Mr Donald Fraser at Palmerston

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 12, 8 July 1884, Page 2

Mr Donald Fraser at Palmerston

♦ Mr Donald Fraser addressed the electors last evening in the Town Hall, Palmerston, when there was a good attendance. Mr Sly was voted to the chair. The Chairman opened the proceedings by saying he had a pleasant duty to perform in introducing Mr Fraser to them that evening, and hoped they would give him a patient hearing. Mr Fraser then came forward, and was greeted with acclamation. He said he had not expected to be asked to stand, and was quite taken aback when he received the requisition, I)ut, being called upon, he thought it his duty, as a colonist, to respond to it. He noticed that the petition that had been given to a candidate pledged many men to do tlieir utmost to get that candidate into the House. Now this was not fair, and they should not make up their minds tiU they had heard all the candidates speak. He hadn't a single word to say against the other candidates. He had known Mr Macarthur some time and had always been good friends with, him and he hoped always would be. He had also known* Mr Burr some time. He hoped they would choose the hest man to go to Parliament (Voice— Get on with your policy). During the last 23 or 24 years he had been mixed up with local bodies, such as Road Boards. All settlers wanted roads, and all wanted them at the same time. This could not be done. He thought the Roads and Bridges Construction Act was a good measure, but thought it could be amended. He thought the main roads had an unfair advantage over other roads, as they could get money by only paying a J of it to Government, whilst other roads had to' pay it all back. He thought some scheme might be provided tj enable local bodies to capitalize their rates, so that the money could be spent at once and settlers have their roads. The Government could lend the bodies the money and the security would be quite good enough. The Impounding Act might seem a very small matter, but it was very important to some mien. Often the settlers were at a loss through their stock being impounded and sold, and the owners knowing nothing about it. He thought a gazette should be published every week, showing what beasts had been pounded, and circulated in all schools so that children could teU their parents if their stock were in the pound. Local Option— He was in favor of men being compensated when a license was taken away without notice^ Education — He favored secular free education, and would reduce expense by only teaching up to the 4th standard. If denominationalism could be a brought in without de>troying the present system of education, or without extra expense to Government, he would support it. Railways — He did not believe in selling the railways, as if any pronts were to be made the people should make them. He did not believe in a non-political board of management, as this was as good aa saying our Government was incapable and inefficient, and they should be replaced. We could not ask English capitalists tor more loans if we parted with the management of our railways. Land — He believed in Government assuming pre-emptive right, but not the exclusive right. Let the native lands be brought under the names of individual owners, so that then they could either sell them or pay taxes the same as anyone else. He believed in cheap land, but would not favor the reducing of prices, as this would lower the value of other lands that had been already bought and improved. He believed the best way was to let the terms be as easy as possible, and as long a time be allowed to settlers to pay for it in. Taxation — He favored the property tax. Land tax was a class tax. Immigration — He favored none but nominated immigration. Native Matters — He would give native owners opportunities as above stated to individualize their land and so to liold it or sell it. Volunteers — He had been a volunteer for many years (Voice Attention !) and thought the object & good one. He like to see young mencarry it on, and would support an increase in the capitation grant from Government. Honorarium— He thought £100 was enough to pay members:, aiid, would abolish the honorarium from the Upper House altogether, and might even favor the abolishment of the Upper House too, but was not prepared to say decidedly. Policy His policy would be striot economy, and further borrowing for productive works. A great many questions were put to the candidate, and replied to, after which Mr Ferguson moved a voteof confidence in Mr Fraser as a fit and proper man to represent them in the* House of Representatives. : Mr Batchelor seconded it. Mr Snelson moved as an amendment a vote of thanks but not of confidence. Mr Jessop seconded the amendments The amendment was then put, sbix-IT 26 voting for it. The motion was theri-

put and carried hy^a very large majority, a^dstcheeriag waving of lianas, .The Chairman declared the motion earned, and three cheers for Mr Fraser i and vote of thanks to the Chairman , ended the proceedings.