MR STOUT'S ADDRESS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Kumara Times, Issue 715, 14 January 1879, Page 2

MR STOUT'S ADDRESS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.

[press agency.] Duxedin, January 11. The Hon. Mr Stout addressed the electors last night. lie reviewed the past acts of the Government, and denied that the Government had advanced the interests of Otago at the expense of the rest of the colony. He defended the Tapanui contract by saying that there was not a member of the Ministry had any interest in the Tapanni district; it was simply a test of the system of selling land, the value of which was increased by railway construction, instead of allowing it to fall into the hands of speculators. It was utterly untrue the work was let before the time of sending in the tenders. There were many tenders, and the lowest was accepted. Had the Tapanui contract been a job, the House would never have sanctioned it. He denied that the late session was barren : why they made almost revolutionary strides in social legislation. Look at the Trades Union Bill, which allowed workmen to unite for mutual protection ! They amended the Friendly Societies Bill ; made an important alteration in the Juries Bill, by which a person to be tried by special jury should not know the names of the jurors till he stepped in the Court. There was the Licensing Bill, dealing with the Natives, enabling them to say whether drink should be sold in their district or not. The Administration Act would be a very useful measure. He defended the Land Tax Act at considerable length ; nothing could be more fur than a tax on companies. He defended the Maori franchise in the Electoral Bill on the ground that it was not advisable? to trample on the weak, or set up a slave caste. It was owing to the hard work Ministers had to do that Government were unable to bring forward the Redistribution of Seats Bill. With regard to tho Electoral Bill, this was lost in consequence of the Opposition endeavoring to restrict the Maori franchise ; but it would do no »no i to i trample on the weak, which Would bo

done unless Maoris were given equal i rights with Europeans* When the Redistribution of Seats Bill passed, the I Maoris should return more members. | However, after the hard work.of the j session, Ministers found it impossible | to go on with the latter bill, and there- { fore had a clause inserted, giving Maoris the franchise, tfhich the Legislative I Council subsequently rejected, and it 1 was then, determined to drop the bill altogether. He then spoke on Native affairs, saying the Maoris had been sullen and isolated, and would not trade with us. But he hoped we were now on the .eve of a" better state of things* With regatd to the Beer Duty Bill, he considered beer a legitimate object of taxation, and referred to Mr Fox's opposition on the ground that it would bind the Government more closely with the drink traffic. He then spoke on | the Education question, strongly advocating secularism. He was sorry to ! see that a movement had been set on I foot for the introduction of denominational schools J but the State could not afford it, and it would not be done. Under Mr Curtis'.s bill, the profession of the teacher was degraded, and he would soon degenerate to a sort of" assistaut of cleigymau; and if "sound in faith" would soon be told he was not wanted. He was in favor of triennial Parliaments, manhood suffrage, representation according to population, favored a law being passed restricting Chinese immigration, and said they must take care that property and money were somewhat equally distrU buted. He suggested the French sys--tem of subdivision of seats in the Legislative Couucil, which should only be held for seven or ten years, but Councillors to be still nominated by the Government. He thought the time had come for steps being taken to elect our own Governor, A vote of thanks and confidence was passed.