MR DARGAVILLE AT AUCKLAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1065, 4 October 1883, Page 2

MR DARGAVILLE AT AUCKLAND.

Mr Dargayille addressed the Auckland City West constituents last night at the Theatre Eoyal. There was a large attendance, and ho was well received. Senior Councillor Wadde 1 presided. Mr Dargavillo said he would at once proceed to remove any lurking prejudice that might remain in their minds owing to the unfair manner in which the recent quarrel with the Colonial Treasurer had been put before the public by the Gevernment org ns. He described Major Atkinson as a professional politician of some twenty years’ experience, able and unscrupulous, his chief weapons in the Houss vulgar raillery and coarse invective. These, together with the consciousness that the golden wings of a great political Bank were spread over and around him, and that three-fourths ol the Ifress of the colony were in his interest, made him so insolent and domineering that) many Opposition members even trembled to speak before him. There should be

no mealy-mouthed sentimentality in ' dealing with such a "'an, and even the observance towards him of the more refined courtesies of debate would be about as incongruous as taking one’s hat off to a nnstiff. The charges of political corruption were then referred to. The late Attorney-General’s (Stout) opinion and the Solicitor-General’s opinion were read to show thit the loan to the Bank ofTtfew Zealand of a quarter of a million without security for twb years was illegal; and the fact was not yet generally known that the Government had during the last hours of the session hurriedly passed through both Houses a Bill legalising that and other similar transactions, which was claimed as a triumph and a vindication of his (the speaker’s) accusations respecting that matter. Mr Dargaville then referred to the grossly unfair treatment of the Controller-General, a high officer in Parliament, by the Treasurer, in respect of the illegal payment away by the latter of L 192.000 in June last, and also in respect of the Controller’s memo to the House, pointing out that a member of the Ministry held LB,OOO of the public money in his (the Minister’s) own name in the Bank. The speaker then referred to certain disclosures made before Hie Public Accounts Committee, having reference to other financial transactions of the Government and the affairs of the Insurance Department, especially dwelling on the fact that after action had been taken on the 20th June in the House by a member of the Opposition (Mr Hutchison) enquiring into the circumstance that so large a sum as L 2,900 was paid to Mr Thorne, and while the House was waiting the production of a certain return relating to the Insurance Commissioner, , Mr Luckie, on the 4th of July, entered into a fresh contract with Mr Thorne for two years and a-half longer, thereby placing it beyond the power of Parliament to make any alteration without fully compensating Mr Thorne. The Treasurer was made aware of this contract at the time it was being made, and did not stop it. The report on this outrageous proceeding, prepared by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee for presentation to the House, was suppressed hy the Government vote on that Committee. Such things would never be dared to be attempted if there existed in the colony an intelligent strong united public opinion. The present form of Government administration precluded thit Island was played off against island, and district against district, so as to enable any set of designing men and a corrupt Government to work put their own schemes and keep themselves in power. To such an extent was this now guing on that he believed it was leading the public mind to consider whether separation was not, after all, desirable. This he would regard as a great public misfortune, and with a view of rendering it unnecessary and securing the unity of the colony as a whole for all time, he thought each island should have provided for it political autonomy, matters of colonial concern only fjo be dealt with by a central Government of one chamber in Wellington, with a Governor, Her Majesty’s representative, at its head, these to include the management of the public debt, ; external and internal defence, Customs, ! administration of Justice, marriage laws, bankruptcy law, and all such matters, as are of common interest throughout the colony, while' our railways, telegraphs and public works, lands, hospitals, gaols, lunatic asylums, charitable aid, and outlying harbors, licensing and all such matters of local concern, should be dealt with by the Governments of the respective islands. The benefits of direct and intelligent public opinion would thereby be secured. The power of the wealthy oligarchy that had kept the present governing families in office so many years and burdened the colony with an enormous debt, grinding taxation, and a huge and costly Civil Service, would thereby be lessened and eventually destroyed to the lasting benefit of the whole colony. In reply to questions, he said he was not in favor of the abolition of the Legislative Council and one Uhamber at Wellington. The Council was a useful check on the House of Representatives in hasty and ill-considered legislation. Ihe following resolution was carried unanimously—“ That' Mr Dargaville deserves the best thanks and confidence of his constituents and of the colony for his action in the House last session, and especially for his unflinching advocacy of the right of free speech for the representatives i’f the people.” The following resolution was about to be put when an alarm of the tire bell broke up the meeting—“ That with a view to securing and preserving the unity of the whole colony and a better administration of government it is desirable that there should be a reform of tfia Constitution, providing a political autonomy for each of the two islands of the colony.” Three oheers, however, were given for Mr Dargaville, and three for Sir George Grey.