MR FITZGERALD BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 5308, 14 March 1884, Page 2

MR FITZGERALD BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

IMPORTANT- SPEECH. , ,\ w (PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) 'r ' ,• , , Ross, March' I<L '• Mr Fitzgerald addressed his , constituents last night,, about 400 being present. He was cordialjy received. He spoke very strongly in favor of the ''Abolition of Gold' Duty Bill." .He said he and three others' got its three readings passed in the Lower House; and the Bill would have become law, had not the, Legislative Council thrown ,'.is , out. He considered r gold duty-,{a. 'class tax, and thought it ought to be-entirely done away with. .He said if .goldfield members • would only pull* together next session, their influence would certainly secure, its abolition. Referringtd tK'e'pblfc'y of the Government he might say he had not 'given a servile support to them during his two sessions, and he would only support them when he thought their" measures "would prove benefical tb his district, or " measures ' which met with his approval.' He denounced Major Atkinson's scheme of National Insurance, and thought if the" briefited , .class put the money in their pockets rather" than into insurance, they would derive much benefit. The scheme was utterly impracticable. He did not believe in federation,, because New Zealand would be better, both' financially and defensively, standing as. she. was. 1 He denounced the maladministration of land, and epoke strongly againßt land monopoly, holding that no man should be allowed to hold more land than a specified area. , An Act should be passed restricting such holdings, and if any person was found holding more; {than, the restricted area, the surplus should be forfeited and sold. He believed in perpetual leasing, and held that all freehold land should be done ajway with. Of charitable institutions, he said the, best was to subsidise them £ f or £, locally contributed. He condemned Major Atkinson's policy regardiug them as calculated to cut off the general impulses of ta'e people. Referring to the revenue, he said the falling off was due to the general depression, and concluded by assuring his constituents that at the commencement of 1 the coming session of Parliament Major Atkinson would meet the House with a satisfactory financial budget. He received a hearty vote of thanks and confidence.