ELECTION NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8424, 27 November 1890, Page 5

ELECTION NEWS.

We would draw the attention of candidates at the ensiling elections to the fact that by the Electoral Acts Amendment Act passed last session, their nominations must be sjiib in to the Returning Officer seven days before the polling day. Clause 5 of the Act provides that "Any (Inly registered elector, with his consent, may be nominated as a candidate for election for any district, by not less than two electors for the last-mentioned district, by a nomination paper in the form or to the effect set forth in the form B of the first, schedule, given or transmitted to the Returning Officer so as to reach him not less than seven days before the day appointed for the poll. The consent of any person to be nominated may be signified to the Returning Officer by letter sent by post or affixed to the nomination paper, or by an ordinary message by telegraph, which shall be deemed to be delivered in time if delivered at the telegraph office for transmission within the time hereinbefore limited." Mr. Collins informs us that the nominations will be received up till the 27th instant inclusive. The Central Liberal Committee have resolved to support the following gentlemen : —Mr. W. Kelly for the East Coast, Mr. .John Lnndon for the Bay of Islands, Mr. Joseph Greenwood for Eden, Mr. J. M. Lennox for Parnell, Mr. D. Goldie for Newton, Mr. Castleton for Waikato. We understand that Mr. Alex. Brodie was waited upon by a deputation yesterday to see if he would stand for the city. He replied that his business engagements would prevent him from doing so.

MR. ADAM POUTER A CANDIDATE. Last night a very large and enthusiastic meeting of Dr. Wallis' supporters was held at Robson Rooms, when a great number of influential gentlemen resolved themselves into a committee to ensure that gentleman's return. Dr. Laishley was elected chairman of the meeting, and Mr. F. G.~ Ewington was elected secretary. Mr. Adam Porter was present »t the meeting, and in consequence of his having stated, in reply to a question about his standing a's a candidate, that he left himself entirely in the hands of the committee, it; was unanimously resolved " That Mr. Porter be accepted by this meeting as a candidate to run in conjunction with Dr. Wallis." General routine business was dona and adequate arrangements made to effectually contest the election.

EDEN. The Hon. Mr. Mitchelson addressed the electors of \\ aikomiti in the schoolroom on luesday, November '25. Mr. Sharp was in the chair, who announced the business of the meet, Mr. MitcheJ.«on gave an address of lifty minutes' duration, on the same lines as those already given by him. .there were a few questions on the property tax, land tax, and the introduction of stoats, put and satisfactorily answered to all but Mr. Bosomworth, who wanted wholesale reductions in all civil, education, and other expenses. Mr. Kennedy moved that the electors thank the Hon. Mr. Mitchelson for his address, and have confidence in him to represent Eden in the new Parliament. Mr. Cochrane seconded the motion, which wa* carried by 20 against '2. Mr. Bosomworth moved a vote of thanks, but could not get it seconded. The meeting throughout was well in accord with Mr. Mitchelson, and the address was well commented on afterwards. Everyone seemed pleased with it. A strong committee was formed after the meeting, who are determined to return our present member again by working up this district in his interest.—[Own Correspondent.] The Hon. E. Mitchelson met theelectors of Eden at Point Chevalier last evening, in the School-room. There was a full attendance of electors in the district. Mr. Thomas Thwaites occupied the chair. The candidate gave his views on the political situation, and the future prospects of the colony with careful administration, and advocated a no-more borrowing policy. His address was attentively listened to, and at its finish a cordial vote of thanks and confidence in him to represent Eden in the newParliament was unanimously carried on the motion of Mr. Thomas Garrett, seconded by Mr. .1. Davy. Mr. Mitchelson addresses the Eden electors at the Three Kings School-room this evening, at eight o'clock.'

nominations. Messrs. F. H. D. Bell and Robert Winter were yesterday nominated for Wellington city, making up to the present eight; candidates for this electorate. Mr. George T. London was nominated for the Hut't seat yesterday, making the third candidate. Messrs. (J. Beetham and A, \V. Hogg have been nominated for Mustcrton. For Hawke's Bay, Captain Russell and Mr. ('. W. Reardon have been nominated; for \\ aipawa, Messrs. W. C. Smitfh and George Hunter ; for Napier, Messrs. G. H. Swan and M. Cannon. Yesterday Mr. T. Thompson was nominated for the city electorate by Messrs. T. \\ . Doonin and .lohn Mason. Mr. Richard John Seddon has been nominated for the We»fcland seat in the House. Messrs. Thomas William Hislop and Thomas Duncan have been nominated for Oamaru electorate. The Hon. Mr. Fergus has been nominated for Wakatipu. PARNELL. The adjourned committee meeting of Mr. J. M. Lennox's supporters will be held this evening at half-past seven o'clock, at the Newmarket Hall.

