WAVERLEY.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 331, 19 June 1878, Page 2

WAVERLEY.

(FROM OUR OWN GORRESPO Me Bktce addressed his con ' in the Town Hall, on Wednesday, one 12th instant. Mr Bridge having been voted to the chair, read the notice convening the meeting, and briefly introduced Mr Bryce. Mr Bi'yce commenced by saying that ho had always thought that direct communication between a member and his constituents was most necessary, in order to ascertain that they agreed. Ho considered that any representative who found that lie and his constituents differed, and that real confidence was not established between them, should resign his scat, a course which lie himself would certainly adopt. The House not being in session, he would commence his address with the railway question, as being the one of greatest local interest. He had been told that it had been said of him, that he had shewn himself lax in the matter, but assured his hearers that such was not the case. On the. contrary, he had felt great interest in the matter, and had done all in his power to forward it as much as possible. At a meeting - held here some time since, it appeared that the prevalent idea was that the line was to be taken near the beach. He had written to Wellington, asking to bo supplied with a plan of the district, showing the different trial lines. He had not been able to get the plan, but had received a letter stating that what had been done was purely experimental. He would not attempt to dictate where the line was to go, but he •would ask the Government for time to be allowed for due consideration, before the line was finally determined on. He had received a letter from the Chairman of the County Council, on the subject, urging him to. use his interest in the

matter, but ho could assure them no pressure would be required to make him do all in his power to forward the interests of the district in the matter. There had been a meeting here, to conside - the advisability of sending delegates to Wellington to push their claims on the Government. If tho delegates could go armed with statistics which would prove to the Government that the line would pay, good might be done by the measure, but there was one clause in the resolution that he must object to, viz., the one relating to bringing “ pressure to bear on the Government.” The only pressure that could be, brought to bear, would be political pressure, and such a clause would leave the impression on the Assembly that this was looked on as a political railway, and would be destructive to all chance of success. The Education Bill Mr Bryce the country might be proud of. Edmlition was now free, secular, and compulsory. If anything, he considered it rather too free. He believed in fees, and could not see that the system of fees must neces-sarilyaffectcompulsion-could not imagine that fees would be generally objected to. He had voted for the feeing system and would do so again. Believed that secular system was the only one that held out any reasonable hope of permanence and that any other system must fall through. Compulsory clauses need not be carried out with undue severity. The school committees should exercise discretion in this particular. Thought the present mode of 'committee elections would give rise to inconvenience and in all probability would have to be altered, but they had not yet had a fair trial. The speaker upheld the sale of land on the deferred payment system as giving young men and men of small capital a chance.—Government should have preemptive right of purchase of native land to prevent monopoly of large tracts of land by monied speculators. Was glad to tell his hearers that 10,000 acres of the Momahaki Block were to be set aside for sale on deferred payment system.— As to payment of members he considered “ Payment of members” was really not the question. It was simply a question of the amount to be paid. He had always voted against increase, but must vote for the measure. He put it to the meeting—Could they in the district get men to go to Wellington to represent them at their own expense, and if two or three rich men conld be found willing, would they always be the men they would choose to represent them. They might be assured that it was the cheapest way

to pay. It reminded him of story of the workman who asking ior employpient said he wanted no wages, bat would be content with little things ho could pick up about the place. That man was shown the gate. If the non-payment system were adopted there would be too many little things picked up. Taxes should be levied on property, but not exclusively on land. He thought there were many kinds of property besides land that could be taxed. It would be next to impossible to tax incomes in the colony. Incomes were too variable. He doubted whether there was a man in the room who would not Snd it very difficult to say exactly what his income was. The franchise law wanted amendment but he did not think it altogether bad enough to cause uneasiness. Mr Bryce touched briefly on thefinancial state of the colony, which he considered fictitious, and advised local bodies to be prepared for a reaction, when they would find that economy will be necessary, but out of which he believed the colony would come triumphant. Mr Bryce then thanked the meeting for their attontontion and a vote of “ Thanks and confidence” was proposed by Mr Milne seconded by Mr W. Wilson, and carried unanimously. Vote of thanks to the chairman proposed by Mr Peat, seconded by Mr T. Bryce, closed the meeting. [The above should have appeared in last (issue, but through the Breakwater ceremony we were unable to insert it. —Ed. Mail.]