PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 157, 18 January 1878, Page 2

PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

MB. MONTGOMERY AT THE TOWN HALL, AJvAKOA. Mr Montgomery, M..PT.R., me t his constituents on the evening of the ICtli inst., at the Town-hall, Akaroa. there being a fair attendance of electors present. On the motion of Mr J. I). G-arwood, Mr H. G. Watkins, Mayor of Akaroa, was voted to the cliair. Mr Watkins said he had much pleasure in introducing Mr Montgomery, the representative for the district, and was sure that the electors would give him a patient hearing, and lhat Mr Montgomery would answer any questions that might be put to him.

Mr Montgomery, in coming forward to address those present, was received with applause, and said : Mr Mayor and gentlemen, —It was his wish to make his remarks on the events of the past session as brief as possible, remembering that the patience of even one's best friends is not inexhaustible. But, while bearing that in mind, he thought they would not find it uninteresting if he gave a slight sketch of what took place during the last .session, and yet not slur over any matter of importance, but. on the contrary, speak of everything with entire frankness. Very great events had taken place since he last had the pleasure of addressing them. Last year, the question of abolition was the question of the day — a question to which everything else gave place. A Ministry, the leader of whiehJJ stood high in the estimation of the country two years ago, collapsed, ami a new Ministry, with Sir G. Grey at its head, took |ts place. It mightnotbe without interest if he gave certain reasons why and how tin's change was brought about. During the passing oL' the Abolition Act the Ministry wa< all-power-ful. TheHon.se sanctioned the financial measures, which the strongest supporter of the Ministry afterwards denounced as a sham finance, and the session closed with only one great measure carried, leaving everything else unsettled. When the House met this year, the task of the Ministry was different from that of the preceding year. Then, the main question was to destroy that which had existed for upwards of twenty years, and as it is generally easier to destroy than to create, the task was not difficult. This year, however, measures for the good government of the colony, for advancing its prosperity, for establishing amicable relations with the Native race, especially for dealing with their lands, for placing the finance of the country on a sound basis, had to be brought forward, and while it was felt by all, that, the Atkinson Ministry had a great opportunity, yet it was well understood that by their measures, they would stand or fall in the estimation of the country. The question of Abolition being disposed of, they, with respect to other measures, were on their trial, and having no party cry, as on the occasion of the previous session, would have to show creative ability, such as the condition of the colony required. He would mention some of the measures they brought forward. For rsasons which he would state, he was opposed to the Ministry, but that would not prevent him from doing justice to them with respect to measures which were valuable, nor make him speak illiberally, or with undue severity. First in importance was the Education Bill, a measure very carefully compiled. There was little that was new in it, and in fact it was mainly a transcript of the Canterbury Ordinance of 1873, substituting two elective boards for one nominated one. They might remember, he advocated the election of Boards when he spoke here last year, and the general opinion of the colony, as shewn Ijy the votes of members, approved of such change. The Bill proposed to place the cost of education almost entirely on +he Consolidated Revenue just as the Ordinance of 1873 did on" the Provincial Revenue of Canterbury. It proposed to abolish the tax of 20s, but to continue the capitation fee of 10s on each child, as required by the Ordinance of 1875. Those of us who advocated free education were strong enough in the House to strike out that clause—(cheers) —and he was happy in being able to say that all fees for primary education are now abolished and free

education is the law of the land. Now the Boards are to be elected by the several school committees, and if education in the future be not properly conducted the people themselves would be in fault. With the exception of the capitation fees, and the sections of the Bill which gave undue powers to the Governor, or, rather,

to the Minister of Education, and which were altered whilst the Bill was passing through committee, the measure was conceived in a very liberal spirit. Mr Bo wen might well be proud of it. That was the one measure of the session which reflected credit on the Atkinson Ministry, not that there were not other measures, such as the Districts Railways Bill, which m;»y be found useful and workable and if that Ministry had framed their other measures

in the same spirit the}' might have been

in office yet. The' Native Lands Court Bill was a measure altogether different. It was a Bill which would have give facilities for despoiling the Natives of their lands for the benefit of land speculators. Undoubtedly had the Bill become law, a few rich men would have acquired large estates from the natives for a mere trifle. This was considered the most important Bill of the session. It was distributed to members months before

the meeting of the Assembly, and if any measure could be considered a MinisJt.wrial question this one was. Mr Ballance.

one of their supporters, moved an amendment to the effect that the Bill be

referred hack to the Ministry for reconsideration. Yet, what did the Ministry do ? They said tho amendment had their sympathy, and that they would endorse it—(cheers). Shortly afterwards Major Atkinson moved that the Bill be discharged from the order paper, giving notice that he would bring in a Bill stopping all sales of Native Land for 12 months. Perhaps there never was such a spectacle before in ady Parliament as a Government consentins/to bring in a second Bill diametrically/opposed to the one embodying their deliberate policy. Mr Woolcock a few days afterwards brought in a motion for altering , the incidence of taxation—a motion which'tiie Government treated so 'lightly that/they did not even deign to notice it until they found a majority of the House in/its favour.

