MR W. J. DYER AT MILTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1449, 30 August 1879, Page 11

MR W. J. DYER AT MILTON.

Tokomaibiko, August 27th. Mr W. J. Dyer addressed the electors of Brace, in St. George's Hall, this evening. Thtre were 500 perions present. The Mayor, who occupied the chair, in introducing the candidate said tbat it was not the first time tbat gentleman had stood in a similar position before them. Mr Dibr apologised for the vacillating manner in which he had aoted regarding his candidature during tho last fortnight. Wben the dissolution was announced several gentlemen waited upon hip to ask him to contest the ■eat for Bruce.. Hid reply was not very definite, as he did'not intend coming forward if he tSktf some influential competitor, or resident inthe district offering his services to the dis trict. If so, he would decline, on account of the sacrifice a man had to make who was away from his busitieis three or four months a year in Wellington. No such person having presented himself, he consequently did so. He then referred to a statement circulated, that while in the Provincial Council he had procured an endowment for Milton at the expense of Fairfax, showing that the reaerre had nrver been verted in Fairfax, but had been firstly »et asido for the surveyors. He then proceeded to deal with the question of questions uppermost, bo doubt, in the mind of ev«ry elector in the Tokomairiro district, which was this, and he would answer himself: — "Is the candidate in favoui of Sir Georgo Grey, or is he a supporter of Sir George Grey or the Opposition ?" Well, hi* answer was this : he was in favour of the whole policy introduced by Sir George Gr»y, with a slight modification. The issue between the Opposition and the Government was not one of policy' and the Ministry had been turned out because af imbecility, and incompetency to carry the policy owt. Mr Dyer said the policy enunciated by the Grey Government, as lie took it, was that laid down in the Governor's Speech. He was in favour of manhood suffrage with a residential qualification, and not pure manhood suffrage, as they had in America. As to the redistribution of seats, he argued that a redistribution on the basis of population would not work well in New Zealand. Dunedin would have six members, and Bruce only a fourth of one, and consequently wouldhavetoamalgamate three others similarly situated. Thirdly, in regard to reducing tho duration of Parliament, he was inclined to fa7our such a thing, as it would bring representatives and constituents more frequently face to face, and give the electors an opportunity of changingmembers, as they frequently wished to do. The next item in the policy of the Government was the fivs million loan, which the House sanctioned ; and if he was eleoted theirmember, he should b» strongly la favour ef a further loan for the completion ef the r%flway» and public works already oom!»i*c#d, j»d to stake tbtoi oitfnl to the

[ whole of New Zealand. He alao advocated ! other railways — for instance, that from Amberley to the West Coast. If railways only paid interest on the cost of construction, and a very small trifle in addition, they should be constructed aa soon as possible. As to the proposed railway from Green Island to Wangaloa, he wished it to be understood that he would very much like to see the railway made to theextensive coal deposits at Wang&loa, but not from Green Inland, What he would propose was that eitheir the line should be constructed from Kaitangata— a line which no doubt would be purchased by the Government — or from Milton down the Tokomairiro River along Coomb Hay. In regard to education, he slight say at once tbat he scarcely thought a better national system of education could be obtained than the one they had. He thought it should rest with the committee of a district to say whether the Bible should be read or not.— (Cheers.) Dealing with the Licensing Act, he said unhesitatingly he was decidedly inclined to support a bill, no matter by whom introduced, that would have the effect of placing control over the sale of liquors under 1 the immediate control of tho people— (hear, hear)— and it was his opinion that no publican holding good or moral grinciplas would sell liquor to little children, who wera frequently sent for it by parents who deemed themselves too respectable to go themselves to public houses. As to plurality of votes, which Sir George Grey made so much about at Chiistchurch, he thought he (Mr Dyer) was not ignorant of New Zealand or ics status, and he was not awara of any other plurality of vot ing than that allowed in municipal elections, which he did not object to. Sir George Grey imid it gave the rich man a great deal of power over the poor working man, but he (Mr Dyer) thought this cry about the poor working man all " buncombe," as the working man in New 2!« aland was as woll off as anyone eke. If they should return him he would do all he possibly could for the advancement of New Zealand as a whole. He would tell them further that his would go to Wellington at once, and vote on every matter brought before the Assembly. He should not wait till he " saw which way thti cat jumped" and then act accordingly." — (Applause.) Mr G. Lindsay : What would Tokomairiro do for a certificated accountant in bankruptcy if you were away two or three months in Wellington. . MrDtBB: Oh, the Government would probably appoint Mr Lindsay. In answer to other questions, the candidate said that he was against Chinese immigration ; that trains should not be run on Sundays, and by the way mentioned that years ago, when keeping a puiat at Taieri Ferry, he had done more towards stopping Sunday traffic than any other man in Otago — (A Voice : Yes, especially when you wished the passengers to stay Sunday at your public-house.— Laughter). He thought Sir George Grey should be honoured by the people of New Zealand for past services. Mr F. GBiJsiT moved, and (Mr H. White seconded a vote of thanks to Mr Dyer for his lucid address. The motion was carried unanimously, and a most orderly meeting terminated.