THAMES. Til am in, Wed tie-day. Mr. E. If. Taylor, who is contesting Thames seat, addressed a very largely attended and most enthusiastic meeting in the Academy of Music night, the hail being literally packed. The Mayor (Mr. James McAndrew) presided. Mr. Taylor spoke at great length upon the most important political questions, which *he only comparatively briefly referred to in his former address, and amongst the new matters introduced expressed himself as being in favour of the gold duty being left absolutely optional, while he considered that education should bo free and secular as at present, though he thought a vast saving could be effected in this Department. He thought the Upper House shoukl be abolished, and also the Defence and Native Lands Departments, in addition to which he expressed the opinion that the Public Works Department would also in time have to be abolished, as borrowing must, cease, and there would be comparatively little money available for public works. At the close of his address Mr. Taylor was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, amidst cheers and the greatest possible enthusiasm.

MR. NAPIER AT ST. JAMES'S HALL. Yesterday evening Mr. W.J. Napier nildressed the Auckland city electors for the first time. There was a large attendance. Mr. Thomas Gee was votecf to the chair, and briefly introduced the candidate, and asked the audience to give him the usual fair and impartial hearing. WHY HE CAME FORWARD. Mr. Napier, who was received with applause, opened by briefly explaining why he had come forward. The Central Liberal Committee had been formed to sweep away the old parliamentary hands who had betrayed their pledges, from their legislative halls. (Applause.) He had nob intended to stand for Parliament for another three years, but his friends had represented to him that there was a great dearth of suitable candidates in the city. He had accordingly agreed to come forward, and had been promised the support of all those who came under tho banner of 1 Liberalism in this great electorate. (Ap- ' Dlause.l The whole committee was united

as one man to return the three Liberal candidates. (Applause.) THE .PREJUDICE AGAINST LAWYERS. It was said that it was undesirable to have two lawyers representing the city. There was no reason given for this unseemly pre- ' judice against the profession of the Law. s ( The greatest lovers of liberty were lawyers. . I (Applause, and "No! no!"). Mr. Gladstone—(applause)was a barrister. Sir Henry Russell was a barrister—one of the foremost liberals of to day. Gambettawas ! a lawyer. It was an advantage for their • representatives to be lawyers, in order to be fit for passing laws. (Applause.> T!ir, 3,AND QUESTION. . The question of the land was the most important one before the country at present. | It was the root of the troubles afflicting i New Zealand to-day. (Applause.) The monopoly of land was one of the greatest sources of misery in any nation. Land was the source of all wealth and power, and it was therefore the most important question for every nation to determine who should possess the land. The happiness of the whole people was the first thing to consider, and not the total wealth in the country. A country might be the richest 1 in the world, and yet nine-tenths of its people might, be plunged in the deepest misery. (Applause.) The possession of wealth did not constitute happiness unless fairly distributed. Therefore, as all wealth came from the land, it was essential that the lands of a country should b? fairly distributed amongst the great mass of the people. (Applause.) At the present time it was impossible for people to f.:efc land at a reasonable price in New Zeaiand, and there was now hardly any good land left in the hands of the Crown. The consequence was that the people had been unduly crowded into the towns. Nearly one-half of the population— 270,000 peoplewere congregated in the towns, and that was a great evil ' IN' FAVOUR OF A LAND TAX. Mr. Napier proceeded to touch on the great increase in value given to the big estate' by the expenditure.' of loan money, the interest of which the mass of the people had to pay. He held it to be only fair and reasonable that the persons who obtained the benefit should contribute proportionately to the revenue. (Applause). The first thing which they should determine was that there should be an adequate land tax imposed on all the holders of land in New Zealand beyond u certain value. (Applause.) This would do away with the present floating population of labourers who now defeated the efforts of their class to better their condition. In travelling from Napier toTaupo he only saw two men in two days. The whole of that country was occupied by great runholders, but if cut up into smaller holdings it would carry one hundred times the stock it now did. The exports or the country would be greatly increased, and they would have a prosperous yeoman population in the country, giving employment to a prosperous artizan population in the towns. {Applause.) He went on to argue that the small farmers were being crushed by a taxation which only slightly affected large runholders, and he quoted .statistics showing that the small farmers were being punished for their improvements by increased taxation, while on the large runs the values, of the lands had largely decreased. This being so, a land tax was a pressing necessity. (Applause.) They must have