POLITICAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2153, 13 February 1880, Page 2

POLITICAL.

MR W. D. STEWART AT DUNEDIN. Mr Donnie Stewart addressed Tils consititucnts in the Temperance Hall, Dunedin, last night. Mr Keith Ramsay occupied the chair. Mr Stewart dealt with four subjects—the change of Government, the reforms of the session, taxation, and the administration of the present Ministry. He claimed to have been consistent in not supporting Sir G. Grey, in supporting Mr Macandrew, and in not supporting Mr Hall; and said that he had never intended to accept oliice under Air Hall, and had no expectation of obtaining otlice under Mr Macandrew. He said he regarded the present Ministry as being a renewal of the continuous Ministry,” which had proved so obnoxious to the colony and which had been broken up by Sir G. Grey and party. The present, Ministry he said, were in sympathy with the wealthy class as distinguished from the great body of the people. The reforms carried by the present Government were the measures of their predecessors,

and the Redistribution of Seats Bill Had been purposely shelved by Mr Hall’s Ministry. Mr Stewart condemned the Property Tax as unwise, and as calculated to seriously affect the property of the colony ; and spoke of its main object as being to get rid of the Land Tax, which had had the indirect effect of breaking up several large estates. Mr Stewart referred to other matters which cannot, within the space at our disposal be noticed here The following vote was proposed: “That this meeting, while thanking Mr Stewart for his address cannot express their confidence in him as, representative for the city of Dunedin.” A vote of confidence, as an amendment, was carried.