WAIKATO ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2996, 26 September 1891, Page 2

WAIKATO ELECTION.

MR. "W. A. MURRAY AT KITIIKflll. Ok Wednesday evening Mi W. A. Murray addressed a meeting of the electors in the Town Hall, Kihikihi, and was very well received. Mr Jas. Farrell, chairman of ll:n Town J'.; ard, was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced the candidate. Mr Murray, on coming forward, thanked tln.se present for their attendance, and referred, with regret, to the loss which the colony had sustained, under most distressing circumstances, by tho resignation of tho Hon. John Bryce. Had Sir M mrico O'Rorke still been speaker of tho House, ho (Mr Murray) felt sure that Mr Bryce would, as leader of tho Opposition, continue to represent tho electors in Parliament. He went ou to say, that, if returned as member for this electorate, his influence would be used towards having tho voto of censure passed on our lato member, expunged, as until then, it could hardly he expected that Mi liryce would re-enter Parliament, and tho country could not yet afford to lose, his services. He commented at length upon the present firancinl p&sition of the colony, caused through the excessive b irrowingdono in past years tho greater portion of which moneys were spent in luxuries or iti's'ich matters as the colony herself could have produced. Ho was in favour of reducing taxation, and throught that tho Customs duties on such articles as fencing wire, and corrugated iron, should bo dispensed with. Tho Land Tax, set side by side with tho Property Tax, he estimated, would produco £30 000 more in the country district?, and £30,000 less in tho cities and boroughs. This wouldclearly imposea special tax upon country settlers, and would tend to drive the bulk of the population into the towns. The groat objection which hp had to tho property tax, was that the more a man improved his property, the larger the tax ho is called upon to pay. This was clearly against tho progress of tho country, lie was in favour of an entirely now form of taxation. When capital was deposited in banks,he was of opinion that the lax thorium should be paid by each institution, they having tho use and benolit of tho moneys. He was in favour of tho settlement of the land, as the country cannot afford tn allow any land- - , whether belonging to Europeans or natives, to remain idle. Before land settlement can be encouraged, those at present settled tli3reon must bo made more properous. With this end in view, farm produce and manures should bo carried on our railways at ">0 per cent, less than other goods, and so allow of competition with other countries. The Government should assist in the export of say 30,000 tons of produce annnally. He was in favour of tho establishment of a fair rate of interest throughout tho colony, say 0 per c»nt. and thought tho powers of mortgagees should bo restricted. With regard to Native Xntvl, ho thought much needless expense could be saved in connection therewith, and the dealing therein much simplilio 1. Ho was in favour of tho perpetual leasinu of lands, by the natives, to the Government, who would then open same for settlement. Ho favored tho taxing of all unimproved native lands. He then made referenco to tho recent appointment of tho chairman of committees, also to the customs revenue. He was iu favour of granting more power to local bodies, in tho management of their own affairs, ->nd considered that at present far too much reference to Wellington, on matters connected with local Government, was necessary, which could bo much better managed by tho bed bodies themselves, Ho was in favour of the establishment and encouragement of local industries, among which he mentioned I lie freezing works and the lish industry. For this purpose the cost of transit thcmld be reduced to tho lowest possible limit, and thus allow of competition. The railway facilities should bo extended and the railways worked in tho interests of tho settlers. Distilleries should bo encouraged in tho colony. The education system should remain in its present state, although the expenditure might very well ba reduced. Ho was in favour of affording every facility to improve education in this colony, He was in favour_ of granting, endowments to all local bodies, and instanced tho good which he had done thereby whilst member for Bruce. Mr Murray concluded his address by offering to answer any questions put to him. As none were forthcoming,Mr Ashly proposed, and Mr Moody seconded, that Mr Murray be accorded a vote of thanks and confidence.

Mr Murray requested that the vote so far as the same related to confidence b-i withdrawn. as he did not wish any man to bind himself before the polling day. The request having been complied with, Mr Murray thanked the meeting for the kind way in which he had been received. A vote of thanks lo the chair, by Mr Murray, brought tho mnntinrr ton close.