The Politician.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 376, 26 April 1879, Page 6

The Politician.

MR. McMINN AT TE AWAMUTU.

Te Awamutu, April 19.

Mr. McMinn addressed the electors of Waipa in Te Awamutu Hall. Mr. William McKay chairmar. Mr. Hammond proposed that the meeting be adjourned to Ohaupo, Hamilton, as only a few electors %vere present. The resolution was lost. Mr. McMinn referred to the Electoral Bill as not so important as the Government considered it. He first supported the Bill because he considered the Maoris unfairly represented, forty thousand natives having only four representatives, while the Europeans had a member for every [five thousand, and he voted for the Bill as an encouragement to the natives ; but when the land tax w’as introduced it gave n gave a fresh complexion to the Maori dual vote, which would give them power to increase taxation. As to the land tax itself,-he approved of the object of the tax in giving the country the benefit of the unearned increment represented in the increased value of the land of the colony. McMinn criticised Bowen’s statement in the House that a land tax imposed independent of improvement was calculated to cause a rebellion in the colony. McMinn approved of reducing the exemption from five hundred to fifty pounds —the present limit being too much like class legislation. He voted for the Beer Bill, as the Government i-equired money, but he was pleased w'hen it fell through. After referring to the Joint Stock Companies’ Bill, and the Customs Duties Bill, he alluded in complimentary terms to Whitaker’s Representation Bill, which, he contended, should have gone into committee side by side with that of the Government, in accordance with the generous offer made by Mr. Whitaker. He promised to support Mr. Curtis’ Education Bill, with a view to meet the wishes of many friends who solicited him. In future he should oppose the Bill, as he was opposed to auy change in the present secular system. Mr. McMinn approved of triennial Parliaments. If the Government had made the Bill a Ministerial measure it would have been carried. The Sheep Bill was a comprehensive measure. He, representing the Northern parts of the island, when in committee framing the Bill, sent copies to the secretaries of the Waikato associations, who neglected to reply or to suggest improvements. The Sheep Bill was a tentative, not a permanent measure. Mr. McMinn highly eulogised the Government for their fair and impartial conduct of public works, and the Hon. Mr. Macandrew was entitled to the highest praise. He looked out for the interests of the colony now as in the olden time he looked out for the interests of Otago. Along with Mr. Whitaker, Mr. McMinn had waited on the Government regarding the Thames and Waikato railway, and other public matters. He always found the Government liberally inclined. Mr. McMinn approved and supported the Deceased Wife’s Sister Bill. He and Mr. Whitaker were on the Waste Lauds Committee together, and he found the latter a veteran member—up to everything. The South tried to filch from the waste lands 20,000 acres for an hospital reserve, 40,000 for a harbor, &c. In this way the land was jeopardised. But Mr. Whitaker and himself put their foot on such attempted alienation. But for Mr. Whitaker’s exertions an extensive area would have been swamped. Mr. McMinn concluded by saying he did not know what, Government proposed doing further, and would not speak in the dark. Replying to a question, he said he approved of small landowners, also observing that a number of local matters of Waikato interest engaged his attention while in Wellington. Mr. Hammond was glad Mr. McMinn had not shown himself so ardent an admirer of Sir George Grey. He was astonished at what Mr. McMinn said as to public works expenditure. Mr. Hammond thought the Government treated the North disgracefully; while expending immense sums South only a few small jobs were let out in the North just at the tail end of the season, before the House met.

Mr. McMinn again supported the action of the Government, and referred to the extensive contracts between Kaipara and Te Awamutu. With reference to limiting laud purchase, he felt that the natural law of supply and demand was the best regulator, and disapproved of the restrictions of the Legislature. He disapproved of separation. He did not know whether he should vote for the repeal of the Counties Act.

Mr. Roche proposed a vote of confidence in Mr. McMinn, who was returned to support the Grey Ministry, and he had done so. Mr. Parsons seconded, and it was carried without a dissentient. There were sixty persons present.