The Hon. the Premier's Address.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4024, 21 November 1881, Page 2

The Hon. the Premier's Address.

(Pbb Pbess Association.) Chbistchuich, Sunday. The Hon. J. Hall addressed his constituents at Leeston last night. He said last session was remarkable for waste of time, long speeches, and the importance of the work done, especially in computing the system of electoral reform. The Representation Act did justice to Otago and Canterbury, although it cost the Government support. He would be ready to do the same justice to the North Island when it became entitled to it. He spoke also of the importance of the .Railway Construction and Licensing and Babbit Acts. Government had reduced the estimates by £30,000, and in this and other ways had been enabled to make important remissions in the Customs duties, and to reduce the rate of the Property Tax,,, At some length he defended the principle and incidence of the Property Tax. This was the fairest in principle and most economical in practice. He quoted figures to show that a ten per cent." laud Tax would ouly yield £S£,QQQ/

a year, supposing tLe land to be unencumbered, and this amount would not warrant the imposition of a tax vicious in principle. Land should bear its fair share of public burthens, but they should not attempt confiscation. There was no danger of any scarcity of land for the purposes of settlement, and no necessity for any coercive legislation. Government intended to re introduce the Entails Bill, and Distraint for Kent Bill, rejected by t>e Council last session. While for obvious reasons be could not definitely reveal the plans of Government, their policy must be one of progress, so as to adapt political institutions to the rapidly changing circumstances ; to provide for settlement, and divert the resoutces of the cduntry, without incessant tinkering of Constitution. He thought a household franchise should be given, and speaking for himself, that women having a property qualification be allowed to vote. Fuller consideration of the question of the Legislative Council led to the conclusion that the Chamber should be elected, but on a wider basis than he suggested iv May last. The basis should be a property qualification, and the elections be conducted on Hare's system. rl he number of member for each island should be equal. The length of speeches in Parliament liad become intolerable, and some limitation was really | necessary, as well as provision against stonewalling and systematic obstruction by a minority. One of the first duties of the new House would be to so alter rules as to render scandalous scenes such as last session disclosed impossible. The object of the demand for local government legisla tion, raised by Grey, Ormond, and others, was to get up a good election cry. No two of them agreed as to what was wanted, and there had been no response to the country. No doubt improvements were wanted. Government proposed to give powers to rate Crown and native lands, and that if a district raised one-fourth of the cost of a main road, the State should find three-fourths; and that for making district roads the State should lend money to the local bodies, repayable in instalments extending over 25 years. Government had not stopped public works, but simply tried to extend the expenditure of the balance of the loan over the period for which it had to last. The next session they would briDg down a carefully prepared scheme for further necessary works for which the colonial debt could be justifiably increased. In it no want of consideration would be shown to the fair claims of the natives when they submitted to the law. He warmly eulogised the conduct of the Volunteers. A vote of thanks aud confidence was carried unanimously.