Mr Symes at Toko.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 193, 10 July 1896, Page 3

Mr Symes at Toko.

Mr Walter Symes, who is standing" for Egmont in the'Government interest, addressed a meetdng of electors at Toko on Saturday last. He declared himself a Liberal. He r. ferred to the present member being returned as a Liberal, but had now gone over to the Opposition," and consequently was not worthy of the confidence of the electors. He would fearlessly oppose all measures introduced by Government or the Liberal Party with which he did not agree. He favored Party Government. Liberalism, he contended, was the essence of good government. The present Government were misunderstood because they were too modest to sound their own praises. The opening up of country and roading had been done by the Liberals. Until the Liberals assumed power the Egmont electorate was really disfranchised. He expressed himself in favor of the Beferendum. He was in favor of the bare majority ruling on the Prohibition question. He eulogised the Advances to Settlers Act as one of the grandest ever passed in the colony, and that it would eventually wipe out the unemployed. He was a supporter of free, secular, and compulsory education. He considered licensing benches a farce; the whole matter should be left in the hands of the Magistrate. He favored taxation on unimproved value. He contended main roads should be made and metalled by Government. The present land laws were liberal, and tended to advance the best interests of the colony. He was a strong advocate of relief to harbor ratepayers, and would do hi 9 utmost to get the bondholders to reduce the rate of interest.

His speech lasted an hour and was very well received, being frequently applauded. , Questions were then asked and answered satisfactorily, when a vote of thanks was accorded him. A similar compliment to the chair brought the meeting to a close.