MR. WAKEFIELD AT TEMUKA.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 90, 14 October 1881, Page 2

MR. WAKEFIELD AT TEMUKA.

Temtjku, 13ih October. Mr. Wakefield addressed a orowded meeting of the Geraldiue electors at Tenmka to-night, and reviewed the 1 work of last session. He said when Parliament opened last session the Hal Ministry -had' n b&re majority of six or Beven vote. Ott tho other eide were two parties — ono headed by Sir George Grey, the other under Mr. Maoandrew; and although they were disorganised, they still combined to harass the Government. Koforring to local government, he said ho always had and always would uphold it, as ho believed tho pooplo were able to administer it, and be had urged tho Government to dooontraliso the administration. He owned to having tried to take tho wind out of Sir George Grey'B Bails in the matter of local government. Sir George Grey's measnro was not one which could be made workablo iv New Zealand, ns it proposed to create a numbor of potty States, the whole schome being impracticable. Ho spoke in favour of Crown ltuvis being rated. He faid if Mr.' Ormond'a noconfiiionca motion had been carried, the result would have been most serious, as tho Representation and other bills demanded by the country would have had to be dropped. Mr. Ormoud's object was to fetop looal government being extendod. After all, the result of his motion was that tho whole sohemo of looal government was dolayed for a year. Ho held that looal bodies Bhonld have the largest possible powers, and should be well supplied with funds. The property tax should be localised and Bpont by local bodies, and not go into the General Fund. He would always oppose the restoration of provincialism, though he acknowledged the provinces hod done good work in their day. Population wad tho proper basis for representation, and no one had yet been able to find a better basis. Represents,' tion in the past had been < Very nnfair, and he specially alluded to Nelson being overrepresented. The Government had gone straight to the root of the e\il, and dealt fairly with all parts of the colony, yet Sir George Grey opposed the Bill, and wished that Maoris should be allowed representation over and above tbe present special representation, and if that wish had been acceded to, pakeha Maoris would be returned. The whole of the colony was indebted to the Ministry for the firm aland it had made against tho Stonewallers. Referring to the 10 per cent, reduction, ho said it was done to prevent extra taxation, and the result had been highly satisfactory. The Government had tho Property Tax amended so as to catch absentees, ilo spoke against the recommendations of the Local Industries Committee, in which additional duties were imposod on articles of homo consumption. As regarded native affairs, ho said the sooner the Government applied strong measures the better. He was strongly in favour of tho Railways Construction Bill, and behoved it would prove a valuable measure. Mr. Wakefiold sat down amid applause. In answer to questions, he said he was not in favour of triennial Parliaments, and lowering the railway rates. He behoved in religious teaching in sohools, if it did not interfere with the conscientious feelings of the minority. He was against the Licensing Bench being elective, and against Legislative Councillors being elected for life, but thought that they should hold a long tenure. A vote of thanks for the address was carried by acclamation.