THE HUTT ELECTION. MR. MASON AT THE LOWER HUTT.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 545, 25 June 1879, Page 2

THE HUTT ELECTION. MR. MASON AT THE LOWER HUTT.

Mr. Thomas Mason, one of the candidates seeking to represent the Hutt district in the House of Representatives^ addressed a number of the electors at the Oddfellows' Hall, Lower Hutt, last evening. Mr. Milne was voted to the chair, and in a few appropriate words introduced the candidate. Mr. Mason, who was received with applause, began by giving a history of his connection with local Boards, &c, ever since he came to New Zeaiand. He then proceeded to deal with the various questions which he supposed to be of interest to the public. Referring to the land tax, he said the tax was no doubt right in principle, but it failed practically because it mule tho mortgagees of land the actual owners, and a great deal of the land supposed to be owned by the public was at present mortgaged. In his opinion the mortgagee shoula be the person taxed, and not the nominal owner. He objected altogether to compelling p«opb to value their land for the purpose of taxation, and thought the Government should employ officers to do the work. He felt that the law on these subjects might easily be altered and improved. With regard to the Wellington and Foxton Railway, he said the work should be proceeded with at once, for he considered Rangitikei to be the garden of New Zealand. He thought also that a portion of the Thorndon Reclamation should be sold, in order that money might be raised wherewith to construct the railway, and he considered the reclamation a provincial asset, to which the people of Foxton had a? much right as anybody else. He did not know of any work which would be of greater value than this. He believed in the construction of railways, and he felt that if the Government bad made all the railways which had been promised by Sir Julius Vogel there would have been no native difficulties. In order to carry on public works loans must ba raised ; but those loans could not ba raised unless there was peace in the colony. They should carry on none but works which would be reproductive. He believed thtt if the colony were opened up by railway it would be found to bo far richer than anybody ever anticipated. The Government should do all in their power to "settle " the land, and, in his opinion, they would be acting wisely if they allowed a loDger time for clearing it. A settler should bo permitted to hold the land for two yean before he was compelled to reside upon it. Referring to the Civil Service, he thought the members of any Government should not have the pow«r of giving billets to their friends. In his opinion the Civil Service should be placed under the control of a board, the members of which should be chosen by Parliament, and merit should always be rewarded. It was very painful for an old and efficient servant to find a youth, who had influence, suddenly placed over hit head. With regard to the question of triennial Parliaments, he said he bad no objection ts them; in fact, he thought they might be established with advantage, especially considering that the population was so frequently changing in the colony. Referring to to* question of the redistribution of seats, be said he had no objection to a redistribution, provided it was not made oa the base of population, for if it were the towns would have all the advantages and the country districts would suffer. He believed that if roads were made, and railway! formed, a far greater quantity of crown laodc would be sold than was the case at present. He did not object to the extension of the franchise, in fact he thought that every man of intelligence should have a vote, but at the same time he did not believe that if manhood sufferage were agreed to, the number of votes polled at elections would be greatly increased, for many people would not take the trouble to vote at all. WitU regard to the education question, he said that the Government should endeavour to give the best education in their power to the youth of the colony in the State schools— an education that would fit our children to hold any position ia^fe. Then the Government should support the Universities, but he did not believe in what he might call "secondary schools" such as " high " schools and the Wellington College. He could not see that the College referred to had worked well or been of any practical use. He was in favor of secular education, but he did not see why schools in which religious instruction was give a should not be subsidised by the Government if they were properly j " satisfactorily conducted. Mr. Mason then invited those present to question him on any subject they might think proper. Mr. Brown «aid that Mr. Mason, as Chairman of the County Council, had always set his ace against borrowing, but now he seemed to lave been suddenly converted and appeared to be anxious to borrow. He (Mr. Brown) remembered that Mr. Mason had actually declined an offer made by the Government to lend money for the making of the Horokiwi road. Mr. Mason in reply, said that if they had wrrowed money which was to be spent on the Horokiwi Road alone other district* which would have to pay the interest on the amount borrowed would not receive any benefit. The Urge loan that he was in favor of, however, would be spent ail over the Colony, and all would benefit. If they had borrowed the money for the Horokiwi Road the interest would have been a heavy charge on their ordinary revenue, and consequently there would have been less money to spend on works of general importance. in reply to other questioner*, Mr. Mason said he was in favor of making the road from the Upper Hutt to Waikanae, but he certainly objected to make a special rate to pay for the work. He thought, in fact, that the settlers were already taxed heavily enough. He bad not been "put up" by the present Government, and, tf returned, he wonld only support Uuwe measures which be considered were good. He was decidedly opposed to the policy of the present Government with regard to native matters. (Applause.) He was opposed to Chinese immigration, but he could not see how we were to get rid of those who were at present in the colony. He reminded bis hearers that the Chinese had thrown their ports open to us, and we should act similarly with them ; but, at the stme tune, be admitted that the Chinese were not good colonists, and was of opinion that they should bear their share of taxation. He was averse to war, and, in his opinion, there would never have been anything of the sort if the natives had been dealt with in a fair manner, and if the promises made to them bad been carried out. The difficulty might be overcome if private individuals were not allowed to purchase lands from the natives. He believed that the "land sharks" were the cause of all native disturbances. Mr. Bssthaj£ sen,, moved, and Mr. D.

Spbedt seconded, " That Mr. Mason is a fit and proper person to represent the Hutt District in the General Assembly." There were seven hands held up in favor of tbe motion and twelve against, but the Chairman, amid roars of laughter, declared tie numbers to be equal, and gave his casting vote in favor of the motion, and declared it to be carried. A vote of thanks to tbe Chairman terminated tbe proceedings.