THE ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2366, 2 November 1881, Page 4

THE ELECTIONS.

MR J. E. BROWN AT MEEIVALE.

Mr J. E. Brown addressed the electors of St. Albans last night at the Merivala public school. There was a fair attendance. Mr John Matson occupied the chair, and briefly introduced the candidate. Mr Brown, who was well received, said he ■would first explain how it was that he had become a candidate. Although strongly urged to do so, he did not offer himself at the last general election in consequence of family affliction, and when he retired he thought he would never enter the political arena again. How. ver, he had recently been very strongly urged to come forward. He had been a member of the General Assembly for two Parliaments, and was a member of the Provincial Council for a number of years, and ns u person of experience, having a general acquaintance with all the public men of the colony, it bad been thought by some that he was a fitting person to come forward and offer his services to the electors. He had received requisitions from two different districts — one from his old district of A shley, and one from St. Albans, where he resided. Ha had decided to stand for the latter district, because if elected he would be more accessible to the electors and bj able to hear complaints, redress grievances, and ascertain the opinions of his constituents on public questions The first subject of importance he wished to refer to was that of the Native difficulty, and in doing so bo would refrain from expressing any opinion that would beoalcn'ated either to excite the Natives to nets of hostility or to hamper the Government. With the Government rested the sole responsibility of the action tbev bad taken, and it behoved them as citizens of the country to support the Government, no matter whether they were right or wrong, until the question was settled. [Hear, hear.] He was glad to say that he believed the steps that were now being taken were very likely to lead to an amicable solution of the Native difficulty. No one cculd more deprecate a war than he did, as it would bring most disastrous consequences upon both races. The next question which deserved attention was the education question. When in the Provincial Council ho had the honor of assisting very materially in procuring a system of free, secular, and compulsory education, and in the General Assembly be used his exertions in the same direction. He was sorry, therefore, to find that a deliberate attempt was being made to mar onr noble system of education. It wasjat once onr pride and onr glory, and he bad been gratified to observe that the other colonies had awarded New Zealand the premier place in regard to its education system, [Cheers.J They had spent J 3250.000 in Canterbury on school buildings, ond to do anything that would lead to denominationalism, and to other schools being opened in competition with the public schools would be suicidal. | Hear, hear. ] He had always set his face against denominational iducation, and against the State being mixed np in any way with churches or any denomination whatever. He believed that a great deal of the difficulty that was experienced now in regard to the people making nse of the schools did not arise from their own deliberate opinion, but from the influence that had been brought to bear upon them. It was said that the Catholics could not send their children to our schools. He believed that in Christchurch they did not avail themselves to any great extent of tbs public schools, but in tbe country districts they did, and ha did not believe the Catholics had one conscience for the town and another conscience for the country. He would next refer to the subject of local Government. The great cry when the question was discussed in Parliament last session was. “ Givo us funds.” After the subsidies were withdrawn, no doubt the local bedies were crippled, but the Legislature would have to devise some means by which the local bodies would be either endowed or subsidised. In his opinion, if they gave the local bodies—say the counties—the power of making rules and regulations for their internal governmeat, the same as the municipalities bad, and also divided the land fnnd among them on a fair basis, they would do all that could fairly be expected. Another important question, and particularly to the people of Otago and Southland, was tbe question of the pastoral runs and thaJpnbHcjlands. Within the next year something like six million acres of land would revert to the Crown, and some disposition must be made of those lands. In his opinion the runs in Otago, and even soma in Canterbury, were too large for holdiog, and should be subdivided. [Cheers.J They should be submitted to auction, so that the Government, and therefore the people, should obtain the very highest price possible in ihe shape of rental for them. The same -course should be pursued with regard to tho Tuna in Canterbury that would fall in in 1882. The settlement of the people upon tho land was a question in which he had always taken a deep interest. If we were to make New Zealand a prosperous country we must get as many people as possible settled on the land. Some years ago he introduced into the General Assembly a Bill providing for the sale of land on the deferred payment system, the provisions of which were obnonions to a strong party, who succeeded in frustrating his efforts to introduce a liberal land system. Tho Premier in his speech at Leeston referred to the constitution of the Upper House. At present that branch of the Legislature consisted of forty-three members appointed for life, and be saw no possible way of getting rid of those members, who could only be removed by death. Ho believed that if tho members of the Lower House, who represented the people of New Zealand, were allowed to fill np by election the requisite number of the Upper House, it would be the means of enabling men of experience, acquainted with the parliamentary forms, possessing debating power, and the ordinary qualifications that were acquired by men of long standing in public affairs, to go to the Upper House. New blood would be introduced, and it would be the means of reforming that Chamber to a great extent. If the people elected tho Upper Honse they wonld give it she same power aa tbe Lower House bad, and

