MR BLAIR AT KAIWERA.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 213, 10 November 1896, Page 2

MR BLAIR AT KAIWERA.

Mr Blair addressed the electors at Kaiwera ou Thursday evening. Considering the state of the weather, there was a fair attendance. Mr D. Robertson occupied tho chair. Mr Blair's address was on the lines of that already reported at Pukerau. questions. Mr Bennett : Could we not do with fewer members in Parliament to govern tbe colony? Mr Blair was not in favor of reducing the number, but if the Elective Executive Bill became law, it would not cost so much as the present system to govern the colony. In reply to Mr Robertson, Mr Blair thought the Rabbit Act should be altered, as it at j present put too much authority in the hands of the inspectors. ' i To Mr Robertson : He was not in favor of i '. giving compensation to closed hotels, aud to the same questioner, Mr Blair said he ' thought the Bank of New Zealand was a humbug. It was like saving a drowning man ' and then smothering him in blankets. i Mr Bennett : Could the Government not i devise some better means to assist the unem- 1 ployed and aged persons ? ' j Mr Blair said that for instance if the I Government would spend £50,000 in opening i up roads to unfortunate ' settlers such as ! those, say, at Chaslands, instead of spending > it in opening up the scenery of New Zea- ' ' land for tourists, it would be well spent ] money, and would assist those unfortunates. 1 Replying to the same gentleman, Mr Blair i said that if Prohibition was carried it would i certainly cause a great loss of revenue, and i the Government would have to' devise some ] means to make it up. ] . To Mr Robertson: He would not be in I

favor of curtailing the liberty of the press by compelling people to sign their names to : articles they wrote. I I Mr Bennett: Would Mr Blair be in favor of another loan 1 \ | Mr Blair said he did not see how they 1 could get out of it, owing to the state of ' affairs in the country, but he did object to borrowing. j Replying to a question, .Mr Blair thought it monstrous to spend £50,000 in openiug up : tho scenery of New Zealand : better far to ' spend it in opening up roads ; and in reply to Mr Bennett thought there were too many Government officials. No more questions being asked, J Mr D. P. Purvis moved a hearty vote of , thanks to Mr Blair for his very able address, ' and, at the same time, said that he had a | , decided objection to moving a vote of thanks and confidence and asking a meeting to pledge itself to support any candidate as was sometimes done. The speaker thought a vote of thanks quite sufficient, and the electors wore then free on the day of the election to vote for the candidate whom they j thought was the most fit and proper person j to represent them. — Mr Bennett seconded the motion, which was unanimously carried. A similar compliment was tendered to the chairman, and the meeting terminated.