_ Mr. Hall said he could not, at that moment, give the precise reason; but perhaps Mr. Nairn would remember that the consumers of beer might have some objection to such a duty. The Government did not go in for protection; on the contrary, they believed most strongly in the doctrines of free trade. Mr. Nairn said that he was ready to discuss the tariff with any man, and that he was of opinion the Government had displayed great ignorance in framing it. No other questions were asked.
Mr. W. Wilson rose to propose a vote of thanks to Mr. Hall. As his proposer at the election he felt deeply interested in the charges which had been made against Mr, Hall in the newspapers, and he had, at some inconvenience to himself, come all the way from Christchurch to listen to an explanation which he was bound to say was most ample, and most satisfactory to his mind. Every point had been very fully and very ably gone into by Mr. Hall, and he was sure they would give him a hearty vote of thanks for his explanation. He would take that opportunity of pointing out that a gentleman who was intimately connected with the newspaper which had first blamed Mr. Hall for calling a meeting at what it chose to designate a re mote corner of the district, had himself shown the example by convening his constituents at Papanui, .which was nearly, if not quite, as remote. The course adopted by Mr. Hall was recommended to him by his friends and supporters as being, in their opinion, the best way to secure a fair hearing.
