PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 126, 1 June 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

MR. MONTGOMERY AT AKAROA. [united press association. I Christchtjrch, Thib Day Mr. Montgomery, M.H.8., on Monday night addressed his constituents at Akaroa. He said that the Government had taken credit for retrenchment, but the credit was due to the House, which, on the suggestion of Mr. Ormond, had compelled the Government to retrench to the extent of J8200,000 more than they had intended. The Local Public Works Bill of_ Major Atkinson was too cumbrous, and Major Atkinson had been afraid to propose it to the House. Mr. Bryce's Native Lands Bill was the best ever brought to the House, but the Government supporters had forced tho Government to drop i1;.i 1 ;. Had Mr. Bryce resigned rather than give up that bill, he would have hold a place in the fsteem of thousands, which he would not now occupy. The lands were now at the mercy of land-sharks, and it would probably yet be necessary to levy an acreage tax, increasing in proportion to the amount of land held. He (Mr. Montgomery) was in favor rf the property tax ; had a halfpenny property tax beenlevied six years ago, there would have been no need of a. penny rate now. With regard to the Re-distribu* tion of Seats Bill, he was in favor of a population basis, or, if that were not obtainable, ho would have representation, of provincial districts. 'J here wa» no necessity for more members. Though the Bill was Baid to be based on population, New Plymouth and Egmont were to have a member each, while the East Coast and Manawatu, with double their populat ; on, were to have the same number of member c ; Auckland,Jwith 18 000, was to have four ; Christchurch and Sydenham, with 26,000, was also to have four. He approved the Elections Petitions Bill. Ihe financial condition of the & lony wa.s now good— no thanks to the Government — and there would bo a considerable sum fcr appropriation by th,e House a.t its meeting. With regard to the education system, teachers were n t too well ,p.*id, and the standards were not too high. 'J ho whole co3t was not iJIO ',000, as people complained, bnt .£236,000, and much of this was owing to the sparse population of the colony. Ho was opposed to 6chool fees, and a way could be devised for religion being taught without the honrs of secular instruction being interfered with-it depended upon the parents. Ho objected to the Premier s plan for the House of Kepre?entative3 electing the Legislative Council. The people should not be deprived of their vote. The number of members in tho Council should be about 3'), representing large electoral districts, and tho Governor Bhould have ihe power to dissolve it. The question was surrounded wi*h difficulties, however. Mr. Hall had twitted the Opposition with want of union, bat the Government were nob united on tho Education question, native lands, selling or leasing of the railways, the necessity for borrowing, and other questions. Ttie meeting passed a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.