THE HON. MR RICHARDSON AT KAIAPOI.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1570, 19 April 1887, Page 4

THE HON. MR RICHARDSON AT KAIAPOI.

Mr Richardson addressed bis constituents »t Kaiapoi on Friday night. He said that though there were 200 miles more railway to bo worked, the expenditure had yery hltle .incr^sed., 1 , f ]Ee pmild not underltatyl the Native Minister and himself had done more than any one else to prevent the settlement of the King Country. Concerning Native land transactions, all Government could be asked to do was to make all Crown grants issued by Land Courts, which should be done in all cases where no fraud had been' proved; He was convinced that one Railway Board on the Victorian plan would tend to centralise everythin&sin Wellington more than under the present system. He had prepared a Bill on lines similar to those adopted in Germany. It provided for three Boards, (One for Auckland District, one for Napier, Wel'ington,!and Taranaki, and one for >he ; South island ; members to be elected by the Cluimbprs of Commerce, Mayors of Boroughs, and Chairman of County Councils. Each Beard would sit during the recess ; that Uor Auckland District in , Auckland twice a year and oftener if necessary ; that for the Central District in Wellington, Wanganui, and Rapier, or such other places as necessary; three’times a year; that for the South Island at least once at Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill. The Minister of Public Works, or such officer, on the railway staff as he might direct, to attend each meeting, to give information. The Minister to act on the Board’s recommendations, to bo reported to the House, and the Minister to give his' reason for not acting on them. Boards to hear all complaints as to rales or against the conduit of officer*. He showed that the railways in New Zealand are worked as economically as those of other countries, taking into consideration the different conditions of the colony. Reductions in rail way. rales, had affected the revenue, to the' extent of £50,009 per year, The falling off in the traffic was attributable to the eno'rmou* decrease in the production : of the 1 principle articles winch the Railway returns depended, upon. .The receipts, however, were now largely increasing. There was every; promise of a better result for the current year. It would be very unwise to change the present basis of railway charges. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed.