MEMBERS' VIEWS SUMMARISED.

Evening Star, Issue 8382, 6 December 1890, Page 1 (Supplement)

MEMBERS' VIEWS SUMMARISED.

From the hustings speeches of the elected members we make the following summary of their opinions on the leading public questions of the day ; 9TAG.O. Mr J. Mtyt3 (Ministerial)! would impose some special ta* on large areas of unoccupied unimproved lands which were merely held for speculative purposes; while a strong

sympathiser with the claims of Catholics, would only support their claims in the event of such assistance being proposed by the Government of tho day ; favors the reintroduction of Bible reading into the schools with a time-table and conscience clause ; is in favor of limiting the time for which membera of the Upper House are appointed to not more than seven years; would support a Bill for the establishment of boards of conciliation to deal with all disputes arising between capital and labor; would not favor raising the school age to six years or limiting education to the Fourth Standard ; is in favor of female franchise. Mr J. G. Ward (Opposition) supports an extension of the franchise to women ; thinks no more land should be sold, and that all the system except that of perpetual lease Bhould be abolished; some means should be devißod for " bursting-up " large estates; while tho Property Tax is objectionable, he recognises that it is impossible todispense with it at present; approves of raising a small loan within the colony, to be spent in the direction of advancing settlement ; thinks New Zealand ought to join federation with the proposed Australian Dominion ; supports the reading of the Bible in the State schools, under a timetable and a conscience clause ; and is also in favor of Mr Pyke's Private Schools Bill. He is strongly opposed to the sale of the railways; thinks a change in the present system of party government is necessary ; and also that the rules of procedure ought to be amended in the direction of putting the control of the House in the hands of the majority. He is a local optionist, but the hotel business having been legally established, would not deprive people of their licenses without compensation; would support the re-establishment of distilleries; would not reduce the exemption under the Property Tax, which he believes should be supplemented by an income tax. Mr W. Carncross (Opposition) is a thorough believer in perpetual leasing, and would not sell one more acre of Crown lands ; will support a tax on absentees ; is opposed to further borrowing, but if he found it was necessary to borrow to carry on public works he would approve of it; considers the present method of subsidies to local bodies totally unsatisfactory, and thinks some scheme might be devised by which the amounts of subsidies might be based upon the amount contributed through I the Property Tax ; regards a land and J income tax as a fair tax, but would not advocate any sudden change in the incidence of taxation; advocates the reading of the Bible iu the public schools ; is a determined opponent of female suffrage ; would like to see the honorarium again increased to L2OO ; is strongly opposed to the selling of the railways ; thinks the people ought to be allowed to say whether intoxicating liquors should be sold in the district in which they reside ; maintains that it is utterly impossible to give compensation to public-houses from which licenses are taken away; would support a measure to dismiss the Railway Commissioners ; thinks that members of the Upper House ought not to receive any honorarium. Hon. T. Fergus (Ministerial) thinks tho timo during which members should hold office as legislative councillors ought to bo restricted to seven or ten years ; epproves of the acquisition of Native lands and the roading of Crown lands for the purposes of settlement on the terms indicated in the Premier's manifesto. Every facility should be given to settle people on the land; would maintain the present education at all hazards. Mr W. Dawson (Opposition) would like tc see Parliament re-lease the remaining Crown lands on the most liberal terms with a view to inducing a Imw *•-»-* iwpniation ; =ut:.c oieps snoulil also be taken to prevent banks, loan companies, and private individuals from holding large tracts of land uncultivated; advocates the settlement of school farms ; would oppose borrowing in any shape ; was opposed to the Railway Board as at present constituted ; is a Protectionist ; a supporter of the eight-hour system ; supports a progressive land tax to compel large companies to work their lands and to place people on them, but considers the Property Tax a fairer one : would oppose any further attempt in the direction of local self-government; would abolish the nucleus of the standing army ; supports an elective Legislative Council, limiting the term of election to seven years ; favors the present education system, except that the school age should be raised to six years is opposed to granting the franchise to women. Mr H. S. Valentine (Ministerial) supports the land policy of the present Administration ; thinks the time has arrived when the Native Department should be abolished altogether ; thinks we should, if possible, _ federate with tho Australian colonies iu a commercial sense ; is in favor of Mr Pyke's Private Schools Bill; is a freetrader, and will consistently vote against an increase of duties in any shape or form ; does not believe in absentees being taxed, nor in an additional tax being put on all freehold over 5,000 acres in extent. Mr