OXFORD DISTRICT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 628, 28 May 1870, Page 2

OXFORD DISTRICT.

Mr M. B. Habt met the electors at the Schoolroom, Oxford, on Wednesday evening last. Mr White occupied the chair. Mr Habt addressed the meeting at considerable length. He commenced by referring to the political history of other countries, and coming to New Zealand, dwelt at some length on the period of its government by New South Wales, and the subsequent introduction of the Constitution creating provinces and Provincial institutions. Approaching the more immediate questions of interest, ftjlr Hart strongly advocated the opening up of the country in all directions by means of roads, tramways, and railways, for in the absence of easy means of communication, | the natural wealth of the country would be of no avail. In his opinion, the agricultural and labouring classes were the foundation of society, and it was essential to the prosperity of all that easy 'means should be afforded them for bringing the produce of their united labour to market. With regard to the question of education, he might say that he had been in countries where a compulsory system of education was carried out, but it was a whether English people were prepared for it at the present time. Without regard to such a change, however, he thought that grants of land for purposes of education should be increased, and the present system made as extensively applicable as possible. - The land question was one of those delicate subjects upon which he could not express a decided opinion at the present time, but the time would come when he believed it would be necessary to alter the price of .land, but not at the present time. The Provincial Council required the importation of fresh blood into it; and with regard to Provincial institutions generally, he thought that they might be conducted on a less expensive scale. The survey departmeat,/foFJhstance, might be advantageously curtailed, i Since the establishment of Road Bdardspa great amount of work that was formerly dpne by the Provincial Government was now carried out by these Boards, and therefore a reduction might be made in the staff of Provincial Government officials. Although it was positively necessary that the Provincial Council should be maintained for the purpose,- it for none other, of complying with>' the compact entered into in reference to the land fund, still he did not think it necessary that Provincial Government .should be kept up in that expensive! form ' which prevailed at the present time. "''' It was necessary that public works should be carried out, so as to give employment to those whom the farmers could not find work for in the winter months; and immigration ought to be connected with public works ; that wfcs to say, they 1 should run concurrently. It was an admitted truism that no country could exist without population ; therefore, let them iaaugurate a steady system of immigration — not such a system as would have the effect of flooding the labourmarket," But a system commensurate with their requirements and their m«ans— in a word, such a system as would afford a sufficiency of hands to the farmers at a season when they moat required assistance ; and in the dull seasons of the year, the accumulated labour could be profitably employed in the prosecution of those large public works which were essential to the progress of the province, •md the prosperity of all. In connection with this subject, he thought that Canterbury shoul i be made so attractive as to induce voluntary settlement. He thought the provisions of the Fencing Ordinance did not apply fairly us between the squatter and small freeholder,

and he would be prepared to advocate an amendment in the Ordinance, so as to make its provisions of a more equitable nature. The Registration Act required amendment. Re was in favour of vote by ballot, so as to prevent the exercise of an undue influence by one elector over another. At the conclusion of his address, a vote of confidence in Mr Hart was moved and seconded. To this an amendment was proposed. A show of hands was taken, and resulted as follows : — - For the motion 27 For the amendment 7. The resolution was declared to be carried, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman. ..