MR J. J. K. POWELL AT THORNDON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 31

MR J. J. K. POWELL AT THORNDON.

Mr J. J. K. Powell, one of the candidates for the city, addressed a meeting of electors - In Cloks’s Hall, Thorndon, last week, when there waS only amqderate' attendance Mr W: McDonald occupied the chair, and i introduced Mr Powell,- Whcq he said, was well ; known to most of them, and although he was not a verv fluent speaker,- still he Was a man of integrity, sound sense and practical ideas. Mr Powell, who was received with-applause,-said he had not offered himself as a candidate until after he had been askeci by a number of electors of all classes and grades, lie came before the electors as an Independent Liberal, and opposed to the present administration, for while admitting that some good measures had been passed by the present Government, he could not help taking exception to some of its legislation, especially the banking legislation, which had given rise to grave scandal. He considered the Government, and especially the late Colonial Treasurer, wore much to blame for that legislation. He condemned the Government for giving the Bank of New Zealand two millions of money, for which the ratepayers of the Colony had to pay the interest. The whole of the banking legislation had been a grave scandal. The Assets Board was formed to take over properties on which the Bank of New Zealand had lost money, and he was afraid tliat the taxpaj er would be called upon to purchase these properties for settlement purposes. It was time there should be put into Parliament men who would oppose the policy of the Government in regard to its dealings with the Bank of New Zealand. He considered the proper way of relieving the labour Congestion in the towns was by settling people On the land. He agreed with the land policy of the Government, and approved of village settlements, but was of opinion the scheme was not properly carried out. Village settlements should be made on good land and not far from the towns. He condemned the proposed village settlement at Johnsonville. The Btate farms were no more nor less than sweating farms. He agreed with the land and income tax, which -was preferable to the property tax. He believed the land should bear its fair share of taxation, and he would bo prepared to reduce the exemption from i£so’J to «£3OO. The duties on the necessaries of life should bo reduced. Whilst not in favour of borrowing millions generally, he would support a measure to borrow sufficient to complete all existing unfinished works, so that they may be made reproductive. They had many lines of railway not yet finished, and he considered it false economy not to complete these. He praised the public works policy of Sir Julius Vogel. He was afraid that the Government was not run on business lines, but for political purposes. Ho would oppose borrowing money in the Colony, and preferred going to the cheapest market for it. Ho contended there was little to show for the five millions spent during the time the present administration was in office. He declared himself a firm supporter of the present system of primary education, and would favour the extension of the privileges so as to embrace technical and university branches, and thus give the child of the humblest the opportunity to rise to the highest intellectual culture. He opposed the proposal to do away with special juries, as they would be required to deal with commercial cases. Application for special juries should be made to the Judge of the bupreme Court. He was in favour iof paying common and coroners’ juries according to the current rates of wages. He was a Freetrader, but he recognised that in j some cases it was necessary to render assistance to some industries to put them on a firm footing. This could be done by a bonus or some other scheme. The people were overgoverned by local bodies, and he was in favour of amalgamating many of them. He did not see how the Fair Bent Bill was practicable. He w'as an abstainer, and was in favour of Prohibition, and considered this question should be settled once and for all by the voice of the people by a Referendum and a bare majority. The Truck Act, as it stood at present, was a premium on dishonesty, and he disapproved of it. Having placed his views on the topics of the day before them he hoped they would meet with their approval. Should they do him the honour of I returning him as their representative his I interest would be their interest, in common I with that of the whole Colony. (Applause.)

In answer to questions Me Powell said he was of opinion the honorarium should be reduced to dllOO. He was a Liberal, but not according to Mr Seddon, and would be inclined to support Sir Robert Stout. He thought the Civil Service should be classified, and placed under a board of commissioners, so that they should not be interfered with by changes in Government. 11c maintained that, women having the franchise, they should have equal rights with men. A vote of thanks to Mr Powell, and a similar compliment to the chairman terminated the meeting.

According to our Masterton correspondent Mr Buchanan’s meeting at Carterton on Thursday night was anything but encouraging to the old member. It was with the greatest difficulty that the faintestapplause was raised. Mr Buchanan criticised the Government at great length, and charged the present Administration with all sorts cf corruption and bribery. He was several times interrupted by his audience, which did not appear at all in sympathy with his views. At the conclusion of the speech a vote of thanks to Mr Buchanan was proposed, but the great body of the audience ro-e to the occasion and gave three hearty cheers for Mr Seddon.

Mr H. A. Field addressed the electors at Levin on Thursday and Manakau on Friday night. At each place he was most favourably received. At Manakau the meeting was particularly enthusiastic, and accorded him a hearty vote of thanks and confidence* Ho spoke at To Horo on Saturday night.