a land tax on the unimproved value of land so that the industrious would not be punished for their improvements as they were under the property tax. Sir George Grey's land tax was not allowed to remain on the statute-book as the large landholders feared that it would eventually absorb all the increase in value of the land due to the community. He held that what the people created should belong to the people. (Applause.) He believed there was a great majority of the people of New Zealand in favour of a land tax, and that it would be imposed in the first session of the new Parliament. (Loud applause.) He proceeded to argue that a land tax would be very advantageous to country settlers. A farmer with 100 acres worth £100, improvements excepted, would pay under a Id land tax Ss 4d under the property tax he would pay on the £10!) unimproved value, also on the cost of clearing, etc., say £400, oil his house and place say £150, and on about £200 of stock a total of £850. Under the property tax he would pay £3 10s lOd, and under the land tax 8s 4d. With an exemption of £500, lie would pay nothing under the land tax, and £1 Ss under the property tax. LAND SETTLEMENT. Land settlement was the necessary corollary of the land tax. The present system of land settlement was a dismal failure, with the exception of the village settle- ! ments. These, however, were not carried out on a sufficiently largo scale to remove the surplus population from the towns. He held that the Government should, as in Canada and America, clear the land before leasing it, and settlers could then go immediately on the land. If the Government would undertake to clear great tracts settlement would be carried out far more speedily and effectively than now. (Applause.) Liberal advances ought to be made to the settlers by the Government, as was done in Canada. He also thought that, not a single acre far more of Crown lands should be alienated. (Applause). The system of perpetual leasing had become very popular, far more so than the other systems. Of 580,000 acres r>f perpetual lease land only 1000 acres had been purchased outright, and that showed that all the requirements of bona Jidt settlement could be met by leasing the land, He held that in a few years the rents of Crown lands would be sufficient to defray all the cost of Government, and there would then be absolutely no taxation required. (Applause.) CORPORATE LANDOWNERS. Another thing retarding the development of the country was that so much of the land was held by corporations and companies. Several million acres were now so held. In England it used to be, and still was, the law that it was absolutely illegal for corporations to hold land, the reason being that as corporations and companies never died land held by them would never get distributed, as was the case when an individual owner died. He would restore thig old law of England, and make it absolutely illegal for corporations to hoi.l land. (Loud applause.) There Mas a company now formed in England, the New Zealand Estates Co., which had taken over the globo assets of the Bank of New Zealand. (Laughter and applause.) The object of that company was to rob the people of New Zealand of a certain amount of money. It had taken over certain great tracts of land—some three million acres— and wa=s going to wait, until, by returning prosperity and increase of population, it could sell them till they had increased in value, not by any expenditure of the company, but by the expenditure of the people of New Zealand. (Applause.) He, therefore, held that if the land tax was not sufficient to bring these lands into the market, a special tax should be put "on lands held by corporations. (Applause.) RETKENCITMKNT. The next thing to do was to retrench vigorously in the public service. (Loud applause.) The statement that the present Government had retrenched a single shilling was absolutely contrary to fact; for in JBBB-89 the expenditure was £3,973,679, and in 1889-90 it was £4,117,427, or an increase of £143,748. (Applause.) He thought a commission entirely independent of the Government should go round and make an exhaustive inquiry into the civil service of the country. (Applause.) If that was done, it would be easy by simplification of procedure and amalgamation of various departments to make a reduction in the expenditure of £200,000. (Applause.) EDUCATION. The next question was education. He was entirely in favour of the existing system of education. (Applause.) He did not think it would be wise to raise the school age. By raising the school age, they would close many country schools, and consequently the children of thousands of country settlers would grow up in appalling ignorance. (Applause.) They would then be an easy prey to the landowners. (Applause.) Unless the country settlers were thoroughly educated, a very great danger menaced the country. (Applause.) He also thought it a great mistake to refuse aid to secondary education. If they curtailed the facilities for higher education, they would give a monopoly of all the best positions in the State to the children of the wealthy ; for only wealthy people could afford to send their eons to a central university, A central university was not suitable to the circumstances of this country, and if they had such a university the sons of 99-lOOths of the people would be shut out from all positions of power and influence in the i State. (Applause.)