T. Mackenzie (Ministerial) would certainly continue present Property Tax in preference to a land tax, and being a country member is a pronounced Freetrader. He thinks land boards should be abolished, and considers that the present Ministry have done infinitely more for land settlement than their predecessors. He is strongly opposed to the Truck Bill and other labor measures introduced last session. He favors Bible reading in schools; opposed the Land Acquisition Bill, because he thinks we have still plenty Crown lands available without buying from companies or private individuals ; is opposed to the franchise being extended to women, and to State aid being granted to private schools. Mr David Pinkerton (Opposition) favors a progressive tax on the unimproved value of all lands; thinks absentees should be taxed ; is strongly opposed to the Property Tax ; supports the present system of education pure and simple ; would get rid of tho Railway Commissioners at the first possible chance ; is in favor of all the labor Bills of last session, and of female franchise ; is a pronounced trades unionist; looks with suspicion on the Premier's plan of borrowing money within the colony for the purpose of buying up Native lands ; is a Protectionist; and would like to see the Upper Bouse swept away. He is opposed to Bible reading in schools ; favors a system of intercolonial reciprocity ; is opposed to immigration; and would abolish anything in the nature of a standing army. Mr John M'Kenzie (Opposition) believes that the only means of putting down dummyism will be to make it punishable with imprisonment and without the option of a fine. Large estates, when required for settlement, should be repurchased by Government at a reasonable price. He is opposed to borrowing. There should be no more loans for three years. He is opposed to the Property Tax, preferring a land tax ; is opposed to Australian federation ; opposes the selling of our railways ; is in favor of the establishment of distilleries ; and is a warm supporter of the national schools. Mr W. HrjTcmsoN (Opposition) would like to see the Railway Commissioners re- j moved ; favors borrowing within the colony; : thinks retrenchment can be effected by abolishing the permanent force, doing away with the Native Department, the San Francisco mail service, and the Agent-General's London office ; would like to Bee further protection to local industries through tho Customs duties ; is a strong supporter of the ; Eight Hours Bill; would substitute a progressive land tax and an income tax for the Property Tax ; and would like to see local government very largely extended. Is a supporter of the present eduoation system, Mr H. S. Fish (Opposition) would have the expenditure reduced by LIOO.OOO, which ; would permit of a land and income tax being substituted for the Property Tax without patting any special bnrden on the people ; would impose a tax on absentees ; objects to the raising of a standing army, but wonld like to see a thorough reorganisation of the volunteer force ; would abolish the small gaols in the colony, and effect large reductions in respect of Prisons Department; recognises that we mast borrow, but wonld not restrict borrowing to this colony, Mr James Kelly '(Opposition) believes strongly, in land nationalisation ; favoro a progressive land tax and income tax, with exemptions of not less than L2OO and on a progressive basis j is in favor of abolishing the Legislative Counoil ; is opposed to borrowing on the London market, and wonld raise in the colony any necessary sum t;o.

complete our unfinished public works by means of a State bank ; in the event of any tampering with the education system would only support payment by results; would leave it optioual with the majority of householders throughout the colony as to whether the Bible should be read in schools ; ia entirely opposed to colonial federation, but would favor any reciprocal tariff between Australia and New Zealand ; is not in favor of State aid to any denomination; approves of a second poll when there was a likelihood of the candidate not representing the majority ; thinks it a better plan to subsidise the volunteer system rather than to create a standing army. Hon.G. p. RicHAßi)SON(Ministcrial)thinks the law as it at present stands affords sullicient protection against the increase of public-houses contrary to the wish of the people ; is averse to further borrowing, except to a limited extent for opening lands for settlement; is against granting State aid to denominational schools; thinks the present system of party government objectionable, and prefers an elective Government appointed by the House for the Parliament. Mr J. Joyce (Opposition) is a strong advocate of intercolonial reciprocity ; believes in compulsory early closing ; would like to see a law made for the Crown to repurchase land held in large blocks and which was not used, the land to bo bought by debentures to bear interest when it was occupied ; is in favor of local option without compensation ; would oppose grants to denominational schools; would be in favor of ussisted immigration when our surplus labor was absorbed and we required more, not before. Mr T. Doncan (Opposition) thinks the commutation of perpetual leases into freeholds 18 far too easy, and should be stopped at once ; would give power to immediately icsume land for settlement, first dealing with the large properties adjoining towns ; is in favor of triennial Parliaments, representation of seamen, and the labor Bills of last session; will support