THE ELECTIONS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1204, 15 July 1884, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS.

THE NOMINATIONS. The nomination of candidates for the representation of Geraldine was held yesterday. At 12 noon Mr Wills, Returning Officer, read the writ authorising the election. Mr J. Pago proposed the Hon. W. Rolleston as a fit and proper person to represent the constituency in Parliament. Ha then spoke of the candidate’s fitness. He was the best abused man in Canterbpry because he stood up for what he believed to be right. Mr Rolleston was not a man to shirk what he believed to be right because he was afraid of unpopularity, and that was the man they wanted in these times. He was not a Mr Face-both-ways, and ha hoped that even.if he did commit a blunder they would not think that unfitted him for election,

Mr Talbot seconded the nomination of the Hon. W. Rolleston. It was not u question of Ministry v. Opposition, and it was unfair to put it in that way. They ought to think it an honor to bo represented by such a man. It was said that he would lose vote. (Cries of : Don't be personal. Shut up.) He considered the Education Act a good one, and was satisfied with it. Ha hoped they would all vote for him. Mr D. Inwood briefly proposed Mr A. Cox. It was stated at first that both were of the samo party) but that idea was

dissipated after their speeches" were heard. Ho considered the only way to make the country prosperous was to get fresh men into Parliament. He then referred to Mr Cox, and said that hia character Was unsullied. Mr Angus Macdonald bad lived amongst them for 30 years, and was here some of them were born. Both candidates were great friends of his, and only for Mr Cox he would be for Mr Rolleston. (Cheers.) He saw Mr Rolleston haggard and careworn, and he believed three years at the Rangitata would do him good.

Mr Rutland said he had a better man than either of the candidates to propose— Mr George Bolton. (Cheers). Mr S. Clinch seconded Mr Bolton.

Mr Bolton pi oposed Mr Franks. ! Mr Maslin seconded Mr Franks, and in doing so stated, that the obiect was to split up the votes so that Mr Rolleston would get in.

'Mr Franks then spoke. He knew the wants of the electors, and was a partaker in their sufferings. They had a beautiful country in a state of poverty by misgovernment, because the working man was bearing all the burden. Both the candidates in the field were good, but heavily weighted. Mr Rolleiton bad the sins of the Government to bear, and Mr Cox was not the sort of man they wanted. He (Mr Franks) was as liberal as liberal could be, and would go in for a thorough change for the working men. If they wanted depression, elect Mr Rolleston. It was utterly false that he was going to help any other candidate. He was going to win. He read a paragraph showing how the Bank of New Zealand was corrupting members, by getting in men who were in debt to them, so that they should vote as they liked. He was against the property tax, and in favor of a progressive land tax, and the fostering of local industries ; he was also in favor of Mr Twomey’a bank scheme, only he would not buy the Dank of New Zealand. There was a great deal in'Mr Twomey’s scheme, and he was in favor of it. He was in favor of giving justice to Catholics.

