MR STEVENS, M.H.R., AT CHRISTCHURCH.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2523, 22 April 1881, Page 2

MR STEVENS, M.H.R., AT CHRISTCHURCH.

Mr E. C. J. Stevens addressed his constituents last evening in the Academy of Music, Christchurch. There was a large attendance and the Mayor presided. Mr Stevens referred to the alterations in the franchise, and said he was in favor of extending the time for polling from 4 till 8 p.m., or even later. Population should be the basis of representation, but be feared this principle would not be adopted by the present Parliament. The financial deficit encountered by the present Government had been greatly exaggerated, but the figures were alarming, and the colony had nobly responded when asked to meet the difficulty. There would be an apparent surplus on this year’s revenue, but an actual deficit of about £130,000. He approved generally of the Government system of retrenchment and taxation, contending that a property tax is less inquisitorial than an income tax. He also approved of the change made in Native affairs. In conclusion he expressed the opinion that the times were improving and if the people would only submit to be taxed with sufficient fortitude the country would go ahead. Mr Stevens was severely catechised respecting his views on taxation, as the following will show

Mr Reese wanted to know how the property tax caught the produce value in the 30 or 40 ships which had gone Home to England. That produce was probably the property of English capitalists, and the grain had left our shores. Mr Stevens —A man pays on the land on which he grows his wool, and on the sheep which produce the wool. Mr Eeese—Yes, but he don’t pay on the wool. (Laughter.) Mr Stevens—You arc favourable to an income tax. I don’t think an income tax advisable, nor convenient or applicable to this country. (Applause.) A Voice—Would it be fair to tax absentees ? Mr Stevens—They pay their tax like everybody else. The Voice—l would make them pay Income tax as well. They live on the country, and out of the country, and they are the loafers. (Laughter.) A Voice—Was it human, or fair piay, to imprison the Maoris without trial ? (Applause.) Mr Stevens said that the circumstances under which the first Bill was passed rendered the measure absolutely necessary. At the conclusion of the proceedings a vote of thanks was moved, and a vote of confidence as an amendment. The latter was declared carried. MR ORMOND AT WAIPAWA. Mr Ormond, M.H.R., addressed his constituents in the Town Hall,Waipara, last evening. He referred to Major Atkinson’s speech as a lengthy defence of the property tax. Mr Hall was a compound of blue books and statistics, but although he had introduced a large number of Bills last session hardly any of them had been passed for the simple reason that a measure that would answer Canterbury would not answer Auckland, and the Bills were swamped by conflicting interests. Parliamentary work had been relegated to Royal Commission's which he held to be inconvenient, and a blow aimed at Constitutional Government. He spoke in terms of approval of a poor rate which he held to be a necessity. After reviewing the various proposals of the Government he proceeded to the question of taxation contending that as a means of raising revenue an income tax was incomparably better than a property tax, pointing out that the latter discouraged investment, and that to the property tax was due the depreciation that had taken place in the value of property, and the unprecedented over-abundance of capital now seeking investment. Recently the property tax had been lengthily discussed in the local papers. The arguments of its supporters would have set him against it if he had before believed in it. Many of those who supported an income tax also advocated the land tax in addition. He did not agree with this, but he would rather see an income tax and a property tax exempting improvements than the present property tax, as he believed it would be better for the colony. Land he agreed should bear special burdens, but he thought that in the near future it would have to bear the greater part of the cost of the education system, and all the burden of local works on the withdrawal of the subsidies. Ho denied that he had advocated the sale of the railways. All he had done was to suggest such a contingency. From the statements in the southern papers it was evident that the railway department and the public did not work in harmony. There was too much redtapoisin. He did not believe in stopping the construction of railways as the Government had done. If sufficient inducement were held out, he thought English capitalists would be found ready to finish the North lines and the central linos in the South Island. He referred to the unsatisfactory condition of local bodies, pointing out that the County Councils and Road Boards were engaged in exactly the same work and that tins was a waste of governing power. He had assisted in abolishing the premises, hut he admitted it was-’mis-take and that the country was suffering from the want of local government. He spoke in high terms of the present Government, but said the time had not yet arrived when Major Atkinson could got his period of political rest. A vote of confidence was carried.

A special general meeting of the Timaru A. and P. Association will be held tomorrow at the the Secretary’s office; Maclean and Stewarts Builnings, at 2 p.m. lor the election of President and Secretary, for the ensuing year, and consideration of notice of motion re changing the day of monthly meeting to Saturday. A committee meeting will afterwards be held. A Government notification appears in another column having reference to certain land on the banks of the Orari, which is about to be thrown open for application on deferred payment in lots of five acres and upwards. Mr John Ord, manager for Mr John Murdoch, notifies that Mr Murdoch has opened a timber yard in connection with his Southland Sawmills, in the premises lately occupied by Alpheus Hayes, corner of North and Latter streets, and is prepared to supply all sorts of building timber, and to make special arrangements with con tractors and builders. Special Announcement.—New Winter Drapery—Wood and Smith beg to announce that they have opened a splendid assortment of Autumn and Winter Drapery, comprising an immense lot of Maids’, Ladies’, and Children’s Jackets and Ulsters, at exceptionally low prices. New Millinery. —Shepherd’s Buildings, Main South Road, Timaru.— [Advt.]