MR J. C. WASON AT CHERTSEY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1257, 19 May 1884, Page 2

MR J. C. WASON AT CHERTSEY.

#— —’ — Mr Wason addressed a well.sttended public meeting in the Chertsej schoolroom on Saturday evening. Hr R. Campbell occupied the chair, and in introducing the speaker said that in conjunction with several other residents in tit# locality he had asked Mr Wmoq to

meat them that evening to disca-s several local and colonial questions of interest. Mr Waaon, who ww well received and listened to with a tention throughout hit remarks, said that he felt honored by the invitation he had received from Mr Oampbell and by the large attendance. There were a variety of important political questions now before them which closely affected that diatrict and the colony at large, and he was gratified by having an opportunity to place what experience he had at the disposal of the electors. At the conclusion of his remarks ha'wbald be very p'eaied to hoar the views of any one else present. Country electors were at some disadvantage in not haring the same facilities as residents In towns to meet together and exchange ideas on the public questions dP the day. He would first refer to the existing depression. Msjor Atkinron, when speaking to his constituents at Haweta, contended the* there was no depression. When speaking later at Christchurch he was compelled to admit that there was soma depression which he considered of quite a transitory character, but he did not suggest* remedy which appeared satisfactory to hia audience. The real cense of the present depression, for it undoubtedly did exist, was the reckless.expenditure of borrowed money by the legislature of the colony. So soon aa the Ministry had rid themselves of the sagacious check exercised by Sir John Hall they went in for a four million loan, of- which Canterbury had [ received comparatively nothing, and adder the existing rigime was not likely to receive any more. As the great producers of the colony they should have received a considerable share of this money, bat. the Government had first advocated a costly line of rail ay along the . East Coast, which ho thought quite unnecessary with the splendid fleet of steamers devoted id this tnds, uid e)aid only largely benefit a few great landholders and speculators. Compelled to temporarily abandon their first scheme, the Government now propoied a somewhat similar work in the North island- - The Government excused these extravagances by saying that they were part of the public works scheme propounded by Sir Julius Vogel, to which the country was already committed.' This was merely a distortion of that schema Had Sir • JaHus Yogel’a proposals been carried out in their apirit and catiretythe-psesint depression weald never have overtaken the country. .Canterbury had been grossly neglected during this reckless expenditure, and necessary works of every description bad been relegated to the County Councils, while in more favored districts railways, bridges, and roads had been constructed from the pubfic purse merely tor the asking. Major Atkinson at his Christchurch masting had. treated the farmers very cavalierly when questioned in reference to the railway rates. The Premier had Said that: if farmere re* quirad fostering by exceptional favors and concessions from the - Government it would be bettor for them to clear cut. He (Mr-Wason) thought.that the fanners were more irritated by the inopportune time at which the rates war*, rausd than by the character of the tax. The Premier had advised them to tarn more attention to meat and dairying industries, good advice so far aa it went, but their counsellor had displayed a lamentable ignorance of the character of the country.. : At Blenheim Mr Eolleaton had suggested another - - panacea fer all their ilia The Minister for Lands would have them build more i houses on their property, employ ne swaggers, but secure a fixed rural population. This suggestion came from a man who had done more than any other politician in the colony to depredate the value of property, frighten away capital and reduce wages. He (Mr Wason) waa strongly opposed to the immigration policy of the Government, as he thought that fora time there would be difficulty in finding profitable employment for their present population. Perpetual leasing was a fares, the incentive to obtain and improve Jand was the prospect of having freehold property to. hand on to children or other successors. At present there was a scare amongst lend* holders in consequence of the mnUiplicity of proposals in respect to taxation entertained by the Government, No one knew what would come next, and this feeling of- insecurity unfavorably affected the value of property throughout the* country. The railways should be to Boards of management, the danger of leaving such a powerful; engine fer taxation in the hands of Government hed last been realised. More money would undoubtedly have to bo borrowed for the construction of railways, as the country progressed, but this money, should be borrowed by the district requiring Hie railway, and that district should be responsible for the interest and repayment of principal, "Ha that ’adarge majority of the members of the House, who had recently addressed their constituents, said that they hesitated about voting against the prsseot Ministry, as they could not see the material from which a better could be formed, if he..hqd been in Parliament he would havejvoUd against them at all hazards, and'he thought it a grosalibel upon the members of the House to| state that there were only six men there qua'ified to assume the responsibilities of Government. ‘'Mir Montgomery had attacked the Ministry with great.,severity, and in doing so had his entire sympathy. The Opposition's policy just now was one of attack, and fie was confident that When 'the' House reassembled there would be a sufficient majority to overthow the present Government. He did not like Sir George Grey or his views ; he> considered him a humbug. At his Christchurch meeting Sir George had declined to discuss the railway tariff aud other pressing questions, and told bis bearers that it was no matter if they were starving now so long as they struggled on and eventuaUy secured the unearned increment. They had probably seen recently a great deal in the papers about this unearned increment, but in his opinion it was a fallacy—there wasno such., thing. Settlers who made money In the" colony, generally deserved every pßhfiyj&f m it, He recollected theic'cbairssan coming to the district fifteen yean ago, and uh' dertaking work which. not one man in ten would have jfcld the courage to face, and hot one in '. a bundled sufficient tenacity to accomplish. Ifthls land had risen in value from LI to L 5 surely the increment was well earned. He complained of'the vacillation $ thp - Ministry. Some time ago Maj ir Atkin-. , son advised a period of political rest, , during which they should abstam from borrowing, and 1 the localbodies should carry on necessary works. As soon as opportunity occurred the present Government did borrow and lauded the country iu further difficulties. They hadnatiqual; : insurance, perpetual leasing and other Ministerial fads in rapid succession. He very much regretted the oatjise= of Mp Wright-s resignation, and ho waosqrs that that gentleman had the sympathy of the entire district. If fie (Mr Wason) v had known of the probability .of animmediate election earlier he woald hays been prepared to address them at grpatgr -,' length oh general question*. would be one of decentralisation., Iks General Govern tne it tfaout^retaiacontrol of customs, justice, stamps and.deferme, and of courts " provide tor tlie interest on.-«? colonial debt, and other matters might bn advantageously left to the local bodies, which would be more aca-'seihle th» tax-payer. He b d had. eopjo experience in both County Oouooils and Koad Boards and he thought it would be absolutely, suicidal at the present juncture to.'(do away with the former; xtwastheoaly - buffer exHti-'g hetwcei the Government