an Eight Hours Bill with certain reservations; favors a retention of the present education system, with the exception that aid hi; extended to big schools—to include Tyke's Bill ; is in favor of taxing absentees ; ia in favor of the dismissed railway hands beiiif; reinstated, especially the last three dismissed, who only got ten minutes to decide ; does not think that the railway men should be ufliliated with other unions ; is averse to the Property Tax, and would vote :it oiu<* for any good scheme of land taxation. CANTERBURY. Mr W. B. Perceval (Opposition) would support a measure giving the Government power to take large estates at a fair valuation, and subdivide them for the purposes of settlement; is a believer iu the village settlement system ; will oppose the raising of the school age and the cutting oil' of the higher standards : is a supporter of Mr Pyke's Bill, holding that the State should pay for secular results; will support compulsory early closing ; thinks a resident magistrate should have power to deal with titles to land, etc., up to the amount of his jurisdiction, and so save the expense of going to the Supreme Court. Sir J. Hall (Ministerial) supports the land administration of the present Government ; is opposed to any proposal for a change in the incidence of taxation ; favors Australasian federation ; is an ardent advocate of female suffrage ; is a supporter of Mr Pyke's Bill giving a grant-in-aid to private, schools under certain conditions; thinks that the first businces of the next Parliament should bo a reform of its own procedure in the direction of putting down deliberate obstruction ; thinks borrow.:."may won ho ....<.-«,...i rw uo ivitKiitiirce yearn ; thinks future members of the Legislative Council should only be appointed for a limited term ; would like to see the question of proportional representation favorably considered ; is not in favor of raising the school age, nor would he impose fees above the Fourth Standard. Mr A. E. G. Rhodes (Ministerial), while supporting further retrenchment, is o£ opinion that this should only be done by combining offices and giving up work, r.nd not by cutting down salaries ; is of opinion that some form of oloture must be adopted » will in no way hamper the present system of education ; would have the large estates paying their fair share of tax-ation ; believes in the eight hours system, but does not think the Eight Hours Bill would help it : would not vote for a. repeal of the Triennial Parliaments Bill ; theoretically is i:i favor of taxing absentees, but the difficulty was to avoid taxing foreign capital and keeping it away. Mr W. P. Reeves (Opposition) thinks that a change in the land laws and their administration is absolutely necessaiy, and in strongly in favor of the abolition of the cash system ; would substitute a land and ineom. tax for the I'roporty Tax ; boards of coneili ation and arbitration should be resorted to iu future iu case of minor dispute, and anything that Parliament could do to establish these boards should be done after the ein ■ ployers aud trades unions had decided what land of legislation they required in tlii.v direction ; is an out-and-out supporter oi the present education system. _ Mr K. G. WuiciiT (IVJinistcrial) would like to see education in our public schools directed as far as possible to imparting a knowledge of and a desire for agricultural and kindred pursuits, thus checking the prevailing tendency to overcrowd the workshops in the towns, and! filling to overflowing the underpaid clor!.ships. He supports the perpetual lease system ; will oppose any alteration in the present system of education, though in the higher standards education should be not only literary but practical: will cordially support any local option Birl; supports, in, the main, the action of the Railway Commissioners ; thinks appointments to the Legislative Counoil should be for only a term of Beven years, and that no more councillors should be created until toe country has determined in what maaner the Council should be reformed. He would! retain the Property Tax as against a land and income tax; supports giving the franchise to women ; would give the labor Bil;» his cordial support; and believes that all 1 the reserves for secondary education wilf have to be sold to meei the greater demandw of primary education. Mr E. Blake (Opposition) is averse to the proposal to give Government power to compulsorily resume possession of the large estates for settlement ; is opposed to further borrowing ; believes in triennial Parli A . ments ; will support most of the labor P,il) B of last session ; contends that the c-,-y of absentee landlords is a cry only, arid would not put a special tax on them ; would oppose a land and Income tax at every stage ; supports the retention of the present education, system ; waß very pleased wi*k the Defence Minister's Bill of last session for placing the volunteers on a proper rooting, and would support it. Although a member of the late Opposition, if Mr Hallance persisted in advocating a land and income tax, ho would hm e to vote against him. _ Hon. W. Rolleston (Ministerial) v,v>nld like to see boards of conciliation anrl arbitration appointed; is an uucompromisiwr supporter of the education system ; approvers of the land administration at the presentGovernment, and is a thorough believorin the perpetual leasing system. He is opposed to the substitution oi a land and income tax for the Proporey Tax, and to anything in thedirection of progressive taxation; he is thoroughly