Page 4 Advertisements Column 1

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3373, 14 October 1879, Page 4

ELECTORAL THAMES ELECTORATE ,■I '• ■■/': . ■ ■ ,:. TO THE ELECTORS. 'Tpf'-ENTLEIVIEN, —As a candidate Vlfl soliciting your suffrages I am desirous that'rio'ihi'sunderstauding should exist in your miuds regarding my views upon "Somo of the important questions of the day, and I therefore talio this means of making known my opinions to you. „ ' Sir?G. Grey, having introduced the present Liberal policy to tho Parliament and the Country, I'look upon him as the best qualified person to be intrusted with carrying the measures referred to in the Governor's spe'echthrough the Legislature,; and the administration of the same when; they become the law of the land. As the measures mentioned are only a few, of ilß(|sf>}reqiiired to insure a Liberal policy; being introduced in the management of the affairs of the colony, I am prepared, if elected, to support Sir Grey and his Ministry in carrying such other measures as may be required in developing a policy which the cireumitances' of the colony demand ; that its future prosperity and greatness may be secured, and the indefeasible rights and ; ■liberties of its inhabitants acknowledged. The Triennial Parliaments Bill I believe,j to be^a measure fully in keeping with the advances made in the science of Political Economy in the present day, and to be a most desirable one in such a colony as New Zealand; securing a more frequent return of.representatives to the consti* tuencies, and affording opportunities for the taxpayers to make known their wants and opini6hSiUpon all subjects affecting ftheir welfare to such representatives; the * better to secure fair legislation. The success which has attended the introduction of thi* measure in the Parliaments of other dependencies of the British Crown prove without question the wisdom of having "such a law in this colony. ''' That all the inhabitants of the land, who, unless from causes brought about by their own negligence, may be enabled to exercise the privileges secured to them by the law providing for Triennial Parliaments, it is necessary that the greatest facilities should be granted them for qualifying themselves, to take part in the return °of suitable representatives; and this fact leads me to consider the proposed Electoral Bill included in the Liberal programme. That the present Registration of. Electors Act is faulty mr the exftremejUthat under* it thousands of ..taxpayers in the colony, are • debarred from exercising their privileges, and thatis with", .its regulations it is impossible .'to (ensure ,an; easy and cortect registration of electors, all who are in any way acquainted with its working will admit, so that the necessity of having a new< ordinance is therefore "- apparent. I will support, if elected, the Government in placing on the Statute Book as the law of the land, the Bill introduced by the Hon. J. Sheehan, and at present before "Parliament, and which places within the reach of every man the means of registering himself as an elector under the residential qualification. It provides that .every male person of the, age of 21 years, jiot being a Maori, and being a natural born, or naturalized subject of her Majesty, who has resided for twelve months in . jtfew; Zealand, and in the electoral district for which the vote is to be* given, for the six months previous to the; date ofv-bis claim to vote, shall be qualified to vote for the election of Members for the House of Representatives, trader the residential qualifications. This,,provision is tantamount to manhood suffrage, and as Liberal a ftejwttse^as is necessary at the present tiriie^Rnd one which, for the reasons given, I will support.. The bill to provide for a redistribution ol jfefits on the: basis of population receives my hearty approval, for no electorate in the colony, has,suffered in like manner with thiirdiatriet under the present system, and many electorates are in a similar 1, though in a less degree than this constituency. Acknowledging the jightnof every taxpayer to have a voice in the of Representatives, the principle—that upon the population of every-district shall depend the number of- members such a district shall be eniffled'to send to the House of Repreaent&tifesiHa the only on© that can be |dopi§dMri "fairness to all concerned. This is the view of the question held by SixG-}Cr reyi and.is the principle incorporated in the'proposed measure, which will call for the attention of your representatives in the present session. Should I have the honor of being chosen to fill the seafe to be vacated by Sir G\ Grey I shall aid the Government in every way in having such a measure carried successfully through the Parliament. The more equitable distribution of the burdens.of taxation is a matter of vital importance, and one affecting this district, under its peculiar circumstances,' very deeply. It is a question that, as your representative, would secure my undivided attention. 1 '^ .. . ; " „. The mode of dealing in the future with th,e Crown lands is one in which this district, is very much interested, and upon the: .wisdom <. of the course followed depends' Very much-its future prosperity; I^amnn favor of all lands held by the Government being thrown open for free seleHStidn On* the deferred payment system, arfd?a(f a'pre"mitim price• of 20s per acre. Notion© small block bf land at a time, but arias sufficient to meet the requirements of all.*' '. The area allowed one person to be limited'," and tho'condition of residence to be attached. I believe the question of suitable land laws for this colony to be the measure of the future, and with the re-distribution of .the burdens of taxation, one, .which must be seriously taken into consideration by the legislature, and that at an early date. The course to be pursued by the Government fof dealing with the natives for their land 3is a subject of great impor-f tanee,,and, while it is quite necessary that the natives should receive a fair price for their possessions, it is, at the same time, desirable that the colony should be the purchaser; and thnt large tracts of country. |honjid not fail into the Hands of land speculators, from whom, in the course of time, the-colonists would be compelled to purchiyi^frbbably at exorbitant rates, or 0 lease at heavy rentals. That facilities