Mr Speight at Parawai.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 4035, 3 December 1881, Page 2

Mr Speight at Parawai.

Mr Speight addressed a well attended meeting of the Parawai electors at the schoolliouse last evening. Mr Carpenter was voted to the Chair, and briefly introduced the speaker. .*^..,. ~, Mr Speight, who was received with applause, said it had hitherto been the custom only to address the electors at the centre of the township, but as he felt that it was impossible for persons living at Parawai to attend a late meeting in Grahamstown, he was here before them to-night. He then referred to the reforms which had taken place since the last general election for Parliament, aril said one which should hare been carried out was manhood suffrage.. He went into"the 1 present state of the Colony, saying the way the necessary money to carry out the government of the Colony was railed would have to be changed, as he felt tare the people of New Zealand wonld not long suffer themselves to be taxed as^they were at present while there was an undeveloped source of unfailing revenue, viz., the kad. . He did not go against the Government selling the land, if as: it was fold'it was settled, but this in past year* had not been v the case. . He was not in favor of the Property Tax, but would impose an Income Tax. He then went into the way the Colony was governed, saying it was immensely over • governed— too many matters Which should 'be rdtalt" with locally being sent to the House! To remedy this he would diminish the number of members, would take away their power oi' dealing with purely local matters, and leave to them enly. power to deal with colonial affairs. He afterwards spoke on personal subjects, and after a few other remarks, sat down, amidst applause. - v ' I" In answer to questions, Mr Speight said he thought vaccination was a. benefit to humanity, and thought tbVsy'stem should be left as it was; the control of waste lands should be left in the hands of the counties; be was not in .favor of the Upper House, but if there wasfone^he thoaght.it should be an elective one. He thought the Government Life Insurance Department, was superfluous, in the first instance, but as it was now in existence, he did not think it would be wise to disturb it; he had telegraphed ito Mr Sheehan on October 11 asking him where he was going to stand for, and-stating that he (Mr. Speight) was going 'to stand fof the Thames ; to this he received an answer signed " John Sheehan,"^ saying that he was going to stand for the^Thames also. He had since, learnt that that answer,was ' not sent by Mr Sheehan, but by Mr Mcllbone,, who received the telegram he sent, and that Mr f Sheeban did not'see his telegram^for four days after.' „, Mr Hammond then 'proposed; and Mr Buckley seconded, "That this .meeting has entire confidence in Mr Speight as a fit and proper, person to represent -this constituency in Parliament." On being put to the meeting this was carried. The usual compliment to the chair closed the proceedings. „