MR. MONK AT ST. SEPULCHRES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6259, 8 December 1881, Page 5

MR. MONK AT ST. SEPULCHRES.

I Ms. R. Monk met the doctors of Parcel) last night at eight o'clock in St. Sepulchre's School-room. The meeting was rather thinly attended. Mr. W. H. Conn ell was callcd to the chair. Mr. Mosk in opening his remarks explained how tho meeting had been called without thinking that Sir George Grey was to deliver an address in the Theatre Royal at the same time. lie held that there was really no distinction between the socalled Lilier.il and Constitutional members. Both sought to advance tho interests of the colony when they were in power, r.nd instanced a number of cases when the Constitutionals had carried liberal measure* oi such a character that the Liberals never made any real attempt to pass. He also pointed out that the Liberals, when in power, had done that which no Constitutionals had ever done, and instanced the case of Sir George Grey's Government saddling the colony with some £'10,000 additional expenditure, and putting ten additional nominees in the Upper House. He pointed out that the Licensing Bill passed last session was essentially a democratic measure, though Mr. Moss and some other so-called Liberals had opposed its progress. This was not the only instance that Mr. Moss and his party took credit before the electors for passing measures which Hansard showed they had opposed. He thought a Lower House of'2o members, and ail Upper House ef 10, would bo quite competent to do the administrative work of tho colony. (lis own opinion was, that there would uever be harmony between the North and the South, and in the event of separation, lie thought a good enough basis could he found, which would place the North in a position to manage its own affairs comfortably. Railways should be undo:' local control, at least to a greater extent than ar. present. If that were the case, tlic Northern railways would be more beneficial than they were at present. The incidence of taxation was a subject that bad received very little attention during the present election campaign. He was opposed to a land tax, and thought the present property tax the fairest. Some instances of apparent hardships had been pointed out about people having money in the bank, &0., but the prophecies that the Act would drive the capital from the country had been terribly falsified, because capital had nevi r been more plentiful nor cheaper than it was at present. A law should be passed makiiu landed estates divisable amjiig the children on the death of the parent, and those that were at present rr.tailcd shovld not be disturbed during the lifetime of the present holders', but after their death should be made divisible as other i states. Little attention was at present being given to the purchase of native lands, though by this means larger estates were now being acquired than ever before. Estates of 100,000 acres were being purchased from tile natives in many parts of the country, and from what he knew those ■vfiio spoke most against the large estates were at present endeavouring to acquire as large estates as possible, and the size of them were limited only by their money to purchase with. He referred to Mr. Rees' land schemes on the E;tst Coast, and thought the Maoris ought to be thankful if they had not cause to regret their bargains. ile was opposed to further borrowing, except for making the trunk line of railway from Auckland to Wellington, and then only for the sum necessary for that work. He was in favour of tho local administration of the Crown lands of the colony. Had that been the practice in the past, large blocks of land in the North now idle would have lorg since been profitably occupied. After touching upon various points of dilletence between himself and Mr. Moss, in reply to a question, he expressed hims d; in favour of an income tax, but stated there would be considerable difficulty in collecting it. The following question was then handed to the Chairman, who put it to Mr. Monk : —" Will yo'i, if elected, support the legitimate investment of capital in business, and ii so, will you also support the Good Templars in their endeavours to sweep away, without compensation, the capital invested by the licensed victuallers in their business, which the State has pronounced legitimate?" To the first part of the question, Mr. Monk said he would do all he could for the pushing of legitimate business. He had tried all his life to do that. As to the sweeping away of public-houses he thought the present Licensing Act provided all the power that was necessary. No new licenses could be established without tho voice of the people, r.nd as to the old houses,so long aa they conducted their business in a respectablo manner he thought they should be let alone. Another question was handed lip —."Will yon, if elected, move the appointment of a select committee to enquire into the system under which unseaworthy and uninsurable vessels are sent to sea, to the great risk of life and property ?" Mr. Monk said he would be very glad to do so, and thought some power of inspection, and, if necessary, condemnation should be provided. A vessel that was uninsurable was certainly not fit to entrust human lives

in. He instanced several cases that had come under his observation of vessels coming to the Union Company's wharf, that were utterly unfit to go to sea, and should have been condemned. Mr. Monk's answers were received with applause. On the motion of Mr. Thomas, seconded liy Mr. Vacohan, a vote of thanks and confidence was passed to Mr. Monk. On the motion of Mr. Monk, a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, after which the meeting dispersed.

A Melbourne bookmaker has christened his cottage at South Yarra "Hades.'' Dr. Dears, late the popular surgeon of the R.M.S. Australia, has commenced the practice of hie profession at Tumut.