WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3866, 20 May 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day.

Address to Coastituoats. . Mr Macandrew addressed bis constituents at Fort Chalmers last night, and stated tie did not consider the last session had been conducive to the public interests. He condemned the imposition of the Property Tax, the withdrawal of the Land Fund from the local bodies, and the abandonment of the Railway policy of 1878; the stoppage of the assisted immigration, and the return to the system of Toting money in Parliament for local roads and bridges, with the attendant log-rolling. The Government did not initiate retrenchments-it was forced on by the House; md when the so-called retrenchment came to be examined, he bettered it would be found delusire. The Grey Government had, he believed, effected more retrenchment than was effected sinci>, but they made no fuss over it,,and had they remained in office, they would hare largely simplified the administration and reduced the cost. Contradicting Atkinson's statements, he asserted that when he left office the outstanding public works contracts did not exceed half a million. He defended the Grey Government from all the charges of extravagance or recklessness, and had the late Government remained in office, they would have upheld the credit of the colony, and every one of the railway trunk lines sanctioned in 1378 #buld now have been in active progress. He did not think anything practical would result from companies formed for railway construction, or by guarantee or grants of lands. The State should be able to make the railways without the aid of foreign gold to draw the interest out of the colony. This could be done if we divested our* selves of the cobwebs of so called politioal economy. He advocated the resumption of a steady, stream of iiawigratiou— assisted and free—aud he would not object to borrowing money if the interest was retained iv the colony. The railway policy of 1878 should be carried ont in its entirety. The Property Tax should be repealed, and no other tax imposed in place pf.it. The cost of education should be reduced by making the minimum school age six or seven 'years, and techuipal education should be provided. He advooa(*d the necessity of a legal reform, and the institution of a direct steam service to England. He did not expept a fair or satisfactory redistribution of the representation by the. present, House. The Assembly should divest itself of parish system,'and should make local bodies, as like as possible to what Provincial Councils were intended to be. The 20 per cent, laud fuud should be restored

*o the local bodies. The dealing win, tv« Otago runs required rather wi se administration than any special legislation, Towards securing this he sympathised with Pvke's land 1« ague. , f AJe of oo »odeac. w., ua»ai mollßl , p *"ed- . • , o t The Premier leaves for the bduth at, one o'clock this afternoon. It is under. stood that no alteration of portfolios or will be made until Mr Hall» return, which is expeoted to be in about ten days.