Mr A. J. Cadman, M.H.R., at Paeroa.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 476, 31 May 1890, Page 2

Mr A. J. Cadman, M.H.R., at Paeroa.

Alr A. J. Cadman. met liisconstituents at the Public Hall, Pueroa, on Saturday evening last, and was warmly received by a good representative audience from all parts of thp electorate. Air J. Tl* Alpere, County Chairman, was voted to the Chair.

Mr Cadman explained that his reason for not again standing for this part of his present electorate was, that he found it almost impossible, living, ns lie did at Coromandel, to give that attention which the constituency naturally thorn*lit they required. As this \yas the last session of the present Parliament, and another general election was close at hand, it would shortly he necessary fqr the representatives of the people to not ovdy express their opinion on the. land question, lut oi ly*r maters d>e ly affecting the well being of the electors. It was his intention to refer prii c : pally, to the work done during the past session, which was one of the most miserable, that hal e\er been held, although it had witnessed the gaining by the Liberal party of one of the mn.-t unporiant, victories that Liberalism bad yet achieved, viz. : One man one vote. Mr CiOm n then proceeded to review the work of the past session. During the session 142 Bills had been introduced, five of which were private Bids, and 137 public. Of these 64 were passed, aim 73 were either dropped or defeated, so that notwithstanding all that had been said aU-nt the session being U barren p ■:*, no Iss than 64 new measures had been Mined to the Statute Book_ A Bill which was likely to come up next session, and in fact to be brought forward year after year until it was passed, was for the qlection of the Governoi by the people, themselves. This Bill emanated from the Liberal or Radical party, having been introduced by Sir George Grey, and as there was a growing reeling in its favour, he thought it would eventually become law not only in New Zealand, hut also in the adjoining colo- , nies. Hitherto any person who had the requisite qualification in several electorates could record a vote in each of them, but by the adoption of the principle of one man one vote at the last session of Parliament this could not pow be done. As the law now stood, and elector could only vote in one electorate, and had only one vote at a general election, though if he had a qualification in two or more electorates lie could choose the one in • which lie intended to record his vote. For instance, those residents oF Parawai wlio were qualified to vote in the Thames and Te Aroba electorates at the coming general election could decile in which of the two electorates they would give their vote, though they could not do so in both, as was the case previously. He wouid remind the electors that it was time to see that their names were on the rolls, while he also thought it was a gopd opportunity for Government to purge tue rolls and get rid of all the deadheads by telling the electors to register afresh. Referring to the new electorates, Mr Cadman said he did not think that Ivatikali and Te Aroha were the best boundaries that could have been chosen. In their savings the Government had retained a vote of L 350 for Puriri, and L4OO for the Waitekauri Valley road. The abolition of the gold export duty was a matter for serious consideration, as was also the price paid for gold by the Banks. He thought the examination of mine managers ought not to ! be made too stringent, as many men wfio yyere capable managers might not be prepared to take up the examination papers; Tributing and protection of claims hal had te earnest attention ’of the Goldfields Committee, and the Committee had made a .number of recommendations to the Government, none of:which bad, however, been carried out. He thought the local bodies should have power to purchase native lands, and more extended powers than they now had. After several questions had been asked.and replied to, votes of thahus were accorded Mr Cadman and the Chair.—Tribune,