POST-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1477, 16 June 1879, Page 2

POST-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

MR BARFF, M.H.R., AT HOKITIKd. (By Teleobafh.) Hoxitika, June 14. Mr Bnrff, M.H.R., addressed his constituents m the Town Hull on Thursday evening. About eighty persons were present, und Mr Wulker occupied luo chuir. Alter referring to tho past policy of the Government, ho said that he was m fuvor of Mr Curtis' amendment, to the Education Bill. He said that all echools up to the murk rheuld have State aid, and he would like tv see tbe principle extended to the private schools fulfilling tbo requirements ot the Ant. They should be assistrd, as they wera justly entitled to a portion of the public money. They hud no right to say became v person was m a minority he should suffer. During tho laet jenr the Board of Education had been m ureat. elraita for wunt of fund', and another argument was that, as they had one end m view, they should work m harmony with those who kept the system within its present bounds. Denominational echools were short of funds, and the standard of educa'ion waa lower.d. Their object should bo to make teac'iers ac efficient as poss.ble, and by this means equal justice «ould be done. He referred at length to railways, and to the part he had tuken m gutting local lines commenced. He also took credit to himtelf for pelting money voted for the Hokitika harhor works. A new Liconsirg Law wns wanted badly. A Minister of Mints w.ib also required. At present tho Ministry ignored the mining interest*, with which they hud not sympathy. The gold duty ought to be "boliehed and a Sclio-.'l of Mines established. Ha advocated a State Bank. The Government were justified m getting the Jni-kson's Bay Commission appointed. He objected to an elected Governor, and spoke as follows on tho priigrumn.e of the Government, next session : — First, it was intended to laieo another loon of £3,000,000. Thero was at present no intention to borrow a larger sura. The amount named would be sufficient for all present requii emeuts. It would b» proposed to rouble the I un'l Tax, which at present was not heavy enough, and to impose an income tnx. It. would bo proposed to revise the tariff, and t» take the duty off the necessaries of life, and add it to the duty on luxuries. This would be a step m tho right direction. . The franchise was to be 01 tended, but he did not know m what form. Tho genprol feeling waa that it, would be only lair to give every man of 21 years of age a vote. He would like toseo manhood suffrage pure and simple, under cwtuin restrictions. If there was v probability of a dissolution, there would also bis a redistribution of seats. He thought the Government programme was a good one, but he was not prepared to sny that the administration would be a good one. If the Governnent carried this program mo out, hu would be prepared to give them a fair aid honest support, and m conclusion thanked the meeting lor their impartial hearing. A vote cf eonfid^U'e was proposed and carried.