MR J. B. WHYTE AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1469, 1 December 1881, Page 2

MR J. B. WHYTE AT CAMBRIDGE.

Mr J. B. Whyte addressed the electors of Waikato in the Public Hall, Cambridge, on Monday evening last. There were considerably over 100 persona present, and doubtless had the weather been more propitious the attendance would have been much larger. On the motion of Mr Williams, Mr Wells was voted to the chair. The chairman said it was rather a I pleasant privilege for those present to listen to Mr Whyte, their late member and candidate at the forthcoming election. He had had occasionally in his absence to stand sponsor for him for what he is doing, what he has been doing, and what he intended to do in future. He was there npvr to answer for himself, and fee fdt certain tbftt it ww unnecessary fop '

him to ask for a fair and impartial hearing for their now popular parliamentary representative. Mr Whyte dealt at considerable length on most of the leading questions of the day, particularly the work of the last Parliament, enumerating the different bills brought forward, and those made law, with their particular advantages and j disadvantages. He referred to the Represoutation Bill of last session, and impressed upon his hearers that the Act would expire in 1886, when a further readjustment could be had if required. Some people were under the impression ! that this Act was passed for an illimitable ' term of years, but this was not so, for if the North Island increased in population within the time above mentioned they would then have an opportunity to demand larger representation. Speaking of the property tax, he thought there should be no exemptions whatever, as the very principle of the tax did not admit of such a thing, properly speaking. Under the £500 valuation there was a sum of about £43,000,000 worth of property which, if brought under the property tax, would yield a sum of about £43,000 to the revenue — no sum to be collected as property tax under five shillings. He thought he had been misunderstood in Hamiltou when referring to this matter, as several present seemed to think he was anxious to include the property of the working classes merely with a vie^> to increasing their burden and making them contribute more largely to the general revenue than at present. This was not so, however. His object was to reduce the customs duties by the amount (£43,000), which he proposed to raise through extending the property tax to all realised property, and thus by reducing the price of the necessaries of life, take a considerable burden off those who were to an extent struggling for an existence. He hoped to see the line through to Cambridge before another two years had passed by. Speaking of Mr Whitaker, Le thought the electors of Waikato should be thankful to that gentleman for the assistance which he had rendered him (Mr Whyte) during the session. (Applause). The speaker resumed his seat amidst much enthusiasm. Mr Johnston asked if he were returned to Parliament would he vote to make domain boards elective ? to which Mr Whyte replied that his experience only extended to boroughs. In Hamilton, the Town Council was the Domain Board, and as such it was an elective body. — Mr Johnstone maintained that the Cambridge board was only nominated. — Mr Whyte thought it would be better to have it elected.— Mr Dwan asked the epeaker's opinion as to the constabulary, whether their salaries should be increased or lowered. — Mr Whyte thought the question rather a wide one, but would give as his opinion that the Constabulary Department ought to be worked as economically as was consistent vith due efficiency, like every other department. — Mr Alford asked why Major Mair should be compensated beyond receiving his salary for simuly doing his duty, and nothing more than his duty, for which he was already well paid. — Mr Whyte thought, in the first place, his salary was low, and in the next place he did not think that any ordinary salary could com pensate Major Mair for the good and great event which he had brought about, and the extraordinary skill he had displayed in the matter. — Mr Clarke asked if he would use his efforts to make the Government appoint a thorough business man to arrange the railway tariff of New Zealand. He thought many of them at the present time felt convinced that those who had anything to do with the altering of the tariff of late had been only making the matter worse instead of better, whereas if it were submitted to the consideration of thorough business men it might be made workable. The present tariff affected the country settlers oppressively, inasmuch as the carriage of some commodities cost 7s 4d per ton more when brought from Auckland to Waikato than when brought from London to Auckland. He therefore thought a thorough business-like revision ot the tariff indispensable. (Loud applause.)— Mr Whyte said he entirely agreed with the remarks of Mr Clarke, and, so far as the past was concerned, anything he had ever represented to Mr Maxwell on the matter had always received his attention. It was now understood that Mr Maxwell would not long continue in charge of the department, and in the event of a new man being appointed he thought he should be a man of gre.it business experience, not only as an engineer, but one who would be disposed to nm the railways on business principle.". And, apart from this, he should be a man to assist in the settlement of the country. He did not think that to make the railways pay ought to be the sole object. Mr Clarke said he had a resolution to propose, but before doing so he desired to make a few remarks on the subject of it. In the first place he felt great pleasure in doing so, as he believed Mr Whyte had honestly represented them in the past. It was a great advantage to them to have a member whom they could approach at all times without any scruple whatever. The line of action which Mr Whyte had taken since entering the House was in every respect favourable to the combined interests of his constituents, and creditable to himself as their representative. When in Wellington during the session, he (Mr Clarke) had been pleased to notice the attention of Mr Whyte to his duties. He had spoken to him there in reference to the railway question, which, they all were aware, was the burning question in Cambridge for years past. In making enquiries about Mr Whyte, he had heard he was very ill, and under medical attendance, but, to his surprise, when he entered the House he found the object of his enquiries in close attention to the business of his constituents, though greatly against the advice of his medical men. It was thus proved to him then that nothing could prevent their member from attending to their interests whenever they were of such a nature as to demand strict and continuous attention. (Applause.) Again, he had assisted in obtaining for them many other great advantages during his term of office, and this, they were doubtless aware, had been greatly brought about by the mutual good fellowship existing between Mr Whyte and the member for Waipa. He thought they could understand very well that if they could have some man to act with and assist them it was a very good thing indeed. The one great object for which they had been fighting so long in Cambridge was the railway, and he was certain they all felt warmly to Mr Whyte for the grant obtained for that work. When in Wellington he thought from what he had ! heard that their railway was about to be j shelved, owing to the strong opposition of those members who were unable to obtain grants for works which they had been promised for some time, but he was now proud to notice that the exertions of their, member had been crowned with success, aud this fact now spoke for itself. He would therefore move the following resolution : — "That this meeting tenders its thanks to Mr J. B. Whyte for the address just delivered, and desires to accord its appreciation of the honorable and efficient manner in which be has represented. this constituency in the late Parliament, and assures him of its con* tinu'ed confidence, and pledges him the cordial support be solicit*."

This was seconded by Mr W. Reid and carried with much enthusiasm. A vote of thanks to the chair brought the meeting to a close.

Mr Me Minn addressed the electors at Alexandra on Monday night, and received a vote of thanka. Sir George Grey will address a, meeting of the Waipa electors in the Volunteer and Public Hall, Hamilton, tomorrow night. Mr Whitaker Will address the electors at Whatawhata on Saturday evening next. Major Jackson will address the electors ; at Whatawhata to-night, and at Ohaupo j on Saturday evening next. On Monday and Tuesday evenings Mr Johns addressed the electors at Puniu (Mangapiko), Alexandra, and Paterangi. There was a good attendance at each place, and the candidate reiterated his political views, embracing, amongst others, the upholding of the present system of education, the reduction of customs duties on articles of general consumption, and the alteration of the land laws so as to enable settlers to purchase native land at first cost, instead of as at present through the land specu« lators. He receiv«d a unanimous vote of confidence at the first place, and a vote of thanka at each of the latter places.— No meeting was held at Te Rorej owing to its not having been advertised earlier, very few of the settlers having heard of it. Mr McMinn addressed the electors at Hamilton in the Court-house on Tuesday night. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair. At the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks to the candidate, moved by Mr Bradley and seconded by Mr Jones, was earned.