THE NEW ZEALAND STUMP.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2478, 28 February 1881, Page 2

THE NEW ZEALAND STUMP.

MESSRS SUTTON AND RUSSELS AT NAPIER.

Hapieh, Feb. 26,

Messrs Sutton and Eussell addressed their constituents last night. There was a moderate attendance and a quiet meeting. The speeches were chiefly resumes of the events of last session. Both members disapproved of the principle of the beer tax, but upheld the property tax, preferring it to either an income or a land tax. Mr Sutton

spoke at length on the Patetcre question quoting from papers hid before the House to show that by far the greater part of the £14,000 charged against Patetere was wrongfully charged. He said that Eewi’s Auckland spree, costing £IOOO, was charged against Patetere, though he had" no interest in it, and this was a fair sample of the greater part of the Government claims. He threw out a challenge to Sir George Grey to fulfil his threat to stump the country on this question. The fact was that moneys spent all over the country, the vouchers for which would not pass the Audit office, were charged to the Patetere block. He might, be wrong, but be really believed that it was the Patetcre and other like matters that drove Mr Bryce to resign. He said he was doing a gross injustice, and rather than continue doing it he preferred to resign. He (Mr Sutton) regretted that, the Premier or some other Minister had not thought fit to take the public into bis confidence and tell them why Mr Bryce resigned. He would not believe that the cause was that which had been assigned that Mr Bryce desired to march upon Parihaka to arrest Hiroki or Te Whiti. It was more than probable that there was another cause. They had* of couise, all heard about the visit of the Governor’s aide-de-camp to Parihaka, and they seemed very likely to have had something to do with Mr Bryce’s resignation. If it were so, if the course that was pursued was in reality forced upon the Ministry by the Governor, their proper course would have been to resign, and the country would soon have put. them back into office again. Mr llnssell devoted great attention to the subject of education, speaking warmly in favor of the continuance of the present system. Both members expressed regret at Mr Bryce’s retirement though Mr Bussell took exception to his policy as contained in the Native Lands Sales Bill introduced last session. Mr Sutton, referring to a rumor that Mr Stout would come forward to lead (he Opposition expressed great admiration of the late Attorney-General, and hoped that the rumor was well founded. He considered Mr Stout one of the ablest men who ever sat in the House, and the country suffered a misfortune when it lost his services. Votes of thanks and confidence were carried by a large majority.