Parliament Out of Session.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6240, 12 June 1890, Page 2

Parliament Out of Session.

MAJOR STEWARD AT WAIMATJB,

A large number of electors assembled at the Oddfellows Hall, Waimate, on Tuesday evening to hear Major Steward’s opinions on matters political. Mr J. Sinclair, mayor, was moved to the chair, and in introducing the speaker, said he was quite sure it would be unnecessary for him to ask for a patient hearing for Mr Steward.

Major Steward, who was greeted with applause, commenced his address by saying he did not intend to touch much on what had passed, as he considered the question of tho present and immediate future concerned the ratepayers more deeply. He would only say that during last session a little good work was done, but it was very little. This was owing to the fact that although the Government were able to retain their seats, they Lad! not sufficient followers to enable them to carry their measures; as the member for Mount Ida said “ they were keeping Ministers in and their measures out.” He then referred to the small number of Government Bills which were carried through, and slated one of the most useful was the Selectors Land Valuation Bill. The Criminal Evidence Bill, which was introduced by Mr Hutchison, was only an experiment, and ho thought its effect would be rather to secure the conviction of the guilty than the acquittal of the innocent. Tho Triennial Licensing Bill would result in a saving to local bodies of £20,000 during each triennial period. Only five or six Bills passed last session to which any special interest was attached, and four of these were Government Bills. The present -mode of appointing members for life to the Legislative Council was not satisfactory, and he did not consider a second Chamber at all necessary for tho government of the colony, 'i he Government failed with the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill, and next session the BilLis to be again brought up. The speaker then referred to the Property Assessment Bill, and the Representation Bills. In reference to party government as it is seen in New Zealand it is a pronounced failure, and in all his political career he had stuck steadily to his party, which has'generally been on the Speaker’s left side. Of land and land administration he spoke at length, giving numerous figures to strengthen his arguments, and he contended that for the good of the colony there must bo reform in land administration as well as in the administration of the railways. On the education question.his views were already well known, and he was in favour of parts of the Bible being read in schools. He was in favour of making parents of all scholars above the fourth standard pay a fee of one penny per day—equal to £1 a year. Of local matters ha had had a number to attend to; the Waimate Library Bill, and another to secure a certain piece of land for St. Augustine’s Church, he was successful in carrying through. He procured passes for the unemployed to visit tho West Coast and the North Island in search of land or employment. Ho had tried unsuccessfully to get the Commissioners to arrange for stopping the express at Makikihi, to get a grain store erected at the Hook, and cattle yards at Waimate. There were also many other local matters which he need not refer to in detail, that he had to attend to. He thought that he had touched upon almost every subject of importance and would conclude by saying that 1 the new boundaries of the electoral district | would make a good deal of difference, but he | hoped it would not alter the good feeling and • sever the connection that had so long existed between them as member and constituency.

In reply (o questions he said that he was in favour of granting compensation to publicans if their houses were closed. He could hardly say whether he would support the Hare Bill or hot; he did not support it last session. He had always voted for the Eight Hours Bill, and he read a division list in Hansard to show he voted with the “ ayes.” Mr Kilgour then moved that a vote of thanks and confidence be , passed to . Mr Steward.

On putting the motion it was declared carried unanimously, and a vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

(By Telegraph. 1

CHRISTCHURCH, June 11,

Mr J. Joyce, M.H.R. for Lyttelton, addressed his constituents to-night and was accorded an unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.