Mr Wakefield at Leeston.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 146, 19 May 1884, Page 2

Mr Wakefield at Leeston.

(united press association.) Chkistchurch, May 16. Mr Wakefield addressed a crowded meeting at Leestou town hall last night. He said that he had first made a dead set against further borrowing, and advocated economy m public expenditure. He accused the Government of deliberately setting the North against the South by the grain tariff, and blamed them for not coming sooner before the public with a policy. He considered their policy unsatisfactory, and that federation and land tenure were not questions to be discussed now. He had a notion what the Government measure for Civil Service was to be, and did not like it. The object was simply to deprive the succeeding Government of patronage after the present Government exercising it for seven years. The professions of a desire for economy were evidently insincere from the fact that under the bankruptcy Act a number of new officials were appointed. Though the coming session was likely to give greater cause for shame than the last, which was saying a great deal, the speeches of Sir George Grey had not inspired confidence m him as a leader of the people, and he (the speaker) was entirely opposed to the principles enunciated by Sir George for taking the unearned increment. This was nothing else J but a wholesale robbery. He did not agree with Montgomery's taxation of absentees and large landholders, but wished that half the British peerage would follow the example of the Duke of Manchester and Lord Lyttelton. He hoped the colony would try and get out of the present difficulty honestly and wisely, and believed that there would be plenty of men with experience and honesty of purpose willing to come forward to restore the colony. Of Sir J. Yogel he wished to speak with every delicacy. If Yogel got into Parliament, he was likely to take a prominent part, and his first proposal would be to plunge the colony further into debt. He hoped this would not be accepted by the people. He could quite imagined a politican saying let us have a booming time. In four years the Panama Canal will be open, and all will go swimmingly." It was nothing else but gambling, and he counselled the people to rather bear hard times than discount the future good times which ' would come eventually. Sir Julius was entitled to a fair field and no favour. He had always opposed Sir Julius politically, but was not going to be one of those who would hound him out of the colony. He was not going to propound any policy, but intended to ideutify himself with men of moderate views and disinterested motives. He believed tlere. would be a large party m the Houoe to take up the same position. He did not intend to take part m the impending struggle for oflice. A unanimous vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Wukefield.