MR WAKEFIELD AT LEESTON

Temuka Leader, Issue 1178, 17 May 1884, Page 3

MR WAKEFIELD AT LEESTON

At Leeston last Thursday night Mr Wakefield addressed a crowded meeting in the Town Hall. He claimed that he had first made a dead set against further borrowing, and had advocated economy in the public expenditure. He accused the Government of deliberately setting the North against the South by the grain tariff. He blamed them for nut coming sooner before the public with a policy. He considered their policy unsatisfactory, and that federation and land tenure were not questions to be discussed now. He bad a notion of what the Government measure for Civil Service reform was to be, and did not like it. Its object was simply to deprive the succeeding Government of patronage, after the present Government exercising it for seven years. The professions of desire for economy made by the Government were evidently insincere from the fact that under the Bankruptcy Act a number of new officials had been appointed. He thought the coming session was likely to give greater cause for shame than the last, which was saying a good deal. The speeches of Sir George Grey had not inspired confidence in him as a leader of the people, and he (Mr Wakefield) was entirely opposed to the principles enunciated by Sir George Grey. Taking the unearned increment was nothing else but wholesale robbery. He did not agree with Mr Montgomery's taxation of absentees and large landholders, but wished half the British peerage would follow the example of the Duke of Manchester and Lord Lyttelton. He hoped the colony would try to get out of its present difficulties honestly and wisely, and be believed there would be plenty of men of experience and honesty of purpose quite willing to came forward and to restore confidence. Of Sir Julius Yogel he desired to speak with every delicacy. If Sir Julius got into Parliament, he was likely to take a prominent part, and his first proposal would be to plunge the colony further into debt. He hoped this would not be accepted by the people. He could quite imagine a politican saying ‘Let ns have more burrowing. In four years the Panama canal will be open and all will go on swimmingly.’ It was nothing else but gambling. He counselled the people to bear the hard times rather than discount future good times, which would come eventually. Sir Julius Vogel was entitled to a fair field and no favour. He had always opposed Sir Julius politically but was not going to be one of those who would hound him out of the colony. He was not going to propound any policy but intended to indentify himself with men of moderate views and disinterested motives, and believed there would be a large party in the House who would take up the same position. He did not intend to take part in the impending struggle for office. A unanimous vote of thanks was accorded him at the close of his speech, which lasted over two hours.