MR. TANCRED AT THE LINCOLN DISTRICT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1707, 6 June 1866, Page 2

MR. TANCRED AT THE LINCOLN DISTRICT.

On Monday evening, Mr. Tancred met some of the electors of this district at the office or the Lincoln Koad Board, at 6.30 p.m. A good many of the residehts in the neighbourhood were present, but owing to the fact that Mr. Tancred w as at present unopposed, the attendance was not so numerous as it would otherwise probably have been.

Mr. Slater was called to the chair and briefly introduced the candidate to the meeting. Mr. Tancred, who was received with demonstrations of approval, addressed the meeting. He observed with reference to the recent election for the Superintendent, that he had voted for an opponent of Mr Moorkouse, because although he had a high opinion of that gentleman's talents and administrative ability, he had this objection to his being Superintendent, namely that he was too much wedded to his own views, aud too much inclined to carry them out. He (Mr. Tancred) objected to the possession of absolute authority by the chief officer of any community. The will of the Provincial Council should be consulted, and their views ought to have their just weight. He had seen a paragraph in the Lyttdton Times, which slated that it was the duty of the electors of the province to bcikl men to the Council who would act in unison with a Superintendent. He disagreed with this sentiment; he thought it was their duty to elect men of sound views and judgment whose opinions might, if necessary, act us a counterpoise to those of the Superintendent. With regard to education, he would say that lie considered that the province might fairly be congratulated on the progress which lmd been made in this important matter, When the present Board took office, they found affairs in a very disorganised state. There were no clear accounts rendered, or reliable staiiatics furnished, I he grants for educational and religious purposes had been indiscriminately lumped tog' ther, Now, it system had been introduced which had hitherto worked satisfactorily, and he believed would continue to do so. The strictest economy had been introduced, and a saving of at least £IOOO per annum bail been cifected. Yet, under the new plan more children were educated, and received better instruction than before. [Mr. Tancred entered into «ome details in proof of this assertion.] With respect to the great public works, he thought that those which would prove of ultimate benefit to the province ; ought to be carried out. lie considered that the West Coast road had been one of this description. It had been of great advantage to the province, aud to it was partially to be attributed the revival in coininciv cial prosperity which had recently taken place. As to Church affairs, he should wish to see some permanent scheme devised for paying the stipends of the clergy, and for

defraying tho oxpenses of the Church. 110 thought that the clergy should not be dependent upon tho Government for their maintenance, He should be in favour of any system which would tend to effect economy in tho expenses of the Government. Soveral attempts had been made to reduce tho salaries of the officials, beginning with that of tho Superintendent, by tho Provincial Council, but without much success. He believed that his own salary, as Chairman of the Board of Education, had beon the only one which had been cut down. The subject of pre-emp-tivo rights had of late occupied a go#d deal of public attention, and lie thought that it was one which wus well _ deserving the consideration of the Provincial Council. Some measures might be devised by which the evils at present complained of might be remedied. He should not upon that occasion dwell at any great length on the subject, as it was one which did not materially affect the interests of the Lincoln district. Mr. Tancred concluded by thanking the electors for the patient hearing which they had given him, and by expressing willingness to reply to any questions which might be addressed to him. In answer to an elector Mr, Tancred said that he was opposed to the present system of pre-emptive rights, by which a right was given to the man who put up a wire fence, lie should, if elected, oppose all such preferential rights as could be removed without breaking faith with the present holder. Those rights formed part of the tenure upon which the present holder occupied the land, and it would be a breach of faith to abolish them. Some eight years ago, he had brought forward a proposal that a runholder if challenged, should be compelled to purchase 250 acres of land. By means of this purchase £SOO would be paid into the public chest, instead of the small payment required by the present system. But the proposal was not supported and it fell through and thus an evil which might have been removed eight years ago, had been continued up to the present time. In reply to other questions, Mr. Tancred remarked that he was in favour of the construction of light iron tramways which, in union with the large railways already formed, might be found a cheap and effective method of conveying heavy loads of goods. He thought that the roads of the province should be divided into two classes—trunk lines and minor ones. The former should be kept in order by the Government, as they were so much used by the public who were not ratepayers, and it was hardly fair to make the ratepayers pay for the maintenance of them. With regard to separation, he would decline to give any positive opinion. He had always been averse to it, and had hitherto strongly opposed it. But it was impossible not to be convinced from what is passing around, that the northern provinces are banding themselves together in order to get all they possibly can from the southern ones. Many, of these indications made him doubt the desirability of retaining the union.

A vote of thanks to Mr. Tancred for his statements, and of confidence in him as a fitting representative of the district in the Provincial Council, was passed; and the meeting broke up, after a vote of thanks to the chairman, proposed by Mr. Tancred.