opposed to further borrowing, and is of opinion thai the country is in no ?wu further expenditure on public works, What was wanted was agriculture and trade unfettered, and an extension of local government. He is opposed te tho abolition of the Upper House and to the establishment of a State bank ; is of opinion that eight hours is quite sufficient for a day's work but thinks that this, like other labor questions, is more a matter for settlement between employer and employed than for legislation. Being opposed to public money being devoted to promote sectarian interests of any kind, he could not support Mr Pvke'fa. Private Schools Bill. & Mr W. Haul-Jones (Opposition} sup-g-n u a - general Civil Service Classification. ill being passed ; will support, a proposal for the reduction of inland postage ; is opposed to aiding further immigration ; thinks, land held in large blooks should be resumed' for settlement; pledges himself not to support a loan for the next three years ; advocates a progressive land and income tax, with a tax on absentees, and an increase in the snooeaslon duties; upholds the present system of education without alteration, but

if tho Private Schools Bill could be passed without endangering the system he would support it; thinks the Legislative Council should be reformed by being made elective ; thinks the constitution of the Railway Bill should be altered by the removal of Mr Tvlaxwolls Mr R. M. Taylor (Opposition) does not see any necessity for the Legislative Council ; would abolish, or at any rate greatly cut down, the Agent-General's Department; is in favor of a graduated land and income tax, of a tax on absentee landlords, and of making the foreign bondholders contribute something towards the cost of defence ; disapproves of tho land policy of the Government ; would like to see a number of small gaols dosed, and the defence vote materially reduced ; would support the maintenance of the education system in its integrity ; is in favor of extending the scholarship system, so that the children of poor parents should have every opportunity of -njoying the benefits of secondary education. ... Mr R. Meredith (Ministerial) would like to see a change in the system of V* rt y government; approves of the existing land regulations; thinks the Property Tax the fairest mode of taxation; would impose double taxation on absentee landlords; will support the present system of education in its entirety, and is consequently opposed to denominationalism ; would extend the franchise of women to all local bodies, but not to elections for Parliament; ia in favor of triennial Parliaments ; thinks the day is cot far distant when there will be intercolonial federation; favors local option; would oppose the sale of the railways. WESTLAND. Mr A. R. Guinness (Greymouth) wishes to see the single tax supersede the P r e aen * Property Tax ; supports the labor Bills of last session ; holds that several uncompleted railway works should be prosecuted forthwith, and that a loan should be raised for that purpose ; considers that the Civil Service should bo immediately classified ; is in favor of maintaining the Education Act intact, but objects to some features 111 the fwstem of management, and believes that a decided improvement and a great gain would be effected if the administrative power was placed iu the hands of committees ; would oppose any State aid to denominational schools, and would pledge himself to oppose denominationalism in any way. MARLBOROUGH. Mr C. H. Mills (Opposition) regards the land monopoly as the bed-rock of all the labor troubles, and would like to see the Crown resume possession of the larger holdings ; is opposed to the Property Tax, and would like to see it supplanted by a graduated land tax ; supports the present education system, but thinks there should be more mechanical and technical teaching, and more numerous and valuablo scholarships; in future, legislative councillors should be elected by the Lower Chamber for a period not exceeding seven years ; would not consent to the sale of the railways ; would grant concessions in the shape of payment by results to the Roman Catholics in connection with education ; would tax largo estates out of existence, or compel their cultivation ; is in favor of deducting a portion of their salaries from school teachers to form a superannuation fund; would exempt all patented machinery from the Property Tax; would oppose any such attempt as that made to compel the railway 3orvants to form themselves into an insurance society. WELLINGTON. Mr W. C. Ecchanan (Ministerial) thinks •a.»» -vi —1«>:« nf nubile seivnuta ■«-•■■« reduced to their lowest reasonable limits three years ago, and will therefore not support any further reduction of the Estimates. In many instances ho admits the Railway Commissioners have not acted aa he would have liked. He is pleased that New Zealand had decided to take part in the Federation Convention ; and will support the passage of the libor Bills of last session. Strongly supports the introduction of some modeforreformofparliamentaryprocedurein the direction of preventing stonewall tactics; aupports the Property Tax ; thinks the present Government have made several beneficial changes in tho Jand administration, and favors the Victorian aystem, under which applicants are examined by the Land Board aud the moat suitable applieanj is chosen. He is opposed to the Eiyht Hour* Bill ; does not iavor th* imposition of a special tax on absentees; and will oppose tho Law Practitioners Bill, if introduced. Mr