Mr Brodie before the Electors.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4028, 25 November 1881, Page 2

Mr Brodie before the Electors.

Mr A. Brodie, one of the candidates for the Corona and el constituency, addressed a meeting of electors in the St George's schoolroom. There was a large and influential assemblage present, and Mr L. J. Bagnall was elected to the Chair.

The Chairman, in introducing the candidate, said he was well known to all present. All he asked was that Mr Brodie should have an impartial and fair hearts-

Mr Brodie (who was received with loud cheers) said: Gentlemen, the reason I come before you this evening is to endeavor to convince you that I am the very best man you could possibly send down to Wellington. (Applause.) Before entering on the various local questions I wish to give the meeting ah answer to two or three statements that have been sedulously circulated in regard to myself. It has been said that I was being brought forward as the tool of Mr Whitaker, but that statement is entirely false. I come here as the tool of no man. But you shall see for yourselves. Through a number of years, and in fact ever since I came to the colony, Mr Whitaker has been a friend of mine, and secured me several billets of trust on the Thames. I have long ceased to have any connection with Mr Whitaker. I worked for him and he paid me, still I feel a great amount of gratitude to Mr Whitaker for what he has done. If that feeling

of gratitude is wrong in jour eyes, then give me a back seat at once". (Applause.) It has also been said of me, that it was myself, who caused the alteration in the electoral districts. When I was in Wellington I was asked if I had seen the new map of Electorates.. I answered " no," and proceeded to the Surveyor General's department where I found the map, but found a very grave error. The whole of the country from the Kauaeranga to Hikutaia was under a wrong title, and consequently they would have been dis-, franchished. I poiated out this defect. If that is not correct, Mr Speight, who is present, will contradict it. Sliorily after, and while still in Wellington, I received three telegrams, one from Mr Holliss, one from Mr Dean, and one from Mr Cad man, of Coromaniiel, asking the Representatives, together with the Mayor and myself, to interview Ministers, and endeavor to get the whole of the country from Cape Colville to the Te Aroha Mountain thrown into one electorate—to return three members. The Ministers said they would consider the matter, but afterwards refused our application on the ground that if they altered our electoral boundary they would have to do the same for other people. The first question vuj I come to is that of Local Self Government. I believe that the County should have the entire control of all roads,, revenue, public works, etc., in the district. That the County should consist of a member from ! each Road Board elected annually. That the County should have the control of the Land Tax, and should bo able to strike a special rate in order to give a surplus revenue. Regarding the question of Separation, I do not believe in it so long as we, get.our fair share of the public money, and are fairly represented, but when the South refuses us those things, then we must separate and stand on our own bottom directly. I am'in favor of Mr Mcandrew's resolutions in regard to the question of Separation, and should support them if returned. I should be in favor of a small Land Tax, should abolish the present Property Tat, and impose a tax on all people.whose incomes exceeded £250 a year. I believe that the Upper House is necessary, but should be in favour of making it elective by the people, and not by the Ministry in office, i would make it elective the same as the Lower House, and should think they ought to do the work for the honour and glory of the thing. (Applause.) With regard to the number of members, I entirely agree with Mr Bastings who last session brought a resolution before the House, that there should only be 60 members. That when the population warranted an increase the number should be 70, but no more. Now there would be over 90 in the House. I believe in triennial parliaments £0 far, and should be iv favour of them until they have been thoroughly tried. After touching on the question of Charitable-Aid,. Education, Mr Brodie finished by saying, "It would not do to stand on the highminded principle in sending,a representative, but they must send somo one who would get for them what the present Government would not give, namely, a fair share of public money, and. railways." (Mr Brodie sat down amidst loud applause.) Mr Wood : If two-third s of yo.ur constituency were in favour of yourresigning while iv session, would you do so. - Answer: Most decidedly I would, and I consider the oftener a candidate comes betore his constituents the better it is for him, as it makes him more-careful. Mr Deeble : What would you do with the large leases which will shortly fall in in the south. f

Answer: Cut them up into small farms for the people. ■■ Iv answer to other questions, he would be in favor of the public electing their County Chairman, and fixing his. salary. The present system of plurality of Voting and ; manhood suffrage was a shame. Each man should have one vote and no more. He was not in favor of the Bible being read in schools, and would abolish the law of Entail. • .

A vote of thanks and confidence was moved by Mr Lowe and seconded by Captain Small. This; on being put to the meeting, was received with loud enthusiasm, and a forest of hands was held up in its favor. The resolution was therefore declared carried unanimously.

A vote of thanks to the Chair, and three cheers for Mr Brodie closed the proceedings.