MR. MASON AT THE LOWER HUTT.

Evening Post, Volume XVIII, Issue 49, 26 August 1879, Page 2

MR. MASON AT THE LOWER HUTT.

Mr. Mason addressed the eloctors at the LoWer Hutt last night, the meeting having bees adjourned from last Tuesday. Mr. Beetham took the chair,- and availed himself of the opportunity to make a speech, in which he was particularly sharp on Sir George Grey for discouraging the introduction of foreign capital. Mr. Mason went over much the same ground as ha bad traversed in his Taita speech. He Contrasted unfavorably the energy shown by the Government in prosecuting the Thamesw aikato line with their tardin ss iv the making of the West Coast Hoe, He deprecated class distinction, and advocated more attention to settlement. .So far as he could see it would pay the large runholders to cut up their blocks. He thought the Thorndon reclamation, as a Government atset, should have been secured to Wellington ; or, If not, used towards prosecuting the West Coast railway. Wellington Provincial iaterests had not been properly looked after by their late members.- If they had been there would now be a ra'lway r'ght through to Napier, which would have secured them the bulk of the Hawke's Bay produce. He condemned the tax on land as unfair and injurious to the credit of the colony, as it depreciated the value of the security offered 'to the outside creditor. He strongly advocated a reform of civil service pitronage by the institution of a non-politiral Board, to which should be entrusted the making of all the greater appointment-, strictly in accordance with merit. In reply to questions, vr Mason explained that the Inspector of Slaughterhouses recently appointed was riot tli* lowest tenderer ; he nu elected by ballot. S >me very severe strictures were made on the candidate by an doctor who maintained that if he (Mr Mason) bad done his duty, the electoral mil w:uld bave been properly made up. As it was, a large oroportion of voters were disfranchised. Mr. Mason defended himself on the score of being ignorant tbat it was his duty to see to it. A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Wflkins and seconded by Mr. Sanson and carrie*, after which the usual compliment was paid to the Chairman, and the meeting separated.