THE LABOUR LAWS. ; Mr. Napier dwelt at some length on thtf labour laws, and pointed out various defects in them, which he thought should bo remedied. Under the present Employers* Liability Act it was most difficult for employes to obtain anydamasres for injuries, etc. He would amend the law so as to give the workmen the same facilities for obtaining . compensation for injuries as other people had who were not workmen. (Applause.) Under the Shipping and Seamen's Act many things were made criminal, for which thero should only be a civil remedy. He would place seamen in the same position as other people in this respect. The Masters and! Apprentices Act was also responsible for much injustice, and required amendment. The Workmen's Wages Act required amplification, to prevent many serious frauds. It should be the duty of the contractee ta see that all the wages were paid by the* contractor. (Applause.) THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. He would abolish the Legislative Council/ (Loud applause.) It weakened the intellectual and debating power of the Lower House, and detracted from the responsibility of members of the House of Representatives. To .set themselves right with theil constituents many members voted for i measure, and then lobbied against it to pre vent it passing in the Legislative CounciL (Applause.) With a single Chamber members would have more responsibility, and they would exercise more caution. Such a Chamber would be constituted of the <slite of the intellect of the country. Laws would receive proper consideration, and would ba clearly worded. At present Acts were often so badly expressed that people had to ask legal advice about very simple matters* Their Acts should be made so that any mai could understand them. (Applaue.) RULES OP procedure. Another matter touched upon by Mr. Napier was the rules of procedure of Parliament. These he declared to be as obsolete as the dodo or moa. They were intended for the English Parliament of a century ago, and not for a popular Chamber of the present day. One o£ the first duties of the New Parliament! should be to revise these rules so as to facilitate the work of the country. He held that when a Bill had, only got to a certain stage in one session, it should nob be dropped, but should be brought up again at the same stage next session. (Hear, hear.) Take, for instance, Sir Georg® Grey's Bills. (Loud and continued applause.) For about nine years Sir George Grey had brought certain Bills before Parliament every year. In many cases they were carried by enthusiastic majorities, and yet the Government, by arranging the order paper, or by taking advantage of the forms of the House, absolutely succeeded in killing the Bills. TAXING THE BONDHOLDERS. Another question was the taxing of absentee holders of New Zealand stock. Both by precedent and reason that principle was absolutely justifiable. (Applause.) He was entirely in favour of taxing the bondholders. (Applause.) There would be no serious objection to it on the part of the bondholders, and he did not think it would rouse even hostile criticism. England taxed its bondholders, so thero was nothing revolutionary or novel in tho proposal, and he held that it should have long ago been carried out here. (Applause. CONCLUSION. In conclusion he urged that it was absolutely necessary to return a united Liberal ticket for Auckland City. (Applause.) I£ they returned only two members of the Liberal cause, it meant that they would have only one representative, as one of the two votes would be required to nullify the one Tory vote. There might be some amongst them who might be guided by personal predilection to vote for Mr. Thompson. He desired to speak with the greatest respect of Mr. Thompson, but he wished to say the truth. Mr. Thompson had most strongly opposed Sir George Grey in the House last session—(applause)— and had loyally supported the Government in the Hutchison episode. Ho had voted against the Bill drawn up by Sir George Grey some years ago to develop the cultivation of grapes in the provincial district of Auckland, and hud agaiu opposed it last session when the Government had made it part of their Distillation Bill. Jf they desired to accomplish any great good in the next Parliament they must return a united phalanx of the three members who were the trusted representatives of the aged father of New Zealand liberty. (Applause.) On the other side, they had the avowed supporters of class privilege, such as Dr. Wallis(laughter) — monopoly, and ignorance, because they were against the education of the people, and it was for them to say whether Auckland, the cradle of New Zealand democracy, should send forth these men to perpetuate the plunder of tho people, or send three united, tried, and staunch supporters of the Liberal cause to Parliament. (Loud and continued applause. QUESTIONS. Questions were then invited, Mr. Napier intimating that he would not answer any question from any person who would not come forward and show himself. (Applause.) In reply to Mr. Staines, Mr. .Napier explained that the Central Liberal Committee had been constituted by a publjc meeting (summoned by advertisement) of all tho friends of Sir George Grey and the Liberal cause. Owing to some difficulty arising, Mr. Napier explained that in requesting gentlemen who had questions to ask to come forward and do so publicly, he was only following the principle laid down by the Liberal organisation in England.' He would do his utmost to defeat the Atkinson Ministry. If necessary for the settlement of the country, debentures could be issued locally, and might bo made interchangeable like bank notes. (Applause.) The United States Government adopted this principle, and it had been a great success. There was a danger of foreign capital coming in to take up those debentures, but they had brains enough to devise legislation to prevent that. (Applause.) He | would render the machinery of the Bankruptcy Act mrfre stringent to prevent frauds. (Applause.) 