THE MEMBERS FOR FRANKLIN AT PUKEKOHE WEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5495, 27 June 1879, Page 6

THE MEMBERS FOR FRANKLIN AT PUKEKOHE WEST.

The members of the General Assembly for the Electoral District of Franklin (Messrs. Hamlin and flobbs) met their constituents, in (the school-house, on Wednesday evenintr at 7.30. *" Oα the motion of Mr. A. Macdonald (a veteran politician), Major Harris took the chair, and called, on Sir. Hamlin, as senior member, to addrrsss tho electors. Mr. Hamlin referred to the various questions which had been before Parliament The Counties Act, the land tax, and the public works policy were criticised, Mr. Hamlin declaring that he would vote against the proposed new loan of £3,000,000, unless satisfied that we should get our fair share of it. The education question was fully discussed, and Mr. Hamlin stated that he would move for au amendment, so that iialf-an-b.our a day of the school honrs should be set apart for clergymen to impart religious instruction ; not that he believed the clergy would avail themselves of it, but to shut their mouths on the cry of "godless" education, as he believed it was only a cry. He was in. favour of the Government being the sole purchasers of native lands, " the opinions of the editor of the New Zealand Herald, and his colleague (Mr. Hobba) notwithstanding." He reviewed the constitution of the Upper House, and was in favour of limiting their tenure to " seven years," a rather significant term. He thought that they had no right to interfere with the Lower Chamber, whatever they might choose to pass; at least his remarks implied this. He thought we ought to have a Minister of Public Works for the North Island, and two Parliamentary secretaries to look after depart mental work which Ministers could not possibly attend to. He concluded his remarks by assuring the electors that he would act in the future as he had done in the past, carefully watching their interests and that of the whole electoral district of Franklin. Mr. Macdonald addressed the meeting second time, asking many questions which time nor space will permit me to record. Mr. Jacob Wright also asked some questions, which were satisfactorily answered. A hearty vote of thanks and confidence was passed unanimously. Mr. Hobbs was then called upon to address the meeting, and as it was half-past 9 o'clock, he stated that he would not occupy their tfaie very long. He referred to the Triennial Parliaments Bill, which he would vote for, and then passed on to the Land Tax Bill, expressing the opinion that the only true and honest basis for taxation was, that people should contribute according to their means. Tho Bribery Bill that was brought forward last session ho spoke of as so strict in its provisions that he was not quite sure that even the Government cared to pass it. He was strongly opposed to having an elective Governor, aud said it was a "fad" of men of the "advanced school," and pictured a Southern man, with large local interests, or a Northern man, striving for the position, and the effect it would have in having a man occupying the position who was not independent of place and party. (This the meeting seemed to thoroughly endorse.) He also suggested the propriety of dividing the Icrge districts when a distribution of seats took place, and then paesed on to criticise the Electoral Bill. He was in favour of a "residential" qualification only, instead of so many qualifications as proposed in that bill. Ho stroDgly denounced tho Maori or double vote, stating that what the natives wanted was more representatives, according to their population, which would entitle them to about four more members. This they could appreciate and value. But to give them a vote for the Europeans aa well would enable them to "swamp" several European constituencies. He never would support any Government in such a measure, and conskisred the attempt to set the Lower House j against the Upper House, and to try to ' stir up a feeling against that Chamber, was exceedingly wrong,—instancing the quarrel between the two Houses in Victoria, and the ead results arising therefrom. He Baid the Upper House would soon become an old men's refuge. He then criticised native affairs in connection with native lands, and did wish the Government would complete the purchases they had made, instead of having agents running about buying more, paying small deposits, and then locking it up. He was stronply opposed to ' the Government being the only purchasers of native lands. This, in former years, was one of the great grievances of the natives. They ceded the sovereignty to tho Queen, under the Treaty of Waitangi, but they were to have the control of their own lands. He also gave an account of the native meeting at Kopna, and condemned the conduct of the Government in following in the steps of their predecessors in lavish expenditure, which only demoralised the natives. After sundry questions were asked and answered, a hearty vote of confidence and thanks was passed.—[Correspondent.]