POST-SESSIONAL UTTERANCES.

Evening Star, Issue 3991, 9 December 1875, Page 2

POST-SESSIONAL UTTERANCES.

TEE MINISTER OF PUBLIC WOLKS AT OH KISTOHTJRO H.

The Hon. E, Richardson addressed the electors of Christchurch last night, tie only I'poke for about an hour. There was a largo attendance. He briefly reviewed the events of last session. Ho denied that the Abolition Bill was prepared at the last moment, and said it was in print before the Assembly met. The Local Government Bill was only intended as a tentative measure to pave the way for a more comprehensive Act next session. The main feature of the future policy was to maintain the unity of the Colony. If the Colony was divided into two or four Provinces there would be mere ill feeling and grounds of complaint among out districts than with the Provinces as now. The Local Government Bill now in preparation provides for dividing the whole Colony into shires, composed as far as possible of the present road boards. These road boards will get their pound for pound on rates from the consolidated fund. The municipalities will be endowed, and the shire councils will got the balance of laud fund to allocate among the road boards, and will also have the pow*r of rating for particular works, such as bridges, reclamation works, Ac. Measures are also in preparation for generalising the laws of the Colony on scab, impounding, &o. The Government propose to go on steadily with public works, and they saw no fear of money not being forth, coming. The railways in < )tago and Canterbury were paying well, and, with one exception, the railways in the North Island will pay two or three per cent, over their working expenses. His opinion in regard to ihe runs was that they should be fairly assessed and offered In the first place to the present holders. It must be the duty of the Government to provide liberally for education, which, however, should be purely secular. His opinion, judging from his own department, was that, by the consolidation of offices throughout the Colony, the i i. J...1 J _ 1 M

iTovermuent would save large sums of xooney. He strougly denied the statement of Mr Rolleaton, made the previous evening, that the members of the Government were not in accord. No doubt there was an appearance of disagreement on the immigration question, but tins was duo to the altered circumstances of the Colony as compared with the time when Sir Julius Vogel left for England. In reply to questions, he said he was quite convinced the revenue of the Colony was quite able to bear the proposed expenditure on education. Ho was not in favor of an income tax. but was in favor of a general property t ix. He defended the sale of the Piako Swamp, and pointed out that plenty of land in the vicinity had been sold by private parties at ss, and even at Is 6d per acre. He was not in favor of triennial Parliaments. There was not the slightest intention to take any of the Canterbury land fund for the rest of the Colony. When any change was made in the incidence of taxation, he thought it would be iu the direction of the necessaries of Lfe, A vote of confidence in Mr Richardson was passed at conclusion of his speech.

Messrs May and Bucklaud have addressed the Franklyn constituency. Their addresses were chiefly confined to a review of the business of last session and a defence of their action on the Abolition and Representation Bills. Mr Buckland said he would again offer himself, and received a vote of thanks.