POST-SESSIONAL UTTERANCES.

Evening Star, Issue 3987, 4 December 1875, Page 2

POST-SESSIONAL UTTERANCES.

MR STEWARD AT OAMARU. [By Telegraph.] {From our Special Correspondent.) Mr Steward, M.H.R. forWaitaki, addressed a meeting of the electors at the Volunteer Hall last night. The Mayor was in the chair, and over 300 persons were present. He spoke very nearly two hours, and was listened to throughout v ith great attention, JTo commenced by reviewing the legislation of the session, explaining the bearing of those measures which are of general interest, and those specially affecting the Waitaki distiict. He had been a supporter throughout the Parliament of the Public Works and Immigration scheme ; and though no doubt there- had been faults of administration, they had not been greater, perhaps not so great as might have been anticipated. The small cost of their railways, LG 000 psr mile, would enable the earnings above working expenses to meet, at no distant date, the whole interest and sinking fund, and eventually to become a source of nett revenue. On the whole immigration had been satisfactory, and acted so more especially lately now the scheme was in thorough working order, and though com- ! plaints had been made of the quality of the immigrants, the facts showed that of the G3,000 bionglit in, but a very small—a fractional—percentage of crime bad appeared. After detailing the history of the Abolition Bill, he stated that the abolition of Provincialism was an accomplished fact, and must be taken as the starting point for future legislation, IS otwithstanding what, had been said to the contrary, the Act eerured their own land funi to the Provincial districts, the intention of the Act being perfectly clear ou this paint. He advocated central legislation and local administration. He opposed insular separation, and could see no necessity whatever for a Provincial Parliament for each island. One lawmaking body was quite sufficient for the whole Colony. The central legislature would have the appropriation of so much of the general revenue as was required for Colonial service and departments, and the balance would be pi id over in subsidies to the local governing bodies. The Act proposed a subsidy of LI for LI on local rates of Municipalities, Load Boards, and other governing bodies, which, except ns regarded muuic palitk s, would also receive LI for LI out of the land fund. For the administration of the balance of the land fund in the construction of trunk roads and other public works, there sh uld he boards of works, which might be elected by the yaiiors Road Boards. Taking Otago for instance, there should bo at least such Boards say one each for the Southern districts, one tor the Central, and one for the Northern. With such an organisation there would be no necessity whatever fur tnperintendents or Provincial Boards. Insular separation was, in his opinion, impracticable; and, even though practicable, inadvisable. He advocated reform in the incidence of taxation, ami was in favor of a land tax, which should not let unimproved lands escape. He was also strongly of opinion that a change should be made in the constitution of the Upper House Hu would like to see it pmtialiy elective on some such plan as follows:—Let the number of members be fixed say at forty, half to be nominated life members for twenty electoral diis

tncts into which the Colony should be divided I f uch a change were brought into operation once, any excess of the present nominated members over twenty to bo balloted out, and the elections held at once for the twenty ele - toral seats, Elective members to go to the country with the members of lower House. In questions he stated he had voted foi the San Fracisco contract because ho considered the honor of the Colony pledged, but he disapproved of Sir J. Vogel exceeding the authority of i arliament as regards the IT,OOO drawn by him in excess of salary and allowances, he considered that he should have fully exp.ained to his colleague what the money was required for; but he believed that on Sir J. Vogel s return he would be able to account satisfactorily for the expenditure. At any rate he would not be a party to condemning an absent man. After a number of other questions had been put and answered, the following resolution was unanimously carried : —“That this meeting highly approves of the action of Mr Steward in supporting the measure brought forward by the Ministry for u 6 of Provincial Governments throughout the Colony, and desires to acknow ledge its appreciation of the valuable services I rendered by him during the past five years as • member of Parliament for the Waitaki district, ■ and that Ihe thanks of this meeting lie accorded to Mr Steward for his address.” A vote of : thanks to the chair, proposed by Mr Steward, : terminated the proceedings.