The Hon. W. Rolleston said he was the same beardless boy they elected T 4 years ago as Superintendent of Canterbury. It was not the question of a gentleman's amiability,- but his fitness for public life they ought to consider. Up to the present he had saidas little as possible about himself and as much as possible on public questions. Mr Cox had said as much as possible about himself and is little a* possible about public matters, He believed he had already convinced the electors that he-was the best man, and if he were not like Mr Cox the nominee of numbers he was going- to be the elected of numbers. He would not have been rejected in Avon if he had gone there. He would like to know whether Waipa bad always confidence in Mr Cox. A squib bad been circulated which was an insult to the electors because it presumed they had no common sense. Ho was a settler in their midst and had done good work for the country, and surely he was not going to be ostracised because he happened to do what some of them did not believe in. If ho had left the Government he would have lost his own selfrespect. His Government had given the people an extended franchise ; they placed the tax on wealth; their Native Land Policy could not be assailed. Ho was sorry bitterness resulted from their system of education, but he thought it right to speak plainly on the question. He was not able to compose nursery rhymes for them like Mr. Cox, but he hoped they would roll up and exercise the great privileges they had received. He was accused -of having interest in the North Island. He had—hfs wife and children—and he intended to Uriug tjiCm down to live in their midst. , (Cheers). Mr Cox then came forward, amidst cheers. Mr Rolleaton had referred to him as s good-matured man. He was obliged to him. It was not only lie who was against him (Mr Rolleston);. there were two more now, and in fact the whole country was against him. The Government lowered the railway rates first to catch votes, and when they thought themselves strong enough they raised them. Mr Rolleston made capital out of bis laud laws, but what use were they if he destroyed industry by putting on a prohibitory railway tariff? He had not been in the House when Mr Rolleaton was in office, and he never was a supporter of his. He 'spoke highly of the Native Minister’s policy. It appeared the Ministry did not agree amongst theinselves. Major Atkinson said the education question was an open one, and not a Ministerial question. Major Atkinson was a strong man, and he would like to see him in Opposition. He would do his best to help him to be leader of tho Opposition. Mr Dick appeared to be looking eut for a new leader, seeing, no doubt, the game was up ; and Mr Mitchelson was in favor of tho noopolitical management of railways. He would be in favor of seeing what Sir Julius Vogel could do. Ho was sorry to see any man disregarding the feelings of a large section of the community with Regard to the question of .education, and wound up by expressing his belief that he would be elocted.

'Mr Bolton thought the whole of the others were working against himself. They had made such long speeches, that he was surprised anyone remained to hear him. "What was destroying the country was too much talk. He then referred to Mr Maalin, and said he was sorry to see him taking to the billet of bill-sticker. If he ever ceased to be a butcher’s clerk, he would not’go bill-sticking ; or if he did he would take care that the bills would not be half true and half false. He would have them all true, or all false. (Great cheering) Mr Bolton made a capital speech, and expressed his determination to go to the poll. A show of haads was taken with the following result : G. Bolton 80 A, Cox ... 66 W. Rolleston 62 F. Franks ... 14 Mr Cox demanded a poll. Mr Franks moved, and Mr Bolton seconded, a vote of thanks to the Return* ing Officer. The nomination of candidates foi the representation of the Borough of Tiraaru in the House of Representatives took place yesterday. Mr James Bruce proposed Mr Richard Turnbull. The nomination was seconded by Mr Jacob Hill. Mr W. Moody proposed, and Mr D. Maclean seconded, Mr E. G. Kerr as a fit and proper person to represent the constituency, A poll was demanded

MR J. M. TWOMEY AT ELB AdaJJTT POINT.

(From the Timaru Herald). Mr J. M. Twomey addressed a meeting of the electors of Q-ladstone in the Assembly Boom at Pleasant Poioton Saturday evening. The room was well filled, from 120 to 160 parsons being present. Mr Twomey spoke for about an hour and a half, and was listened to with the greatest attention from first to last, only imerrupted now and then by a hearty “ hear, hear,” or a laugh at a humorous remark or illustration.

Mr W. Gaze was moved to the ohair, And in introducing Mr Twomey. said he. was sure he would have an attentive hearing, as every other candidate had done. He supposed many of them had pledged themselves to other candidates, a very unwise thing to do until they had heard them all. He understood Mr Twomey had a i ew scheme to propose, which, if it could be carried out, would make them all rich. They would, he was sure be glad to hear it explained. Mr Twomey thanked the Chairman for his oomplimentrry introduction, and for the assurance that everyone got a lair hearing at Pleasant Point. A fair hearing to a political , speaker was like mercy, twice blessed—blessing him that gave and him that received, for no matter how insignificant the speaker, * something must be learned from him, and the speaker himself would go away with kindly feelings towards the people and place. He first hia reason for eomingforward for Gladstone. They had doubtleii seen a scheme of his in the papers. He intended to bring that scheme forward at the next ordinary general! election in December, ; bet the dissolution had brought the election on' sooner and suddenly. Mr Rolleston announced himself at once for Geraldine; -and Mr Cox soon after, and certain circumstances rendered it impossible for him to oppose them without compromising hia reputation, and he would not do that to be Premier of New He hoped; they would recognise one fact, that bis scheme showed him to - be desirous of doing good, whether he had found out the proper way or not, and if they could not find- an apology for presenting himself as a candidate in his desire to do good, he had none other to offer. He would first make some remarks upon general political questions before going into .hit ■ scheme. ,», -". s

