MR. MONTGOMERY BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6096, 1 June 1881, Page 5

MR. MONTGOMERY BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.! CimiSTCHtracii, Tuesday. Mr. Mostgomerv, M.H.R., on Monday night, addressed his constituents at Akaroa. He regretted that Mr. Oliver had not kept his word as to the pushing on the railway to. Little River. He deprecated the extra charge for telegrams, as the town and out districts had a common interest, and should be treated alike in telegrams as in postage. He had taken credit for the retrenchment, but the credit was due to the House, which had compelled, ou the suggestion of Mr. Qnnond, the Government to retrench to the extent of £200,000 more than they had intended. The Local Public Works Bill of Major Atkinson was too cumbrous, and Major Atkinson had been afraid to propose it to the House. Mr. Brycc's Native Lands Bill was the best ever brought to the House, but the Government supporters had forced the Government to drop it. Had Mr. Bryce resigned rather than cive up that Bill he would have held a place in the eeteeai of thousands which he would not no.v occupy. The lands were now at the mercy of the laud-sharks, and it would probably yet bo necessary to levy an acreage tax, increasing in proportion to the amount of the land held. He (Mr. Montgomery) was in favour of the property tax. Had a halfpenny property tax been levied six years ago, there would have been no need of a penny rate now. "With regard to the Redistribution of Seats Bill, he was in favour of the population basis, or if that was not obtainable, he would have representation of provincial districts. There was no necessity for more members. Though the Bill "was said to be based on population, Ne?; Plymouth and Egmont were to have a member each, while the East Coast and Manawatu, with double their population, v/ere to have the same number of members. Auckland, with 18,000, was to have fonr; Christchurch and Sydenham, with '20,000, were abo to have four. He approved of the Election Petitions Bill. The financial condition of the colony was now good, no thanks to the Government, and there would be a considerable sum for appropriation by the House at its meeting. With regard to the j education system, the teachers were not too well paid, the standards were not too high, and the whole cost was not £400,000, as people complained, but £236,000, and much of this was owing to the sparse population of the colony. He was opposed to school fees. A way could be devised for religion being taught without the hours of secular instruction being interfered with. It depended upon the parents. He objected to the Premier's plan for the House of Representatives electing the Legislative Council. The people should not be deprived of their vate'. The number of members in the Council should be about 30, representing large electoral districts, and the Governor should have the power to dissolve. The question was surrounded with difficulties. However, Mr. Hall had twitted the Opposition with a want of union, but the Government were not united on the education question, the native lands, seiling or leasing the railways, upon the necessity for t borrowing, and other questions. The meeting passed an unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.