THE MEMBER FOR WAIKATO AT TE AROHA. [BY TELEGRAPH—OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.]

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2157, 6 May 1886, Page 2

THE MEMBER FOR WAIKATO AT TE AROHA. [BY TELEGRAPH— OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.]

Te Akoma, Wednesday Night. Mr J. B. White addressed the elector* in the Public Hall here to-night, Mr Pavitt chairman. He thanked the electors for their kindness to him in the last election, in returning him without opposition, whilat he was suffering from a severe illnous. He regretted that his remark* must be mainly confined to a reriew of past events. He would have preferred to deal with the future policy of the Government, but of that it was impossible to predict anything as it was not known. Whilst one Minister stated one thing another stated another; one Minister advocated borrowing extensively, another denounced it; one talked of apropriating the North Island Tiunk Loan for other purposes, another denied that Government had any such intention. Ho then discussed the principal events of the last two years. In speaking of the Government he admitted the undoubted individual abilty of various members and Rave them credit for having done some useful work. He also stated that they had treated his district very fairly and his reasons therefore for being still in opposition were neither local nor paltry, but national and colonial. He could have no respect for a Government that avowedly abandoned every shred of their policy in order that they might stick to their seats; that allowed their estimates to be recklessly cut down without resigning, and afterwards paraded their ownlhumihation as a leason for net proceeding with ordinary work; that promised local bodies an assured finance, and kept that promise by offering them borrowed money to borrow against at a higher rate of interest; that promised to abolish the Property Tax, and ended by increasing it; that was led by a Premier who openly boasted of having used his position te favour his own district in the matter of public works at the expense of the rest of the colony ; that promised to put down' native land sharking and Ministerial patronage in native titles, and introduced a bill, unintentionally, he believed, highly conclusive to both ; that promised to reduce taxation, and in addition to seizing the Sinking Fund, increased the Customs, property tax, and stamp duties; that endeavoured to foist Meiggs and Co. on the colony; that promised reform in the Upper Honse, and kept it, by putting in more new men in one year than their predecessors had in five; that in order to reward a political supporter, unseated a good chairman, who refused to accept pay in favour of an indifferent one who did accept it; that posed as friends of the masses, and endeavoured to more heavily tax the necessaries of life and relieve the Property-Tax; that promised that nothing but physical force would remove them from the Treasury benches—and kept that promise. It affordedhim no pleasure to say this even of his political opponents. He, however, remembering the mdividual lability of members, and their zeal, hoped that out of all their trials and tribulations good might come. By-andbye they might learn what the colony really needed. Replying to questions, Mr Whyte said ho looked upon the Eight Hours' Bill as no jAuch waste paper, but if they were strongly of opinion that it would be of benefit, and as there was no principle involved, he would vote for it if they liked. He thought, seeing that the politics of the colony were so largely in relation to finance, propertyholders should have a very slight advantage over those who could clear out at an horn's notice. Ho would, however, limit plural voting to two votes—one for residence and one for property. He voted for Russell's land claim at Waiharakeke, because there was no doubt he had a claim of some sort, which ought to be satisfied by land or money, and that if he had voted against it, that would have been denying that Russell had any claim, but he knew that any compensation would be given in the form of money, and that there was not the slightest probability of the Gordon settlers being deprived of their land, which he had striven hard to get for them. He approved of a Land Tax, and Haid it was already iucluded in the Property-Tax; if other property were exempted he did not know where the nrcessary money could be found. He said some system of local Government was manifestly needed at Te Aroha. A bill would be introduced next session which ho thought would suit them. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by an overwhelming majority, an amendment «f thanks only, receiving only 12 votes in a meeting of at least 100 persons. —I^—__