THB QOVBBNMBBT.. It was always a popular thing to' abuse a Government, a tendency illustrated in a story respecting a counrtyman of his own, who, on landing at New York, was asked which of _ tho great political organisations he would * j oin, and asked in reply if there was a Government—if tbere was be wouldbq " agin ” it. He would not go to the same extent as his compatriot in America. 'He found, however that very serious charges ware made against the present Government. Mr Wakefield, when contesting a seat for the West Coast, said—or wasrrepo ted to have said—she Government gavs something like £29,000 to keep him out and put in Mr Shaw. Mr Poatlethwaice told his constituents in femuka that • they were like; a Yankee logrolling Government. Mr outtcn, of Hawkes’ Bay, said the came thing.. He said "1 sold my vote, and that (pointing to some local work be had got for his district) is what I got for it.” Mr flutter- the other evening told them that the Government was very weak, and had to resort to log-rolling. ' That just meant corruption, and that the Government had kept their seats by buying votes. What could they think of. a man who. - went to Wellington and supported a Government that had not the confidence of the country and that kept their seats by -buying votesf . What could they expect from him .but that be would go back to Wellington and support" another Government that would j keep their-" seats by buying votes# (Hear, hoar.) He did not like to speak strongly, bat it looked awfully, like telling tales out of school, for a representative to tell his constituents > such stories.

-- of the colony was very serious. : Major Atkinson certainly said the deficit was £162,000 j Sir Julius Vogel said it was £1,080,000. He did not know which.-of the two was right. It was saidthat nobody understood Major Atkinson’s financial statements ; they had been likened to a Chinese puzzle, and consequently they could not expect;a young politician like him to dissect them. Sir Julias Vogel said the deficiency was over a million and he ought to know something about it. Anyhow, the condition of the finances - was very serious. Major Atkinson said - it was not necessary to increase the property tax j they!could get on well without it.. He slio si! i that local industries required to be fostered. E ? inferred from the two statements that . Major Atkinson intended to increase the Customs duties. If that were the case it gave a splendid opportunity to a-young politician like him to talk about a free breakfast table and so on. Bat he bad not come there toaeek popularity, but to speak his conscientious convictions, which were not, liken he Yankee's, subject to alteration to suit pirc ims a ices. ~ Sr

• XOOAXi INDUaxaiK3. He was in favor of assisting local industries. Protection meant that ihsy would dp their own work, no matter if it cost a little more, that‘ they would develops their o wn resources, and give employment to their own people. America he' mentioned as an instance of the benefits of protection. There they had protected their industries, and now their trade and the fruits of their industries were spread over the, whole world, and their huge national debt, ; contracted during: the Civil war, was reduced to a minimum—wa» being reduced as fast as circumstances made it advisable. Canada, in the same way, had adopted protective duties and was prosper* ing. Victoria- was often pointed to as an instance of the evils of protection; *lt was not protection that injured Victoria. It was that the radical element there wont too far, and the money rings came down with a crash on the people. They wore now recovering from that, and Victoria was becoming prosperous. Even though protection was carried to extremes in that colony, one could go into a restaurant in Melbourne and get a dinner for fid, with a discount of 6d if he went every day for. a week. What then was the use of taking about a free breakfast table f Especially where was the use of it in a country like this, where nearly every article of food is grown, and whence food is exported not imported ? Ho was in favor of protecting things that can be produced in the colony, and letting in those that cannot be produced here as cheap ar possible. (Applause). He believed he had a bit of a reputation for fostering local industries, and, though it might be egotistical to say it wasja fact that several industries had been started in Tenauka since ho went there, though all previous attempts at starting local industries in that district had failed. Mr Sutter said he was in favor of starting local industries. He would like to know what Mr Sutter had done for them P He had lots of money, but he would sooner invest it in freehold securities. TAXATION. Sir Julius Vogel said abolish the property tax and put on a land tax, and spend the land tax locally. If they did that where would they get the interest on loans they bad to send to England? and why need the Government do anything at all r The Bead Boards and County Councils could collect and spend the tax themselves. Mr Sutter said stop the sinking fund. Why, it had been stopped already. He was glad to see that

