THE MATAURA ELECTION.

Southland Times, Issue 3294, 10 January 1879, Page 2

THE MATAURA ELECTION.

I « . ME, KINROSS AT THE BLUFF. [by electric telegraph.] (from oub own co-respondent.) BLUFF, Thursday. Mr Kinross addressed a meeting of nnder thirty this evening." Mr Sullivan was iii the : chair. On personal and political grounds he urged his claims as superior to those of Mr Shanks, and recapitulated- his previous services in liberalising the"" land laws. He read extracts from Monday's Southland Times, endeavoring io identify Mr Shanks with the conservatives. He advocated manhood suffrage with the safeguard •of a residence qualification, and would reduce deferred payments to two pounds, with selection- by ballot. He would confer the franchise on women. He suggested reform in U&Uoting ; ' would alter electoral districts: objected to the i professional politicians honorarium, and would only pay members expenses ; condemucd ' ■ Upper House as purely nominative, and indeed declared it unnccessaiy ; believed Government intended dealing with the constitution ; approved of present system of ' education with moral teaching, and better provision for enforcing 'the compulsory clause?. He would support a further reduction of duties on the necessaries of life. He justified exclusion of improvements in the land tax, and was in favor of a tax on incomes over £200. He denounced the iuflux of Chinese and their habits. Mr Parsons asked how the parly called Conservative could be opposed to settlement, when Donald; Reid's Liberal Land Bill was made a Ministeiial measure by the Atkinson Administration. Mr Kinross regretted the severance of Mr Reid's connection with the Government. Mr Parsons asked-r-Was the Land Bill of 1877 made ™ore or less Liberal by the Grey Administration ?. Mr Kinross replied that he objected to, the Canterbury lease extension;' : " Mr Denniston asked could candidate .name any good measure vetoed by the Lords. The duties were abolished on the necessaries of life, and there was no land tax on small holdings. How could small holders contribute to the revenue ? .Mr Kinross replied he would tax tobacco, spirits, and other luxuries. . . Mr T. J. Thomson asked would candidate advocate the endowment of the Bluff Municipality ? The reply was affirmative. Mr McDougall expressed dissent to some of the opinions of the candidate," but to prevent a walk-over he proposed Mr Kinross as a fitperson to represent the district. Mr Parsons seconded the motion, for which seven hands were held up and no one dissented.