Kennedy Macbonald (Opposition) thinks the first duty of Parliament is to see that the country is properly opened by roads bo as to ensure settlement by the people. The colony must buy up all the Maori lan.ls in the North Island after making the necessary reserves for them to live upon, and thus put a stop to the jobbery and corruption which have characterised paat dealings in Native lands. As regards the land aues+ion ho favors the abolition of the ballot aystem, and would like to eee all land put up to auction. In order to bring about a, "bursting-up" policy in connection with larce estates, he favors the imposition of a iland tax. One of the first duties of the new Parliament should be to repeal the Property Tax, and substitute a land, aud, if necessory, an income tax. Civil 'Service reform is absolutely necessary, and for the purposes of classification a hoard consisting of three members ought to be created in the next Parliament, j,nd be responsible to Parliament, As to education, fae does not believe in interfering in any way with the present system, but supports relief being given to Catholics and ■others by freeing their schools from taxation. He is opposed to the female franchise ; would like to see e, distribution of the Government account amongst the banks of the colony ; is in favor of compulsory (early closing ; would support the appointment of an outside body to whom the police could appeal when disß»,tSßfied with the commissioner's decision; thinks the U.S.S. Company ought to be made to pay Property Tax; and will support an amendment of the Shipping » n< l Se&men'a Act in the direction of a definite provisioa for the qualification of neamen. Mr George Fisher (Opposition) favors further retrenchment; is strongly opposed to the Property Tax, preferring a land and income tax; supports the attitude of the working classes during the recent strike; will maintain the present system of education, and is opposed to State aid to Catholics. He will support a Civil Service classification ; thinks a reform of the Legislative Council absolutely necessary in the direction of limiting the terra of future appointees to seven years, but couoiderß it would be unwarrantable and unconstitutional to make any further appointments to that Chamber ob present. Is not in favor of extending the franchise to women. Mr Ark wright (Ministerial) approves of the Property Tax, but would free agricultural implements and improvements from taxation; thinks the Government should have the power to resume large estates by the payment of a price equal to the revenue the owners were deriving from the land ; thinks it time for the sale of Crown lands to Cfc-ase; would give a capitation grant to denominational schools in the event of a certain percentage of passes being obtained. Mr J. 6. Wilson (Ministerial) thinks aoine amendment of the proeedare rules absolutely necessary ; support* the Property Tax and ridicules the idea of calling on the State to compel a large owner to "burst up" his land; would give a small subsidy 4o private schools whtoh would enable them to draw off the surplus from the schools in the towns, and more money would thus be available for schools in the country districts; is in favor of technical education, and of prohibition with compensation to publicans i Supports the Eight Hours Bill, and would aid in the establishment of boards of conciliation to prevent strikes, bat would not favor compulsory arbitration; la :n favor of •the Government buying the Wellington-j Manawatu line. i Mr A. W. Hoao (Opposition) support* a land tax, and would impose an income tax if necessary; regards absentees as a very bad lot, and would specially tax them to the extent of confiscating half their revenues «f it were possible; supports tine education aystem, and if an alteration waß made wonld like to see the ourrionlum more intellectual and less mechanical; is in favor of the Eight Hours BUI. Mr J. Bailanok (Opposition) advocate* Ahe imposition of a land tax ; would like to

see tho big estates " burst up " as a measure of restitution to the people for what they had lost by the public works policy; denies there was any obstruction in the late Parliament, and declares that the Opposition had not opposed a single measure beoause they were in opposition, but because they thought it was for the welfare of the country not to pass it. HAWKE'S BAY. Hon. Captain Russell (Ministerial) says the fiscal policy of the country will not be altered whatever party gets into power ; would not touch the education system; hopes to see the Civil Service classified by the now Parliament; strongly favors the Property Tax ; aud ridicules the ** bursting up" policy of the Opposition. He favors female suffrage, and thinks parliamentary action will have to be taken to prevent such wasteful and wanton "discussions" as took place last session. Ho is favorable to oncouragement being given to tho fruit industry, feeling sure that its cultivation for export would prove profitable. Mr G. H. Swan (Ministerial) would support a proposal for doing away with the present system of party government; would like to see the whole of the Native land laws of the colony abolished; thinks Natives should be made to pay taxes on their land ; does not like the Property Tax, but fails to see how the necessary money can be raised by a land or any other tax ; thinks that the registered shipping of New Zealand ought no longer to escape taxation ; favors the appointment of boards of conciliation and arbitration in case of labor disputes ; would