MR. SHEPPARD, M.H.R., A T WAKEFIELD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3084, 16 May 1881, Page 3

MR. SHEPPARD, M.H.R., A T WAKEFIELD.

(by telegbafh.)

Nelson, May 16,

Mr Sheppard addressed his constituents at Wakefield on Saturday. He said retrenchment had been forced on the Government, and thought the necessity for the property tax might have been avoided had the Government, instead of paying cash to the sinking fund, issued debentures for instalments and interest. This would simply have delayed the liability. The interest on the cost of the uncompleted railways should also have been charged to capital and the twenty per cent of the land fund should have been taken from the local bodies. He accused the Government of duplicity regarding the West Coast railway, and spoke strongly against the withdrawal of the subsidies. Districts having railways were vertually subsidised by the facilities afforded and the payment of better interest, which those without got nothing. He opposed the redistribution of representation on the population basis, as Nelson would be the only district which would lose members, and that would be tantamount to punish ing it for not having enjoyed an expenditure of an equal share of public money as other districts. He opposed Chinese immigration most strongly, and supported the present system of free education. A unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was passed.