AN INDEPENDENT LIBERAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5502, 29 February 1896, Page 6

AN INDEPENDENT LIBERAL.

The people of Auckland have just been enjoying a political treat in the shape of an address delivered in the City Hall by Mr J. H. Harrison, of Okaihau, who announces himself as a coming Independent Liberal candidate for the Bay of Islands seat. He declared that if the National Association or Liberal Association thought they were going to "run" him they were making a mistake. He was an Ishmaelite from his birth, ahd ho would always be one. Many of his political opinions, as stated by him, border on the grotesque. He said he would oppose borrowing at present, especially for railway construction, but he thought he would borrow for roads, say one million, or perhaps' two. He praised the land policy of New Zerfland, an-d thought that Mr John M'Kenzie was the best Minis-, ter, of Lands they had ever seen in New Zealand. He was opposed to the single tax, but thought that the principal taxation should be on the land. He was opposed to Bible - reading ' in State schools, but he should certainly vote in favourof a grant to Roman Catholic schools, because he considered the Catholics were not well treated in this respect. He was not a teetotaller. He liked a drop of good liquor. He had a good glass of brandy that evening. He was in favour of the Alcoholic Liquors Actandof atwo-thirds majority for prohibition. New Zealand foi? the New Zealanders was his motto. He would like to see all young New Zealanders marry and rear their own colonists instead of importing so many confounded fellows from England. H e would stop anyone landing in New Zealand who had not at least £5 in his pocket. He was opposed to the election of a Governor, although he would like to be Governor himself,. and he would insist on , the right of vetoing any unsuitable Governor. They did not want any descendants of William the Conqueror or any other buccaneer. He would have the Legislative Council elected by county and borough councillors and perhaps school committees; anyhow, by a rather better, class th£n , Dick and, Harry. In reply to questions pUt'.to him-con ~hmore by 'the- audience/ Mr Harrison Said he would 'increase the poll-tax on Chinamen. He would not put a stop to the totalisator ; ; he* had put* money on it "lumseif ahd"wbti.'' He was in favour of keeping the hotels open, till 11.30 p.m. — well, until twelve o'clock. He did not know whether to close ; Bellamy's or not; it depended on how far 'the hotels were away. The State bank would need a lot of watching. He would I ilike to §cc women riding bicycles, and he ; wouldyhot lower the duty on spirits. Mr Harris'on's remarks wero viewed with a running fire of laughter and good-humoured comment from his hearers, who declined to take him seriously. It seems that Mr Harrison is* one of those "eccentric" politicians who are a source of danger at election times, and of whom we shall see and hear more than enough before the year is over. * y j