three years’ experience had changed Mr Sutter’s mind. He went in for a land tax three years ago, now he was not for it. There was an article in the Timaru Herald that morning, showing that the property tax was the right one. They all knew that the farmers were heavily mortgaged, and under a land tax the mortgagees, who were sucking the life blood of the country, would escape. A land tax was talked of as the means of breaking up the large estates. There were only from ten to twenty large estates in the colony, and there were some 20,000 small holders. Would they crush the .20,000 for the sake of getting at the ten or twenty ? If a farmer had £IOOO worth of property mortgaged to the extent of £9OO, would they make the farmer pay and let the mortgagee go free ? He would not. He favored the property tax because it fell on the men who could afford to pay—those who had the money.

HEQB HSTATBS. He quite sympathised with the desire to cut up the Jarge estates. God made man, and also the laud, and gare man nothing to lire on or by but the land. Reasoning beings must, ; conclude then, that God never intended that a few men should, hold a monopoly of the earth’s surface to the exclusion of the many. He did not think putting on a progressive land tax was the proper way to go about cutting up the estate*. His idea was that the Government had the power now, under the property tax, to seize any man’s property, on giving him 10 per cent more than his own valuation for it, and that was the proper way to deal with the big estates. If a bursting-up tax were imposed, the result would be that all the land in the country would be thrown upon the market at once, and’ there would be no buyer*; holders would be ruined and nobody benefited. Government might say to the holder of a large estate, “If you do not sell within sixjmonths we will sell for you, as we find customers.” Ho one Jwould be wronged by that, -but holders would get 10 per cent more than their; valuation. If they had undervalued they deserved no sympathy, for they had been ; trying to rob the State; if they wished to keep their estates they would put .the full jValue upon it, and so pay a proper contribution to the revenue. He recognised a great difference between individual holders And companies. The land of an individual would probably he divided at his death amongst his children, and the large estate of an individual would thus bo cut up ;

but a company had no sons nor daughters, . and never died. He had no sympathy with T them, and big estate* held by companies he would cut up as fast as there was any necessity, for it. , PBKPETtTAI LEASING. He was in favor of perpetual leasing. The revenue from leases of Grown lands was now nearly as much as the property tax brought in, and but for these rentals the property tax must be doubled. He quite agreed with Mr Bolleston's proposals for dealing with the Mackenzie Country. Mr Eolleston was the best friend the innholders hod, because instead of selling, he was going to re-lease to them.

