CAPLAIN KERR AT TEAROHA. TAURANGA ELECTION

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 221, 24 September 1887, Page 2

CAPLAIN KERR AT TEAROHA.

TAURANGA ELECTION

SoiiiiWUAT unexpectedly Captr.in Kerr, the thud candidate Soy the ropicaentMion of (lie Tauram>a electoiate, ani\ed at Te Aioha on Wednesday, ami l\) posteis niul othciuiM*, made known Ih^ intention of addiessing the electors in the Public 1 1-vll the same evening. Considering the bliort notue, ami the di^reable a goo.P.y numbei of pei'on^ a^sfMiibled at the appointed hour, theie. iiingneaily ono hu.nlrcd and fifty peoph* pieient. Mi 1 1). »J. Fra'/ier was cal'ed to tho chair, ami bruily introduced (lie eandi lato, soliciting for hi:n a fair and patient healing. In commencing his address Captiin Ken- made reftence to his hunied at rival at Te Aruha, and to the latene-s of his appeal anco in the Held as ;i candidate tor the sulTra^es of the electors, mnkiiig allusion also to the fact of his being a sti anger in this poition of the distuct, lie then expla"ned as his loa^ons for -eekin n r election, that he had been uitji'd to coiiH' for waul by a Inrgo number (»f perbons in his own neighbonrhoo(), and that he considered tho electorate should be represented in the next pailiament by a man who had the interests of the distiict thoioutjhly at heart. He believed that Mr Ves»y Stewart would have been a good member, and have done good service to the constituency, and it that gentleman had stood he (Captain Kerr) would not have been a candidate. As a proof that his own candidature was not unpopular, ho might say that he had received votes of confidence at Tauranga and other places where he was well known. (Speaking of district matters, he considered Tauranga had been unfairly treated by Government. It had been deprived of its pilot service, and sheep inspector, and in other matters it had been unkindly dealt with. He believed the present Government would uot long exist after nest meeting of Parliament, and thought it very improbable that all the Ministers would be returned. It was- likely there would be a new combination, which would include some of the old minsters. Referring 1 incidentally to the Minister of Mines, he thought that praise was due to Mr Larnach for the faithful and energetic manner in which lig had conducted the business of his department. So far as the good of the distiict was concerned he (Captain Kerr) beleived that the member should bo entirely independent of p.u-ty, and that it would be a mistake to return either a .decided supporter 01 opponent of the present' Government. Wifcli reference to rctronihinent ho

thought pi'Hiaps the most s«ti.N factory way of hrngi-s* » 1 out a itilmlion of' oxpendituie would he i lie- ; |i|)oinlimMJt of a llujui Commiseion,, or some committee to enquire into the whole matter, and rcjoit to pailiament thereon. Concerning Education, he considered, speaking, geneially, that money could nut bo moie expended then in Ibid direction. Tlio present- system of pi unary education should not he infer lei red with, kit the high"r branches might partly be p,u<J for by p.mnU, More money than hitheito might be '■pent ou scholarships, au 1 in teehnic.il eduction alhO inoie might bo done. Speaking on Taxation, the candidate i eft i red to the conflicting views of his opponents on this mat lei. A laud tax and income tax had been fcuggestod. To impose both would b? unjust to l,m lownurs, as it would me>m taxing both capital and interest Hia own opinion was that the existing propeity tax was fairer than the others would bo it combined, lie believed that professional men should lie taxed lather than farmers, and that the only way to get at them was by means of au income tax. With regard to the expenditure for Defence Woiks, he thought the outcry against it was not justifiable. Such works were most necessary, and money spent in such a way was an excellent insurance. In this respect Government hud used the money well. Referring next to the subject of Pro tection, he said he did not believe tho Colony could continue on the old lines followed at Home. Ho thought that when articles could be produced here such industries ought to bo fostered, but at same time lie would not bo in favor of imposing heavy duties on necessary articles that could not be produced. All articles of luxury he would tax heavily. At this stage Captain Kerr said there were many subjects thnt he could yet sefer to, but he hardly knew what the meeting would most like him to dwell upon, Perhaps the best thing he could then do would be to request the meeting to put to him anyquestiong that might be thought fit and in replying, ho would be glad to fully expound his view?. A number of questions were then put of which tho following are the principle. i Question :If returned will you vote for retaining the present Government in in power ; . Answer : If it came to a vote of confidence, or no confidence, he would vote against the Gov< rnment. Question : Will you state how much money has been expended ot Uotorua and at Te Aroha, and whether you think Te Aroha has had a fair share ? Answer : Thought Koroma was entitled to more than Te Aioh-i. There the Government, hail locked up the country by proclaim 1!)^1 !)^ a reserve of 10\),000 acres, and it w«:> only light that some amen is should be mnde to that distikt. Here the railway had been formed, and other public \uuks undertaken, which had done good L> tie plat t? ; mi 1 the>e ad\ antages might be regaidcd as a tct off agpin.^t the large expendituie at Kotoiui. (The speaker thru pioeeeded t<> make, comparisons of the p/ace^ his Ntatement^ being highly d bapjuo\ed ot by Hie moetiiiLT. lltMe \\i\b much boohocMi)'^ and an attempt wasmulu by the omlid-Ue to quali y his remarks, but it was evident he had made a big mistake and had fallen very considerably in the estimation of those whom he was a hhe^ini:.) Other ([.lest ions followed, and at tho clo^e Mr Jan. Mills piopise! ft vote ot thanks to Captain lv»ii lor bis M'hln^. '1 his \wii -econ led by Mr M. Ilotcliin, an 1 Cdiiied, but, before the motion put a huge number uf tlio^e present had left the hall. The meeting terminated uilh the mual compliment to tho chaii.