THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5732, 13 August 1879, Page 2

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

(per press agency.) Auckland, Tuesday. The electioneering campaign opened to-night with an address from Mr. Newman, one of the candidates for Eden, to the electors at Newmarket. There was a large attendance. The candidate expressed himself in favor of the abolition of the native office, and the stopping of the Government monopoly in land purchasing. He advocated a free and secular system of education, tho extension of the franchise to lodgers and all those who contributed to the revenue of the colony, provided that they were not felons, idiots, minors, or inveterate drunkards. He did not go so far as Dr. Wallis in regard to the extension of the franchise to women, although he believed that female owners of property should have a voice in elections. He was a free-trader in principle, but he saw that the peculiar circumstances of the colony necessitated the retention of some imposts. He would, for instance, advocate the taxing only of those commodities which might be designated luxuries, and those which had a deleterious tendency, such as wines or spirits. He would support the reimposition of the tax on timber, because he believed the timber industry was essential to the prosperity of the colony. Mr. Stout's Local Option Bill was, to his mind, an excellent one, and it should, if possible, be carried into effect. He deplored the unjust treatment the North Island bad received in the past in the matter of public works expenditure, and affirmed his willingness to join any compact party, no matter who was the leader, which sought to wrest justice for the North Island. In answer to a question, he said he would support Sir George Grey in advocating the measures he had laid down, but would not go into the House pledged to give a blindfold support to any man, He would only vote for separation when he saw that it was hopeless to pull any longer with the South. The candidate was aecoydea d yote of thanks.