Mr J. G. Wilson at Campbelltown.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 267, 15 May 1895, Page 2

Mr J. G. Wilson at Campbelltown.

Mr J. G. Wilson, M.H.R., addressed a * meeting of his constituents at Campbelltown last evening in the Temperance Hall. Mr Davis was voted to the chair. Mr Wilson referred to the Government going in for extensive borrowing after they had disclaimed any intention of doing bo. He thought the Government had acted in the best interests of the colony with reference to the Bank of New Zealand guarantee, but thought they should have taken more time to go into the affairs of the bank. The Advances to Settlers Act was a good measure in theory, and would relieve small landholders who were only able to borrow small sums. He thought the Government Bhould not have borrowed so extensively for this purpose, and was prepared to try ifc up to half a million. The Land Improvement and Native Land Purchase Bill waß a good measure, and he would support any land policy having for its object the settlement of the land. At the conclusion ot his address he replied to several questions which were put to him by Messrs W. Anderson, V. C, Ransom, W. Blakely, and S. Knight, and the text of his replies were as follows : He thought power should be given local bodies to either tax the improved or unimproved value of the land as they preferred. In regard to Education Board districts he was in favor of forming divisions for the purpose of electing members. He considered the Tariff Commission was useless. He, himself, was a Freetrader, and was only in favor of taxation for revenue purposes and not for Protection. The route for the Central Eaihvay had not yet been decided, and there was little prospect at present of it passing through the Waimarino country. lie could not say whether the Government intended enforcing the residential clauses in respect of the Waimarino blocks in the j event of the railway not being constructed. He was of opinion the Government policy had very little to do with the I present depression. He was in favor of local option so as to allow people of a community to decide whether they would have a licensed house in their midst. He was in favor of the Government purchasing the Wellington- Manawatu railway. He was in favor of the Referendum and had voted for tbe Bill. He was nofc in favor of an elective Upper House. Any reasonable scheme for old age pensions would receive his favorable consideration. He did not think members of the Lending Board had been influenced by party consideration with reference to loans ; nor did he think any political influence shonld be brought to be&r on the Board. He was not in favor of the provisions of the Advances to Settlers Act being extended to enable advances to be made on produce. He had not voted on the Bank of New Zealand Guarantee Bdl as no evidence had been adduced to show that it was necessary. A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Wilson at the conclusion of his address.