BATLWATS. “ He wa« in faTor of the non-political management ofrailways, He was not going to aay anything about the grain tariff— he had nothing to do with political blunders up to the present— but he looked on it as a great political blunder. ABSBNTBBB. He was in favor of a special tax upon the income of absentees. If a man living in the colony made £3OO a year, he would' add that to his property, and next year the tax gatherer would have £3OO more to levy upon; but if he lived in England the £3OO would be lost to the colony in every way. EDUOATIOH. Education seemed to be extravagantly expensive. £IO,OOO was paid to the Boards of Education for mere management. He would abolish the Boards and place the system in ' charge of a department at Wellington, have ■ inspectors to inspect the schools, denominational or otherwise, and pay teachers by results. This would induce teachers to do good work, and the work would be done cheaper. He would abolish the secondary schools. The system was evidently on its last legs, for there was scarcely a speaker that did not condemn it, and if he could he would help it to its doom. - BECAriXDIATIOIT. go that no oho. woulq. misunderstand what his views were he would nowreview what he had said. He was in favor of a modified form of protectiop; in order to develope the resources of the colony, and give employment to the people. He was in favor of the property lax. He was in favor ,of the Government ' taking over large estates wherever it was necessary to do so for industrial occupation, paying the present owners fair value for them. Mr Gladstone, one of the -greatest, if hot the greatest, statesman living, said that at any time the Government has a right to take possession of land if it required it. Land was taken for public works ; why not for the public good I He was in favor of non-political management of railways. nqrztßßSiOK. He next came to the question of the depression. Sir Julius' Vogel said what was wanted to remove it was more confidence; but if they looked into the matter they would find that the. depression had been , largely caused by over speculation—they had had. too much ‘ oonfideace in themselves and in each-other.;: they had borrowed too much and lent’ too much. Now their pockets wore . empty,'-and how'could men nirh empty pockets have confidence ? Msjor Atkinson said more immigration and more borrowing *would s?t things right. A few jeava ago the railway* were being made, Boad Boards all c ■ over the country were making roads, large ' estates were let for cropping, and fencing and breaking up were going on in all directions. These works were finished, and the Arid for labor was narrowing, agriculture i : eelt was slackening its demand for labor, through the low prices of grain and the extension of grazing on the introduction of the meat freeing system. B»eing that the field for labor had been so n- uch narrowed, did they went more men ? Ha said no, unless they settowork to develops theirrtsouroes and find o.ther fields of employment. (Applause) Mkjbr Atkinson saiu more borrowing would relieve the depression A few years ago the ' Timaru Borough Council borrowed £60,000, the. Harbor Board borrowed £IOO,OOO, and tbe Colonial Government bsd borrowed £3.000,000. Everybody said that when -the . money was raised there would be plenty in the her Is ; momy would be cheap, and they would here prosperityonce more. The money ;; had be p n rsised, and most of it had been spent, and the depression was deeper than J ever. Ihe spending of public money would not relieve depnssion. There were several esusts ot the- depression. Low prices and bad harvest* were among them —these were things that could not be provided against—but the great cause was that farmers were heavilj mortgaged, and the rate oi interest was too high, end nothing that did not relieve the • farmers by lowering the rate of interee 1 could bring about prosperity. There was nothing . but the land to draw prosperity from, und if f.rxners were rot prosperous the towns could not possibly be prosperous- here was k a combination among the barks —a sort oi trades union—to keep up the rate, of interest, and there was only one wi\y of breaking down ihe combination ; that wss by the Government s’arting a bank of its own, and that wss the ideatnat had brought him before the public. He had to go into public

i if* } , it would not pay him to do go, but if the el rotors thought he could be useful he would go. (Applause.)

