MR RHODES AT PLEASANT POINT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2120, 4 November 1890, Page 3

MR RHODES AT PLEASANT POINT.

Mr A. B. G. Ehodes addressed a meeting of the electors of Geraldme at Murphy's Assembly Booms, Pleasant Point, on Saturday night. There was a very large attendance, and th<* chair waß taken by Mr John Cartwright, Chairman of the School Committee.

Mr Rhodes, who was well received, spoke at length upon the various Acts of last session, and also upon his views for the future, the speech bebg to the same effect as at Temuka. At the close of the address Colonel Eichbaum was accorded permission to express the views of himself and some of the residents upon the subject of land settlement. He read a lengthy statement setting forth the advisability of small areas of land suffieient forhomesteads being reserved near townships, such as Pleasant Point, or being obtamed bv purchase. [His address will appear in a future issue.] At its close he peinted out that his views appeared to be practically in accord with those of Mr Kbodes, Mr Bhodes then, in reply to Mr Crawford, said that he should not favor a progressive land tax. Keplying to Mr W. B. Howell, he said that he was in favor of the property tax instead of a land and income tax, but he strongly advocated the introduction of Bome better system of taking the property tax valuations. As now done many people escaped too easily. In reply to Mr Ley he said th.at he ' had always advocated elective rather than nominated bodies, and thought the Land Boards should be elected.

He was quite prepared to support a measure having for its object the repurchase of land with a view to a fair trial being given of homestead settlement.

Beplyiag to Mr Crawford he said that Ministers were not entitled to pensions, however long they served the Crown. Grants had been given, with the approval ot both sides of the House, to the families of Messrs Featherstone and Macandrew in recognition of special services rendered. These were, however, exceptional cases. Certain railway servants, whose appointments dated back for a certain number of years, were entitled to pensions or comr pensation. The dismissal of the railway servants at Dunedin would not cause them to lose pensions if entitled to them. He understood, however, that they had agreed to return to their duties. Was not aware that the Commissioners objected to th,e Railway Servants "{Tnion,. Their ©bjpetion, he understood, was to their amalgamating with other societies. He reminded Mr Crawford that the Commissioners were really the servants of the country, i and not a portion of the Government, | as he appeared to understand. The * people would very soon "put th«ir

backs up" if the railway servants declined to carry this or that man's goods. The Bail way Commissioners' appointments were for five years, and about half that period had elapsed. He did not consider it would be wise to dismiss them now.

Replying to Mr D. Blue, he would certainly oppose a change of Civil servants with every change of Government.

He could not give Mr Howell any definite infertaation as to a soheme for giving increased powers to local bodies.

This concluded the questions. Mr John Greig then proposed that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Rhodes for his address and confidence in him as their representative. Th« motion was seconded by Mr A Mee, and carried unanimously. Mr Rhodes moved a vote of thanks to the chair, and the meeting terminated.