'He believed' that the nominal ratepayers should not) elect the City Council. It should be elected by the same electoral roll as for tho House of Representatives. (Loud applause.) If manhood suffrage was good for the General Legislature, it could not be bad for the Municipal Councils. (Applause.) Mr. Pyke's Private Schools Bill was absolutely unworkable, and he was entirely opposed to subsidies to private schools. lie was in favour of female suffrage. He regarded the railways as thelifeblood of the country, and to sell the railways would be the first step to national suicide. (Loud applause.) He would not separate the legislative from the executive power as in America. It had worked very great evils in the United States. Every Ministry in power should be . dependent on the representatives of the people for their continuance in power. He was not in favour of the referendum. He believed that the representatives of the people should pass good laws, and if they did not the people should turn them out.' He was not in favour of the present tariff, by which working men had to pay onethird of their incomes to the cost of Government. At this rate, absentees, who got £90,000 a-year should pay £30,000 a-year to the Government. (Applause.) He was in favour of such industries as were suitable for the country being fostered by a judicious tariff. He was in favour of the abolition of imprisonment for debt, really, and nol nominally, as now. (Applause). The Resident Magistrate's Court had been degraded into a mere debt-collecting machine. (Applause). He was opposed to gambling in any form, and would make the totalisator illegal. (Applause). It would be absolutely demoralizing for the country to derive a revenue from an immoral source such as the totalizator. (Applause). Mr. Parrel! asked Mr. Napier whether he would support a bill making it non-libellous fop persons to publicly denounce all men . who robbed young women of their highest virtue. This question gave rise to much cheering, hisses, and uproar. Mr. Napier, in reply; said it was not libellous to do so now, and he would be very glad to give legal advice on the subject to those who wished it. On the motion of Mr. Hannah, seconded by Mr. T. Bkehan, a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Napier was carried unanimously, amidst loud and continued cheering. ;x' Mr. Napier returned thanks for the compliment paid him, and on hie motion a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman. Three rousing' cheers were given for Sic 4 peorge Grey, and three also for Mr. Napier* after which the meeting terminated.' *

MR. GOLDIE AT ST. GEORGE'S HALL. Last evening Mr. David 01 oldie addressed a meeting of the electors of Newton at St. George's Hall. There was a large attendance.' Mr. Amburv presided. Mr. Goldie, on coming forward, was received with applause. At the outset of .his address ho thanked the electors of City West for the kindness they had shown him as their representative. They had not fettored his inds, or asked anything from him ; and, on his return, satisfied with his conduct, let him go back to his business in peace. After an election the electors got apathetic, and ceased to look after their member, or what he diii ; but he advised them to appoint a Standing Political Committee to watch the proceedings of the House, so that their member might always be in touch with them, and that he might also know their wishes. Newton was an ideal constituency; like City West it did not want roads and —■(laughter) and he believed would not ask its representative to do anything else save his duty to those lie represented, and next to the country at large. REASONS FOR STANDI SO FOR NEWTON'. He might explain that he, in coming there, had nob left City West, but City West had left him—that is to say, had been merged in the city. He preferred to represent a single electorate, whore ho knew each doctor, and could bo responsible to them-rather than in an electorate with others, where there was 110 individual responsibility. While guarding interests of Newton, he- would still feel it his duty to remember those of the city. They should not expect too much from their member, and explained how the forms of the House and the use made of them by opponents to defeat unpleasant motions and questions, prevented a representative doing all he desired. HIS CAST ACTIONS AS A REPRESENTATIVE. Mr. Goldie then referred to his past action in the Assembly in exposing the inequalities of Government relief for unemployed on public works, in charitable aid, and in votes to local bodies to provide work for unemployed, as between Auckland and the Southern provinces. Ho also referred to his action in getting local work done in the Newmarket railway workshops, instead of puriri and kauri timber being sent to Adding ton, made into carriages, and brought back to Newmarket again. Mr. Mitchelson, then Minister for Public Works, had promised that such a bad practice, commenced by a Canterbury man, should not be repeated, and that promise had been faithfully kept—(cheers)though an equally bad practice occasionally took place of sending men from the South to do work which local men were fully competent to execute. THE PROPERTY TAX. He was in favour of abolishing the property tax directly or gradually. He voted for Mr. Barron's proposed system —namely, a reduction of a farthing a-year, extinguishing it in four years. It was singular, but true, that the property tax had been saved by the votes of Auckland members, for the Government on Mr. Moss's motion, re the abolition of the tax, had only a majority j of four, while seven Auckland members voted with the Government. Some members excused themselves that the time was inopportune, but they should send members pledged against the tax on every occasion. He was in favour of a land and income tax, and quoted statistics to show that 217 persons hold 5,254,757 acres of land, valued at over £11,000,000, and there were 33 companies holding 2,250,000 acres, valued at £4,300,000, so that practically the above private persons held more than onesixth of the whole area of the country. Was it any wonder that the country did not prosper in the face of statistics like those, which amply justified a land tax. Mr. Pyke had recommended a progressive land tax, ranging from -J per cent, to 5 per cent., which he said would produce £300,000 a-year, nearly equal to the property tax. Improvements should not be taxed at all either under the property tax or under the land tax, but by this means large estates would be broken up, and land for settlement would become available. The plan' Mr. Pyke suggested was somewhat different to "the Land Act introduced by Sir George Grey, which provided for a land tax of Id in the £ on the capital value, with a £500 exemption ; and that the land should be valued at the capital to sell after deducting all improvements. The question which now arose was would a