THE PROPOSED SCHEME. Most of them had, no doubt, seen the published outline of his scheme. It had been variously received. A great many laughed at it and called him a lunatic, while others—some of them serious, thinking men—said there was a good deal in it, but it could not be carried out. Ho objected very strongly to a scheme which promised such results being dismissed with “ it cannot be done.” He had, however, met with some encouragement. He saw that an able man, one who had done a lot of good in his own country, and who was now living amongst them, had practically put forth the same idea. He referred to the Eev. Jasper Smythe. Mr Smythe’s schema was practically the same as his own, and possibly he was really indebted to the rev. gentleman for, his scheme. Mr Smythe claimed to have originated the idea of the Government lending money to farmers in Ireland, and it was that system which had suggested to him-slf some time ago the idea of a Government It was the Bev. Mr Sroythe’s idea that he had at first taken up ; that is, that the Government should borrow at 4 per cent, and lend to farmers at 5 per cent. Probably a large loan would not fetch more than 94 per cent, and charges would amount to 4 or 5 percent, so that every hundred would be ten or eleven pounds short when received in the colony ; and ho doubted whether the cost of administration would not exceed, the 1 per cent margin allowed. He concluded that it would be better for the Government to start a bank of, its own, and manage its own moneys instead of giving them to the Bank of Hew Zealand. The capital of th-vt Bank was one million, and yet at the date of the last report it held discounted bills and other securities to the extent of over nine millions and a half. The Bank did this through having the money of the country in its hands and making use of it. The Government should make such use of it themselves. The banks were by their charters allowed to issue three pounds in paper for every sovereign they held. That was a great liberty to allow them. The banks were not so liberal in dealing with the people who gave them that great privilege. They thought nothing of writing on a man's cheque “ no funds ” and returning it. (Laughter). If it was safe to give the banks that privilege, surely it would be safe to give it to the Government, with the security it could offer for its notes in the lands of the Crown. That security would surely be better than that offered by the shareholders of a bank. His proposal was that the Govern-' ment should establish, a bank of its own ; borrow one-fourth of the sum necessary to : take over the mortgages on land ; issue paper money for the other three-fourths, and lend the money to the farmers at 5 per cent. The effects of carrying out this proposal would be:—First, —to secure to farmers an enormous sum annually. He could not say how much, as he had not all the facts, before him, but Mr Smythe said one million. It would be the difference between 5 and 10 per cent on all the farmers’ mortgages, and it must be a large amount. That money would be spent locally instead of going into the pockets of English money lenders. Second,—it would release large sums now lent , on freehold securities, render money plentiful, and bring down tha rate of interest. Third, —it would secure to the State enormous profits which would go to reduce taxation. The Bank of Hew Zealand paid its shareholders 13 per cent, and carried cartloads of of gold to its reserve fund every year. Half or two-thirds of the shareholders lived in London, and their dividends were lost to us; their 15 per cent meant impoverishing the country. Fourth, it would stimulate trade and commerce. He need not dilate upoe that. Fifth, —it would promote local industries. If all the money invested in freehold securities were forced to seek some other investment, and if a fair amount of protective duties, as he had spoken of, were put on, the money would be invested in industries, and there would be plenty of employment and prosperity for all. Some argued that his schema would "drive capital away. Sir Julius Vogel Said taxing money would drive it away, Major Atkinson said a land tax would do so, and every political mountebank held up this spectre of frightened capital. Capital would always flow to where it could find tha best investment, and there was not a country under the sun that offered better investments than’ Hew Zealand. What if they did driva away the capital here now? It would be replaced with cheaper money, and the advanthe would be all on the side of the colony. Sixth,—it would keep m the colony vast sums now going out in the shape of interest. Seventh, —it would give the death blow to exorbitant rates of interest. Eighth,—it would regulate the money market so that the Banks would not push money on people when ' theyihad much on hand, and screw it out of them when a pinch came. What really began the depression was the failure of the Glasgow Bank. The Bank of Hew Zealand had borrowed money from people in England, and when the Glasgow Bank failed the Bank of HewiZealand in London was rushed, and the Barit rushed the people in the colony in order to pay the English creditors. Hintb, — it would secure the Government against the influence of money rings. If a progressive land tax, for instance, were put on, or the corns of the money rings were trodden on in any other way, they would all come down on the proposal together. Mr W. C. Walker, a highly educated gentleman, and a candidate for Ashburton, who had been chairman of the Ashburton County Council for years, said the other day that a Government Bank scheme was capable of being made a commercial success, but it was too enormous a lever to put in the hands of any Government. Up (Mr Twomey) asked, was it not better such a lever should be in the hands of the Government, the members of which were responsible to the people, rather than in the hands of a board of directors, over whom the people had no control whatever? A great stumbling block, he found, had been made of the proposal to buy up the Bank of Hew Zealand. That was a mere detail, and not an essential part of his schema that the Government should be its own banker. Ho only said it would be better to buy out the Bank of Hew Zealand, to get it out of the way and to get the machinery. It was not impossible to buy it. Its property was principally cash. Let the shareholders take their 'cash, and the Government buy the buildings and put their own cash into them. Or the State could buy up all the shares—they were now quoted at £2l 10s each. A little over two millions would do it and al; the cash, land, and buildings belonging to the bank, and all the business, would fall intc their hands at once. He could see no great difficulty in the way ; tha Government hac raised thirty millions for other purposes and they could essily raise a couple o! I millions more to buy a bank worth thi money. It was said that if tha State " banl issued three times as much paper as it heh of gold, and the bank were rushed, they wouh not have gold to pay. This was quite true but why should people rush the State banl any more than the Bank of Hew Zealand He thought if people were helped by a ban to money at 5 per cent, they, would 100 with a very friendly feeling towards it, an it would be in no danger of being rusbec Even if it were rushed, it would probabl be able to meet the demand in gold. A the revenue would go into it, equal to tw

millions a year, and the revenue of local bodies, over a million . more ; . farmers’ exports amounted to several millions a year, and, if customers of the bank, their money would go into it, to say nothing of depositors. The total business of the bank, he bad calculated, would be from fifteen to twenty millions a year. Surely the paper, of a bank doing such a business, and bucked by the whole colony, would be worth something ? The great difficulty in the way of getting a State bank would be getting a Parliament to carry it.- He had not entered so fully into the scheme as, he could have wished, for fear of wearying them. He might be wrong in many points, but he claimed to be right in one point —that it would be a good thing tor the Government to have a bank of its own. He would now leave that matter, and if they thought his views upon it rendered him worthy to represent them, he was willing to do so; if not, ho' had no desire to go into public life.

HOMES 808 WOBKING MEET. Ho. had f also published a ekotch of a scheme for settling people on the land. Ke dht not advocate it seeking popularity, but to give working men something to lay hold of; They had been deluded a long time by people who had misled them, He had now laid before them, and he hoped it would be affirmed, that each man in the ■ country had a right to a home in it. (Hear, hear.) He had worked out a scheme that would not ret class against class, and that wouldba acceptable to all. Was not that better than to do as 8h George Grey dii, —go round telling men they were down-tr idd an serfs, and that sort of thing? (Apfhuso.) Briefly, his scheme was that the Government should buy, *ey, for argument’s sake, 6 acres of land here and there, wherever an agricultural labourer desired to settle, and give him a lease for life of the plot, at 6 per cent, on the capital valuo. Supposing th« land to be worth £lO an acre, the Government would give the farmer £6O for it, and would charge the settler £3.a year for it. The farmer would have the advantage of having a steady workman alongside him ; he would not have to lose his time riding into the towns and hunting round the hotels for workmen when he wanted them. He would have the advantage of abetter workman, for if a man were settled down to make hia living as an agrioultueal labourer, he would become a far better man than a mere comer and go-'r, (Hoar, hear.) The workman would have ad vantages also. How ha had to live in toww, paying 10s a week for a house. His work did not lay there, and he had to take bis s wag and look for it, and ba for weeks at a timo away from his family, and his children, brought up in town, were unfitted for country life. If his plan were adopted, the man would always live with hie family, and his children would be brought up to their future work. Then if ever work became slack, he could work on his own few acre* and make enough to keep his family, and in course of time, by fair industry lift himself out of that position into a bigger farm, and let another man take his place. At present, as soon as a man fell out of Work he went to hia home in the town, went to the hotels, met his friends there and his money was soon gone, and he never made a home for himself. He would give them a better opportunity of getting a home, and the single men an opportunity of settling down and getting married. That was the kind of immigration he believed in. Perhaps he had not pus his scheme in a very forcible light, but he thought ha had laid down a scheme for benefiting the working men without attacking any other class. He recognised that they were all parts of one harmonious whole, and the more harmonious they-were the better for themselves and the country. He was a working man himself, working as hard ns anybody, and if ever ho could do anything to help the workingman he would do it, but he would not talk nonsense to them if ho knew it. (Applause.) He war extremely obliged to them for the very patient manner in which they had listened to him, and ha would never forget that they had made his first appearance In. the political arena extremely pleasant to him. Mr Twomey then sat down amid considerable applause. BBFXIBS TO QUESTIONS.

In reply to Mr J. 0 Reid, Mr Twomey said he would not be - in favor of allowing the natives in the Horth Island to sell all their land, or they would soon became paupers. In reply to other questions, Mr Twomey said the Rev. Mr fdmythe’s scheme was practically the same as his own, as far as regarding giving assistance to the farmers. The difference was that he||Mr Twomey) proposed that the State should become its own banker. Of course he approved o£ Mr Symthe’s soheme.and if Mr Symthe grafted his scheme upon his, it would be an excellent one. If elected, the first step ha would take—be had been three years in the reporters’ gallery and knew something of the procedure of the Houser-ho would put a notice on the Order Paper to appoint a select Committee to inquire intb the-'practicability of Government starting a ba&rtof its own. That would be the proper step. The Committee * would have power to call evidence, and if .he proper men were put into the Committee, they wuu'd come out convinced either that it was good or that it was bad. At the same lime, he did not wish them to understand that if returned he would take no interest in other questions. If he had succeeded in making himself understood, they would see that he knew some little about the other questions of the day.—He would be inclined to give'Sir Julius Vogel an opportunity of showing what he could do, but ho would be for keeping a check rein upon his excessive borrowing propensities, He did not believe that borrowing would reduce the depression, and this district had very little to expect from borrowing. He was glad to see Mr Sutter had pointed that oat. 1 Public works could not be scattered over the country, aud therefore the greatest service South Canterbury representatives could render to their constituents would be to prevent excessive borrowing He would like Sir Julius Vogel to enunciate a policy, but if it were, for instance, to borrow five millions to make roads in the native country, he would not follow him.

What sort of a house would you give a working man on bis six aor<» f a sod one ? It would bo better for a man to have a sod house of hi* own than no eat all. No one else is proposing a home c.t, ail for the wording man;

In reply to Mr Halst»a'l : There was a proposal to make two lines of railway in the North Island, a contra! one and one near the coast. It would be foolish to make two lines of railway through the North Island at present. He wee not opposed to spending money in tue North Island. There was a large amoni t of land yet to be sold there, end the Europeans were undoubtedly the heirs of the native population, and would, get all their lands in course of time, consequently he was not in favour of separating tbe two Islands. —He _ was not averse to burrowing for m\king railways at the same rate as the present Government, — a million a year. He would go no further than that. In reply to Mr Welsh : There were many bachelors in the country, and they nearly all had votes, so he was not in favor of a poll tax on them. He was in favor of giving them a home and inducing them to marrv.

He would not take the duty off tea and sugar and tobacco. An attempt was being made in the North to establish the tobacco industry, and aho sugar refining, and he would give them a chance. The duty on tea might be left as it was.

Hp was not in favor of the West- Const, railway. It bad been shown that the line would not pay, and if the Christchurch people wanted it they could d> as the Wellington people had done—mala it under the Railways Construction Act. (Applause). cdr Friel then moved, and Mr McAtoer seconded, a vote of thank* and c nfidence in Mr Tworrey as * fi' and proper person - to the constituency in Parliament. About 40 hands were h<dd up for it, and not e again 1, and it was dccia;ed carried, amid applautc. Mr Twotney, in acknowledging the vote, «aid he thought it almost too go°d to be true. He would test their sincerity. The time was .short and he could not work himself. If they were sincere, and really wanted him to represent them, it was their business as well as his, and even more so, to secure his return. If they were sincere, lot them form a Committee and show that they were working, and he would go to the poll. If bo did not see such interest shown in him he would withdrew. He then explained that when be published his scheme ho had no intention of coming forward as a candidate, but ho addressed it to a constituency in order to give it prominence. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting. ,

Mr Eolleston addressed a meeting of electors at the Bangitata Island schoolhouse on Friday evening. Mr Totlon, Chairman of the Soulh Bangitata School Committee, presided. Mr Holiest on’s address and answers to questions put to him appeared to give general satisfaction. Mr Buxton pro*posed, and Mr Colter seconded, a vote of thanks and confidence in him, which was carried unanimously. Mr Rolleston received a vote of confidence at Waitohi. Ho also received a Vo*e of confidence at Milford, last. Saturday evening. Mr George Morris, a candidate for Gladstone, addressed a rather rowdy meeting of electors at Fairlie Creek on Friday night. Mr A . Cox received a rote of confidence at Woodbury on Friday evening.