MEMBERS OUT OF PARLIAMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 3659, 13 November 1874, Page 3

MEMBERS OUT OF PARLIAMENT.

MR STEWARD AT OAMARU. [By Telegraph,] November 13. Mr Steward addressed a meeting of the electors of the Wailaki district at the Volunteer Hall last night Two hundred and fifty persons were present. He spoke far two hours, and was listened to throughout with great attention. He reviewed the-legislation i of the s-sfirm and the pro] o -rda for nniveisa! i suffrage wildi 'esiderce qu.’.lific tion and re- 1 gistration He s- id a measure to <ff ct this would have 1 is sup; ort, but residence for at least a year in the CMlr-ny prior to rogidration shou’-d t e r-.quirtd. He b lii-ved tire scheme for ttho development of the Pacific Islands trade would begagain heard, of, and there was a gnat future for kcw Zealand if she made the most of the advantages of her geographical podtion for the development of this trade. He was in favor of an elective Hi per House responsible to the people, but the change would never be effected till the constituonces were in earnest and brought strong pres-ure to hoar. i?e tie Premier’s resolutions he said the members of the Assembly, with the exception of a few connected with Provincial institutions, were convinced that the abolition of Provincialism in the Koith Island was necessary to the progress of the Colony. Ho believed if satisfactory machinery of local government wire sub tLuted, the time weird soon an ivo when Canterbury and I (Taco would a k for its extension to the Middle Is'aud. Nelson. Marlborough, and V- cstland were already sipe for the 'change. The seat of government question should be considered as disposed of and Wellington recognised as the permanent political capital. The Government did not propose to interfere with the land fund of the Middle Island, and he was bound as an Otago member to re-is , any such interference, iStiil he veal arc dth „> opinion that were the whole landed rev mr of the Cob ny thrown into one common fund, and, after deducting the Colonial charges, divided pro rata, according to the j opulat on, the Middle Island constitute cies would, in the long run, benefit, as with the dying out of Native opposit : on to the opening of roads and railways in the North Island an enormous area of valuable laud would come into the market, A resolution of thanks and entire confidence in Mr Steward was un nimous'y passed; as also the following resolution : “That this meeting is of opinion that the time has arrived for the aboHti-m of Provincialism in the North Island, and the substitution theremr of a less costly sv stem of Government, securing the expenditure of the local revenue (after deduction Colonial charges) in the districts in wh'ch it i. raised ; and fnrther of opinion that the abolition of the Provinces and substitution of local government with local expenditure of local revenue s-hould be extended to the Middle Island as soon as practicable.”