THE ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 455, 29 November 1875, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS.

MR WASON AT MOUNT SOMERS. Notwithstanding the heavy downpour of a back country nor'-wester, and consequent flooded state of the rivers, a much larger body of electors than could under the circumstances have been expected in such a scattered neighbourhood, gathered at Hood's accommodation house on the 23rd instant, to hear Mr Wason express his views on the various political questions of the day. Mr Wason stated that he had been requested by Mr Jebson to apologise for his non-appearance on account of the weather. Mr D. Cameron (of Gould and Cameron), having been voted to the chair, in a few words introduced the candidate, who was well received, and the substance of whose speech was similar to those delivered at Rakaia and Ashburton, and which have already been reported at length. Mr Wason advocated a central form of Government. Mr Rolleston, he said, had stated that centralism would create ninety-nine Provincial Councils in the place of nine already existing. He (Mr Wason) considered this a powerful argument in favor of central Government, which by means of the local bodies would mors thoroughly place the power of Government in the haids of the people, instead of the Provioc'al Council. There were grave fauUs in the Government Bill which proposed t> give only £1 for each £ raised by rates. He would have the land fund localised, and a per centage given to each district. He would strongly oppose separation of the North and South Islands; it would be to the general credit of the colony. He thought that eventually the North Island would carry a larger population, and pay more customs' duties than the South. He saw no 'aiier way of dealing with the runs than by patting them up to auction and lelting them to the highest bidder, which might be done eighteen raontha or two years to the expiration of the lease would allow of arrangements being made with the incoming

tenant. He would advocate State. secular, and compulsory education. He would do away with the present system of levying school rates in a three-mile radius, and would give the Government power to cempel the education of every child up to a certain useful standard, and let, those who required higher education pay for it, themselves. He would advocate a property and income tax, that all should pay according to their means. He would not specially tax agricultural improvements ; but a land tax, as proposed by Mr Saunders, he considered unfair, and would exempt a great deal of capital from a just share of tax ition. He inclined to favor a nominated Upper House, and approved of the immigration scheme, one effect of which had been to raise wages from 15s to 30s per week, and the country had prospered under it. In answer to electors, he would support the construction of a railway direct from Alford Forest to Ashburton, in preference to any other route. He considered the present household qualification quite low enough ; it would be injudicious, by creating a manhood suffrage, and giving a vote to every visitor, to offer inducements to the practice of corruption. Other questions having been put and answered to the satisfaction of the meeting,

Mr Bell proposed, and Mr K. Morgan seconded—''That this meeting, in thanking Mr Wason for his very clear and satisfactory explanation of his views, beg to express the fullest confidence in that gentleman as a fit and proper person to represent the Coleridge district in the General Assembly." The above resolution was carried nem. con.