Page 21 Advertisements Column 1

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 137, 17 December 1875, Page 21 (Supplement)

TO THE ELECTORS OF DUNEDIN. pi ENTLEMEN,— I solicit your suffrages as a CANDIDATE to represent your interests in the next Parliament of New Zea" land. I had previously thought of doing this, but refrained from moving, in the anticipation that sufficient candidates, possessing greater intelligence aud influence than myself, might come forward do battle for you at the present crisis. Seeing, however, no sign in this direction, although tho " eleventh hour " has come, 1, without longer hesitating, oll'or you my services. My political viows are already knoAvn to many of you, but for the information of those who are not so well informed, I beg to say — Lst. That I am in favor of modified Provincialism, with two Provinces fov each island. 1 would approve of and vote for one but, believing there would bo difficulties in obtaining such an arrangement, F would rather favor the two Provinces scheme, as I think this would more generally commend itself to the electorates. Failing this, ! would be content to retain the control of our own richly endowed and pre-eminent Province, and would assist the other Province-, to amalgamate in a manner most agreeable to themselves. 2nd. I would reduce the control of the General Government to matters purely federal, such as fiscal, postal, telegraphic, judicial, and general defence. 3rd. I" would apj>rove of a gradual change in the constitution of the Upper Houso, allow the present members to retain their seats, and provide for vacancies by election instead of by nomination, making provision for the retirement of 0112-tlurd of tho nieinliors (who should be eligible for re-election) cvory five or seven years. The qualification for a seat in this branch of the Legislature should be previous occupancy of a vit in the Lower House, as well as the possession of property.. 4th. I am in favor of an income and land tax, and of taking oil' all imposts from necessary articles of general consumption. sth. I sun in favor of compulsory education, but would make it free for tlie children of poor workmen earning not in ore th in £ 1 00 per annum. Oth. "Would favor the sal.; of land in sin ill block* on deferred payments, or of agricultur.il and pastoral leases of limited extent, with improvement clause. 7th. Would seek to repeal the postage on newspapers, believing it to be a tax on education. Bth. Would ask to repeal the present stamp duties, believing thorn to be incommodious \ 0 trade, and vexatious in their operations 1 9th. Would give every encouragement to private enterprise, whether in the construction of railways, the initiation of now industries, or in the social settlement of distant and unoccupied lands 5 in short, I would give my best attention to and exercise all the influence I could command in building up in juateriil rind socia] greatness this our adopted and nobly-destined country. 10th. Should the next Parliament fail to repeal the Abolition Jiill, F would strongly support local Boards of Works, would insist on cutting down the cost of governing the Colony, would at once greatly reduce the cost of the Native and Defence Departments, and shortly abolish them altogether, recall Dr. Featherston and abolish his costly staff, and greatly simplify the immigration Department, and for a time reduce the number of immigrants ; would oppose the construction of any new lines of railway until those already in hand are finished, and the debt on their construction greatly reduced; and would insist on a strict adherence to the conditions of the Railway Act of J H7J . Gentlemen, these are my sentiments-, and if elected, you can depend I shall prove true to them. T am, your obeili"nl -iensinl, W. HOOPER. Dunedin, December 11, 1873.