and the people. . otb bodies might bt

harmoniously brought together, a reduction effected in tha Oonnty Council expenditure and the rates raised in each riding equitably returned to it. The Chairmen of Road Boards ooald not deal more efficiently or eoocomically with the works of the County than the present Council, and they would encounter considerably more difficulty in discharging the duties. He would strongly adrocate allowing the races to be generally used for water powers. This eeold bo.dona at no groat cost by the erection of dams and the retention of the water in reservoirs from which four or . five hone-power wheels could be driven - and used for chaff-catting, corn-crashing and many other useful purposes, which his farming friends would know bow to value. The dams could be constructed under the supervision of the Council, and need not interrupt the supply to any holder, and would be a great general convenience in the event of an accident ie the head works when water for ordinary purposes could be drawn from these reservoirs. The question of district railways was one on which his hearers probably knew that he felt strongly. The District Railways Act, as introduced by Mr Ormond, was in no way objectionable if faithfully carried out. But unscrupulous speculators, assisted by a friendly Ministry, had succeeded in controverting j the whola.intention ef the Act, end the tax-paying fatmor was again the unfortunate sufferer. They had started a Defence Association against this iniquitous rate and ware determined to oppose it to tha bitter end. Last session the Ministry imbliahed a District Railways Bill, which t was understood they intended to introducs inte the House. ' This Bill was harmlass enough, but with his Wellington experience, this very fact excited his suspicions, and their Defence Association sent a circular letter to each member of the House, and a largely signed petition protesting against the-matter being dealt with without the ratepayers having an oppertnnity to effectively express their opinion. However, during the last few days of tha session the Mimster for Public >■■■■ Works introduced the real Bill, which was far from harmless. ' The member for Wakanni pointed out that the Bill was virtually a private/ one, of which notice ■bonld have been given, and protested against a measure affecting bis constituents being hurried through in this unusual manner. In reply to .Mr Ivess, the Minister "for Public Works had deliberately, lied, stating that the Bill did not affect Ur Ivess’ constituents in any way. In private life, would stigmatise (hie as tank pore dishonesty, and than can be no dqabt that it waa perpe- ■ trated for the benefit of Urge speculators on the Bast Coast, in the North Island and elsewhere-to the disadvantage of small farmers. Borne of his friends assured him that Mr Johnston waa - an honorable' man, that he ooald not have beeuawars that his reply to Mr Ivess was grossly incorrect Then he (Mr Johnston) m i fool, and personally he preferred to doat With a rogue rather than a fool, partioalsrly in the capacity of Minister for Public Works He was sorry to hear that many ef his Ashburton friends regarded this as a private grievance, but he could assure ' them that it was a gross public grievance and a scandal to the country, that such proceedings should be possible. Mr Wason resinned his seat amidst applause. In reply to hnmerona questions, said he did not favor a return to provincialism. Government should fix maximum and minimum. rates to be charged, by railway boards, and the boards should have authority to tax their districts for any defioi-1 ■ ency. New Unas should only be construoted upon a vote of the district. Colonial borrowing should cease. The sooner •vary acre of land was alienated from the Government the better. Thought village ■ettlamehia of three acres too small; they ■bonld have, been at least twenty acres. ' Agreed that every man had an equal I right to a free pass on the railways, but thought that those bolding it exclusively 1 just now-would object to relinquish it. Would make-passenger fares merely nominal. ' A man should travel from Invsrcsrgll or any intermediate station to Christriiuroh at the same cost as from . Addington to Christchurch. The resulting prosperity of the country would be ample compensation for any apparent loss. The deficiency arising. from the adoption of . nomibil flows he would charge to consolidated revenue, and provide for by increased ’ taxation. Thought labor was nowhere better -paid. then in Canterbury at the present time. Oonsiderod'-the present tax«tion < Was fairly distributed. Was . absolutely opposed to land nationalisation. Would largely reduce goods tariff ■ on railways, bat not sotre extent s* passenger fares. Objected to Johnston’s District Railway Bill, as it altered the whole valuation of the district. Some individuals previously pay- ’ log I* were now asked to pay L2O, , Mr Lambi© proposed and Mr Maugham seconded a voted thanks to l Mr Wason, forhis address, which was carried vaeolamation, and a vote of thanks to tue | Chair closed the proceedings.