Rangitikei Election

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 49, 11 October 1890, Page 2

Rangitikei Election

MR ARK WRIGHT AT BUNNY. THORPE. Mr Arkwright addressed a well-attended meeting at the State School on Thursday last, a fair attendance of ladies being present. Mr P. Scheldt was in the chair. Mr. Arkwright's address .was . similar in substance to his address, at Bulls, a summary of which we have already, published. Referring to the elections he expressed regret that they had been postponed till December. He denied any intention of attacking the State system of education or of assisting denominational education, but held that if. any number of persons erected a school in a large ,town there could be no objection to paying them capitation. He was not in favor of supporting Roman Catholic scuools, or any other denomination in particular. Speaking of retrenchment, Mr Arkwright said there were more luxuries in Parliament House at Wellington than there were in the English House of Commons, and a great saving mi gat be effected in this respect; for instance, rooms for card playing, and a library prammed with novels, not like the House of Commons library which had no novels in it, and then Bellamy's, which shows a deficiency of i'2ooo, aud this the public would have to pay. Again, the railway traffic was suspended one day a week, but. the members could not wait one day, they must have a special to carry them home. Mr Arkwright expressed his willingness- to answer any questions. ■ Mr Dixon : Are you in favor of extending the franchise to. women ? Mr Arkwright : No ; . I am too old fashioned to believe in that (laughter). Mr Dixon : Are you in favor of compensation to publicans for loss of license ? Mr Arkwright : I am not in favor of that. I like the present licensing laws. I do not wish to see a lot of vested interests spring up here as at Home. Mr Matheson : Would you be in favor of taxing unimproved land as well as improved land ? Mr Arkwright : Yes, I would. Mr Bastin : Are you in favor of taxing absentees ? Mr Arkwright : lam not quite in favor of doing this, as some of these have invested their capital for the benefit of their sons, and having invested their money have a right to receive interest, but there are some here who are worse than the absentees at Home; those who keep buying land without improving it. All who don't improve their land, whether absentees at Home or persons living here, I would tax ; but a special tax on absentees would tend to frighten people from investing. Mr Bastin: I would like to point out that the largest quantity of land is held by absentees. Mr Bastin proposed a vote of confidence in Mr Arkwright. An amendment of a vote of thanks only, proposed by Mr Masters and seconded by Mr Dixon, was carried. Mr Arkwright returned thanks, and a vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.