Land Act such as that in operation in 1579 and ISSO produce a sum sufficient to meet the necessities of the colony ? The reply was that it was in operation 18 months, and produced at M in the £ £150,000, so that at Id it would have produced £-200,000 a-year. One of the difficulties of substituting a land tax for a property tax was the strong prejudice in the South against it, which was natural, as they would have to pay a greater amount proportionally. It had been said that a land and income rax would not raise the amount required to meet current expenditure. Perhaps not, if we maintained our present extravagant rate of expenditure, and as an instance of the steady increase in that direction he mentioned that we spent as much now in three weeks as the Stafford Administration spent in a year, though population and revenue harl not increased proportionately. In the face of these facts they must further retrench. They had nothing to do with other colonies as to rates of pay ; their business was to make income and expenditure balance, and to pay their way. The civil service, like the taxpayers who paid their salaries, would have to share the evil days of adversity. A reduction in the number of the civil servants was also neces- ■ sary. He pointed out amusing instances of bow fat salaries of high officials were hidden away in contingencies, special votes, and under misleading headings, instead of being shown as one sum. For instance, he found one officer's salary under " materials, tools, implements, tor prison labour on fortifications, £10,000"( laughter that as to the sum of £100,000 for contingencies, the Parliament had practically no control. He had carried a motion that the name of every person employed by Government last year should bo furnished in a return distinguishing between those paid by direct vote of the House and those paid out of contingencies, but the motion was not forthcoming when he left Wellington. If he went back he would look out for it. (Cheers.) That the civil service expenditure could be largely reduced was proved by the reports of the Government Commissions, the history of which he gave. The first Commission reported that a reduction of £500,000 per annum could be made. At present ] (54,000 taxable adults were providing over four millions sterling for the service of the colony. There would have to be a total reorganisation and classification of t!;o civil service, with fixed numbers, and fixed minimum and maximum rates of pay, and promotion by merit, not by political influence. The taxpayers would not be satisfied with another Commission, and a new Civil Service Bill by which the civil servants ruled themselves. After a struggle some of ' the higher officials had been got rid of on pension or compensation, but there was no compunction about discharging 500 railway servants by those who had the power to displace them. Mr. Goldie pointed out that further reductions could be made in Charitable Aid, in industrial schools, prison expenditure, and in education without impairing its efficiency or interfering with either the school age or the standards. (Cheers.) Secondary education should be made self-supporting, and the secondary endowments appropriated to the primary schools, with increase of scholarships. When people talked about larrikinism under our system of education they only needed to be told that seveneighths of our prisoners were educated and born out of the colony, and that only oneeighth represented the colonial element. (Cheers.) English statistics showed that of 160,000 prisoners only 4000 could read and v/rite well. Ignorance, therefore, meant crime, and education a diminution of it. If the Southern Education Boards had saved on the maintenance fund as the Auckland Board of Education had done, and applied to erecting new schools, £45,000 a year could be saved to the colony. The diversion of secondary endowments, and reduction of the number of Universities, would save £45,000 more. Attempts would be made by Government to saddle hospitals, refuges and asylums, imbeciles, etc., on local bodies, which would be practically an increase of taxation. He would oppose such an increase directly or indirectly. The true policy was to let the Government take the revenue from the drink, including the publicans' license, and let them keep the ' "hospitals, refuges, asylums, and industrial ecbwlf", which were the fruits thereof*

(Cheers.) He would resist further borrowing, because there would be no economy till they carried on Government with the ordinary revenue of the colony. If they thought it to elect, him as their representative, he would go to Wellington pledged to no party, but with a single determination to do what ■he conceived to be best in the interests of the country. (Cheers.) He belonged to what had been called the " skinflint party but ho was not ashamed of it, as it meant the party who held that the colony should pay its way. When the electors desired him to retire, or were dissatisfied with his conduct, they had only to say so, and he would retire. (Cheers.) An elector handed up a formidable bunch of questions .for Mr. (Joldie, which that gentleman endeavoured to answer. He did not think a larnd tax would put people off the land ; there was far too much official charity ; it came through borrowed money. He was opposed to a State bank; the Government had too much of their money already, and he was for the same reason opposed to Government running a fire insurance company. There were too many tire insurance companies. He was opposed to the Government appointing Commissioner Edwards, as no salary had been voted. Statements made by him as to the pay of the police ho wouid stand by. He was opposed to party Government. His children had all been educated at his own cost, with the exception of the .last two, and finding they were nob being so well educated at private schools he sent them to the public schools. He would oppose Pyke'a Private Schools Bill, and denominational education in every shape and form. Tlwsre were 12,000 Roman Catholic children in the public schools, and there was no reason "why the other 8000 should not be there ako, sitting side by side with the children o.f their Protestant fellow-citizens, without regard to creed. (Cheers.) They had not satisfied the Catholics when they paid the half allowance spoken of in Tyke's Bill. If they looked at the Tablet of ISB7 they would see they were going to claim a grant for school buildings, and