THE CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9326, 29 January 1896, Page 5

THE CHRISTCHURCH ELECTION.

MR C. LEWIS AT ADDINGTOft. Mr Chas. Lewis addressed a meeting ot the electors last night at the Oddfellows' Hall, Addingtnn. There was a good attendauoe, about 200 people being present. Mr G. T. Booth occupied the chair, and opened the proceedings in the usual way. Mr Lewis, who waa received with applause, addressed himself in the firat plaoo to the liquor questiou, which ho divided into two parts—prohibition and local option. The stand he took in respect of prohibition, being adverse to the suppression of the manufacture, sale and consumption of liquor, waa applauded. As concerned local option, ho was opposed to ebonies until the people had had an opportunity of saying by a poll whether they desired any ohaugQa. Hβ would be willing thaD the majority should decide so long as it was the majority of the persons on the roll and not a majority of any small uumboi who might take the trouble to vow. (Applause.) He would be in favour of a re« duction in the size of tho licensing districts, which now were 100 large. The boundaries would be better it thoy were confined to those of the local bodies. Concerning the settlement on the land he suggested, and waa warmly applauded, that the money spent on the purchase of tho High Bank estate could lmvo been expended to better advantage in the Halswell or Ricoarton districts! Hie views on revaluation met with approval. Ie might be asked he observed why he did not cat uy his land for settlement. Were he in the position of the Government he would not object to do so. But private individuals, unlike the Government, dii not demand their rent or portions of it in advanos, nor did they stop in and take possession almost immediately after that rent Avas duo. (Applause.) Ho was averse to anything being done in. the way of the resumption of tho land by the State, which would doter people in the Old Country from coming here aud buyiug laud. (Hoar, hoar.) As to party Government, ho remarked that ho did not see how we could have party politics without party Government, as had bsen suggested. If we were going to have party politics, we must have party men to give effect to them. The only way that he saw wav that such men Bhould be elected to office as would not make unscrupulous use of their powers, and such members, like himself, should be returned who would not permit them to make unscrupulous use, even did they try. (Applause.) Ou tho question of the want of employment, he referred to the many men who were reported to bo returning from Western Australia after having failed in their speculations. It was practically to such men that the Hon. Mr Reeves had said tho unemployed had disappeared from New Zealand. They would turu their eyes to this colony, and if thoy could find the needful £1 their footsteps also. But Mr Reeves had only been following out the policy Ministers had consistently followed of attracting to our shores the poor and destitute of Australia to entei into competition with the bona fule workingman of Now Zealand. (Applause.) Mr Lewis briefly touched on the nubjaots of his first epeeah, and ropeated his reasoua for having come forward, aad alluding to the gulf between Labour and Capital he said that the late member was largely responsible for keeping it open. (A voios—" No. , ') He hoped he was not judging Mr Roevostoo harshly when he said that he knew no gentleman more anxioua than Mr Reevos to find out the way popular feeling was trending, and to act in accordance with it. (Laughter.) From his place in the House it was not Mr Reeves who was speaking or snoering, it waa the electors of Chriatohurch boiled down into one man f and whatever effect had been produced by hia legislation had been practically produced by the people. (Hear, hoar.) Upon concluding Mr Lewis was loudly applauded. In answer to questions, Mr Lewie explained how the eight hours system could not become universal, but he was in favour of the system being applied where it waa applicable. Aa New Zealand bad gone in for volunteering, it wa« advisable thab it should be done well, especially in view of the present attitude of the Powers. Volunteers should be allowed free passes to attend their various competitions, and it would be very little return for tne time and monej they spent if they were allowed free ammunition. He was oppoeed to the oompulsory repurchase of land, if land of equal value and no more expensive could be obtained voluntarily. He approved of Civil servants being allowed a special tariff as far as the railways were oonoerned. Ho was not in favour of every person being plaoed on the burgess roll whether he paid rates or nob. Mr W. Jacques said that, heard Mr Lewis's address, he desired to move— "That a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Lewis for his address, and that this meeting considers him a fit and propel candidate to represent the constituency." Mr BusHELL seconded the motion. Mr McKbllab moved and Mr Woods seconded, as an amendment—" That ■Mt Lewie be aooorded a vote of thanks only fox his address." Tho amendment was lost and the motion carried, by a large majority in each case. Three cheers were called for Mr R. M. Taylor, and were given accompanied with groans. Three cheers were given for Mr Lewis, and were followed by cheers and groana for Mr T. Taylor. The usual compliment to the Chairman closed the meeting.