CHRISTCHURCH.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3842, 22 April 1881, Page 2

CHRISTCHURCH.

This day. Mr Stevens has addressed a large meeting of his constituents. Be did not think the colony was prepared to do away with the property vote, and confine the franchise to the residential qualification ; he was in favor of the representation being distributed on a purely population basis, but feared this could not be done. The present Government had not exaggerated the alarming state of the finances when they took office, bnt whether that state was due to their predecessors he would not say. Thfl difficulty had been manfully met, not by any party, but by the country generally, and although there might be an apparent surplus this year, he believed there would still be a real deficit of about £130,0C0. The reductions in salaries, withdrawal of subsidies, and an increased taxation were all absolutely necessary, and any other system than an all round reduction in salaries would, he was certain, have failed. He supported the Property Tax, and strongly condemned the Land Tax. He object?d also to an income tax, and he would oppose any reduction of the education vote which would like y impair the efficiency of the present system of primary education. He highly eulogised the West Coast Commission; thought all native land titles should be individualised, and the natives then left to deal with it as they like. He regretted the Government Hospital and Aid Bill had not passed, and that his Endowments Bill had also been lost. He believed the colony was in a sound state, and better times were coming. With prudent management the colony would continue to go ahead. He would support concessions of land to aid the construction of the West Coast railway. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed.