MR. SAUNDERS AT KAIKOURA. Kaikoura, 18th October.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 94, 19 October 1881, Page 2

MR. SAUNDERS AT KAIKOURA. Kaikoura, 18th October.

Mr. A. Saundera addressed the electors of Cheviot here to-night. The meeting was largely attended. Reviewing tho past session, he referred to the three important •measures passed — the Redistribution of beats Bill, Corrnpt Practices Bill, and Licensing Bill. He considered tho representatives of cities had acted very liberally in giving the country the representation it had. It Was no doubt wise, because unless the country districts were in a flourishing condition the towns would suffer He considered the Government was indebted to the Opposition for carrying the measures named, and expressed the opinion that the passage of these Bills sufficiently relieved the session from any such stigma as barrenness. He thought that in future all chance of stonewalling should be removed by never allowing any district to retain an unfair share of representation. AH inequalities | should be removed prior to tho election of a new Parliament. He objected to the proposal to establish a Central Board of Works, as it would be likely to lead to a somewhat Bimilar body being called into existence to manage railways. With respect to his action in supporting the Governmt- nt on the occasion of Mr. Ormond's motion for want of confidence, he eaid that on looking round he found eight or ten members were in accord with him, that it was undesirable that the Government Bhould be replaced by" men unfit to handle the publ 0 purse. It was a lesson to the Government and the Opposition from that day forth that Sir George Grey and Mr. Macandrew shonM be set aside as men utterly unfit to have control over the finances of the colony. With respeot to local government, it was most desirable that a change shonld be made as soon as possible, so tat money laised locally Bhould bo retained in the district, thus obviating the necessity of sending the Property I'ax t> Wellington, there to be scrambled for and obtained by the strongest representatives. He was solely in favour of a free, national, and undenominational system of education. Greater facilities should be offered to Bettlerß to secure the occupation of Crown lands, and everything done to retain population in the co'ony. He strongly disapproved the restoration of the 10 per cent, as most unwise under the financial condition of the colony. This became infinitely worse wnen is was considered that the colony wa3 still living on borrowed money, i'JOO.OOO of borrowed money being expended n public buildings and woika, schools, &c, even down to the very tooiS used by the prisoners in gaoh. He referred to the ing-nious devices re3orted to in concealing ttie real objects of expenditure, telegraph repaira being Btyled M re-construction and strengthening," and re-making railways " re-laying rails and strengthening works." The manner in which the colony had been deluded into indulging in extravagant expenditure was melancholy. He referred to the gambling financial policy of Sir Julius Vogel, and said it had demoralised every Coloniil Treasurer that had succeeded him, and that since his day there had been no honest and prudent finance in New Zealand. Any increase of the National D*bt was incompatible with the future prosperity and credit of the colony. Tha re iteration of the 10 per cent, to the higher paid servant was the more strongly to be oondemned. Ministers had been ho. test with respact to their own emo'.nmeuts. He strongly advocated free trade, aud regrette 1 that there were so nuny in favour of protection. Hn said NewZealand cou'd not adopt a protective po icy and onipete with America. Protection vva3 calculated to suit a few manufacturers. Referring to stonewalling, he thought members in speaking should bo limited to a quarter of an hour, except, perhaps. Ministers and the leader of tho Opposition. Then q.li who wished could spejk. and ttiu* they could put a atop to such a* those who had neither tne modesty nor the sense to know tnat their utterauoes were of no benefit to the couutry. He announced himself as free to choose whom he woald snppor. The proce-dinsß, whioh were rather disorderly, were concluded by a motion of confidence and a pledge of support being carried by a majority of eight,