THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXX, Issue 34, 9 August 1905, Page 5

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

ADDRESS BY MR. I". ROLLESTON. [BY TELEOEAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.') TIMARU, Bth August. Mr. F. J. Rolleston, solicitor, son. of the Late Hon. W. RoHeston, addiesed a crowded meeting to-night, in tho theatre, as a candidate for next Parliamentary election. Be was received with applause and cheers. He opposed the present Government on the grounds of its administration. H<> wa.s not in. £u>vour of repeal of existing legislation, but anticipated that amendments would be necessary from time to time with changing circumstances. He favoured giving life settlers the freehold at original valuation. The Education Department required reorganising, and he deprecated the present tendency to centralisation. He was opposed to Bible-in-schools, and a referendum on the subject, and to the- referendum in general. He advocated reform of the Civfl Service through an independent board, and independence of the Magistrates ; also reform of the Legislative Council, preferably by election by both Houses. He complained that the Public Works Fund was nob properly administered. The remedy was extension of tho powers of local bodies. On tho licensing question he would leave the law as it is with the present powers in the hands of the people. Mr. Rolleston had n warmly sympatnetic meeting, there being much applause and frequent cheering. A vote of thanks and confidence was carried by a show of hands. THE WAITAKI SEAT. WAIMATE, Bth August. In response to tiie request of the President of the Now Zealand Alliance and of Messrs. T. E. Taylor and Bedford, of "The New Liberal Party," Mr. George Dash, Secretary of the Waimate Temperance Reform Union, has consented to contost the Waitaki seat. THE PREMIERS SURPLUS. * TO THE EDITOR. Sir, — Your correspondent, signing himself "Accountant" merely odds the £600,000 to the admitted surplus of £111,295. The •amount i»© so adds was voted, and consequently is as much a payment of the year as any other item of the public expenditure. To follow further ' his involved argument would foe ail endless task.— l am, etc., JOHN DUTHIE. Wellington, Bth August.

The Native Lands Trust Commission has returned to Wellington, and resumed its sitting in this city. This rooming only formal buaness was transacted. There is to be a further sitting to-mor-row, when a native witness ia to be examined.