TE AWAMUTU.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2918, 22 June 1878, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU.

Friday. Mr Whitaker met the electors at Kihi-

kihi last evening. There was a fair attendance, considering the weather. He alluded to the flattering requisition, and said that already a majority of the cus--tomary voters had signed a request to him to become a member of the Assembly. Young New Zealand had produced Sheehan, Tole, and Hamlin, and he was himself a young colonial. The old identities were passing away, which necessitates young politicians coming out. He thought that politics would soon culminate in two parties—Conservative and Liberal. He was a Liberal. He disapproved of universal suffrage. It was not right that the sweepings of towns should swamp the country voters. He advocated a land tax on a sliding scale, to break up the land monopoly. He supported an income and prbpevcy tax, the amount raised thereby to diminish the Customs duties to a corresponding extent. He advocated dividing the large landed estates, and compelling general settlement of the lands. He thought that the success of Southern political efforts was carried by a majority of the population, and maintained that a fairly adjusted land tax would indirectly increase the population of the North, and equalise it with Southern districts. Several questions were answered, by Mr "Whitaker, who cL-clined to be fettered by any pledges further than those implied by the general declaration of his views. Mr Farrell proposed "That a vote of confidence be given to Mr. Whitaker as being a fit and proper person to represent the Waipa constituency," which was seconded by Mr Cowan, and carried with one dissentient.