THE HON. MR. RICHARDSON AT CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5741, 23 August 1879, Page 3

THE HON. MR. RICHARDSON AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Christchurch, Friday. The Hom.E. Richardson addressed the electors of Christchurch at the Odd Fellows’ Hall last night. There was a large attendance. After stating tbe present position of political affairs, Mr. Richardson went on to say that the way in which the Loan Bill had been passed was a disgrace to Parliament, as no Statementof any kind was laid before the House. However, the Opposition, desiring to get at the work of the session, offered no resistance. So far as he could make out, there was three quarters of a million of deficit, which had to he made up somehow. This, of course, meant increased taxation, and he was in favor of a Property and Income Tax, so that all should pay in proportion to the benefits received from the State. With regard to Electoral Reform, he was in : favor of six months’residence being made a condition of tbe franchise. He objected most strongly to the Maori dual vote, and should oppose it, whatever Ministry was in power. As regarded a redistribution of votes, he was of opinion that this was a far greater question than that of the franchise. He was ready to go in for a Bill based on population, but while this was so they mast take care that the country districts were also fairly represented. As regarded taxation, be was of opinion that the small owners should be exempted. No small consumer, he felt sure, had benefited by the reduction of the tea and sugar duties. Tbe only ones who bad were the middle men and large employers of labor. On the subject of protection, he was of opinion that it was to the interests of the colony that they should have a small amount of protection, so that the industries of the country should be fostered. He had opposed the taking off the duty on flonr, and was also against the taking off that on timber. He was in favor of a purely secular education, and being provided by Government but he was also in favor of the school committees giving greater facilities for religious instruction after the school hours. Respecting triennial Parliaments he was in favor of trying the experiment oi a four year Parliament. He thought that if they made triennial Parliaments, the difficulty which now existed in getting candidates would be largely increased. He was in favor of a general Licensing Bill for the whole of Sew Zealand. He thought those who were in favor of reform should take the Bill with a

compensation clause, and see how that worked. He blamed the Government for incurring large liabilities, when they knew that their loan money was nearly run out, and for material which would not be required for a long time to come. So long as they used their money for reproductive works he had no fear of their going in to borrow money for some time to come. He was sorry to see that the engineer had reported in favor of the abandonment of the line to the West Coast. He felt sure that this subject had not been gone into sufficiently to enable Parliament to consider the matter. (Cheers.) He would much rather see a railway than any attempt to improve the Grey mouth River, which was a very bad one. He thought that the Government were making a mistake in going back to the system of assisted immigration. (Cheers.) As regarded Chinese immigration, he did not place so much importance sn the point as the Government. At the same time he thought it would be the best thing to impose a poll tax on Chinamen landing in this colony. Had the Government paid over to the road boards the £IOO,OOO due to them, they would not have heard one word of the distress in that city which now existed. After speaking generally upon the native question, which he held that the Government had mismanaged, Mr. Richardson concluded by asserting that daring the nine years he had represented Christchurch he had done his utmost for its interests and that of the colony generally, A number of questions having been answered, a resolution of thanks and confidence was moved, and an amendment of thanks only was proposed. On being put, the Mayor said the votes were so nearly equal that he could not decide. The question was again put, with the same result, and the meeting broke up in disorder.