MR W. D. STEWART, M.H.R., AT DUNEDIN.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2241, 8 June 1881, Page 4

MR W. D. STEWART, M.H.R., AT DUNEDIN.

[PBKEB ASSOCIATION TBLKOBAM.] DUNEDIN, June 7. Mr W. D. Stewart, M.H.R., addressed his constituents hero to-night. About 200 were present; the Mayor in the chair. Mr Stewart reviewed the work of last session briefly, and said that the Government showed a desire throughout it to keep office at all risks. They had enunciated really no definite line of policy upon which they might stand or fall. Referring to tho Otago land question, he said it was a very strange thing that, although full opportunity had been given to tho Government to declare themselves as to what should bo done with the runs when the leases fell in, not the slightest indication of their policy had been given until tho land leagues had been |formed throughout tho goldfields, and had pat the agitation for cutting up the runs into practical shape. Referring to tho Redistribution of Seats Bill, he said it had boon “ cooked ” last session in tho interests of the supporters of the Government, and the present Government would always fight shy of representation on a population basis, for it would mean the wiping out of the Nelson and Taranaki constituencies, where support for them was secure. Ho criticised Mr Oliver’s speech, particularly that portion relating to the saving alleged to ho effected on tho railways. Mr Oliver had ■unfairly compared certain periods. Thus he had compared nine months against a year, and daring the earlier portion of tho nine months through traffic had not been opened between Dunedin and Christchurch or between Dunedin and Invercargill, besides which, the floods in the South hod materially interrupted the traffic over the lines open, and had increased the expenses. Mr Oliver, he said, had also omitted to make allowance for tho faot that by an alteration in the termination of the year the three grain months had bean excluded from the period which be had made to bear unfavorable comparison. A vote of thanks and confidence, proposed by Mr Thomson and seconded by Mr Stout, was carried.