POST-SESSIONAL UTTERANCES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5401, 19 July 1878, Page 7

POST-SESSIONAL UTTERANCES.

THE HON. E. RICHARDSON’S ADDRESS TO HIS. CONSTITUENTS. Christchurch, Wednesday.

The Hon. Edward Richardson, M.H.R. for Christchurch City, addressed his constituents this evening at the Odd Bellows’ Hall About 200 electors were present. The chair was occupied by his Worship the Mayor. After a few general observations Mr. Richardson proceeded to speak on the question of representation, and said that with regard to the representation of ’ Christchurch itself it ought in the future to be divided—the suburbs returning two members, and Christchurch proper returning one. The interests of town and suburbs were diffe-ent, and it would be far better that they should be differently represented. There should not even be a fresh election until there had been a re-adjustment of representation. Canterbury was at the present time under-represented by four members. On the subject of the franchise the members of the Ministry appeared to entertain very different opinions, judging from the speeches of the Premier and the Hon. Messrs Stout and Ballance. He should be quite prepared to support Mr. Ballauce’s motion, as he considered a town voter ought to be a resident six months before ho was entitled to vote. (Applause.) There was no doubt that some amendment was required iu the matter of registration. By all means let them have a Bribery Bill if there was any necessity for it, but for his own part ha, had not seen any such necessity in New Zealand. (Cheers.) He did not see any reason why public-houses should be closed on election d iys, as proposed by Mr. Stout. Mr. Richardson then proceeded to speak of the proposed change in the incidence of taxation. He had seen no reason to change his opinion that a property tax was the fairest and- best tax they could possibly have. On the question of the land tax as proposed he should oppose it most determinedly, as it was perfectly absurd to let off holders of less than 320 acres. (Applause.)’ He did not think that Mr. Ballance was justified in stating that the Government intended to bring forward such a Bill. Considering the large duties to be put upon the Road Boards and County Councils, he (the speaker) considered they were the proper bodies to have the power of levying a tax for the purpose of roads and bridges. (Cheers.) The only land tax the Government was justified in putting on was a tax for unimproved land, and he was quite prepared to support such a tax. Every conceivable description of property over a certain value ought to he taxed. It was impossible, while the colony was in its present condition, that indirect taxation could be done away with, and the Government appeared to be of the same opinion. It was very satisfactory for them- to hear from Mr. Ballance that there would be a surplus of £IOO,OOO. (Hear, hear.) . Everyone in the State ought to pay in proportion to the benefits he had received. (Applause.) The- question of defence would no doubt come up this session. It was quite right that the colony should be fortified, so as to be able to defend itself from without if attacked. (A Voice : What we want is to be represented by commercial and mercantile men, and not by squatters and runholders.) (Laughter.) He regretted' that they had not had the proposed report of Sir William Jervois and Colonel Scratchley. No doubt the Government deserved a certain amount of credit for having sent Home for some heavy guns. They could do a great deal with volunteers, but something beyond these would be required to work the guns in an effective manner. (Applause.) Both Governor Weld and the Marquis of Normanby had latelygiven some most exoellentadvice to volunteers. (An extract fromGovernorWeld’sspeech was here read.) Speaking of the proposed Licensing Bill, Mr. Richardson said it would deal very largely with the question of adulteration. Under existing Acts adulteration could not be fully dealt with. There could be no doubt that the most vile drinks —poison, indeed—were sold in all directions. In his opinion, liquors ought to ha tested immediately they were landed, and before they came into the hands of the retailers, who often had to suffer for a fault that was not their own. (Applause). In the same way the Custom authorities ought to test and brand kerosene. He bad opposed the Local Option.Bill because it did not provide compensation for houses that were closed. Drunkenness could not bo put down by Act of Parliament. A better way would be the establishment of working men’s clo})3, athenaeums, &c. (Cheers). He next came to the question of public works. , The railways had even been a greater success than had been anticipated by Sir Julius Vogel.’ They were already realising a very large profit, which he was sure would be considerably in ■ creased next year. Even now they were only just beginning to open up the country. The expenditure up to the present time h id been £7,000,500 ; the receipts for last year were £569,000, and the expenses £402,000. Next year they would see the Canterbury lines returning a profit of five per cent. (Cheers). The rolling stock to be provided for the Christchurch section during the 'next few months was valued at £120,000, and £IOO,OOO would bo required for sheds, &0., to accommodate that stock. He was glad of the steps which the Government had now taken in the matter of charitable aid. (Applause). The public must not expect any material reduction in the public service of the country. With regard to the stoppage of the Land Eund,it was not wise to be too precipitate in the matter ; they onght to hear what the Government had to say before they took any decided steps. If the Government could show that they had dealt evenly with all districts in the country, then there would be a good deal to say on that score. Still, it would require a great deal of explanation on the part of the Government. (Applause.) An idea was abroad that the Government had intended to remove the AgentGeneral. It would have been a great calamity to New Zealand if this officer had been removed. It was to be regretted that he had not been appointed Commissioner at the Paris Exhibition ; and it was one of the most unjust things the present Government had ever done not °to appoint him! (Cheers.) He had done more good at Horae for New Zealand than any one else for many years past. (Loud cheers.) In conclusion, Mr. Richardson said that till they had the various Bills before them it would bo impossible for him to say how far ho would support them; but he would certainly bo no party to factious opposition. Mr. Richardson was loudly applauded on resuming his seat, _ . In answer to a- question, Mr. Richardson said ho had no intention of opposing Sir George Grey or his Ministry so long ns the measures they brought forward were for the benefit of the colony at large. (Cheers.) . , , , A number of other questions were asked and answered, many of them bearing on the licensing question.’ Most of the answers appeared to give satisfaction. A vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Richardson was carried by a large majority.