then what would become of the power of the representatives of the people. The elective system had been a failure in Victoria. The question of taxation was one to which ho had devoted a good deal of attention. Ho held that property had its duties and responsibilities, and that good government was for the benefit of life and property; therefore property should bo called upon to contribute towards the expenses of Government in proportion to the amount of good it received from tho Government. Ho did not believe there was any fairer or hotter tax than the property tax, because it reached every man in proportion to his wealth. Some of the candidates said that a proparty_ tax_ was not as fa ; r as a land tax, hut it they inquired of those gentlemen how much land tax they paid, and how much property tax, it would bo found that they paid five times as much under the property tax as they did under the land tax. His property tax was nearly seven times as much as his land tax. There were 1-16 persons in Canterbury who paid jE-12,000 under the property tax, and who, under an income tax of Cd, would only pay .£17,000, and nndor a land tax .£16,000. This was the reason why property holders objected to tho property tax. An income tax m this country upon tho clerks and professional men would not produce as much as the cost of collection. With regard to a progressive tax upon land, wherever any man or men held a largo block of land that was preventing the settlement of the country, ho would not only impose a progressive tax upon that land, but would also take power from tho Legislature to resume possession of portions, or, if necessary, all tho land for settlement upon payment of compensation, and he would sell it to those who desired land on deferred payment at a most reasonable rate of interest, in ordeir to get tho people on tho land to cultivate it and develope tho resources of the country. [Cheers.] The theory which he had seen supported by a learned man in this country that _ the State should [resume possession of all private lands and let them out to the people was the most Utopian one he had ever hoard enunciated. It did violence to the feeling that brought every everyone of us to'this country—the deriro to have a home for ourselves in which we could rest in our old age. He did not, however, believe in the law of entail. He did not think our railways were managed on a correct principle. The charges on goods, on stock, and on passengers were too high, and people were in consequence largely using the roads instead of the railways. The management should be decentralised. Tho colony had arrived at that state when it was absolutely necessary to complete our arterial lines of railway for the purpose of opening up the country and getting tho people settled on tho land, and so makicg_ the existing lines remunerative. How was this to he done ? 'J he boat way was first to havo a Board to decide what lines it was necessary to complete, and to recommend the cost, &0., to tho Legislature ; and then lot the people’s representatives decide, and let the Government borrow tho money and construct tho lines adopted, with the understanding that no line of railway should be made except on condition that the districts through which it passed should be taxed if necessary to make up the difference between the earnings and disbursements. [Cheers.] With regard to tho qualification of an elector, he thought it would be a fair compromise to allow a man to exercise two votes, but not in the same district. There should bo a leasehold, a property and a residential qualification, and a man should be allowed to say which of the two first ho wou’d use. He could havo one for residence, and another for either a leasehold or a freehold. In this way a great many electors who resided in the St. Albansdiatriot, and who were paying enormous rents in the city for promises they occupied, would have a voice in tho government of the city. Before concluding the candidate urged reasons against the reading of the Bible in the public schools In answer to questions, Mr Brown said he would not go to Parliament p edged to support Mr John Hall or any other man or set of men. He would not say which side of the House ha would take if elected, because he could not tell yet who would be in Parliam. nt. When he was last in the House he was a supporter of Sir George Grey. He was in favor of local option, and tho payment of compensation to any house which was deprived of a license. would abolish tho honorarium ta the Legislative Council. iHr C. T. Ick moved a vote of thanks and confidence to the candidate. Mr Aikman seconded. The motion was carried unanimously. In answer to a question put by the chairman, Mr Brown said he was opposed to people acquiring largo estates. As long as_ the laws of the colony permitted the acquisition of large areas, and they were obtsined honestly, ho would not interfere, hut allow them to be held until they were required for tho occupation of the people, instead of for the growth of sheep and cattle. Then he would impose a progressive tax and, if that was not sufficient, take power for the Government to resume possession. A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.