MR. MUNRO, M.H.R., AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6999, 23 April 1884, Page 5

MR. MUNRO, M.H.R., AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.

|BX XBUSGOAPii.—PBESS A.SSOOIATIOK.] Wbstpobt, Tuesday. Mb. Mhnko, M.H.R. for Buller, addressed a "crowded meeting last night.' "After referring at length'to local matters, he contended that the Colonial Treasurer had every reason to expect that the: revenue would sustain itself, and argued that i large payments for interest oa -borrowed money, private and publio, as .the chief cause of the.oommsrcial depression. He supported an increase of the property tax to one penny,' and the im: position,of a progressive land tax, the latter for revenue:>purposes only. -He said if the Government wanted land for settlement they should, re-purchase it. He supported au increase of the railway tariff, and believed Parliament would -justify - the action of the Government. He s poke strongly: against Mr. Rolleston's adminiatsation of lands, and expreiaaed an opinion that his resignation Would not weaken the Ministry. He suggested the redaction of the education vote by snaking - the, currioulum simply elementary, ■and confining ' the - school. age to. from six to thirteen years. He .agread that the charge of half the oost-of. hospitals; etc., against local'bodies would be fair, and held that the deficiencies in the. Justice and Telegraph Departments should be made up by an increase in the charges for services rendered, not by the reduction of salaries. He would, persist in endeavouring to get the gold duty reduced by 15 per cent. He oontended that the csunty system was the best extant for local government, and thought federation premature,; and nationalisation' of land Utopian. He would go to the House, an independent supporter of 'the Government, and would judge of the record that was broughti_against them. & vote of confidence was nqAnimously passed. ' '