MR WEIGHT AT ASHBURTON.

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

MR WEIGHT AT ASHBURTON.

On Mo_day evening Mr B. G. Wright, at present the only candidate for Ashburton electorate, addressed nearly 400 persons in the Town Hall. Mr Joseph Ward was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced the candidate as having worked hard for the Coleridge constituency, whioh be recently represented.

Mr Wright, who on rising was received with applause, deprecated any intentional contempt in not meeting the electors at an earlier date. Parliamentary duties, the work of the Bailway Commission, and matters connected with Boad Boards, County Councils, the Plantation Board, and the Harbor Board had occupied his timeTwo years ago he had advocated triennial Parliaments, and he was still of opinion that three years were long enough for a man to be trusted with responsible duties. As to his vote on the first reading of Mr Murray's Bill, that was, merely complimentary. It was understood the BUI would not pass the second reading. In point of fact, it was rejected by -ixty.three votes to three. The Bedistribution of Seats Bill, by which the old district of Coleridge returns three members instead of one, was important, and for their determination in passing this measure the present Government deserved grateful remembrance. The Hall Government was charged with stealing Sir George Grey's ideas, but Sir George failed inter alia to carry out his ideas in regard to representation according to popu- | lation. Under-repreaentation in Canterbury had cost us 20 per cent, of our land fund. It had also coßt ns a property tax, expended in military manoeuvres and military roads in Taranaki; and had cost a third of the railway traffic payments, to be squandered on political railways- in the North Island.' He had voted for the Gaming and Lotteries Bill in every stage, its object being to suppress gambling hells and stop gigantic sweepstakes ; nor would the police disturb the privacy of clubs unless these required looking after. The Prevention of Corrupt Practices at Elections was a necessary Act, to keep down election expenses and prevent the entire. representation from falling into the bands of the wealthy classes, or of political ad venturers who hoped when in Parliament to recoup Jtheir expenses. The Licensine Bill had the merit of pleasing both the publicans and the Good Templars, tending to Buppresslbadly-condu-ted houses. Its working would depend on the mass of people who might secure the.election of men of moderate views for the licensing Bench. Tho Fencing Bill repealed twenty-two provincial ordinances, some of which had been declared ultra vires. Now, every man could compel his neighbor to pay a just share of dividing fences. The Ba_ways Construction Bill was regarded by many as a boon, whioh, aided by English capital, would work wonders ; but he doubted if a single mile would ba constructed of either the WellingtonWest Coast railway, the Canterbury-West Coast, or the Otago Central. In reducing the Property Tax and restoring the 10 percent, to the Civil Service, the Government had taken a sanguine view of the finanoial condition of the colony—a view not justified by their own estimates. A few additional thorough-going economists, like Mr Alfred Saunders and the Hon. John Bryce, were needed in the Assembly. The : fact that Te Whiti bad constituted Parihaka a refuge for evil doers had been a menace to the lives of settlers, and it was intolerable such a state of things should have been allowed to continue. In order to have placed himself in a proper light before the colony, Te Whiti should have long since expelled Hiroki. The difficulty seamed now over, and the Natives should be generously dealt with. The railway tariff was an old subject, but not the less a very potent grievance. The railways in that part of the colony, taking the good and the unprofitable together, paid at least 7 per cent, net profit on their cost of construction, being at least 2 per cent, in excess of the coat to the colony of the borrowed money. On the other hand, there were railways in tha North Island which did not pay 1 per cent. The WeUington-Masterton line paid only sixteen shillings per cent, per annum, and waß but a political machine. There were four trains daily to the Upper Hntt, including two through to Masterton ; and there were seven trains daily to Lower Hutt. In fact a few members resided at the Hutt, and practi- j catty had special trains for their own conve- | niehce, while in the Middle Island could be found services of but two trains daily. ABO or 40 per cent, reduction was needed on the present charges, not only on the goods tariff, but on the passenger traffic also if practicable. The New Plymouth Harbor Works he regarded as simply a fraud on the colony from firat to last. If returned, he was not prepared to pledge himself to support tbe present Government through thick and thin, though he had so far given them a cordial support in the majority of cases. He would not hastily oust the Government, and not at any time unless he saw by so doing he waß assisting to put in a Ministry capable of doing ampler justice to the colony. Mr Wright concluded by thanking the audience for their patient hearing. [Loud and prolonged applause.] . . . In reply to a question, Mr Wnght said he would urge the completion of the Mount Somers Bailway, on whichever side might seem most advisable, reasonable regard being paid to the question of cost. A vote of thanks and confidence was unanimously passed by acclamation, on Mr Steele's motion, seconded by Mr George Cates. The proceedings closed with the customary compliment to the chair.

l_E__SS ASSOCIATION TKLEGBAMS j

AUCKLAND, November 22. Sir G. Grey, in all probability, wiß address another public meeting in a few days.

Mr Seymour George addressed the Rodney electors at Port Albert, and received a vote of thanks.

Mr Moss addressed the electors at Parnell tonight, and had a very good attendance. He stated that the Hall Government was not a Liberal Government, and the Premier was opposed to Liberal measures. The Grey Ministry were rejected because they would not agree to jobbery in Native lands. As to the Native question, circumstances were exceptional, and had obtained exceptional treatment, which would require the strictest investigation. Mr Moss was weU received, but his remarks about the Native question elicited some dissent. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried, but sot unanimously. Mr Owen McGee has anneunced himself for Manukan against Sir M. O'Borke. THAMES, November- 22. Mr A. J. Cadman addressed the southern portion of the Coromandel electorate last evening, and after the conclusion of his oration, a vote of thanks, coupled with a pledge of support, waa moved. The candidate counselled the meeting to hear bis opponents before committing themselves in this respect, but the resolution was nevertheless agreed to. Mr Kelly, a candidate for the Tauranga electorate, met the Thames portion of the constituency at Furiri, and received vote of thanks for his address. TTMABU, November 23. Mr TnrnbuH addressed a crowded meeting of his constituent- to-night, and received an mumimous vote of thanks and confidence.

DUNEDIN, November 22. The Hon. T. Diei addressed a large meeting last night, and spoke for nearly three hours. He received all' but an unaxuxaouß vote of confidence* INVEBCABGILL, November 22. Mr Joseph Hatch, one of the candidates for the, representation of Invercargill, addressed a. large meeting at North Invercargill to-night, and received a vote of thanks. He announced that if returned he would take up an independent position. He would not, immediately that Parliament met, support a motion to oust the Hall Government.

[-"BOM OUB COBRSSPOTTDBNT.] | ASEBBBTON, November 28. Mr C. W. Purnell received a vote of confidence at the Town Hall to-night. He said that, if elected, he would not he prepared to oust the; present Ministry unless better men were available.