ADDRESSES TO CONSTITUENTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1382, 20 July 1878, Page 3

ADDRESSES TO CONSTITUENTS.

MR J. E. BROWN AT OXFORD. On Thursday evening Mr Brown, M.H.R. for the Ashley district, met the electors at the Road Board office, Oxford, There was a large attendance. Mr J. R Gorton, chairman of the Road Board, was voted to the chair. Mr Brown having referred to the various points in his already published speech, alluded to the proposed Oxford-Malvern Railway . He stated that, on the representation made to him by residents in Oxford, referring to a reserve of 10,000 acres, ho had been successful in seeing that the same was duly made. He then answered several questions. Mr Lugar—What is your opinion on the plurality of votes at Road Board elections ? Mr Brown—-The system is perfectly right, and the manner in which it works in the Canterbury district is very satisfactory. Mr Sharplin asked to have Mr Brown’s opinion further explained on the compensation clause of the Local Option Bill. Who wao to fix the board, committee, or authority that had to decide the compensation ? Mr Brown—Have you read Fox’s Bill ? Mr Sharplin—No. Mr Brown—lt appoints the authority, Mr Sharplin was proceeding to deliver a well-digested speech, when calls of “ Question” ■were raised, and much merriment caused by his ordering a gentleman present to hold his tongue. Proceeding to refer to the age we live in, and the march of intellect, his attention was again called to the “ question,” and the chairman had to explain that that was Mr Brown’s meeting. Mr Sharplin —Then I want to know if, as Mr Brown objects to representation by population in favour of property, a man is not better than a house and land ? Dr. Weld—Would rvlr Brown like to have the last speaker put out. [Laughter.] Mr Brown —Oh dear no.

J)r. Weld asked if their representative was in favour of free trade with the colonies and of doing away with the Customs duties P Mr Brown'would like to see free trade, but it was not possible, and there would be a groat difficulty in doing away with the Customs as n means of raising the revenue. Mr Mullin JDid you vole for extension of the squatters’ leases ? Mr Brown —There are no leases except Sir GK Grey’s bunkum. There was no such thing as a lease. The squatters hold the land

ns long as they pay the rent, and the Assembly had raised that rent. Mr Mullin —What about the deferred payment sv stem ?

Mr Brown —The Governor has power by proclamation to proclsrm land open for Rale under the system, but sU-ps have only been taken to declare 15,000 acres open. Dr. Weld Where is it situated ? [Laugh ler] Mr Brown —T cannot say. [Eenewed laughter ] Mr Mullin—Do you think it fair that the Education Act should prove unfair to a certain sections of the public? Mr Brown expressed his surprise, ns the Act provided only for a free, secular and permissive compulsory system. Mr J. R. Pearson—ls it fair to force the owner of fifty acres to pay higher taxes than the man who owns 50,000 acres, when the former happens to bo improved and the latter are still nearly waste ? Mr Brown—The parties should each pay in proportion to the value of the estates, and only a misguided man would allow his estate to Ho waste if it was capable of improvement.

Mr Sharplin—What about the land of absentees ? Mr Brown—lf the land of absentees is not improved, there is a way of selling it. Should the Road Board rates amount to such a sum thereon that would warrant its sale, the Board would have power to sell; and thus persons who would improve it might acquire the land. I am surprised some of jou Oxford folk have not sold that 201 section long ago—[cheers and laughter]—in which case you might have been on a safer tenure. Mr Sharplin—Do you favor letting the railways by tender ? Mr Brown —I do not favor letting them to companies till it has been tried, as I tinders'and it will be in the case of an Auckland line.

Mr Pearson —Do you favor a tax for chari table aid ?

Mr Brown —No ; I think it would be degrading to the poor who came cap in hand, and I shall oppose any rule, law, or regulation which introduces the poor law of England here. I have been made a member of the Charitable Aid Board, and was astonished to find the amount of misery and distress which prevails in Christchurch. No less than fiofi souls in the province were dependent upon the aid. Some of those persons were from 58 to 80 years of age, some without logs and arms, and one poor fellow who had fought in the battle of Waterloo. Such a man as the latter he should |be sorry to see paid from a poor tax. Mr Pearson —It would be better to distribute the aid through the local governing bodies.

Mr Brown —That is what we are doing, except in districts such as Ashburton, and where the local authorities have taken the matter up. Mr Mullin—Are you prepared to give Sir G. Grey a general support P Mr Brown—l say very unhesitatingly that I shall not give him my support. Mr Pearson suggested that the Acts of Parliament ought to be distributed. Mr Brown replied copies were sent to all the principal libraries, but the cost would be too great to do more. Mr Mullin—What has the Atkinson Government done that Mr Brown could not support it P Mr Brown —Well really, gentlemen, you must have seen the whole history of the case in the newspapers. The Chairman drew attention to the difficulty of obtaining a system of drainage in the Oxford district, as there was no legislation which would assist the Road Board in the matter.

Mr Brown pointed out that for some time Mr Murray, from Otago, in the House had moved a Bill which, however, was withdrawn, affecting the public drainage. The Assembly had met several cases with the Conservancy of Rivers Act; and if anyone would formulate a Bill, referring to the requirements of the Oxford district, he would be glad to introduce it. The appointment of a Recreation Board was another matter to be attended to, and he would do all they wished. Mr Sharplin—Then get us trucks. [Cheers ] Mr Brown —They are coming. [Laughter.] Mr Sharplin —Will you support a Bill to pay members of Road Boards ? Mr Brown —No.

Mr J. Paul—l think, Mr Chairman, it is time to conclude. I propose a veto of confidence in Mr Brown.

Mr F. Comyns—l have great pleasure in seconding it. The motion was then carried unanimously. Mr Brown returned thanks, and proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried, and the meeting separated.