MR.A.R. GUINNESS, M.H.R., AT WESTBROOK.

Kumara Times, Issue 2719, 9 June 1885, Page 2

MR.A.R. GUINNESS, M.H.R., AT WESTBROOK.

Mr Guinness, M.H.R., addressed a meeting of his constituents at Westbrook on Saturday evening. Mr P, Tansey presided. Mr Guinness explained the position of parties at the meeting of the last Parliament, and the difficulty that was created in forming a Government calculated to command the confidence of the House and the country. He maintained that the Government formed by Major Atkinson after the defeat of the first Stont-Yogel Government, were entitled to receive a fair chance of bringing down and explaining their policy, in the same way as had been accorded to Mr Stout; but they did not receive that opportunity. When he went to the House he admitted that he was strongly in favor of Sir George Grey. But when he was unable to form a Ministry and recommended that Major Atkinson be sent for, he naturally felt that that gentleman and his colleagues should receive a fair trial. This they were denied by the House, and very unfairly he thought. He was the more inclined to support that Ministry on account of the presence of Mr Wakefield in it, whom he felt confident had the interests of the West Coast at heart. However, change brought an advantage. The personnel of the first Stont-Yogel Ministry had been changed, and very much for the better, he was glad to say. The speaker explained in detail the leading features and principles of the more important measures of public policy passed during the session. He referred at length to the Gold Duty Abolition Bill, and explained why the Government retained the power of fixing the date on which the abolition of the gold duty should take effect, and this was done in order to prevent a fraud upon the miner. They all knew that the representatives of property in the Upper House threw the bill out, evidently because they thought that if the gold duty was abolished, the revenue raised by it (some £25,000) would have to come out of property. Mr Guinness dwelt at some length on the question of reducing the price of miners' rights. He explained that a misstatement appeared in a Wellington paper to the effect that he opposed the bill. But after explaining the matter to the editor of the paper he was forced to admit that a mistake had been made, and he accordingly corrected the misstatement. The fact was he earnestly supported the bill for the reduction of the miners’ rights. This bill unfortunately was slaughtered amongst the innocents. As to the Westland Education difficulty, he believed the question would be again brought up in the incoming session, when he would endeavor to get the education district enlarged by the amalgamation of Westland and Inangabua with the Grey, and not only in respect to educational matters but also in respect to County government. After Mr Guinness had conc'nded his remarks, Mr John White proposed and Mr Ski oner seconded that a vole of thanks and confidence be recorded. The motion was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.