THE MATAURA ELECTORATE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2069, 19 October 1893, Page 19

THE MATAURA ELECTORATE.

MR R. M'NAB AT GORE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Gore, October 12

The Gore Town Hall was crowded this evening to hear an address from Mr Robert M'Nab, one of the candidates for the Mabaura electorate at the forthcoming general election. There were a number of ladies present, and in the absence of the mayor through indisposition John Mac Gibbon, ex-mayor, presided. The Chairman in a brief speech introduced Mr M'Nab as a Southland native, and expressed his pleasure at seeing their young colonials coming forward and taking part in the public affairs of the colony.

Mr M'Nab, who met with a hearty reception, commenced by giving his reasons for being a hearty supporter of the granting of the franchise to women. There were, he said, some defects in the present electoral laws which should be remedied — notably the absence of a provision for persons unavoidably absent on election days recording their votes within a few days of leaving home, as this often affected a busy, useful, and industrious class of people. He was in favour of a Legislative Council or Upper House, provided appointments were made for a limited period. He considered a distinction necessary between county and municipal franchise, and the parliamentary franchise ; but, recognising the growing personal element in the former, he would favour the lowering of the limit of the county franchise from 5 to 4 and the municipal from sto 3 vote 3 . He dealt largely upon the land question, expounding the present working and probable luture effects of the different acts now in force, and favoured the State retaining control of the remaining unalienated area, which he pointed out was comparatively small and of litole value. He wss in favour of the lease in perpetuity system, and thought provision should be made by which all Crown tenants could rafae loans with facility on their improvements. H-i approved of the State taking action where large areas of land were hfld by companies or individuals in neglected idleness, either by taxation or otherwise, for enforcing a sub- division ; and was in favour of the exemption of improvements from taxation. He failpd to see how increased population could possibly reduce taxation. He would advocate a system whereby the duties on the estates of deceased persons might be paid by the State taking land (where the estate was a large one and included broad acres) in lieu of cash, and thought all land reverting to the Crown in such manner should be placed in the list of Sir Robert Stout's proposed sinking fund. On the education question — one very dear to him — he claimed to have considerable knowledge. Being born and bred in Southland, he had received all of h : s scholastic education at our national primary schools, college, and utiiversity, and since then and at the present time was both a member of the Southland Education Board and the Invereargill High School Board. Notwithstanding his pride in our n itional system, he did not consider it yet a perfect one, and would like to see the compulsory clauses of the act made national instead of local, and the allocition of the capitaticn grant and payment of salaries made on the working average instead of upon the strict average as at present. Our secondary education system at present was most unsatisfactory, and was a law to itself, and the number of present school's simply represented the number of different systems worked. lie thought, the schools sh)uld all be brought under oco act and be subje ;t to annual examinations, and where the proper work could nob be accomplished the syst-m should give place to a cistrict high school system, which could equip for the university and bring within tbe direct reach of all the bern-fibs of secondary education, The present system of appointment of the governing bodies of the New Zealand UniV'TsUy he d'd nob approve of, and thought the Government of the day should havo some say in the matter. Notwithstanding all this fault-finding, he warned the people against any serious tinkering with our Education Act, which was now producing good fruit. It was a great leveller, knowing no distinction of class or wealth, but only the distinction — the best and truest all distinctions— which ability gave. As captain of a volunteer corps, he had a good deal to say on the question of defence, advocating warmly the claims of the volunteer force for further recognition from the powers that be

than had been the case in the past. He thought the men should be armed with the Lee-Metford or Martini rifles. In general he approved of Colonel Fox's report, which he considered showed much ability and courage. In conclusion, he paid a tribute of praise to several members of the old Atkinson party, especially Sir John Hall, yet he considered their days had gone by, and in future the leadership of political parties would bs between such men a3 Sir R. Stout and the Hou. R. Seddon.

In reply to questions, Mr M'Nab said that he would not vote for any amendment in the Education Act to provide for the Bible in schools with an optional clause. He regretted that circumstances were euch that, to all appearance, ro change could be made in the direction indicated without endangering the system. If a plebiscite were taken, and the vote of the majority were in favour of the above, he would not ulter his principles. He supported the policy of the past few years He believed that the success of the future depended on the land and labour legislation. He supported the railway being controlled by a commission, with the Minister for Public Works as chairman. He did not believe in large sums of the State's money being controlled by individuals outside of parliamentary interference. The only control that Parliament exercised now was the pissing of the Estimates, which they ware compelled to do. Every individual having a vote in connection with licensing mitters was an admission that the nutters at issue were purely personal and a three - fifths majority wai inconsistent with such a profession. Mr M'Nab was frequently applauded during his speech.

A unanimous vote of thaLks and confidence in Mr M'Nab as a fit and proper person to represent the Mibaura electorate was passed, on the motion of Messrs Joseph Baker and J. Stevenson. A large number of persons remained after the public meeting and formed themselves into a working committee to secure Mr M'Nab's return. Mr Baker was appointed chairman of the committee, and Messrs Bust and Martin secretaries.