this would also bo claimed by others. Denominationalism had been the curse of England, and would be the curse of New Zealand if it were ever allowed to get into our national school system. (Cheers.) Mr. Auui.iNr.TON moved, and Mr. Thompson (of Archhill) seconded, a vote of thanks only, as Mr. Goldie declined a vote of confidence as violating the secrecy of the ballot. The motion was carried unanimously, amidst enthusiastic applause. Mr. Goldie expressed his acknowledgments, and moved a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was carried by acclamation, and this closed the proceedings. The meeting was throughout of the most orderly character, and Mr. Goldie received a most attentive hearing. MR. F. LAWRY AT PARNELL. Mr. F. La wry addressed the electors of Parnell in the Salvation Army Hall last evening. Tho building was tilled to its utmost capacity. Mr. Gilmoro was voted to the chair, and in a few well chosen remarks introduced the candidate. Mr. La why was received with applause, which was repeated at intervals during the delivery of his address, for which he obtained an attentive hearing, although one or two at the back of the building caused a few slight interruptions. The speaker advocated retrenchment in every department of the Government service, as well as in education. He strongly advocated local Government, and indicated the form it should take. Also the increase of facilities for settling the land, but regretted that he had not much hope of any very great increase of settlement until better prices can be obtained for land products. He strongly deprecated the idea of electing a man simply because he was wealthy, and the cry which claims eligibility for a candidate simply because of his great stake in the country, was an insult to intelligence, as it meant the exclusion of merit unless associated with wealth. He said he had not spoken to any electors of Parnell on election matters unless tho subject had been introduced to him, and ho hoped the time was not far distant when the electors would resent personal canvassing, and agitate for theintroduction of a law which rendered such a thing illegal. He reviewed his own conduct in the Assembly, and showed that he had always voted for a policy irrespective of parties, and, if elected, would do so again. He invited questions, and said lie did not know the nature of a single question that would be asked him, and strongly denounced the practice of submitting them to candidates before a meeting, so that cut and dried replies may be given. Mr. Lawry concluded by thanking the audience for their attentive hearing, and resumed his seat amid loud applause. A number of questions were answered, many of them being anticipated in the address. Mr. Pollard proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Lawry for his able and instructive address, and strongly approved of the principle of not having votes of confidence at meetings of that kind. Mr. Elliott seconded the motion. The motion was about to be put, when Mr. W. L. Rees ascended the platform and claimed his right as an elector to address the meeting. He began by saying ho had no fault to find with what Mr. Lawry had said, and was glad he had obtained a good hearing ; but he found fault with what he had not said, and went on to show that ib was the duty of the electors to return men pledged to party. He said there were two parties now, the present Government being a party of stagnation, and the other a party of progress. He strongly urged, amid repeated interruption, the support of the candidate pledged to progress! The interruption became intensified at this stage, and it was difficult, amidst the great noise, to hear a word Mr. Rees said. He eventually retired amidst noise and confusion. When order was restored the Chairman put the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Lawry, in returning thanks, said he was glad Mr. Rees had spoken, as every reform and retrenchment that gentleman advocated lie (Mr. Lawry) had supported. (Applause). A cordial vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the meeting. * A meeting of Mr. Lawry's friends and supporters in the Parnell electorate, are requested to meet at Mr. Elliott's house, Manukau Road, this evening, at eight o'clock. WAITEMATA. Mr. Monk delivered a political address to the electors residing in the Lucas' Creek district, in the local schoolhouse, on Monday, the 24th instant. There were about 40 ladies and gentlcnrcß present. On the motion of Mr. Jacob/Cowlcy, seconded by Mr. W. Stevenson, Mr. James lnglis was voted to the chair, and introduced Mr. Monk, who said he was glad that the ladies took enough interest in politics to attend an address on political matters, as it was certain that the women would luive a great amount of influence in moulding the politics of the future. He urged that thrift, economy, and the settlement of the people on the land were the real measures by which the country would be lifted from its present position. Several questions were asked and answered, after which, on the motion of Mr. G. A. Green, seconded by Mr. Hodges, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Monk, to which he responded, and proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman. This concluded the meeting.—[Own Correspondent.] FRANKLIN. Major Hamlin held one of the largest political meetings ever held in Pokeno, at the Valley School-house, on Tuesday last. About 80 electors were present. Mr. F. B. Kingsford occupied the chair. The Major spoke for upwards of two hours, giving an account of his stewardship in the past, and his ideas of what should bo done in the future. Several questions were asked and answered to the satisfaction of the electors. A vote of thanks and confidence was declared by the Chairman to be carried almost unanimously, only three supporting thanks only. Major Harris met the electors of the Tuakau settlement in the School-room, on the evening of the 20th instant. There was a good attendance of electors. Mr. Brown, J.P., was called to the chair. The candidate's speech was a remme of what he was reported to have said at other places. Mr. T. Elliott proposed, and Mr. James Poland seconded, a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr. Hugh Abbott moved, and Mr. C. Dromgool seconded, an amendment of thanks only, which was lost, and the motion was carried by a good majority. A vote of , thanks to the chairman concluded the business,-"-[Own Cwe?poudei?.t.]

