MR GANNON’S MEETING.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 24, 6 August 1887, Page 2

MR GANNON’S MEETING.

Last night McFarlane’s Hall was crowded to the doors, on the occasioti of Mr Gannon’s address to the electors.

Mr Townley was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced the candidate. Mr Gannon commenced by referring to the brief notice he had given of the meeting. He then alluded, in wellchosen terms of sympathy, to Mr Locke’s illness, regretting the cause which had prevented Mr Locke from contesting the seat. He then spoke of the Representation Bill and the changes for the benefit of the North Island which that measure had brought about. He denounced the Premier for his professions of economy, and ridiculed the financial policy of the Government in general. The real question at issue was retrenchment versus the extra taxation proposed by the Government. He adduced figures to show the serious state the colony was in, and drew the conclusion therefrom that rigid and immediate reform in our finances was necessary. He particularly referred to the baa odour in which the colony’s credit stood on the London market, and made a striking contrast between the values in the market of the New Zealand stock compared with the stocks of the Australian colonies. The cause of this terrible lowering of New Zealand credit was, he contended, our having a Government which administered the colony’s affairs in an extravagant manner. He ridiculed the differences of opinion amongst the members of the Uubinet. Retrenchment was the only real cure and retrenchment must come. The travelling expenses of the Ministry, the increase in departmental expense, and the extravagance and mismanagement of the Native Department were then dwelt on. Be the education vote, he advocated the charg. ing of 2s a week for the fifth stands rd and 3s a week for the sixth standard. The expenses of the High Schools and of the hew Zealand and Dunedin Universities should also be largely reduced. Beference was made to the bad management of the New Zealand railways, especially down South, where the lines were frequently used for political purposes. He advocated the selling of the railways to English capitalists. On the question of Crown Lands he denonnoed the apathy of the Government in the matter and maintained that more reasonable terms should be offered to would-be settlers. The settling of the Crown lands was a question of immense importance to the district. He denounced Sir B. Stout’s " fad ’’ of Land Nationalisation and referred to the ill-success of a simiiar scheme in Victoria some years ago. He, the speaker, believed firmly in freeholds, even if they were given on deferred payments. He supported the appointment of a Waste Lands Board for the East Coast, the members of which should be elected by the settlers here. On the Native lands question he strenuously attacked Mr Ballance’s system. The Act, he contended, was a complete failure. He advocated perfect freedom to the natives in the disposal of their land, due cere being taken that sufficient laud was left to them for their support. He strongly opposed the idea of a Land Tax, and then went on to speak of the question of Freetrade and Protection. He supported the fostering of local industries, when the articles could be produced in the colony, but was averse to further taxation on articles which we were obliged to import. Captain Ferris asked Mr Gannon whether, on the occasion of tbe last election, he did not run on the Grey ticket at the Bay of Islands P Mr Gannon: I ran on my own ticket. I express my own opinions. Captain Ferris; Were you not then in favour of a Land and Income Tax?

Mr Gannon : Certainly I was, but times have changed. It was the duty of the Stout Government to introduce that tax, but they did not do so, and it is now too late.

Captain Ferris: Why have you changed your mind ? Mr Gannon said that a change in the present system at this moment would be disastrous. It would upset everything, and would do far more harm than good. (Applause). Mr South: (Cheers, groans and hisses, and cries of where’s the whip ?) Would you be in favour of the Land and Income tax when once the colony’s affiairs are on a sound footing?

Mr Gannon : I should certainly support a Land and Income tax so soon as the financial state of the country allows of it being done. (Applause.)

Mr Holland: Can you suggest any policy by which the state of the Colony can be improved ?

Mr Gannon: Open up the Crown lands on freehold tenure. (Applause.) Mr Holland asked another question much to the same effect, to which the candidate replied at some length. In answer to Mr Tharratt, the candidate said he favoured a reduction of the Legislative Council, and a reducing of the number of members of the Lower House to sixty.

Mr Carlaw Smith proposed a hearty vote of thanks, which was seconded by Mr Tharratt, and carried am det applause.