MR J. MILLS AT RAVENSBOURNE.

Evening Star, Issue 7180, 6 April 1887, Page 3

MR J. MILLS AT RAVENSBOURNE.

Mr Jamcß Mills addressed a meeting of the electors at Jackman's Hall, Ravensbourne, last nlghr. Tho Mayor of West Harbor (Mr W. M. Hodgkiue) occupied the ohair, and there was a good attendance. The Chairman spoko Btrongly in favor of the candidate. Mr Mills would refer to one or two other subjects that were exciting interest. They wore told that two questions were coming before Parliament. The Land Acquisition Bill was ono of the most important movements in regard to the land that could be brought before ihein, and it was ono that should bo looked at veiy critically. That the Government i-hould have a power of acquiring largo estates fur the purposes of settlement throughout tho country was a very grave qutstion indeed. At first one was inclined to doubt the advisability of such a course, seeing that they had all over the Colony a large quantity of waste land belonging n tho Crown quite fit for settlnnient. It was possible, however, that tho scheme might be licked into Mich a shape as miiiht make it a great public good. They all knew tho difficulties which were associated with tho p jrchase of limd bv llie Government. 110 hid not a matured opinion about the women's suffrage question. It seemed a bold measure, and New Zealand might wait for another country to give it the lead. On the principle that all tho people were equal, he did not sue why women should not have votes Ho bad no doubt many of them would cxercieo a vote as well as the men did now. If thoy gave women power to vote, they must givo thorn po<<r to sit in ParH limit Another question which was atracting s /ine | :i';Hc interest w.is a proposal to create railway boards for the mat agmwit <i tho railways. He oonfessed that if, seemed absurd that they phould require to think of placing the n anagcmeii'. of the railways in the hands of three persons. The railwijs belonged to the people, and one was inclined to think that they should be a'.le to secure men within Parliament able to .dminMer the railway affairs wisely and justly without going outside. At all events, he was inclined to think that they should wait to ste tho result of the experiment in neighboring colonies. In Victoria initiated a board s itoe years ago, and it had proved a great success, but the railways in Victoria were not on all fours with ours. They had a system wisely laid out, centred in Melbourne, and with traffic per mile very much larger than ours. In New South Wales they were about to t'y the experiment, and New Zealand should wait until they saw how it succeeded there before ommitting ourselvos to anything. In answer to questions tho candidate said that he would do what he c uld to get West Harbor access to the foreshore. Land that should and could be improved and was not should be taxtd. He did not think people should hold larg.- tracts of country without improving it, or giving other people a chance of doing so. He would do what he could to have the matter of the 2J postage to Ravensbourne amended. As to the education system, some people thought they did too much, and that tho Stato should be content to provide primary eohools, leaving the higher sohools to private enterprise. That was probably what it would come to, but he did not care to como.it himself to a definite position. On the mo ion of Mr Wise, seconded by Mr Ross, a vote ot thanks and oonSdenos was unanimously carried, _^_