MR BALLANCE AT WANGAN UI

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7546, 8 May 1890, Page 5

MR BALLANCE AT WANGAN UI

[PBE3S ASSOCIATION TBLSOKAU]. WANGANUI, May 7. The Hon. J. Ballance addressed his Constituents this evening. The Mayor occupied the chair, aud there was a large attendance. In opening he said it was his intention to give a sort of account of the business transacted iv Parliament last session, not restricting him. self to the measures passed, but Including also those thrown out, a work, in the opinion of some, just as useful asthe constructive work. First of all he would say they had been looking for some declaration of policy on the part of the Government, but up to this they had received nqthiag of the kind. It was much to be regretted that the Premier's health precluded him from addressing his constituents or appearing before a public meeting. There was no one in Parliament but would like on personal grounds to nee him able to take a share in the work of public politics, but if the Premier was uuable to discharge this duty, surely some of his colleagues could have, done it for him. Mr Hislop, it was true, had lately appeared at Oamaru, bub did nothing except bark at the heels of Sir R. Stout, and he gave no inkling of the policy, of the Government next session. It was said that next session would be a short one, that no great questions would be brought before the House, and they would soon be sent about their business. REPRESENTATION. Referring to last session, Mr Ballance said it began with a long discussion on representation—the issue of town and country being raised—and he explained at some length the details by which the basis of representation was arrived' at, showing , how the members for second rate towns having thrown in their lot with the country representatives were iv' the long run disappointed by them. He objected oh principle to any difference being made between voters in town and country, holding that there should be equal electoral districts, and that all should have the same voting poorer. It was contended by tha country party that people iv town had greater intelligence and better facilities for meeting together; but he maintained that where there were'so many, small townships, and a number of large centres of population, as In the Old Country, practically speaking intelligence was equally diffused over the whole country.

NATIVE LANDS, BTC. Reference was made in passing to old soldiers' graves and the licensing laws, and he then went on to refer to theaildcatibuof the'sum of £300.000 or £400,000 for the purchase of Native lauds along the line of the North Island Trunk Line. When the present Government took office they declared they were goiog to open up the lands to private persons, as the measures of the previous Government stopped l settlement. They hadfound that this could not be done inconsequence of the unsatisfactory state of the titles of Native land, but though this sum had been set aside nothing had been done to carry the purchases Into effect. The sum of £20,000 was made available for purchase in other parts of the colony, but'they had doae nothing In the way of purchasing laud for the purpose of settlement, their only transaction being the expenditure of £300,000 on the Rotorua leases, which the Natives* were now trying to repudiate. Diiring the recess they patched up a n umbel* of Native titles, and since then the Gbverpttieat had appointed Mr Edwards as Comkriissioner. at a salary of £1500, to go into the titles. He believed they could get plenty of men at £600 quite as capable for the work. Mr Edwards refused to accept the post unless he was made a Judge of the Supreme Court, an appointment the speaker considered illegal aud unjustifiable. *