GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7022, 28 November 1890, Page 4

GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Messrs Reeves, Perceval and Taylor at Knightstown. Last evening Messrß W. P. Reeves, "W. B. Perceval and R. M. Taylor, the united Liberal candidates for Christchurch, addressed a meeting of tbe electors at the Knightstowu Library. There waß a large attendance, the room being crowded, and the chair waa taken by Mr E. Salter, in the unavoidable absence of the Mayor of St Albans. Mr Pjekceval, who waa received with applause, spoke to similar effect as in his previous speeches. He spoke at some length on the subject of land administration, in connection with which the Government had not done its duty, aid that the electors realised thi3 fact would, he had no doubt, be made evident on the polling day. He made reference to labour matters, to the misleading statements of the Government with regard to the finance of the Colony, to the Government's system of banking, to the Hutchison charges, and to the necessity for reform in the constitution of the Legislative Council. He had every sympathy with the objects of the temperance party, but he could not ogree with their proposals to effect that object, viz., prohibition without compensation. Local government should be simplified and decentralised to a great extent. He explained his views on the education question, and concluded by asking the electors to return a united Liberal representation. Mr Taylob, who was received with applause, urged the need for the reform of the Legislative Council. He had alwaya, in his place in the House, upheld the rights of the working man, and had incurred odium in consequence, but the very people who were loudest in their outcry against him then were now panderr ing to the Unions and patting the working men on the back in order to socure their votes. He referred to the unauthorised expenditure of the Government, and to the recent appointments made by them to official positions. One of the candidates at the present election had said that he was in favour of the Eight Hours Bill, but it was his action in Committee which killed it last session. He asked them on the polling day to stand shoulder to shoulder and return the Liberal candidates, and he would guarantee that the Colony three yearß hence would be in a better position than it waa in new. Mr W. P. Beeves, who was warmly received, said that, before going into general matters, he would take the opportunity to disprove a certain rumour recently passed round. This was a statement that he had lately radically altered his views on the subject of direct taxation. This was not the fact —he was now advocating a Land and Income tax. Well, at the first meeting called of his friends and supporters, when he became a candidate for St Albans three years ago, he expressed, to about one hundred and twenty electors present, his preference for a Land and Income tax. In that room in May, 1839, he spoke in favour of a Land and Income tax. In the House of Eepresentatives in the same year, he spoke in favour of a Land and Income tax, and was attacked by Mr Lawry, M.H.R., for doing so. It was true that he felt far more strongly on this point now than he did three years ago. Then other matters were occupying people's minds, and his with the rest, matters like Protection, education, retrenchment, the Midland Bailway, the stopping of borrowing, &c. Now they knew the moat burning questions were the settlement of the land and the readjustment of direct taxation. He thought he might, perhaps, claim some slight share of credit for bringing these forward prominently in that district. He might say that in studying the question he had of course learned much that he did not know three years ago about the baneful effects of the Property tax in discouraging industry and keeping capital out of Colony. After speaking at some length on political matters generally, Mr Beeves concluded by asking the electors not to be led away by side issues, or by a personal like or dislike for any candidate; the question for them to decide was whether that candidate would vote for the Conservatives or whether he would vote for the Liberals, and by so doing vote for the people. In answer to questions, Mr Beeves said that he would eupport Sir George Grey's Law Practitioners Sill, and had done so in the last Parliament. He had suggested that the franchise should be extended to educated women a3 a tentative and experimental step. It was not true that this would place more power in the hands of the wealthy, but the proposal to make the qualification a property one would have this effect. Mr Tatlob would support the Law Practitioners Bill. It waa not true that he had written to a shopkeeper stating that he was opposed to the Shop Hours Bill. Mr Peeceval was prepared to support the Law Practitioners Bill. He thought that common jurymen should receive for their services an amount equal to fair wages. He thought that ties at elections should be decided by some more satisfactory means than the casting vote of the returning officer. He had no objection to legislation for the inspection of Catholic schools, provided some assistance were given these schools. Mr James Penteney proposed a vote of thanks to the candidates, and of conSdence in them as representatives for the district. The three candidates had, when in the last Parliament, fulfilled all the pledges they had given before the elections, and had done their duty faithfully and well. He hoped they would all be returned at the approaching election. Mr Allan seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously, amid applause. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the meeting closed with hearty cheers for the candidates.