vote for giving Yaile's or the zone_ system of railways a fair trial; would maintain the present system of education, but would like to see technical education added to it. He agrees with the Premier that there should be no borrowing except for roads and bridges, and that that money could be borrowed in the colony. Members should be elected to the Upper House, and not nominated; is opposed to federation, but advocates intercolonial reciprocity. Mr W. C. Smith (Opposition) advocates tho repeal of tho Property Tax and the substitution of a progressive land tax, and if necessary would vote in favor of an income tux ; is in favor of a more liberal law for the settlement of the land ; would give some assistance to other than Government schools provided they did not injure the primary schools, and that they had fifty pupils in attendanco and were subject to Government inspection. AUCKLAND. Major Hamlin (Ministerial) is totally opposed to further borrowing in any shape or form ; thinks that great and sweeping reductions can be made in the educational expenditure, particularly in regard to the various colleges and high schools ; thinks that free education in the primary schools ought to stop at the Fourth Standard; thinks the capitation oharge ought to be cut down to L 3 10s per head, and by these and other possible reductions is confident that L 250.000 can be saved on the education vote ; he prefers a property tax to a land tax ; would like to see a fair market for produce, which would have the effect of causing people to at once flock on to the vacant lands of the colony ; all ocean-going steamers subsidised by the Government for carrying mails should be required not only to provide proper accommodation_ for produce shipped but also to make a liberal reduction in their freight charges ; the Civil service should be reclassified and retrenched. Hon. E. Mitciielson (Ministerial) supports an alteration in the Standing Orders with a view to preventing obstruction; thinks that if the Native lands were taxed at the present. i.: m . :* nrnnld .practically mean confiscation and starvation of the Maoriß ; believes in borrowing within the colony for the acquisition of Native lands in order to keep pace for settlement; supports the immediate passage of a Civil Servants' Classification Bill; and denies tha£ forthey large reductions in the expenditure are possible without sacrificing the services the public now enjoy. Though opposed to the Property Tax, he recognises that it cannot bo done without until some more equitable tas can be imposed in its place. He holds that any reduction of taxation in the present financial position of the colony is utterly impossible; says the Government cannot see their way to substitute a land and an income tax for the Property Tax ; thinks that the school age should be raised to six years, and that the education boards ought to do with 5s less capitation. Hon. J. Bryce (Ministerial) will support procedure reform to prevent obstruction ; is opposed to further borrowing ; supports the Property Tax ; is in favor of affording facilities for carrying on education even beyond the standard of the primary schools, but conceives that the State's duty in respect to the education of its people might cease at some standard not further than the fourth ; 3 entirely in favor of female suffrage. Mr VV. L. Rees (Opposition) is strongly opposed to the proposal to borrow money within the colony at 1 per cent, greater cost than foreign money could be got directly ; thinks retrenchment could be effected by the total abolition of the Public Works aud Native Departments; would not raise the school age to six years, but would retrepeh by making those who desired to give their children a better education than that provided by the primary schools pay for it ; supports a land and fncomo tax ; believes there should be a State bank, and that, pending the establishment of such an institution, a commission should be appointed to draw ud a report as to the best method of the /Government account being kept, with a view to obtaining legislation to carry that out j would not say the Government should have absolutely no power to borrow either inside or outside of the colony, but would give them power to issue debentures for the settlement of people on the land ; proposes to reform the Upper House by making it elective, and would not in future grant pensions to members. Mr T f Thompson (Ministerial) is opposed to the Property Tax, and advocates a land and income tax ; does not believe in " bursting up " the large estates, but thinks that a fair land tax -would induce holders of them to sell their lands for settlement purposes ; a judiciously imposed land tax would also considerably abate the absentee evil; his inclinations are entirely in favor of taxing the bondholders, provided it could be done legally and honestly ; supports the educaG&tion system, and is opposed to denominational education or to Bible reading in schools ; would not oppose the schoofage being raised to sis; would not like to see the standards reduced, but thinks they might be rearranged with considerable benefit to the scholars; is in favor of removing the public account of the colony to the bank which would give the best terms to the colony ; thinks it would be unfair, without ft compensation clause, to compulsorily close hotels; would give a vote to those women who had now yotes in municipal elections; would vote for the abolition of the totalisator, or, failing that, for taxing it; is opposed to establishing distilleries.