Mr Bryce at Hamilton

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 101, 18 February 1890, Page 3

Mr Bryce at Hamilton

Auckland, February 16. Mr Bryce addressed the electors of Waipa, at its chief town Hamilton, on Saturday last. He referred to re • trenchment as necessary— not the mere cheeseparing of salaries., whicb. he deprecated, but the wl pleatde giving up of luxuries, and the con.tiuuauce of railway works, ' &o, out of loan. He was opposed to yielding to tbe demnnds of tho Roman Catholics for an al eratio i in the education system, to whi-ii as a State institution, must be seouiar Besides, if the wish of one denomination was yielded, tbey could not logically refuse it to other dehoniina-. tions. With respect to the railway administration, he contended that it was an understood thing when the loans were raised fpr their construct ion that they were to be managed in the interests of colonisation and settle raent. In this the Government had brokeu faith with the people. Federation, he believed, to be an excellent thing for Australia, but he doubted whether New Zealand would be a gainer by joining the movement. One of its chief objects was a common de* fence, but they could not expect Australia to send men and ships to defend New Zealand when attacked, as the enemy by a diversion, might turn upon Australia whilst its troops were away in New Zealand. As to doing away with the obnoxious border duties in Australia, the federating of those colonies would be a benefit, but he saw many obstacles to prevent its adoption in the immediate future, especially in the settlement of loans of the present and the future. With respect to the Property Tax, there were two sides from which to look at it. Why should not those who enjoyed the tons of accumulated labour in the shape of property pay specially for its protection, but if they wished to get rid of the tax it must either be through retrenchment, or that they should send men to parliament pledged to abolish it. The latter course was a bad one, and would not advance the object Mr Bryce was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence by acclamation.