the Waste Lands Board, and replace them by a responsible officer. He then referred to the land taken up on Moutere and Earnscleugh runs, and said though they were surveyed and plans made, yet there was no 'elling when it 'would be thrown open—of the 23,000 acres on Moutere agreed to be thrown open, there was only 5000 in the market, tire rest being in the hands of the runholdcr till after shearing. All this was through the maladministration of the Waste Lands

B >ord—a more mischievous b dy it was not possible to conceive. For years he had devoted himself to the opening of ihe lan Is, and he did not despair of yet succeeding. The settlement of the people on the lands, and the opening of the country by railways were his hobbies, and when he had accom plished these, lie would then be content to retire from public life, as he should have the satisfaction of not having lived in vain. He then gave a history of the Waikato Thames Railway affair, he said he declined to utter one word dis eapcctful of Sir George Grey whatever he may think of him in the position ot Premier, as he had a great respect for him as a L’onHeman. There were things, however, with which he was connected the people should he made acquainted with, an 1 this railway business was one. Mr Macamlnw had been greatly blamed in the matter, hut hj ■( Mr Pyke) did

j not think that hi; had noted wilfupy wrong, ■ but thought he had lieen mystified Tne ■ fact was, the work lining done was merely to 1 reclaim the foreshore between the Boroughs | of Thames and Grahanistown who hold it |as an endowment. Another point, and i uhich it behoves the p ople to keep a 1 jealous watch over, is the disprop irtion of j the members of the ministry of the two islands, it comes to this that each island j must be fairly represented, not alone by men, nut by intellect, otherwise it will re- ; suit in separation—not insular or fi .ancial, j but separation pure and simple of the two islands regarding the Local Opdon Bill, he did not believe in, in its present form, as he thought the rights of individuals should not be in the power of the public. In reply to questions liy Mr Lveisen. Mr M'Ginnis, and dr Coleman, Mr Tyke said, —An Act is already in exiate> ce authorising tbc construction of a railway into the interior. The 1 iw of the land is, ‘‘Waste Lauds Act, 1577 ” that as the pastoral leases fall in, they have to he surveyed into sin ill blocks and sold or let, and am in favor of that law being carried out. Will not oppose Sir George Grey if be surrouu s himself with good liberal men., and voted against the Government to comnel their reorganisation. ii ill not oppose measures, but will men. Do not anticipate that the next Parliament will last longer than 13 mouths ; in fact, it cannot, as when once the liberal measures, or what Is termed the Reform Bill is passed, there must he a dissolution. So long as the Gold Duty i» spmt by the Counties in public works, shad advocate its conti man’e—the question is a vexed one, and resolves itself into whether gold or mining property should he taxed, and thought the very best way to ascertain the min is of the entire mining population, would be by a plebiscite. B.dieve in free selection before survey. The Land Tax is not a class tax, but for purposes of revenue, and wi 1 vote for an extension of the Tax. Will en leaver to get the homestead clause of the Mines Act so amended as to make it perspective. What I mean is this-the Act at present allows any one who had land in occupation on the goldfields at the passing of the Act to now apply to purchase or lease it. I will endeavour to get it amended so that a man at any time can take up laud aud either purchase or lease it. Other questions being answered, Mr M'Ginnis said, though not quite agreeing with Mr Tyke, he yet thought him the best possible member that could be got either for the country or his representatives. Ho had pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Pyke for his address. and a vote of confilence in him as the member for the Dunstan District. Mr W. Tiif.vkiis seconded the motion. Mr Cor. km. \.v said he had great pleasure in supporting the motion, and agreed wilh [ the remarks of the proposer. | The motion was then put and carried ! unanimously.

Mr Pykf, in acknowledging the vote said he was fully aware that, owing to his illness, ho had neither dme justice to the m eling nor to himself, hut. ih it Alexandra wou'd lie the first place ho would hold a rnee.ine < n his ic un from Wepington. lie would propose a vole of thanks to the ch dr. The meeting then broke up.