THE EAST COAST ELECTION.

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 50, 17 May 1884, Page 7

THE EAST COAST ELECTION.

Tpiere were about 7'H) people present at th' 1 me^tinq: held at Gisborne on Alonilay night last. The meeting Avas almost nn.inirnously in favour of Sir Julius Vogrl, only about ten dissenting. Mr Gannon, one of the candidates, took the lead advocating: for Vogel, atul proposed a resolution that the rest stand asi le. Sir Julius .sent a long letter on the condition of the colony, Aviiioh was road. Tn it he goes minutely into the present depression and ii.s causes. He asserts that the main cause is the uncertainty and disquietude caused to property owners during the last feAV years by the various taxes and proposals for taxes, so that confidence in the valuo of property has much decreased. As a remedy ho would abolish the property tax, believing that some uthev taxation is devisable which shall not have such a disastrous ami indirect effect. lie asserts his belief that in the matter of Education nn equally good article cnul.l be got at ranch less cost. In telegraphed replies to enquiries re native m itt >rs Sir Julius says : — I have not closely followed the ua'ive land policy alterations. Before leaving, I favoured a Bill by which the Government were to act as agents for the sale of native hinds, charging a co nmissiou. How far this is practicable now 1 can't say. I do not think- in good faith the Government can assume the old pre-emptive rig! it. lam strongly of opinion that the natives should be treated honourably and justly ; at the same time it may fairly be questioned w'lethor they s'lould not, in sonn shape, contribute to the cost of the railway, wiiioh, posing through t.'ieir land, will make it of great vahie. The question is involved in consi lerable difficulty. 1 am profoundly anxious to see the North JMnml settled, as it is cnpable of supporting an^ iui.tidnse population. The w'.ole colony is jnti'resied in promoting* suo.i settlement. { .',..,

An Auckland Evening Sfcnr reported interviewed Mr W. L. Rees, in' order to hoar his intentions, and we append a hrief resume* of the report on the interview :—": — " We first inquired if Mr Rees was determined to contest the seat against Sir Julius Vogel and any other candidates who migh*fc come forward, and his reply was ' Oerttunly I do.' To this enipathic declaration he added twat he won! 1 notwithstanding any opposition that might bo brought forward. Mr Reos said lie onsidered t l ie grave questions of interest at the present t me were the opening of native lands ahd the settlement of the native difficulty, voluntary immigration accompanied by capital, the throwing" open of the country by the nuiin tiunk lin n , and the building of a few harbours of colonial importance, snch as Gisborne, so as to tap all the different districts and give good ouilets for produce, thus assisting to increase the commerce and wealth of the country. We inquired if Mr Rees was in favour of the

KR SUMPTION OF PRE-EMPTIVE UIGHTOVER NATIVE LANDS by the Government. Mr Rees replied tiiat lie was not in favour of pre-cmi tivo right solely. He 'believed in the natives being alloweil to sell to the (Tovernmont or through the 'Government to private individuals, companies or anyone else. His plan, and he considered it the only plan that woul 1 meet the views of the natives and provide justice in dealings with hinds, was to stop all individual dealings. By that term ho meant native individuals selling. Ho considered that they should ho made to sell or lease in public at tribal meetings, such dealings to be ratified by the New Zealand Land Court.

NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY. Mr .Roes expressed himself very strongly n\ favour of proceeding without farther delay in the construction of the line. He still he would undertake to settle the whole native difficulty without cost and without violence, and get the natives to s>'ive the ltiti I required and all reserves necessary for stations. &c. Wahanui and the leading Ngatiin.iniapoto chiefs, he ailded, promised him hist year that this should be done. Mr ltees then proceeded to say : ' I would undertake to go into the Waikato in a fortnignt, and get this done, but not while the present wretched Government is in office. Those native both hate and fear Bryce ' We were given to understand by Mr Rees that he is not by any means an admirer of the present immigration policy of the Government. He said he believed in the introduction of people of all classes, including both employers and employed, but they should not bp paid for by the State. They should ratuer be induced to come by the lands being thrown open, and especially native lands. He believed in special settlers who came to the colony paying their own passages and with money to commence life here. Mr Rees expressed himself in favour of reducing the cost of administering the Education Act as far as consistent with efficiency. He thought taxation should be largely borne by those most able to do so, and would oppose any increase of the Customs duties, lv conclusion, Mr Rees declared himself an uncompromising opponent of the present Government." Mr Rees is quite confident of winning. The decision of the meeting on Monday night was come to, he believes, in great part because of reports circulated that he was not going to stnnd.