RETRENCHMENT MEETING AT PORT ALBERT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9131, 13 August 1888, Page 6

RETRENCHMENT MEETING AT PORT ALBERT.

A public meeting, numerously attended by ratepayers from several road districts, came off on Thursday, in the Port Albert Temperance Hall, convened for the purpose of considering the present financial position of the colony. Mr. James Coupland was called to the chair. The chairman of the Albert-land South Road Board, Mr. T. A. Gubb, one of the conveners of the meeting, explained its having arisen partly out of the now noted meeting at Otara. The following resolutions were put before the meeting severally, and were all pretty fully discussed by a number of sneakers, and as shown were passed almost with absolute unanimity. The action of Mr. Edward Withy at Wellington was most highly commended. The general conclusion of the meeting appeared to be that the present Assembly, as a whole, had a very inadequate idea of the pressing needs of the colony : — " That the taxation of thi3 colony is wholly out of proportion to the means of the colonial producers, and unduly handicaps them in the world's markets," moved by Mr. E. S. Brookes, junr., seconded by Mr. J. W. C. Smith." Carried unanimously. " That retrenchment has become a dire colonial necessity, and should be approached by taking immediate action to reduce the members of the General Assembly to half their present number, and legislate to cause an influx of population and capital to the colon v." Moved by Mr. Jas. Grant, and seconded by Mr. P. L. Becroft. Carried unanimously. "That the tariff passed this session increasing the taxation by £250,000, is opposed to the best interests of the colony, and this meeting thanks Mr. Withy for his manly opposition to such tariff." Moved by Mr. T. A. Gubb, seconded by Mr. C. Judd. Carried unanimously. " That, taking into consideration the financial condition of this colony, the present expenditure of Government is far in excess of common-sense and of the advocacy of any honest Government."—Moved by Mr. G. T. Hartnell, seconded by Mr. J. 5. Mawer. Carried, with two dissentients. " That, in regard to the engagement not to borrow in the London market for the term of three years, such promise should not be evaded by the issue of deficiency bills or debentures in the colony, with a view to liquidating the same by another loan at the expiration of the said three years, and also that all Acts authorising the issue of deficiency bills or debentures should be suspended." Moved by Mr. J. W. C. Smith, seconded by Mr. John Burdett. Carried unanimously. That this meeting strongly disapprove of the system of pensions and retiring allowances, and that the public servants should practice thrift, by providing for old age out of wages." Moved* by Mr. Thomas A. Gubb, seconded by Mr. Willam Hefford, and carried unanimously. " That this meeting is strongly in favour of a land-tax and income tax being substituted for the present property-tax." Moved by Mr. J. W. C. Smith, seconded by Mr. George Dibble, and carried unanimously. The action of the member for Rodney, in connection with the several proposals for lessening expenditure before the House, was not spoken of very favourably.—[Own Correspondent. ]