THE GENERAL ELECTION.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2718, 5 December 1881, Page 3

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

mb w. j. newton at pareora. [communicated.] Mx'W. J. Newton addressed a meeting at Pareora on Friday evening. Mr Aplin occupied the chair. He stated that his reason for coining forward was that neither of the other two candidates who were in the field before him were farmers—a clavss who ought to be represented. Dr Fisher was a runholder and Captain Sutter a townsman. Mr Newton then detailed his views. Wo have already published Mr Newton’s views about the disposal of the Crown lands, in our report of his meeting at tbeWasbdyko, viz., cutting them up into lots of 250, 2500, and 6000. acre lots, according co quality, and selling on deferred payments or on lease, at five per cent on the price, this to be in the case of the agricultural lands £1 per acre, and for the pastoral lands 10s per acre. It would be very easy, be pointed out, tor any man to pay £l2 10s a y ear if he got nothing out of Ids land. He could easily earn that by shearing and fencing for his neighbors. Had such a scheme been in force some time ago the country would now be in a better state. At present, Mr Newton pointed out, a squatter pays only £65 u year for 5000 acres of pastoral country r Avbile at 5 per cent on 10s an acre tenant would pay £125. He reckoned that 5000 acres should carry 2000 sheep, whose wool and increase should yield £6OO a year, returning a handsome profit to the small shepherd farmer. He contended that each of these small runs would employ almost as much labor as the present large ones, exc-ept at shearing' time. Dr Fisher’s properly, for instance, ought to ha keeping twenty occupiers instead of only ori", and that property was not a very large one. The squatters were now occupying the waste lands to the country’s loss, and as their leases had really terminated they had no claim to retain the lands, and prevent a better use being made of them. The Jiigh laud could be kept for summer grazing, and the low lands kept for

winter. In the matter of taxation he favored a land tax| on all freehold areas over say 100 acres of Id per acre; over 1000 at 2d.Bestdes this there should be a town property tax, a tax on mortgages, an income tax, and if further taxation was necessary, a tax on all wool over 20 bales from one estate. This, said Mr Newton, would make the holders of large holdings contribute a fairer preportion to the revenue in return for the injury they do to the country by holding such large territories. The railway tariff pressed hard on the farmer as compared with the farmer, and he did not think that wool and wheat should be carried for the same rates, weight for weight. The value of the goods should be considered. The farmers were the stay of the country, but it was not fair that they should bear their own burdens and the squatters’ burdens too. He was strongly in favor of encouraging local industries, as those employed on them would be steady consumers of the produce of the farmers and other classes, and their labor would keep money in the country. County Councils should be merged into Road Boards, and a practical engineer be called in to settle all questions requiring engineering experience. The outlying districts should be specially represented on the Boards, so that they should be able to secure a fair share of the expenditure of rates, He would be in favor of the capitation grant being given to any school of reasonable size, taught by a certificated teacher, and bringing the children up to a defined standard. He did not believe in Bible reading in schools, as religion was not to he successfully taught while a child was under fear of the lash in case of failure to learn lessons. He considered the child’s mother the person best fitted to instil religion and correct principles into its mind, and if she did not do it she did not care much about it being done. He avowed himself a free trader, or rather a “ fair ” trader. He would have free trade towards any country that dealt freely with us. The system of agricultural insurance wanted regula ting. At present a man could insure a stack of fifteen bushels crop as of a forty-bushel crop, and the temptation must be very strong to put a match to it. Not more than one-fourth of the estimated value should be advanced. If such were the law the prisons would be relieved, and people of weak moral courage would be freed from a great temptation. He believed in encouraging the Volunteer movement, and would like to see our rulers able to point to every man in the colony as the “bricks” in the colonial walls of defence, as Agesilaus, King of Sparta, did in his day, in reply to an Asian monarch. He was a Republican, and would point to America and France as instances of successful government upon republican principles. Those countries had very little national debt, and but little taxation. In America a man bought his land out and out. In New Zealand, though he paid dear enough for it, he did not get a clear title, for his land was part of the security for a debt, of 27 millions and he had to pay part of the interest on that debt. This was not a sound or satisfactory state for the country to be in, and the sooner the debt was lightened the better. He hoped to see a more liberal government established next session, and something done to improve the slate of.the country generally.