ADDRESS BY AIR REES.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 646, 13 August 1891, Page 2

ADDRESS BY AIR REES.

The announcement that Mr Rees had consented to give an address under the auspices of the Cook County Liberal Association, while he was present in Gisborne on Supreme Court business, was sufficient to ensure a very large audience at ths appointed time, at the City Bink last night. The gallery was reserved for ladies, of whom there was a good attendance, Mr Sievwright, President of the Liberal Association, occupied the chair, and briefly introduced the speaker, who was enthusiastically received. Pressure on our space prevents ue giving a full report of the address, in the course of which the speaker was frequently interrupted by warm applause. Mr Rees said it afforded him great pleasure to meet them again and speak on the current political topics of the day. There was now for the first time a distinct line of demarcation in parties. He paid a high compliment to Mr Billanoeand the other members of the Ministry, and said a Liberal party did not merely content itself with trying to achieve the grea'est good for the greatest number, but the greatest good for alb Oat of 69 or 70 measures on the order paper only a few oould be passed, but the Government was bound to carry through the Taxation Bill. The speaker then showed how the Property Tax oppressed every man just according to how he improved his property. The land and income tax proposed was'not a direct tax, but the Government held that they, mnst first make up sufficient revenue. Directly they could take the tax off improvements it would be done He went on to explain the nature of the graduated tax, which would induce holders of large properties to cut them up for settlement, and would compel them to pay a Lrger sum in proportion to the smaller holders, as their large holdings required more public expenditure, and contributed less public benefit. In regard to the income tax he pointed out that it was fairer to take from the superabundance of holders of large incomes, instead of from those who required their full incomes for necessities, and ho would be glad to see the tax made a graduated one. The prinoip'e of taxation of bondholders was just, and wou'd yet be carried, and the speaker pointed out how soma things which were scouted in the best Assemblies of the world had yet come to be universally adopted, as in the abo'i ion of slavery. Sir George Grey had been denounced again and again for proposing the single vote, but it had now been accepted, was coming to pass in Australia, and would soon be universal, Not only was this question of the single vote made an election question in Nev South Wales, but a new party of 86 Labor members had been elected, and the same lines had been decided OS in England. Boferrjng to federation thg speaker pointed out that what was urged by Sir George Grey was to allow the admission of all English speaking people in the world, so that the combined navies would police the waters, and if there was war it would be confined to those who had started it. He pointed out how within the memory of many present those who spoke the language of Shakespeare and the patriots who had fought and bled for us in the days gone by had increased from 20 to 120 millions, The Continental nations were now so armed that if the clarion called 30 million armed men might be put into the field to-morrow, and the whole face of the civilisation there be broken up, but the British race were not so aftected, and if the control of the seas were

maintained war could be prevented and there bo greater progression than ever. Mr Bees then wanton to urge the necessity of settling the waste lands, considering that if the native lands in this district were made productive, the district would be the most prosperous in the colony. There was a great desire to get some satisfactory law passed, but there was a difference of opinion as to the best plan. However, he believed a simple law could easily be passed for the setting of titles and getting unproductive land cut up, and ho advised that the people of the district again petition the House to have some law passed before the session broke up. If his coming there led to nothing else than having this petition presented it would achieve great good, and would be the final push that lead to a Bill being passed, even if some of the other native matters had to be left over till next session. Mr Bees next referred to the Bill to reform the Legislative Council, and also to the proposal to do away with the honorarium and make it a fixed payment, saying that the quietness, the shrewdness of their remarks, and the solidity of their arguments, as well as the general behavior of the Labor members, were quite equal to that of any of the other members of either party. If the people were to have representation there must be proper payment, a principle which was admitted by both sides. It was proposed to fix the sum at £260, and pay the salary monthly. Mr Rees was warmly applauded on resuming his seat. Mr Joseph Price made a strong appeal to have the Uriwera country opened up by roads.

Tne Chairman proposed that the meeting urge that a law should be passed to have dis* puted land titles settled, and to have some method adop’ed of opening up the waste land for settlement, a petition to be prepared accordingly. Mr Birred seconded the motion, which was carried with applause, and then Mr Joyce proposed, and Mr Homer* veil seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr Bees.