THE HON MR BALLANCE BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 321, 15 May 1878, Page 2

THE HON MR BALLANCE BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

The lion Mr Ballauce addressed his constituents at Marion on Monday evening. After reviewing the chief events of last, session Mr Bai lance Stated that his principal grounds for supporting Sir George Grey were, that the Premier was a man who was wedded to his principles, of which principles he mostly approved ; and that Sir George Grey was a man of clean hands. Mr Ballancc then referred to a belief which had appeared to exist to a certain extent, that the present Government intended to revive provincialism, and to refute tin's charge, which' ho declared to be most unfounded, Mr Ballauce quoted from the speech of Sir Win. Fitzhcrbert, of the Hon Mr Macandrew, and from Mr Larnach’s financial statement. Mr Ballauce declared that the Government had no intentions of goingback. to old institutions, or of separatingthe Islands. ■ They were ready to abide by the decisions of the legislature, and to carry out the measures the}- had adopted, and to strengthen them by the principle of centralization, which means delegating to local bodies the powers previously held by the Government. With regard to the extension of the franchise Mr Ballauce said the principal features of the proposed' franchise, of which he could apeak authoritively, were leasehold franchise, ratepayers franchise—under which Maoris should be included, with only a right to vote as long as they retained their qualification—household franchise, and residential franchise, in which lodgers franchise and miners rights franchise should ho included. He would hold a residence of three months in the colony necessary to qualify a person under the last-mentioned. He would further hope to sec the .right of voting extended to women. He would be in favour of a class tax upon land on conditions stated. Ho considered the principle policy of any Government should be to cut up the land of the colony that it might he cultivated. He believed the effects of recent meetings between the Premier and some of the most refractory and obstinate tribes of natives would be beneficial. The .Maoris were being openly and honestly dealt with, and the Government were plainly telling them what they required. The .Native Land Bill of next session would contain a colonizing policy to enable the poorer inhabitants to obtain small areas of hind. The amnia] revenue had exceeded all expectations and would reduce the expected deficit to £IUO,OOO, which would be made up by retrenchment and other means. Mr Ballauce offered to resign if called upon to do so by a majority j)f Ids constituents. Three hearty cheers concluded the proceedings.