THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AT INVERCARGILL

Evening Star, Issue 4967, 3 February 1879, Page 2

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AT INVERCARGILL

'i At the invitation of the local Reform Association the Hon. the Attorney-General addressed a public meeting at Invercargill on Saturday evening} Mr Schneider occupying the chair. His speech dealt mainlf with the Electoral Bill, land tax, education, the Legislative Council, and an elected Governor, but he said little or nothing on those questions that differed from his Dunedin speech. "• He intimated that the Government would bring down a Re-distribution of Seats Bill next session. As to education, he said that the very best 'way they could deal with the education quoftion was to exclude religion, and teach other things, such *** fading, writing &c'. The schoolmaster should not be set up as a teacher of some dogma which took his particular fancy. It Was unfair to ask the .State to do anything in "religious matters. Denominational schools tended to bitterness and strife in the community. Why should not all boys an I girls get a good education irrespective of religion, fnd get that from the proper source—-clergy* men ? The State should confine its endeavor to give a really sound secular education. He desired also that there should be an elective Governor. He denied that an elected Governor w»uld savor of disloyalty to the Queen. Re looked upon the question from its educational advantages, and believed that were the Governor made elective it would greatly help the political education of the people The hon. gentleman then touched upon the forms of our local Government. His opinion was that the counties should unite to execute large works themselves. The method of dealing with Native lands should be allured. Speculators had raised the cry of Free trade ” in connection with Native lands. This would not answer. It meant that a big block of land would be secured, and the country would at that rate never be settled. The Government should have the power to buy up the land, or else the man with small capital should have an equal chance with speculators. He then referred to what he thought the people of the Colony should do in regard to politics. He thought everyone should have the courage of his opinions, and should not be 1 ound down to vote according to the dictation of anyone. In conclusion, he appealed to the people of New Zealand to look to the future, and not be contented with the wrong they had been subjected to in the past, so that the Colony 1 would be free from the abuses of other lands. —(Loud and prolonged applause). Mr Kinross moved, “ That this meeting thanks Mr Stout for his address, and considers it the duty of every colonist to support Sir George Grey’s policy,” which was carried by acclation.