THE DUNEDIN ELECTION.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1681, 10 July 1879, Page 2

THE DUNEDIN ELECTION.

MB STEWART’S ADDRESS. DUNEDIN. July 9. Mr Downie Stewart, who is a candidate for the vacant Dunedin seat in tho House c£ Representatives, addressed the electors this evening in the Temperance Hall. There were about 160 persons present. Mr Keith Ramsay occupied the chair. Mr Stewart spoke in detail of land laws, which ho said should be liberal, so as to secure settlement and revenue. The deferred payment system, was bungled in detail, so that settlement had been stayed. The land tax had not been a success, but a failure. _ It was also inequitable, expensive in working, and irregular in its luluations. Ho was in favor of taxing all properties, and not only those exceeding £SOO. He then showed bow

the present depression bad been brough about by a deficiency in tbo estimated land revenue. The free breakfast table was condemned as being a measure which benefitted nsolely the merchant and retaildealer. In education he was opposed to denominationalism. He was in favor of a national system, but Bible reading should be allowed either before ■or after the ordinary school work with a conscience clause. Ho would oppose political railways. The Government’should refuse to construct any lines which would not be productive either immediately or prospectively. They should take one line at a time, and not go tinkering with a number of them, as had bean done in the past to the loss of the country. Railway work should be specially pushed ahead when other work was scarce. He would be in favor of the Government borrowing five millions, but its expenditure -should extend over a term of years. Work should -as far as possible be executed in the colony and not sent home. He -was opposed to introducing any more free immigrants at present. The Native ■ question was given undue prominence to by pakehas from sinister motives. The -Native office should be abolished. The present Native difficulty was a school boys’ quarrel. He thought Native land was too ■ strictly, conserved. The present franchise was a wide one. He would be content to let •it alone. People entitled to vote should be ■more careful to exercise their right. The Harbor Boards should receive the support of tho_Government, and indeed be placed above '■ their control. He would be satisfied if a good channel were made up to Port Chalmers. Ho -spoke at length of legal reform, an elective ■ Governor (to which ho was opposed), the Permissive Bill, and advocated economy in ad--ministration.

At the close of the address several questions ■were asked and answered, and a vote of confidence in the candidate was passed.