MR MOSS AT PARNELL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2376, 28 October 1880, Page 2

MR MOSS AT PARNELL.

Mr Moss, M.11.1L, addressed his constituents at Parnell on Tuesday evening, lie accused the Government of nearly creating a panic by exaggerating the deficiency in the colonial revenue, and of retrenching only under compulsion. He denounced the 10 per cent all round reduction as demoralising, and he censured Ministers for introducing a multitude of incomprehensible measures, and their dealings with native lands which were being passed with the consent of the Government into the hands of speculators and monopolists to the Injury of settlement. He regretted that the Auckland members had become estranged, and pointed out that there was a greater community of interests between these districts than between Auckland and Canterbury—the latter having sold its land, lie condemned the Maori Prisoners’ Pull as arbitrary, and the payment of Dr Pollen’s alleged pension arrears as unprincipled. Inferring to iinance he contended that taxation through the Customs had reached its limit, and pointed out that with the view of making things look pleasant it was intended to balance the revenue for the year by meeting the expenditure for eleven months. Centralism had proved a failure, and those who had demolished the provinces now acknowledged their blunder. He believed there would be an agitation for a form of local government similar to what they had lost before long, and that the present minority on this question would be changed into a majority, as the colony was sick of administration from Wellington. He concluded by referring to the discontent and uneasiness which was becoming prevalent all over the colony, indicating that public opinion was ripening, and that extreme measures and a radical change of policy would speedily be forced upon the Legislature. In reply to a question about the Patere block, Mr Moss said that the road to the Lake district would go through that block. That was a further reason why they should hold on to it. Mr Wood moved—■“ That this meeting disapproves of the Government having abandoned the purchase of the Patere in favor of private speculators.” A motion was carried that a vote of thanks bo accorded to Mr Moss for his address, and another of conlidence in him was carried unanimously.