MANUKAU. On Monday last Sir Maurice O'Rorke addressed a meeting of electors at Flat Bush, Mr. Woodward being in the chair, and received a vote of thanks. On Tuesday ho spoke at Papatoetoe, Mr. Lamb being in. the chair, and received a hearty vote of thanks and confidence, although he did not desire it. Mr. W. F. Buckland addressed the electors of Manukau at Maraetae, on Monday, the 24th instant, in the schoolroom. Mr. Towns in the chair. There was a very largo attendance of electors. Mr. Buckland received a unanimous vote of confidence. N Mr. W. F. Buckland addressed the electors of Manukau at Turanga Creek, on Tuesday, the 25th instant, in the schoolroom. Mr. John Granger in the chair. Mr. Buckland received a unanimous vote of confidence. TE AROHA. [BY TELEGRAPH. own correspondent.] Cambridge, Wednesday. Colonel Fraser met the electors in the Public Hall, last night. There was a largo attendance of between 250 and 300. Mr. J. 11. Priestley occupied the chair, and introduced the candidate to the meeting. Colonel Fraser commenced his address by referring to the change in boundaries of electorates caused by the reduced number of representatives, and the reasons that had influenced him in deciding to contest Te Aroha. He then went on to say that the manifesto of Sir 11. Atkinson, and the speech of Mr. Mitchelson, at Eden, held out no hope of further retrenchment. Looking round, the speaker could not see any person so well fitted to carry out the retrenchment policy as Mr. Bryce. (Applause.) A gentleman who possessed all the necessary qualifications to set tho country right, and if elected, he would support Mr. Bryce. If Mr. Bryce took the matter in hand, ho fully held that the country would soon get over its difficulties, and that a prosperous era would commence. A hearty vote of thanks to Colonel Fraser was carried by acclamation. WAIKATO. Hamilton, Wednesday. Mr. Castleton got such a reception from the settlers at his meeting at Otiaupo yesterday that he came to the conclusion to withdraw his candidature, which he formally did to-day. Mr. Parr, the candi-date-maker, has also expressed his intention of throwing up the sponge, and will not bring another candidate in opposition to Mr. Bryce. Mr. Bryce had a large meeting at Rangiriri—Mr. Brooks in tho chair. Some sixty were present from all parts of the district. A vote of confidence was almost unanimously accorded him. At Iluntly last uighb some 200 persons were present to hear Mr. Bryce's address— Mr. E. B. Ccx in the chair. A large number of questions were asked, and apparently satisfactorily answered. On a vote of confidence, as against a vote of thanks, being put, the show of hands was so equal that the chairman declined to decide. On Wednesday, November 19, Mr. A. Elliott addressed tho electors in the Pukekaroro Hall, Mr. J. Curtis in the chair. Mr. Elliott enunciated his views in a forcible and telling speech, which evoked considerable enthusiasm. A vote of thanks to Mr. Elliott, proposed by Mr. F. Clark, was carried unanimously. — [Own Correspondent.] Messrs. J. M. Dargaville, R. M. Houston, John Lundon, and James Trounson have been nominated for the Bay of Islands electorate. Messrs. E. Hamlin and B. Harris have been nominated for the Franklin electorate. All the elections take place on the sth December. Mr. Trounson met the electors at Huker-o ill South on the 21st November. There was a fair attendance, and Mr. Hill was voted to the chair. Mr. Trounson considered the Railway Department very defective, and had noticed, when on a trip recently to Dunedin, that in that locality the Union Steamship Company carried 300 jvliere the railway carried only 100. He was in favour of giving Vaile's system a trial. He was opposed to a proj>erty tax, and in answer to Mr. Gray, stated that he would substitute a land tax with certain exemptions, and also an income tax. Mr. Rasmusson asked if he would be in favour of a State bank, with Atkinson at the head of it, and he replied that he would favour a post office and bank combined. In regard to the Kawakawa • Kamo railway, he considered this a very important matter, and would do his utmost, if returned, to further the project, and in reply to a question by .Mr. Hutchinson, he stated that he would not bo in favour of constructing the line by borrowing money for the purpose, but would allow a syndicate to perform the work, and give a grant of land in return. In reply to Mr. Gray, lie stated that he was determined to contest the seat with all his might. In answer to Mr. Cowen, in regard to the village settlement scheme, he was not in favour of the scheme as it is, but would be prepared to alter the tenure so as to have the freehold acquired. He considered the settlers had been hardly dealt with, and would fight for a Crown grant. On the motion of Mr. Plaistcd, seconded by Mr. Hastings, a vote of thanks to and confidence in the speaker was carried with only one dissentient. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to a close. —[Own Correspondent.]