PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3332, 2 June 1885, Page 3

PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

MR W. J. STEWARD, M.H.R., AT WAIMATE. (fbom oub own correspondent.) Mr Steward, M.H.R., addressed a meeting of his constituents at Waimate ou Saturday, the 30th met. There were about ono hundred porsons present. Mr 0. V. Clarke, Mayor, occupied the chair. Ho expressed hia pleasure at being asked to preside, and eaid he felt assured it was not necessary to demand a fair hearing for their respected Member. Mr Steward said he would depart boidowhat from his usual course at suoh meetings, by, to a large extent, reading his address, tile commenced by reviewing the political positions and changes of parties m the House before and after the last general electiou, leading to the formation of the present Ministry. He believed the verdict of the country on the business transacted m Parliament last session was one favorable to the Government. The proposals and actions of the Ministry during the coming session would settle the question whether they retained that confidence. A resume of the business of the past session was given and the more important Acts passed and attempted, were criticised, particularly the Consolidated Land Act, settlement of the route of the North Island railway, Native Lands Act, Canterbury and West Coast Railway, Westport and Greymouth Harbors Bills, Loan Bill to authorise borrowing one and a half million pounds, Beetroot Sugar Bill, Affirmation Bill, Married Women's Property Bill and Pensions Bill. These measures Mr Steward approved of m general, dissenting from the exemption of the natives from taxation m the provisions of the Bill relating to the North Island Trunk Railway. Mr Steward then referred to several important clauses which he was instrumental m having inserted m the Police Offences, Sunday Observance, Health, and Land Acts, and to his efforts and success m obtaining an endowment of about 64 acres m the Borough for the Waimate Borough Council. He then referred to Bills which had failed to pass, and his action with regard to them, particularly as to Licensing Amendment;, Education, and Women's Franchise Bills. Amongst other local improvements obtained through his means, he mentioned the Waimato Halfcaste Land Grant, District Court sittings, oxtended railway accommodation on the railway line within the county, and foot-bridge at Stndholme Junction. As to important measures to be dealt with next session, he said the steps taken by Government for defence would meet his approval, and in' eloquent terms ho referred to the action of New South Wales m sending a fully-equipped contingent to assist the Mother country, an action which - New Zealand as well aa Australia should feel proud of, and he hoped would ever be willing to emulate. He considered the federation scheme should veccivo profound attention from our legislators, and was entirely m favor of a provision for optional withdrawal from federation of any one colony, especially New Zealand. He was not favorable under the present circumstances to the annexation of Fiji, and much less that of Samoa. On the subject of district railways there had been zquch misapprehension and misrepresentation. He instanced the Waimate Gorge railway for i which «everaJ hard-working lettleri vrere

heavily taxed, and thought it fair they should , be relieved. This line should be taken over by Government for £32,000, by which the Company would drop £13,000, and the tax on the settlers would be largely reduced. The proposed system of local government required serious consideration, he would be willing to support endeavors to effect changes. There were great difficulties m the way of making beneficial alterations so as to combine efficiency j and economy. He thought the local integer should be the Road Board, and that a num- j ber_ of counties should be grouped for convenient and economical management, and | that the Police, Charitable Aid, and Waste Lands matters should be dealt with by local bodies, with assured revenue arising from land proceeds, road and bridgos to be thrown on local bodies, and as far as possible complete separation of local and general government business. He was m favor of the establishment of Railway Boards, and pointed out the desirability of amendment m railway charges, especially m the passenger tariff. He would support the reform of the Legislative Council, m the direction of half the number of members to be elected, and half nominated, with fixed periods of time for both nominated and elected members holding office. The raising of revenue by the land tax, of which Mr Stout expressed favorable opinions previous to his Premiorship could not be introduced with any prospect of Buecegs while two-thirdß of the Members of of the House of Assembly were opposed to it. Mr Steward (hen referred to (he present depressed state of general business m the colony, caused m a great measure by the cessation of public- works, the low prices of wool and gram, the want of industrial enterprise, and the large extent of land owned by individuals. The aggregation of enormous estates should be checked. Land was still eagerly sought for, notwithstanding the difficulty of making the business of farming a profitable one. Ho would support measures to Bupply money to farmers at low interest' to enable them to buy land, and to facilitate the sale of moderate and small-sized blocks of the immense estates on which at present, proportionately, so little employment was afforded, power Jo be given to Government to purchase land at such prices as could be obtained by re-selling. He then spoke of the necessity of encouraging the establishment of local industries near suitable centres. He considered the expenditure on education too heavy. Those able to pay school fees ought to do so when children reached the fourth standard. Mr Steward then thanked his constituency for support m the past, and hoped to retain that support m the future. No questions were put by any person at the meeting. At the close, a hearty vote of confidence m Mr Bteward as Member for Waimate was proposed by Mr J. W. On'tf, seconded by Mr Horgan, and unaniuiui.^ _>• carried. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the meeting.