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Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3269, 19 March 1885, Page 3

if the 15111 passed it would be a dead letter, and if the colonies wore asked to renounce, once and for all, their final legislation on a number of most important subjects m favor of a single Chamber with only two representatives from itself, with a number of representatives from say Western Australia and Fiji, Hie answer would, he thought, be a refusal. What the New Zealand Government had asked the other colonies to agree to m the matter was that the Federal Parliament should have power to initiate and complete Bills, but that these Bills should have no effect iv any particular colony until adopted by the Legislature of that colony. With regard to industrial questions, he had been particularly struck by the remarks of a friend who said that lie could not find any country whose industries were successful if it depended solely on agricultural, pastoral and mining pursuits. These must be supplemented by manufactures, so that the people could supply their own ■wants. One great evil which retarded the progress of the colony was that the money made within it was spent outside it. Agriculture, pastoral pursuits, and mining must be encouraged m every possible way, but so also must manufactures, so as to make the colony self-dependent. He (Sir Julius) hoped that it was not true that an attempt would be made to set country against towns. He thought, however, that the country i people were wise enough to see that it was better to have one good paying customer m > the colony than several not so liberal and prompt outside of it ; and that the towns • and country should be mutually dependent on one another. He had said before that he ! was neither a free-trader nor a protectionist. The Customs tariff should be for revenue • purposes, and therefore industries should not be made to depend upon it, '■ as it would be necessarily of a fluctuating character. He would say to those friends who so strongly objected to Customs duties, and who he noticed were generally importers, that a more logical tax than Customs could scarcely be imposed, < Whilst some things might well be admitted | duty free, to refuse to impose duty upon any i article that was imported would be protec- I tion not to manufacturers m the colony, but to importers and their friends outside of it. i In conclusion, he hoped that his hearers, if they did not agree with nil he had said, would '. give him credit for wishing to be of service to t the colony. Though lie was not declaiming upon platforms high-flown sentiments of i desire for the welfare of the people, he recognised the fact that the masses wero the f real source of power, and upon their prosperity depended the prosperity of the colony. - The Government did not want the colony to show only that false splendour resulting - from the display of wealth by a few rich people, they wanted to see wealth 3 distributed m a large number of hands, and to see thousands of prosperous and happy 2 homes. He hoped the people would not think he was indifferent to this important 1 matter, because he thought that the prosperity of the mas-es would he brought about by 3 practical measures rather than by theoretical propositions. He would rather see a happy 2 than a splendid land. Sir Julius was loudly applauded, both - during and at the termination of his remarks. In answer to questions, he said that the de- B fence proposals of the Government depended largely upon the assistance of the volunteers, Z and every effort would be made to raise the force to the highest pitch of efficiency. The 2' Government thought that the whole system of taxation should borevised, so that each class 1! should bear a fair share of the burdens. Actual improvements of an agricultural 4f character should be exempted. He could not go with the Roman Catholics m believing — taut they had a right to resist the payment of taxes which six-sevenths of the population 4! believed necessary. He had been elected on promising to support the national system of 9, education, and had he changed his views thereon, he -n-ould have told the electors so, C and asked whether they still wished him to ri represent them. Still he thought it was a fi; question whether it might not be desirable m the future to consider if there were any L danger of a race of children growing up with- ir out any belief m religion. Differences be- V tween sects prevented religious teaching m st State schools at present, but it would be a h< bad thing if people of no religion crept m fii between the quarrels of sects, and children co grew up believing m no religion. If to the future population of New Zca- cb land was to be like that it would Pi be a very unhappy population. It would cc be better for the European population of of the colony to become extinct and give th place again to the Maoris than for it to grow nl up believing m no God and no religion. C( (Loud applause.) Those who had the he interests of religion at heart, no matter what co their creed, should not let disputes between m themselves interfere with those interests. If th children were taught religion at home, that was the best plan, but if that were not done it might be necessary to reconsider the subject m the future. He was m favor of giving compensation to publicans who might be deprived of their business by any local option vote. Perhaps „ it might be desirable that Parliament should p hot always meet m the same centre ; still, any change would involve very large expenditure, w and he was not prepared to give a decided H answer on the matter at present. He was m favor of extending the franchise to women. M Legislation prescribing Saturday half -holidays had been made m the interests of employees, M therefore the power of altering the day should not rest with the employees, though M if it were more for the benefit of employees that it shoiild bo held on another day, em- so ployers might be allowed to have the liberty of altering it. ai Mr T. I. Joy nt moved — "That this meet- si ing thanks Sir Julius Yogel for the very able m and important address which he has delivered d< this evening, and wishes to express its feeling jj that Sir Julius Yogel fully merits and possesses the confidence of the electors." Dr Frankish seconded the motion, which j] was carried unanimously amid loud applause, j/ Sir Julius Yogel briefly thanked the us- d semblage,. and moved a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding. p The meeting then terminated.