Mr Hutchinson before his Constituents.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3823, 30 March 1881, Page 2

Mr Hutchinson before his Constituents.

[By TeiiEGHjath, peb Pbbss Association.]

Wellington, This day.

Mr Hutchinson, M.H.E., addressed his constituents last; night. The attendance was small. He characterised last session as exceedingly barren, although the house was flooded by Bills, which always disappeared when discußsed. 3STot one of the measures promised in the Governor's opening speech had paseed, and he thought that fact was unprecedented. The only result of the session was a strong dose of additional taxation. He objected to the excise duty on beer ; condemned the Property Tax, and said the increased Customs duties had failed to increase the revenue. Last session, through their own ends, Ministers had systematically depreciated the credit of the colony, thus leading to a financial crisis. He condemned the ten per cent, reduction, and while approving of retrenchment, denied that the present Ministry had sympathy with the bulk of the people, or in any way represented their feelings. He advocated the establishment of a Bank of Issue, to relieve Government and save the people from the capricious action of existing institutions. He strongly condemned the scheme proposed for a redistribution of representation by single constituencies, and laughed at Mr Jiolleston's boasted efforts to promote settlement; they amounted to nothing and Government were not sincere in their desire to settle people on the land. He thought the railways should not be managed on a cast-iron rule, but on commercial principles. He gave Government credit for resisting Bryce advice to attack Te Whiti, and denied Bryce's claim as a reformer of the Native Department; on the contrary Bryce had trailed British honor and law in the dust by arresting innocent men and detaining them without trial, Maoris had been sent to two years for what an European would be fined ss. He rejoice! that Bryce was now out of power. He had great faith in the West Coast Commission, but feared Te Whiti would not negotiate till the prisoners were unconditionally released. He urged the necessity of electoral and representative reform, the abolition of the property tax, a change in the incidence of Customs taxation, and respecting a land and income tax said the tax should be designed so as to break up large estates, and every vestige of primogeniture should be abolished. He objected to the growing system of game laws, and urged the necessity of bankruptcy reform. He postponed his remarks on education to his second meeting. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried after a speech from Mr John Duthie in defence of Mr Bryce and his policy, in the course of which he pointed out that the Govornor's letter to Te Whiti was written while Mr Bryce was absent, and expressed his own opinion that bad it not been written Mr Bryce would not have resigned.