ELECTION NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 54, 2 July 1887, Page 5

ELECTION NEWS.

Mr E. Wltny and tlie Newton

Electors.

In accordance with the arrangement made by the deputation who waited upon him' Mr Withy attended a conference of New ton electors in the Excelsior Hall. About forty gentlemen were present. Mr Withy gave his opinions upon various matbers. Ho premised his remarks by stating that he would not go to Wellington as a delegate, but rather as a representative, for he could not go down under any man's colours. He would always be opposed to Sir Julius Vogel's schemes ; as he considered him. a politial adventurer, who had i done an immense amount of damage to the colony. He considered that the colony had got into bad habits, such as wasting its borrowed money and gambling. Borrowed money should be systematically repaid, instead of which Sir Julius Vogel had seized upon the sinking fund. He was in favour of retrenchment.. Members of the Legislature should only be paid their apbual expenses. He thought Ll per day would be a liberal allowance. He was opposed to give railwaypasses. He thought that the Government House in Auckland should either be gob rid of or thrown open to the public, instead of being kept for a few people to play lawn tennis in the grounds. In his idea, the Lower House should consist of 50 members and the Upper House of 30, but ho would have the Upper House elective. An enormous reduction should be made in the Government Establishment. All amounts paid to the Ministry should be fixed, and no allowance made. He was in favour of a cessation of borrowing, but still.it would be foolish not to complete the railways already commenced. They might, however, be worked more economically. With regard to education, he also thought a saving might be. effected. He believed in bhe presenb free, secular, and compulsory basis of education here, and lie did nobbelieve in centralising the Education Boards in Wellington. The Civil Service staff, he held, should be largely reduced. The question of protection of local industries was going to be the burning one of the day. He would move another step in increasing the tariff. He was an out-and-out freetrader. He had been a manufacturer all his life, and could hardly be supposed to be entirely ignorant of the question, and to show that he felt for local industries, he had placed one of his sons in a local saw-milL He could not see any gain to either the working man or manufacturers in the increase of tho tariff It simply meant a further increase in tho cost of living. In such a small community they could not expect a sufficient demand for articles to enable them to turn them out with economy, therefore the prices could not be reduced to the English standard. He did not agree with the propertyl tax, because it was-virtually a tax upon thrift and improvement. They had been spending more than their income, and they would require to reduce the expenditure by LfiOO.OOO. At home the Income tax was extremely disliked, and ho feared i' i would be more so here. He had not yet had time to fully study the Village Settlement scheme, but of course he recognised that the land was the true source of a Ration's wealth. • The present schome wasundoubtedly betterthan the land grabbing which had been going on. Ib was quite clear that the State should not part with the freehold of the land. But under the leasing systems no man should be allowed bo secure more land than he could utilise. To do this they would require to stop subletting and the middle-men. He was strongly in favour of land nationalisation, bub ib could-nob be quickly broughb about. He also favoured local option, and would do all in his power to give'the people the right to reduce the number of licenses. He considered that Railway Reform was intimately connected with the 'land system, but he .was, not an entire convert to Mr Vaile's system. In .conclusion, he again gave expression to his absolute independence. In reply.±o questions, Mr Withy said he would do whatever could be done with justice towards reducing the wages of public servants, both high and low. He would not tinker ' with- tho tariff other than to raise revenue. He believed in premiums being given to certain industries,; such,n instance, as for the Onehunga Iron Mahufctui _. If they produced 100 tons of marketable iron he would give them LI,OOO, but not go on supporting thorn with a protective tariff; He was iii favour of a poll-tax on Chinese. He thought local greed had been the error of the colony., He was not in favour of plural voting.; He thought that the Bible could be best taught by parents thems .lves,and not in tho public schools. He had a strong objection to pensions of any kind. -Was in favour of the present jury system, but thought the grand jury a simplo farce. He did not think the' abolition of the Property Tax and the substitution of a land tax could be safoly made at the present time, but as a matter of theory he agreed with it. He had not studied the question of a State Bank of Issue. At the conclusion of the address a vote of thanks was carried to Mr Withy by acclamation.

Mr Otto then moved, " That Sir Withy is n lit and proper person to represent the people of Auckland." This was seconded by Sir Rowe. Mr Garratt moved, as an amendment, the adjournment of the meetings till the boundaries were defined, and spoke against Sir Withy. They did not want an independent man, but one who would do as his constituency wished him. Mr McManus seconded the amendment.

Mr Otto thought Mr Withy was the proper sort of man to elect as their member, although he could not altogether agree with him. . ,

Mr Rowo said complaint had been made of Sir Withy's independence, but they had had enough of toady representatives: as a matter of fact their members, when at Wellington were quite beyond their control. They should send down good and true men, with clean character and clean souls,'like Mr Withy. Sir IWorboys knew Sir Withy well and had found him a modest, conscientious,: courageous, and reliable man. Only six voted for the amendment,':and, the resolutions were carried by a large majority. /'. '