THE ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2365, 1 November 1881, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

Mr Ivess, one of the three candidates for Wakanui constituency, addressed the electors at the Town Hall, Bakaia, on Saturday evening, and received a vote of thanks and confidence. The chair was occupied by Mr 0. N. Mackie, and the hall was well filled. On Saturday evening Mr Guild met a large body of the Ashley eleotors in the Oust Town Hall. Mr Budderhlau oooupied the chair. After his speech he answered a number of questions, and at the close a unanimous vote of thanks was carried.

MB J. E. ANDREW AT SYDENHAM. Mr J. B. Andrew, one of the candidates for the representation of Sydenham in the General Assembly, addressed a meeting of the electors at the school-room, Colombo road, last evening. There was a good attendance, the Mayor of Sydenham being in the chair, who briefly introduced the candidate, and bespoke for him a patient hearing. Mr Andrew, who was well received, said he had great pleasure in meeting them, and ho would briefly narrate what led to his coming forward. A little time ago he told a deputation of eleotors that if Mr W. White," jun. would come forward he would not do so, but work for that gentleman's return. He at once wrote to him, and the reply was a put off from day to day, till more than a week had passed, and, as a friend of Mr White's did not think he would oome forward, he determined to seek election. He had resided in Sydenham for about eleven years, and had taken an aotive part in the establishment of the present school, as Mr F. O. Hall could bear witness. It was intended to be established in Waltham, but the present site was secured, and the fruits of their labors was the present pile of buildings they now saw. He also moved in the matter of the Publio Library for Waltham with suooess. He also took prominent action in forming Sydenham into a borough. He oame before them on his merits. He belonged to no mercantile institutions, nor was he connected with either the banking or squatting interests; neither could he boost to be a member of the Btook Exohange—[A Voioe—"That's one for Treadwell "J —but as one of themselves he could forward their interests at Wellington. It had been said he would have no influence there, but he would make himself heard in the House if elected, and although he was not a rich man, that should not deter his usefulness. He was a Liberal, and he did not wish, having said that, for them to think he would vote with the Hall Government, who falsely called itself Libera], but he would go into opposition, and vote with Montgomery and those with him. The Hall Government had called itself Liberal, and had dressed themselves in Liberal garb, being ashamed of the title of Conservatives, but they were not truly Liberals. [Here Mr Andrew gave a long comparative description of the state of parties in England and New Zealand.] He critioiced the Licensing Bill at length, and as regarded the compensation clause, he thought the question of compensating a publican should not be decided by arbitrators but by the votes of the ratepayers. [Hear, hear.] The Representation Bill, as passed, provided for ninety-one members, to whioh he objeoted. It was stated to be on a population basis, but in that it failed, as the rural members represented 4903, and the town members represented 6537 persons. In the matter of boroughs too there was great disparity, as ho would show. For instance, Sydenham, with 8460, Timaru 6566, Lyttelton 4127, and Port Chalmers with 4662 persons, returned each nna member. It had been said that the average town basis was 5400 Now, on that basis, if he was returned by them, and the population of Sydenham increased to 10,800, he should, without fresh legislation, try and get it a second member. ("Cheers.] He would read a speech delivered by Mr Whitaker, the most Liberal member of the Hall Government, which would prove he held the same ideas (Bead from " Hansard.") He thought boroughs should have larger powers given them, as in Victoria, where, so soon as the gross in oame of a town reached £23,000 a year, it was gazetted ss a oity. The Qualification of Electors Bill was of great importance. Under the present Act the franchise was residential and freehold, and he was bound to say its tendency was good. The next step would be manhood suffrage. As regarded plural voting, he was opposed to it, and if a man was registered for more than one qualification he should send in a written declaration two months before an eleotion as to whioh constituency he should vote for. As to property being represented, he failed to see the difference of a man possessed of £20,000 in hard cash and having land to that value. As regarded its contribution to the revenue, it did not amount to more than one-sixth of that derived from the Customs duties. With respect to the leasehold qualification, its abolition might be considered wrong in some cases; but he held that both leasehold and freehold qualifications should be alike abolished. He fully agreed with triennial Parliament], The indebtedness of the oolony was quoted as £28,000,000, the annual charge on wnich was £1,500,000; the expenses of government added made up a total of £3,256,716 10s a year. But happily the resources of the colony would still go on and make that all right. He objeoted to a property tax, and believed in a land and income tax, because the landed proprietors had hitherto contributed little or nothing to the State, and as railways had increased the value of land five or six fold, and had oreated a saving in oost of transit they should be got at by a land tax. He would read them an extract from Mill's Politioal Economy in support of his argument. [Read.] An inoome tax would catch those who would escape by every other method, and as in America, he thought it ought to be graduated so as ensure each one being taxed according to his means. The Corrupt Practices Bill seemed to him to turn on this quotation from Oarlyle—" Make yourself an honest man, and there will be one lesß rascal in the world." He objeoted to the retrenchments of the Government as affecting the working olass, and it was wrong to return the 10 per cent to civil servants, and not to laboring men. He thought the the goods and passenger rates on the railways should be reduoed, and its affairs managed by an elective non • political Board. The Looal Self Government proposals of the Government would not be found to work well, indeed he considered the Government as possessed of no constructive ability He should bo favorable to borrow money for the construction of payable railways. He was in favor of manufacturing townships, and the West Coast railway scheme also had his hearty sympathy. He deprecated the present action in Native matters, characterising Te Whiti as a man of peace. ["Ob."] He thought that in time all would have come right. The Upper House should be eleoted by the people. Ab for education, ho would not interfere with the present system. After going fully into looal matters, Mr Andrew asked if they believed in him to vote for him, promising to act for their best interests if I elected.

In reply to questions, Mr Andrew said that he was favorable to a commission being appointed to inquire into oivil servants' grievances. He would be favorable to declarations by members instead of oaths. He thought the Lottery Bill would prove a dead letter. He was in favor of the beer tax, and also an Employers Liability Bill. Mr 8. Powell moved, and Mr F. C. Hall seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr Andrew for his lucid and temperate address, whioh was carried with one dissentient. A like compliment to [the ohairman terminated the meeting. [PBKSS ABBOCIATIOH TBIBGBAMB.J WANGANUI, October 31.

Mr Ballance addressed his constituents tonight. After referring to some personal matters, he said he approved of the vigorous policy of the Government with regard to the Native question, but thought that people should not be too ready to expeot war, ,as that was the way to bring it about. He approved generally of the new Licensing Act. He thought that justices of the peace should

(be elected. A Bojal Commission should be ' appointed to acquire into the working of the Eduoation Act. He aooepted the property tax, but thought that agricultural improvements and machinery should be exempted, and the tax be made a progressive one, so as to reach large property holders. He objected to the Ministerial Local Government proposals, and thought that the Native population should have been taken into account in the Bepresentation Bill. Eegarding Native land, he urged the return to the Queen's preemptive right. He had modified his views regarding free trade. It might be suitable for England, but he thought protective duties suitable to a new country. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried.