MR LUSD BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Thames Advertiser, Volume XI, Issue 2906, 19 April 1878, Page 3

MR LUSD BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Mb H. H. Lusk addressed the electors of Franklin at the public hall, Otahuhu, on Tuesday night. Mr Lusk said the two leading questions that were likely to oomo forward to be discussed next session would be—first, a raoaßure for a change in the representation of the country; and next, that relating to the financial position of tho colony. As to the first, which was genorally known as " manhood suffrage," it was allegod to be favoured by the Premier of the colony. He regretted he could not follow Sir George Grey in this part of this programme. He thought the result of such a measure would be mischievous. Every honest, well-conducted working man either had, or could have if he chose, a vote already. He was afraid that the proposal would give the franchise to those only who had nothing but a carpet-bag. (Laughter and cheers.) Ab to tho second proposal, it was rumoured that the intention was to tax the land. It was said that rings of capitalists had acquired large tracts of land by improper means. It was alleged that this was a reason for taxing lands. He (Mr Lusk) thought this would prove a short-sighted policy. It appeared to him that tho income a man derived from land, or from business, or from whatever source, was a fair subject of taxation, Since a man must contribute to the support of the state, it was only fair that the burden should be imposed upon those who wera' able to bear it, Mr Lusk announced his resignation of his seat for Franklin. When a member of tho Assembly resorted to the publio prints an explanation was necessary. He was accused by Mr Macfarlane of having received £50 from the City Conncil of Auckland for preparing a bill to benefit tho city of Auckland. What he was charged with doing was something done before he went to the House of Representatives at all. The city asked him, as a practising barrister, to prepare a bill for them; he did, and was paid for it. That bill was never brought into the House, because the Government themselves brought in a bill which answered all the purposes desired. But that made no difference to his right to be paid for the work he had honestly dono. Every lawyer in the house had done exactly the same thing. If he had offended, it was through ignorauce. He had been accused of prosecuting, as chairman of the Board of Education, for rates, a large number of poor people. He might state that all the instructions given for such purpose were given by Sir George Grey, as Superintendent of the Province. Mr Macfarlane said he took certain steps in the House of Representatives on purely public grounds. Unfortunately for him, there was Hansard, which gavo an account of what Mr Macfarlane did. He (Mr Lusk) challenged him there, and made him retract what he had said. He mado a lame apology. Tet this was the man who sought to blacken the character of another member of the House. He reported that Sir George Grey had said, that "Mr Lusk was fattening on the rates." This was alleged to have been said at a meeting of Auckland members, Mr Hamlin was at that meeting, and could bear witness that Sir George Grey had nevcj uttered a syllable of tho kind. Mr James Foley moved a vote of confidence in Messrs Hamlin and Lusk, which was carried. Mr Foley hoped the meeting would express its sense of Mr Lusk's services, and moved, "That the meeting, should Mr Lusk stand again for the district, pledges itself to support him. "—Curried.