MR BUNNY AT TAUERU.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3667, 20 November 1890, Page 2

MR BUNNY AT TAUERU.

Mr H. Bunny, a candidate, for the Wairarapa seat in the forthcoming election; addressed the electors at Lower Taiieru liist evening. Altogether there were thirty-six: persons present, and tho chair was occupied by Mr R, Manning, : . M r Bunny, who was, briefly introduced by the Obairamn, stated that this was tlie first time he had had the honor of addressing the electors of the Taueru, At the request of a large number of Irienda lie had, against his .will, consented to contest the seat in the interests of Liberalism. He thought it was only right ; that he should como forward,and oxpress his views, Although certain-newspapers in tho district had opposed his candidature, he believed opposition was healthy. Ho had been told that he was not sjfliciently "bucolic," He did not know what that meant unless it was."biillocky." But if the old members had been "bullocky," the sooner they had a change the better (laughter.) He had been told that he was more of a city member than a country one, hut lie maintained that tho interests of the colony at largo were far above those of an individual district. What, he asked had the two members who represented the district done ? They had done nothing. A subject of the, greatest importance to the country at the present time was that of the INCIDENCE OF TAXATION.

His opinion was that tho time had arrived when they should abolish all 'Customs duties, excepting those ou wines, spirits and tobacco. Ho would urges the doing away with 1 the Property Tax andthe substitution of a land tax. One of his greatest objections to tho Customs duties was that a large amount-of rnonpy was taken from the pockets of the people which never reached the Treasury,. The duty on tea and sugar alone came to nearly na much as the property tax, Tho time had arrived when- the working class should be relieved of the burden of taxation, and it should be put on the wealthy, from whom all revenue should be raised. An incomo and land tax would make up tho dificiency caused by tho abolition of the Customs duties. He pointed out that a largo majority of tho candidates for Parliament wero of the same opinion as himself, and he asked, was it to be thought they were all wrong? Me would also plaje a taxation ou absentees, a large number of whom wore living at Home in ease, It had neen said that tho land tax would never do, that it would not raise sufficient reveniio. But, lie said, let them try it. It had been said years ago when , lie was in the Provincial Council that uothing could be done for the country, but he had in face of this made roads and bridges, and raised the province of Wellington tram tho depths of woe into which it had fallen. Then there was the question of

MEAT EXPORT, This was a first-class business, and would increase from year to year, The price of frozen meat had gone up during the past few years, and tim profit had gone into the pockets of the wealthy, At the same time the butchers had risen the prico of meui and the masseß had to pay far it, The rich, by this trade, got richer, and the poor poorer, (Hear, hear,) The best of the meat was exported, and the wording olass of New Zealand had to liyo upon old culls and starved cattle. (Laughter.) It remained for the working man to have these things put right. He would like to refer to the question of the

SETTLEMENT OF HIE LAND. Not an acre of land should be sold unless it was opened up with roads and bridges. For these works loans should bo raised. Further, the land should be disposed of by auction under the deferred payment and perpetual lease systems, He would like to see the Waste Itands Board, ot which he was A rnowbor, done away with. The

liK-VALVATION ACT he looked upon as the most injurious and mischievous measure ever passed, A more demoralising effect it was impossible to find than this A.ct had upon the country. He would like to seejthe Government have the pre-emp-tive right tfi plumage

NATIVE LANDS, which at tbe present time were falling into the hands of n few, capitalists, The Government should .deal with these lands in the same way as did witji otJicr Lands, He did not think it necessary to say anything about WOMEN VOTING, but he saw no reason why the franchise should not ba extended to the females, as they at present voted qn local bodies, (Avoice; Would you pay 2d a skin?) He was not going] to occupy their time with such

MINOR MATTEKB ~ as rabbits or stoats and woasels (laughter.) In a few days they be called upon tq say w|]<4!l?r they would support those men who were working in the interests of the Colony at large, or those who represented the wealthy and wpujd fqlloir lilajor Atkinson .to the last. In

CONCLUSION he might say that he was not wealthy. He was getting old, and in a few years he would cease to bo, He had been asked, however, to contest the seat, and he was coming forward jn thointpresftoj t|ie Oqlpny, had not employed jpn to go 'from one town to another to work for him ; he djd not go round shaking hands qnd speaking against his opponent; he djd not cmplpy scribes to misrepresent his opponent in tjie papers; and lie' had nothing in the shape of a Committeo. He would point out that he had done a t>ood deal himself towards constructing the roads and bridges tho district now iiafj, !f||e Jaily had said that if he jiaci not po'natriicted tjip roads and |)ridge§ (someone else woulJ, But this was no argument—nobody else did the work \ Ho had been the means of haying colleges erected, and jiad done rpw things fpr \yhjch the country sjiould flow show its oonfldenee in him, In thanking theiyi fpr their patient hearing, ho'appealed to every elector to roll up on December sth and show then that lib was worthy of their support, and intimated his willingness to answer any questions which might be put to him (cheers).

Question. An elector i'You're nob given uu your opfniori 'an tj)s edpeation sfetem | Mr Sunny; I'll tell yon wjiat it is. Qur system, gping on as it is, pi|| brpak its own back (laughter), We are stuffing our children with'too subjects. It is ljke putting tßpatintoa Bausnge machine, in it goes one end and ooracs out the other (laughter), A ohild who has a sound education in reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic to the rule of 3, has enough to carry him through % world witb, A good deal wi^ht

iii this way; be saved the Stiue. A child does riof require' to know anything about astronomy and the stars or about tho depths. of the ■ sea. (Laughter.) • The Chairman i What ago do you reooimneiid children to be sent to school! We understand you want to raise'the years. Mr Bunny :' I think from six to seven years is quito early enough, The schools should not be made nurseries for children (laughter). It is all very well (or mothers, but the State has to bear the blunt. Ido not believe in the present cramming system; the country cannot afford it. .On., the motion of Mr Kiddell, seconded hy Mr Bruce, a vote-of thanks was then, passed to the candidate, there being only a few dissentients. A vote of thanks to the Chairma conoluded the proceedings, which lasted only foityjmnutes.