WAIKATO ELECTORATE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 2865, 22 November 1890, Page 2

WAIKATO ELECTORATE.

THE HON. JOHN BRYCE AT

KIHIKIHI.

TmwEwas a crowded audience to greet and listen to Mr Bryce, on the occasion of his addressing the constituents here, prominent amongst whom wore many ladies, who graced the meeting with their presence.

Punctually at 8 o'clock Mr Bryce, with whom was Mr J. G. Walton, chairman of the Te Awamutu Town Board, and other gentlemen entered tho hall. Mr Henry Moncrietf proposed, and Mr J. W. Ellis seconded, thM Mr James Farrell, chairman of the Kihikihi Town Board take the chair. Mr Farrell, on assuming the chair, •aid in view of the election of members for the new Parliament, Mr Bryce wbb there to address the meating. He felt sure they would give careful attention to what he had to say. He would not insult the meeting by asking for an impartial hearing for Mr Brycol whose standing and services entitled him to respect and courtesy. Mr Bryce, who, on coming forwaid, said he was much obliged to tho chairman for the flattering remarks which he had addressed to them on his behalf. In addressing the meeting he was labouring under great disadvantage!. He said a public speaker was sometimes bound to compress his meaning into as few words as possible, and no matter Low he varied or altered the words of his speech, his addresses would still be much tho same. Ha had prepared » list of subjects to speak upon. At Hamilton he alluded to the unfortunate illness of Sir Harry Atkinson, the present Premier and Treasurer of the colony, who was outside the House while the rest of the Miuistry were inside, He also alluded at Hamilton to the obstructive tactics of the Opposition. If such things had occurred in any road board or local body they would not be tolerated for a single day, while in the great Parliament of the country it went on for a considerable time. At Hamilton ho next dealt w i h the financial position of the colony. At Cambridge last night ho had spoken on the land questions. He dealt with the Land-tax. He showed that the Land-tax would produce a less sum than the Pro-perty-tax. Ho also pointed that the Iti-come-tnx which was proposed in addition to the Land-tax would be very inquisitorial and that both of them would produce a less •urn than tho Property-tax. He also spoke on the Single-tax. Tins was on land only. He believed to throw the whole burden on the land as was proposed by tho advocates of this tax was just as great a piece of robbery as if he were to put his hand into the Chairman's pocket and take his money It was a great cry to put all the burdens on tiiß iand. Ho then went on to give a general sketch of the systems under which tho land could be taken up—the perpetual lease system, tho detferred payment system, and the cash system. Hu said he had made more drastic retrenchment than any other Minister in New Zealand, but the moment ho loft oftico much of what he had done was reversed by his succossor.

RAILWAY IjI'KSTION. He then referred to the railway question. Ho had seen several inconsistencies in the freight charges. But he believed that tho Commissioners were endeavouring, and had succeeded to some extent, in remedying these, wi";h a view to make the railways help settlement and pay their way. Still he believed the railway charges should be reduced to the lowesl possible amount on produce. He had no doubt of tho wisdom of handing over the railways to a nonpoliticnl body. Continuing ho snid he believed that freights for long distances into tho country should bo reduced to the lowest sum possible. In Ametica this was done whore tho railways were in the hands ot privato companies. There it had been found that while there was not much increase in the number of the persons carried by the reduction of the fares theru was an enormous increase of goods carried by the reduction of freights. As outlying settlers they had more interest in the reduction of freights thau of fares.

