PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION. MAJOR STEWARD AT WAIMATE.

Timaru Herald, Volume L, Issue 4867, 12 June 1890, Page 3

PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION. MAJOR STEWARD AT WAIMATE.

A large numbor of electors assembled at tho Oddfellows Hall, Waimate, on Tuesday evening to hear Major Stoward'a opinions on matters political. Mr J. Sinclair, mayor, was moved to tho chair, and m introducing tho speaker, said he was quite sure it would be unnecessary for bim to aak for a pationt bearing for Mr Steward. Major Btdward, who was greeted with applause, commenced his addrcßß by saying ho did not intend to touch much on what bad passed, as he considered tho question of tho presont and immediate future concerned the ratepayers moro dooply. He would only say that during last session a littlo good work was dono, but it was vary little. This was owing to tho fact that although tho Government wero ablo to retain tboir Beats, they bad not sufficient followers to enable them to carry their moasures; as the member for Mount Ida said "they wore keeping Minister* m and their measures out." Ho then referred to the small number of Government Bills which wero carried through, ond stated ono of the most usoful was Iho Selectors Land Valuation Bill. The Criminal Evidence Bill, which was introduced by Mr Hutchison, was only an experiment, and ho thought its effect would bo rather to secure tho conviction of the guilty than tho acquittal of the iunocont. The Triennial Licensing Bill would result m a saving to local bodies of £20,000 during each triennial period. Only fivo or bix Bills passed last session to which any special interest was attached, and four of theeo were Government Bills. Tho present mode of appointing members for life to tho Legislative Couuoil was not satisfactory, und lie did not consider a second Chamber at all necessary for the government of tho colony. 'J ho Government failed with Iho Hospitals and Charitablo Aid Bill, and next session the Bill is to bo again brought up. Tho Bpenkcr then referred to the Property Assessment Bill, and the Representation Bills. In reference to party government as it is •eon m New Zealand it is a pronounced failure, and m ail hia political career he had stuck steadily to bis party, which has genorally been on the Speaker's left side. Of land and land administration he spoke at length, giving numerous figures to strengthen his arguments, and he contended that for tho good of Iho colony there must be reform m land administration as well as m the administration of the railways. On Iho education question his views wero already well known, and ho was m favour of parts of tho Biblo being read m schools. He was m favour of making parents of all scholars abovo the fourth standard pay a feo of ono penny per day— equal to £l a year. Of local matters ho bad had a number to attond to; tho Waimato Library Bill, and another to secure a certain piece of land for St. Augustine's Church, ho nai successful m carrjifg through. Ho prccured pases for tho unemployed to visit tho West Coast and the North Island m toareh of land or employment. He had tried unsuc cessfully to get tho Commissioners to arnn:o for stopping tho express at Makikihi, to get a grain store eiested at the Hook, and cattle yards at Woimato. There wero also many other local matters which he need not refor to m detail, that ho had to attend to Ho thought that, he had touched upon almost overy subject of importance and would concludo by saying that the now boundaries of tho electoral district would make a good deal of difference, but he hopod it would not alter the good feeling nnd sever Iho connection that had so loug existed between them as member and constituency. In reply to questions ho mid that ho wns m favour of granting compoosation to publionns if their houses were closed. He could hardly say whother he would support tho Unto Biil or not | ho did not support it lnst neßsion. He had always voted for tho Eight Hours Bill, and ho read a division list m Hansard to show he voted with Iho " ayes." Mr Kilgour then moved that a vote of thanks aud confidonco bo passed to Mr Steward. On putting the motion it was declared carried unanimously, and a vote of thanks to tho chairman terminated tho proceedings.