HON. JOHN HALL AT HALKETT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2231, 31 May 1881, Page 4

HON. JOHN HALL AT HALKETT.

The Hon. tho Premier addressed his constituents at Halkett school-room last night. The Hon. Colonel Brett occupied the chair, and said that they wore obliged to tho Hon. the Premier for his coming there that evening to address them. Tho Hon. Mr Hall had driven some twenty or twenty-five miles to bo present at that meeting, and this, when he was receiving telegrams every hour asking him to come back to Wellington, shewed that he had tho interests of his constituency at heart. Ho would now call upon Mr Hall to addrero them. . , The Hon. Premier, after otating that he considered it his duty to address them, and that he was unaware that he should be able to remain in Canterbury over Saturday, or longer notice would have been given, proceeded to address the electors present in teroia almost identical with the speech delivered by him at Leoston on Thursday last. The only subject not touched upon at Loeston was that of railway freights. Mr Hall pointed out that while all tho parts of tho colony, even those whioh had not the advantages of railway communication, had to contribute towards the loss on them, it was tho duty of tho Government to see that the revenue was increased os far as possible. It had been said that tho tariff woe higher here than under the provincial management, but by a return he had had prepared it was shown that tho tariff for grain was 12 or 15 per cent, less than when the Government took the railways over from the Provincial Governments. He woe anxious that this should bo clearly understood, because this was an agricultural community. The Government, he might say, when they came into office, made certain reductions in the tariff whioh they had hoped would result in on increase in the revenue. This, however, hod not been realised, and, prootically, they had to retrace their steps and increase the tariff and to reduce the expenditure, whioh was very large, by curtailing some of the conveniences. Even with the increase in the tariff whioh had been apoken of, the present rate of carriage, more especially on grain, was, as ho had said, some 12 per cent, or 15 per cent, below that charged when tho railways were worked by Provincial Governments. At the conclusion of his address, which lasted two hours, tho Hon. Mr Hall replied as follows to questions asked of him —That the Government could not hold out any hope that so great a rate of speed would be carried out on the Malvern line as on the main line, because the rails were so much lighter. He had been in communication with tho district manager, and if anything could be done to alter tho rate of speed safely and economically he would see that it was done. As regarded the detention at the junction that he believed would bo obviated. He could not say off hand when the line connecting Oxford and Sheffield would be gone on with. He believed that the vote had been exhausted, and that it would have to be re-votod. He thought that the lino would be one of the best paying lines in the colony. As regarded the appeals under tho property tax he might say that he was not familiar with the details of the Act, but there had been cases where an appeal to the Government had been successful. He was not aware whether there was any further appeal. With regard to tho establishment of a flag station at Bandy Knolls crossing, if he was supplied with statistics as to the amount of grain likely to be carried he would consider it, bat they must remember that tho proposal to remove Aylesbury station would probably create some objection. Mr McKee moved—“ That this meeting thanks Hon. John Hall (or his able address, and begs to express their renewed confidence :in him as their representative in Parliament."

Mr McLaren seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Hon. Jehu Hall thanked those present for the renewal of their confidence, and moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, which concluded the meeting.