PERSONAL. The speaker then referred to tho handsome manner in which he had been returned by the constituency when ho had been elected at tho by-election tor Waipa. On returning to Wanganui he met many friends who congratulated |l)im upon their action. Amongst others he was spoken to by ono gentleman in particular, and they then discussed tho best way he could repay the olector". He had como to the conclusion that the best return he could possibly make them would be by clearly putting the state of tho country before them. CONCLUSION. He believed as regards the position of the colony it was sound. It had £100.000,000 of fro,> v.-ialth : that was after allowing for everything in the returns with which he did not agree, But whether the colonists would exercise the necessary economy would be for them to decide. This could only be done by lessening their demands and practising rigid self-denial. If he had tho honour to be their representative he would be proud of the position, but if ho thought that he had obtained it by deceiving them he should despise himself. (Loud and prolonged cheering, amidst which Mr Bryce resumed his seat). QUESTIONS. Mr Moncrieif asked the following question : "Did you, whon Native and Defence Minister, refuse to allow tho lands belonging to the natives over the Puniu River near by to bo put through tho Land Court ?" Mr Bryce said he wished to emphasise tho statement that it was incorrect. He had always desired to get the Maoris to ■uibmit to'havo their lands put through the Oouit for the purposes of tho railway. It was with much regret that when he had everything ready tha No-Confidence Motion was carried, which prevented this being douo. His successor tried to make a splash by pursuing a different policy. Mr Moncrietf also asked tho candidate : " Do you think it Parliamentary and right for Sir Harry Atkinson to remain in his privato residence as Premier during the Bitting of Parliament and receive £1000 out of the public rerenutZ'' Mr Bryce said Sir Harry Atkinson had always been an extremely hard worker in the interests of the colony. He was always present in his house at Wellington. Mr Bryce said ho had already expressed hie opinion of the inadvisability of that arrangement—tho absence of the Premier from tha House. MrMoncrieff thon asked : "If elected will you use your influence to get the Government to clear off tho destructive nuisance of furze and briars from Crown and Native lands ?" Mr Bryce said no doubt this was a serious grievance. He believed that the Government Bhould clear their land as well as private people. Mr Moncrietf asked Mr Bryce on tho matter of education, "Do you think it right that three universities, with a large stall' of professors, should bo kept up at tho oxpense of the colony, in addition to high schools and collogos, which are again followed by tho primary education establishments which taken altogether cost the country £3110,000 annually V (2) Don t you think that Tyke's Private School Bill would do good in largo centres';" In reply to the first part of tho question. Mr Bryce said he thought three universities wore too many. He would, however, go fully into the education question at Te Awamuttl. Those who know him would bear him out when ho said that he held very strongly the view that the endowments given for oducation ought to bo made to .support secoudary schools and oducation generally much more extensively and thoroughly thau they had doue. Many of these endowments, however, were givou for education in connection with religious bodies. Ho thought that unloss the trusts were fulfilled tho Slate tthould resume control. As regards Mr Pyko'.s Bill, ho might say he did not approve of it, or any moa3ure which would interfere with the present education system. Another objection to Mr Pyke's Bill was this, that however it might be workable in cities and large towns, it would bo utterly unworkable and impracticable in tho country. Mr Moncrieff also asked Mr liryce: Do you anticipate in tho near future that the rising generation, who aro now being educated at such an enormous cost to the State, will be phywcally and morally bottai than their parents and tho old colonists of tho day? And, further, do you think that by f»ch education they will be more industrjon? and useful as colonists than tho class fi'i.w which they have sprung':" Mr Bryce said this was a "poser" (cheers). To answer this question he would have to go into morals. Ho must therefore decline to go into this question as inorals wero involved. Mr Hunter asked : " Do you think it fair that one section of tho colonists should be rated and ta.\6d while another section in their neighbourhood should be altogether esompt from lasalion, cu, fur iuutauco, oyer

the confiscated line her?, there are many large farms lienofically occupied by well-to-do settlers, tliu owners of which are not troubled with any taxation; yet those people use the roads 'nude aud kept in repair with the money of their less fortu- . nate neighbours ?" , ( Mr Bryco said this had arisen entirely out of the native difficulty. But the law would be altered. Mr Thomas Anderson nsked : " Will you if returned support Vailc's railway reform scheme? Should you not do so in its entirety, will yon, at lnmt, an a representative of a country constituency, use your influence in favour of getting manures and farm produce cariied at low rates." Mr Bryce entered very fully into the question. He said with reference to Mr "Vaile's scheme lie did not understand it at all. He would, however, support the reduction of rates in the direction referred to in the latter part of the question. Mr Moody asked : "Do you think it consistent with good government and fair ! play to the colonists that roads should be made from hero to Otorohanga and thence to the caves, all of which are the bona fide proporty of natives, whilst a splendid pastoral and agricultural country, every acre of which has passed out of native hands, right in our front from here to the Waotu Bridge is left unopened for the want of a road—a road that would be of great use as affording facilities for traffic, stock-driving, and tho carriage of that useful timber totara?" Mr Bryce said ho understood all the advantages that would accrue by making the road. If there should be any money available tho mad would be made, and he would see what could be done.

There being no other questions, Mr John Hutchinson proposed, and Mr Hbiiry Moncrieff seconded, a vote of thanks to and confidence in Mr Bryce. This was put by the (Jhairtrmn aud carried by acclamation. Mr Bryce then proposed a vote «f thank* to the chairman for his ablo and impartial conduct in the chair. This terminated tho proceeding. MR NAPIER'S CANDIDATURE. Mr John Parr wired na from Auckland last night as follows :—" Mr Napier will in all probability contest the Waikato scat with Mr Bryce."