THE PREMIER AT SOUTHBRIDGE.

Press, Volume XXXVI, Issue 5058, 23 November 1881, Page 3

THE PREMIER AT SOUTHBRIDGE.

The Hon. John Hall addressed the electors at the Town Hall, Southbridge, on Monday evening, the hall being crowded to excess. Mr J. a. Campbell occupied the chair. , . Mr Hall spoke for over two hours, giving a foil account ofi-U'stoward-hip, and a brief outline of what would be the probable policy of the eovernment if re-elected. At the oonolusion of the address the chairman stated that Mr Hell was willing, to answer any questions that might John Win asked what wouldjw the exranse of the capture and prosecution of Te Whiti -ndTohuTand whether the confiscated land would pay for the same. l_r Hidl «roh_ned that toe expense would be , very much less than it would have been bad they left them where they were. .Moreover, they were maintaining the peace of then«flow> Mr Wm. Gabbie wished to know how these V SWTiSit& of the Crown lands would ma gnat measure recoup them for the would Haß was acouai_ted-with ttotedges ssgulation. Attmssent owners of fcractioa engines | were compeDed to put out the fires a quarter of a mite before coming to bridges, while they were standing all day amongst straw, *c, without __**___ replied that he would to*: into the matter. He oould see the sense of Mr Osborne s B«m» a_ced Mr Hall if he waßfevorafele to a general reduction on agncultural pron _fe Hall replied that he had answared the same question at Leeston. and saw Mr Bermie present a* the time. The matter was under | oo_-ide_mtJ_n, and the Gorernment hoped to 1 make a _re_4 reduetioa.

' Mr John Miln asked Mr Hall If he was in; favor of pay ing S&aso. _ ; Mr Hail was certainly in favor of it, and had stated so at Leeston. If it were not so. no one but a rich man could reach the Upper Chamber, which he was sure all would agree waß a great error. m ' - ■ ... An Elector asked what was to be done with the non-paying railways. Mr Hall replied that he was afraid some would have to be worked at a loss for some time, but he was of opinion that eventually, with careful management, they would pay. Mr John MoLachlan referred to the relative weights of four bushels of wheat, oats, and barley, and ashed the Hon. Mr Hall whether it would not be more equitable to charge carriage in grain by the ton—to allow 10 sacks, each 4 bushels wheat, or 24001b; 10 sacks, each 4f bushels barley, or 23751b. 12 sacks, each 5 bushels oats, or 24001b. Mr Hall said that he would have the matter looked into, although he considered that if Mr Back, the traffic manager, had been interviewed, that he would have seen that a modification was made. Mr Osborne brought under Mr Hall's nonce the inaccuracy through the present method of weighing grain at the railway. For instance — a new truck was made, taken out of the shop and weighed, and the weight marked on. Two days afterwards this same truck was saturated with rain, and would certainly weigh say 2 cwt. more than when it was first turned out, the original weight of the truck always being taken for granted. Mr Hall stated that this was also a matter which should be laid before Mr Baok for adjustment.

Mr John MoLachlan asked why the date of the first meeting of the Board of Conservators for the North Bakaia district had not yet been fixed.

Mr Hall stated that he was not aware of the fact,;bnt he would see that the date was fixed.

Mr William Gabbie asked if Mr Hall was in favor of preventing men leaving real property by will on such terms as they thought proper. Mr Hall replied that he was not in favor of locking up land by will. Mr Lambie wished to know whether, when a railway did not pay, the land alongside such railway was to be rated for the purpose of making up the deficiencies. Mr Hall thought it waa quite right to rate such lands.

Mr Bluett said that as a bridge over the Bakaia was a matter of great moment, he would ask Mr Hall if the counties had funds to carry out the work.

Mr Hall stated that he believed both counties were in funds, but no help could be looked for from Government.

At the conclusion of the meeting a vote of confidence was passed iv the Hon. John Hall, on the motion of Mr H. P. Hill, seconded by Mr W. Graham.