DR HODGKINSON AT WINTON.

Southland Times, Issue 3295, 11 January 1879, Page 2

DR HODGKINSON AT WINTON.

A large meeting was held on Thursday night at which Dr Hodgkinson addressed his constituents. He dwelt at great; length on the principal questions of policy which came before the House last session,- and expressed his approval of the Land Tax Bil], with the exception of those clauses which exempted property under £500 and imposed the same tax on pastoral tenants of the Crown as upon freeholders, and was in favor of manhood suffrage, provided it. ,was accompanied with sufficient safeguards as to residents within the electoral district. He also expressed his disapproval of the action of the Legislative Council and the Electoral Bill as rejards the .Maori' settlage. He was also of opinion that the present financial state of the colony was unsound owing to the greater portion of the land funds being treated as income, instead of capital, and that the colonial debt of £21,000,000 is too large in proportion to the,-population. He considered the proposal" of a new railway scheme (involving an "additional expenditure of about £8,000,000) unwarrantable, as it would raise the colonial debt to the sum. of about £30,000,000, but he approved of the direct 'steam service to Britain, but" not on the great scale proposed by Mr Macandrew. He was opposed to the denominational school system. The experience of the last three sessions had confirmed all his previous opinions as to the evil effects of abolition, and he considered that the federal system of government waa absolutely necessary. ' In the event of a dissolution, he would again offer himself for re-election on the same principles as heretofore. Dr Hodgkinson then read a long extract from a Victorian writer on the evils of localism in colonial assemblies and the necessity which existed for federation. He was much applauded, and a unanimous, vote of confidence was passed *in his favor. ' The meeting terminated with the usual formality, * } - - -