POLITICAL NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1610, 21 July 1887, Page 4

POLITICAL NEWS.

M j'»r Atki'son w >s acconh-d a voio of c<>r (j puce at ila.ona on Monday night. The Hon. Mr Richardson, Minister for Public Works, addressed his constituents

ot Kaiapoi on Monday night, He dwelt at some length on the future saving to be effected in railways, and advocated retrenchment generally. Borrowing should be resorted to only carry out existing conifacts Had reproductive works. Frequent applause was accorded the speaker, and at the close of the meeting a hearty rote of thanks was accorded him.

Mr Bruce, M.H,R. foj Rangitikei, attempted to deliver a political address under (he auspices of the Political Reform Association at Christchurch on Monday evening. About 2000 were present Mr Peter Cunninghom, Chairman of the Association, took the chair. On doing so he was greeted with groans and uproar, and failed to get a hearing. Someone moved that the Mayor, who was present, take the chair, and after the question had been put to the meeting did so. ■ The uproar still continuing, Mr Bruce came forward and endeavored to get a hearing, but could not. Loud cries were raised for Mr Holmes, who, with Mr W. P, Reeves, chairman of tho dilectors’ Association, came to the front and spoke to Mr Cunningham, offering, it is stated, to procure a hearing for Mr- Bruce. Mr Cunningham would not permit them to speak, and shortly afterwards left th* platform mid the meeting' broke ap.

Sir Julius Vogel addressed his constituents at Christchurch on Tuesday evening and was accorded an almost unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, In the course of his speech he defended Mr Ballance’s action regarding the Village Settlement liabilities, and said since the present Government had been in office the property tax had averaged H-lGths of a penny in the £, or l-16th of a penny less than it was previously. Government proposed to effect further rerenchment. Increase of Customs duties was demanded by both prupence and honesty when the responsibilities of the colony were taken into account. In raising the tariff encouragement of local indus'ries must be taken into account. The question for consideration in regard to Protection was—Are we to disregard employing our population, and put them in competition with cheap labor. He argued that those who professed that Protection would lower wages were often insincere in using it, as many of them really wanted wages to be reduced. The probability of future competition was counterbalanced by the fact that as the country grew its wants would enormously increase. Protection would not tax the farmers, as it was not proposed to tax agricultural machinery with few exceptions.