POST SESSIONAL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2369, 20 October 1880, Page 2

POST SESSIONAL.

SECOND EDITION

MR ALFRED SAUNDERS ON THE STUMP, Mr Saunders, Member for Cheviot, addressed a meeting of his constituents at Kaikoura last evening. He apologised for not addressing the electors last recess and advanced as an excuse his appointment on the Civil Service Commission. He explained that although he had been elected on the “ Grey ticket ” the cause of his defection or “ ratting ” was due to maladministration, extravagance, incompetence, want of brains, and absence of principle on the part of the Grey Government. He denounced Sheehan as a reckless spendthrift. He did not approve of Major Atkinson’s policy, but he considered the Major an eminent financier. He now supported aGo vernment whose chief was one of a class he had always been opposed to, ho having first been a runholder and not a large landholder ; and he had in the early days been prejudiced against Mr Hall. But he be lieved there was not a more honorable, conscientious, hard-working man than the present Premier, who worked like a slave in small matters, yet did not grasp large subjects as he should. He reviewed the other members of the Ministry. Mr Bryee he considered sensible and honorable, Mr Rolleston conscientious though eccentric, but Mr Oliver was the weakest member of the Government. He thought horses, milch cows, sheep up to a thousand, and agri cultural implements should bo exempted from taxation. He thought that if the country was to hold its own among tho nations of the world it must continue the education vote. He took an extremely gloomy view of the financial position of the colony, and though he did not wish to appear an alarmist, he feared we might have to repudiate our debts, and the country be brought into disgrace, and colonists made afraid to show their faces amongst honest men. The following resolution was unanimously carried—“ That this meeting desires to thank Mr Saunders for his address, and for the great service he has rendered to the colony as Chairman of the civil service Commission and in the House of Representatives, and assures Mr Saunders that he possesses the entire confidence of the electors.”