TE AROMA ELECTORATE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 94, 24 April 1891, Page 4

TE AROMA ELECTORATE.

SPEECH BY MB W. S. ALLEN.

(BY TELEGKAPH.—OWN COKRESPONDEXT.)

Te Aroha, this day. Mr W. S. Allen delivered his retiring address last evening in the Tβ Aroha public hall. There was a crowded attendance. Mr "W. A. Murray, of Piako, was Chairman. Mr Allen reviewed the petition proceedings, and, while not impugning tho judge's decision, believed they had been misted by apparent facts and not by real facts. Tho large amount expended by his agent on the election was one of these. He was in utter ignorance on these points until his arrival in the colony. Hβ felt the disqualification keenly not on account of losing the seat, but from the disgrnco attaching thoreto. He contrasted the election law in England with ours. There paid agency was allowed in prescribed limits, but here it was totally prohibited, and yet no election was fought without. Mr Allen briefly stated his views from the standpoint of a simple voter largely interested in thewelfnreofthecolony on the more important political questions, lie the property tax lie advocated its abolition, but did not" believe in the land tax being made so sovore as to burst up largo blocks hold by absentees for speculative purposes. They should be very severely taxed, but, said Mr Allen, " don't drive away men who come to the colony to buy large blocks and employ labour in improvements." At tho closing of tho address Mr Alien received a unanimous vote of thanks.