MR. LUMSDEN, M.H.R. AT THE VERCARGILL.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 659, 13 June 1878, Page 2

MR. LUMSDEN, M.H.R. AT THE VERCARGILL.

Invercargill, \ Mr. Lumsden, M.H.R. for addressed a well-attended meeting of his constituents to-night. He reviewed the business of last session, and traced the discontent with, and the break-up of, the Atkinson Ministry to Auckland's desire for the Land Fund of Otago, a desire to be revenged on Mr. Reid for taking office, and Messrs. Bell and Larnach's disappointment at not getting years added to their Southland leases. He had gone up as a Provincialist, but when Abolition was accomplished, he saw no use in further opposition. Mr. Reid's presence in the Government was his main inducement to support the Atkinson administration. Finding capable men on the Government benches, he felt warranted to support them. The Education, Land, and Charitable Institutions Bills were not to be opposed, coming from any quarter. The Grey Government had neutralised Mr. Reid's Land Bill by passing the Waste Lands Sale Bill. Sir G. Grey's attempt to obtain the disallowance of Mr. Reid's Land Bill was an assault upon the liberties of Parliament. A Government should always represent a majority of the House, and Sir George Grey had evaded a division. Mr. Maeandrew wished to drop the Education Bill, and Sir G, Grey had no warm side to it, but it had gained for Southland the control of her own education affairs. He (Mr. Lumsden) took credit for securing an endowment for the Boys and Girls' High School in Southland. He approved entirely of Sir G. Grey's programme for altering the franchise and incidence of taxation. The working people in the Colony had no realgrievance. They were immeasurably better off than in. the old country. It was highly dangerous to touch the delicate relations between labor and capital. Through the capitalist the working men flourished, and large landed proprietors were the mainstay of deferred payment selectors. He did not like to see too large estates, but these would break up soon enough under natural laws. The public works had been, bungled through want of practical management. As ro■i'arded immigration, he approved of Mr. Macaudrew's scheme for steamers direct to New Zealand, giving comfort; they would bring the right class of immigrants. Solely owing to the demands of his own business, and feeling the sacrifice of so much time in Wellington, <;,; had on Monday last despatched Ids \\ .-, gnarion to the Speaker. He Ihanked ;,ie electors for their past trust and indulgence. A motion was carried approving of Mr. Lumsden's general conduct as tluir representative, and of his action during last session.