MR. MACANDREW AT PORT CHALMERS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 115, 21 May 1881, Page 3

MR. MACANDREW AT PORT CHALMERS.

[Specially Telegraphed to Stab.]

JPBR UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.] PORT CHALMERS, Last Night. Mr. Maoandrew addressed his constituents at Port Chalmers last night, and stated that he did not consider last session had been conducive to public interests. He condemned the imposition of the Properly Tax, the withdrawal of the Land Fond from local bodies, the abandonment of the railway policy of 1878, the stoppage of assisted immigration, and the return to the system of voting money in part for local roads' and bridges, with the attendant log-rolling. The Government did not initiate retrenchment; it was forced on them by the House. When the so-called retrenchment came to be examined, he believed it would be found delusive. The Grey Government had, he believed, effected more retrenchment than that effected since, but they made no fuss over it 'Had they remained in office, they would have, largely simplified and reduced the cost of Civil Service. Contradicting Major Atkinson's statements, he asserted- that when he left office, the outstanding- public works' contracts did not erdeett half a. million, . Em defended tbe^^y.Govtrnment from «11 charges of

extravagance or recklessness. Had tbe late Government remained in office, tbey would bave upheld tbe credit of tbe colony, and every one of the valway trunk lines sanctioned in 1878 would now bave been in active progress, He did not thiiik anything practicable would result from the efforts to construct railways by companies, or by a guarantee of grants of land. Tbe State should be able to make railways without the aid of foreign gold to drain interest out of the colony. This could be done, if we divested ourselves of the tenets of so-called political economy. He advocated the resumption of a steady stream of immigration, assisted and free. He would not object to borrowing, if the interest were retained in the colony. Tbe railway policy of 1878 should be carried out in its entirety. The Property Tax should be ■ repealed, and no other tax imposed in place oi it. The cost of education should be reduced by making minimum school age four years. Technical education should be provided. He advocated the necessity of legal reform, and the institution of a direct steam service to England. He did not expect a fair or satisfactory redistribution of representation by the present House. The Assembly should divest itself of palish work, and hand it over to local bodies as quickly as possible to do what provincial councils were intended to do. The 20 per cent, of the Land Fund should be restored to local bodies. Tbe dealing with the Otago runs required rather wise administration than any special legislation. Towards securing tbis, he sympathised with Pyke's land league. A vote of confidence was unanimously passed.