POLITICAL ADDRESSES.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2131, 29 November 1890, Page 3

POLITICAL ADDRESSES.

MR RHODES.

Mr Rhodes met the electors of Geraldine at Belfield on Thursday evening. About 40 were present and Mr J. Wolfe was voted to the chair. Mr Rhodes spoke for about an hour and a-half and dwelt at length upon the land and education questions. At the close of the meeting a number of questions were asked, after which Hr Taylor proposed that Mr Rhodes be accorded a hearty Yote of thanks for his address and confidence in him as their representative. This was seconded and carried with enthusiasm.

MR BUXTON. Mr Buxton addressed the electors of Geraldine at Peel Forest on Tuesday evening, Mr W. B. Barker in the chair, who introduced the speaker by saying he was not a stranger to them. He had been their member in the last Parliament, and he would recommend him as a straightforward, hard working member, and had no fear but the meeting would give him a good hearing, Mr Buxton then spoke for about an hour, and was listened to moat respectfully. At the close the chairman stated that it was not wished by Mr Buxton that a vote of thanks and confidence should be put, but that thanks only be put at the meeting and confidence in the ballot box. There were several ladies present, the school being well filled. On the motion of Mr Thew, seconded by Mr Ray, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr Buxton for his address, A vote of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close. Mr S. Buxton addressed the electors of the Geraldine district at Pleasant Talley on Wednesday evening last and was accorded a most enthusiastic reception. Mr K Brophy occupied the chair. During the course of his speech he was frequently and loudly applauded. A report had got abroad that the tactics adopted by his opponents at Winchester and Woodbury would'.be repeated at this meeting, but it proved groundless. At the conclusion of his address Mr Buxton replied to a number of questions. In reply to Mr Wreathall’s question as to whether he (the candidate) had paid for a certain pamphlet which had been circulated in the district, Mr Buxton said he had talked the matter over with Mr Rhodes and he appeared to be perfectly satisfied with the explanation given. Mr Rhodes said he could, if he bad so wished, have objected to the letter before it went into the paper, as be saw it before ever it was in print. As to whether he, Mr Buxton, had paid for the printing of the circular he thought that was a personal question of a private nature, which be would leave with the chairman whether he should answer or not. The meeting protested against the question being put. A number of questions bearing on the Private Schools Bill were asked. Mr Buxton pointed out strongly that the passing of the hill would in no way interfere with the present system of education, and bis replies were received with applause. He had voted for the increase of duty on salt because it was necessary that the country should have more revenue, and he thought the extra, cost, 6d per hundred-weight, was so small that it would scarcely be felt by farmers. He thought it very probable that some years would elapse before the majority of those in the room paid 6d more through the increased duty. As to the increase of 2d per pound on tea he voted for it because the Government had stated distinctly that if this were struck out

tkey would cut off the subsidies to local bodies. After long and careful consideration be had come to the conclusion that it would be decidedly better for the farmers and country settlers to pay the extra duty than to lose the subsidy. Mr Pearpomt contended that there were many other items of luxury that might have been taxed that would have taken the money out of the pockets of rich, whereas the tax on tea fell heavier on the poorer classes. Mr Buxton said there were many such items, but the Government made it a test question, and to have thrown it out would have resulted in the the subsidies to local bodies being lost, The thing had been very carefully considered and skilfully debated, and he was convinced they took the best course. (Applause). Mr Mashn pointed out that the Geraldine Road Board would have lost £450 by the subsidies being cut off, as 10s m the £ was paid then, and the board’s rate at in the £ realised about £9OO. Had the subsidy been lost the rate would have had to have been raised to fd in the £ to obtain tbe same.

A number of other questions having been asked and answered satisfactorily Mr E. Murphy proposed and Mr Kennedy seconded a vote of thanks to and confidence in Mr Buxton.

Mr Wreathall proposed and Mr Aymes seconded a vote of thanks only. The amendment was lost, only six voting for it. The motion was carried amid cheers. A vote of thanks to tbe chairman terminated the meeting.