POLITICAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4257, 31 October 1892, Page 2

POLITICAL.

Mr Hogg, MM at Pahiatua, [By Tolegrapb—o »n Correspondent.] Pahiatua, Monday. Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R.,addressed about three hundred of his constituents in the Public Hull, Pahiatua, on Saturday evening last. The Mayor (Mr Job Vile) presided. Mr Hogg, after some preliminary remarks, thanked tho eleotors for returning him as representative of one of the largest constituencies of the most progressive colony in the southern hemisphere. Referring to political events, he said the iirst session of ten days was necessary to convitioe the late Government of their defeat, and to enable their supporters who howled against the honorarium, to pocket the money. The recess that followed enabled the Government to cut down the working expenses of their departments by £41,000. The second session was remarkable for the slaughter of the Government policy. Bills, and especially tho Labour Measures were killed by the Upper House, but tho representatives of the people have control of the public purse, and the Land and Income Tax Bill produced a sweeping cliango in tho inoideuoo of taxation. The partial exemption of improvements, relieved the farmer and small settler of £60,000 of taxation, and the burden was' transferred to the Graduated Tax bearers, consisting of' wealthy land owners and companies. The third session saw the end of a great constitutional battle, the Ministry having won the day, in their demand to be allowed to nominate twelve instead of nine members for the Legislative Council. The question whether the Governor could reject or must accept the advice of! his responsible advisers, had thus been decided in favour of the direct representatives of the people, and a great democratic problem satisfactorily solved. He referred to the obstructive tactics of the Opposition' and tho " corner men," and oharged them with wasting the time of the country, wearying members and injuring the health oi Ministers. He spoke in feeling and eulogistic terms of the late Sir Harry Atkinson and expressed the hope that the Premier and Minister of Lands would soon be able to resume their political labors. At considerable length he explained the provisions of the new Land Act, stating that it would prevent monopoly and speculation and secure genuine settlement. He further contended tbat the lease in perpetuity had large advantage over the freehold tenure to all but the land grabber. He spoke highly of the West Coast Settlement Bill, as solving a serious question and oommended the Labor Bills. The Shop Assistants' Bill was producingdi3satisfnction, but .that was the lault of tho Council, which had altered and mutilated it. The Electoral Bill had to be dropped for the present because the ballot was threatened. He believed the Government and their supporters wished to extend the powers of local bodies, and give back to the ratepayers some of the privileges they had lost when tho provinces were abolished. In conclusion Mr Hogg referred tor certain local works and intimated that the Government wished to help the settlers as far as the means at their disposal would allow, In reply to questions he said the present licensing law was most unsatisfactory, but he was not prepared to indicate what direotion impending changes should take beyond expressing the opinion that property should not be confiscated. Injustice should be avoided, and failing prohibition, the consumer should be supplied with pure, unadulterated, and wholesome be veragea. A vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Hogg, together with a vote of confidence in the Ministry, was unanimously passed.

Mr Buchanan, at Gladstone. By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent. Gladstone, Monday. A vory appreciative audience, numbering fully 70 including several ladioa attended Mr Buchanan's meeting in tbe Publio Hall at Gladstone on Saturday evening, Mr Henry. Bunny, tbe County Chairman, upon being voted to the chair, took occasion to contradict a rumour, that he intended to contest the Beat at the next election, and stated that he would do his utmost to secure Mr Buchanan's reelection. Mrßuohanan dealt with the principal subjects of the day in a manner, which evidently met with the entire approval of the largest audience ever seen in Gladstone at a public meeting, and a cordial vote of thanks moved by Mr Smith and seconded by Mr J. Renall terminated a most successful meeting.