ME. KELLY AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

New Plymouth. July 13.

Mr. Kelly, member for New Plymouth, addressed h:s constituents last evening, when a vote of confidence was passed. Mr. Kelly reviewed Sir J. Vogel’s Public Works policy, and referred to his own personal efforts with regard to the Wuitara and Wanganui railway. He then gave a brief resume of the transactions of the Assembly during the past session, and gave his reasons why he supported Sir George Grey.* He said the late Government had dwindled away from being a Vogel Government to a Stafford Government, and Stafford ought to have been in office as its leader. He supported Sir George Grey because he was free from any complicity in the purchase of native lands, and because it would not be from ambition that Sir George sought office, but because he deeply sympathised with the people, and because in the past hq stood up for the colony, disobeying the commands of Lord Carnarvon to send the troops Home, which led to his being removed from the Governorship ! of the colony. He found Sir George Grey’s policy likely to benefit the colony generally, and so he sugported him. He referred to the incidence of taxation as proposed by the present Government, and said that property should bear its part of the burden necessary for public works. He thought that taxes should be levied on all kinds of property, and not on land only. He justified the action of the GovernmenKin delaying- the matter regarding the opening of the Waimate Plains, and gave a hopeful review of the late proceedings at Waitara, speaking in the highest terras of Rewi, and of the prospects of the line of railway being extended from Taranaki to Auckland. There was a good attendance, and Mr. Kelly’s remarks were from time to time loudly applauded. MR. J. E. BROWN BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS. Mr. J. E. Brown, the member for Ashley district, addressed his constituents at Amberley. He said that attendance at the Assembly now. became absolute slavery, and he doubted for some time whether or not to resign his seat. After referring to various measures of last session, Mr. Brown said that the course adopted by the House regarding the Laud Fund was wise, but the Government had .not since kept faith with Canterbury. He decidedly opposed manhood suffrage, which he said would be a great mistake—in fact, almost a crime. He opposed the land tax, arguing that a property tax was the fairest we could have. He advocated an extension of the railway to the West Coast, and said that either Ashley should have two members, or Hurunui should be the boundary. ,He also declared that the Premier had not yet enunciated a single point of policy that he would support. A vote of thanks and confidence iu the member was proposed, but an amendment*, conveying a vote of thanks only, was carried.