y'Oii the question of finance, Major Atkinson over-estimated the revenue /■to the.extent of £100,000 ; the whole thing >vas most ridiculous, although Mr Stevens supported the Government, who took tlie view that the country should no: be troubled

with taxation, and, in fact, it was unnecessary if the proposals had been accepted. Quoting Major Atkinson's speech on the subject, Mr Montgomery showed that this was the view taken by the Government. Sir Gr. Grey's intentions were 'honest. Two thirds of the member of the House were willing to seize the land fund. Major Atkinson if in power would do the same thing. He (Mr Montgomery) would refer to a statement made.by Mr Curtis in his late address to his constituents, it being remembered that Mr Curtis had deserted the Middle Party. "As to finance, the Government had accepted the proposals of Major Atkinson, with the exception that instead of taking from the land fund of Canterbury and Otago the sum necessary to make up the deficiency, they determined to take the whole Land Fund. The Middle Party had obtained a pledge from Major Atkinson that this should be done next session, indeed, he had been anxious all'along to take this step, but had he proposed it so many of Sir George Grey's party would have voted against it as to defeat him," Considerable alarm had been felt by some supporters of the Ministry at Sir G. Grey's first statement, with regard to the Land Fund, on the loth of October last; but these had been reassured by his speech of the 26th of the same month. There was a great majority in favour of seizing the Land Fund of Canterbury from which half a mil- . lion accrued, the total for the halfyear ending olst July, 1877, being £088,960 4s Bd. There was no hope of getting the Land Fund back, still, he would endeavour to render the laws more equitable, and to see that the same law did not apply to the whole colony, as well as that the people of Canterbury should derive the same advantage as other parts of New Zealand. Sir G. Grey remained in power when the last session closed. A number oi: Bills passed which were of considerable importance, one of which concerned the Peninsula, viz., the bringing in ol' the Railway Reserves Bill, being a request to reserve 350,000 acres of land in Canterbury. This Bill with regard to a line to Little River and the 126 miles of railway had passed the Lower House, but not the Upper, and, fearing defeat, the Hon. J. Hall, who had charge of the Bill, withdrew it, but he (Mr Montgomery) would bring it forward again next session, and he hoped with better success. Pie touched at some length on the question of deferred payments, ii beifig a palpable injustice that land should be sold in certain Provincial districts at £2 per acre, and M,'d in Canterbury. The Native Lands Court Bill was then explained. This was a most important measure. The Native land required to be put up to auction and Crowngranted, instead of being held in the hands

of speculators. lhe Government abandoned the Bill, and brought one in to stop all sales. The Bill required is one to authorise the Government to survey in allotments of moderate dimensions the Jand of any Native who wishes to sell ; then the sale should be by auction, and out of the price obtained expenses of survey should be paid and a per centage charged for Government title. With regard to finance, the question of the colony's indebtedness and its financial affairs was one to which considerable interest attached, and though he did not desire to weary with many figures, still it was necessary to mention the subject, but in as few words as possible. The statement made by the late Colonial Treasurer on the 19th July last were correct as far as it went. Though not able to compute outstanding liabilities, the tertal debt, including Treasury Bills outstanding, and including the £800,000 guaranteed debentures, was, on the 30th June last, £20,195,311. Tlu-re ,vas a little more than a million of this unexpended, but there wore liabilities for contracts for public ivories, and also Provincial liabilities, which would require ihis amount to provide for them, n<; that the actual indebtedness of the colony on the 30th June, after providing for all liabilities, was about the amoirni stated. Interest and sinking fund of £] per cent, in some instances, and £2 pei cent, in others had to be deducted, amounting to £1,353,562, leaving the actual- indebtedness at £19.941.741). the annual charge on which is £1,118,000. Not tak ing into account the £2,500.000 authorised to be raised last session. This debt o! 19i- millions was contracted partly foi war expenses, partly for public works, and the purchase of native lands of which this is an asset of probably half a million. £ 1.118,000 was s large amount to have to send out of the colony yearly, arid where were we to yel the money? This y.-ar it would meivl) be the profit from the railways, amounting to £166,307, leaving £95*1.693, to be provided from other sources, This wa.< the great cause of the colony's linancia difficulty. Some thought railways would pay more by-and-bye, but considering required repairs, there would not be much more profit than now, still there were paying linos at work. Sir G. Grey's Financial Statement showed last balance left by :Mr Atkinson, made up of Treasury Bills, on 30th June. 1877. to be £148,220 deficit on June 30, 1878, £138,000, leaving difference between revenue and expenditure of £286,220. Then conies that the interest must be paid, and how is this tc be done ? It must be met by proper*} taxation. Although not pleasant to be taxed, it will be more honest to have nc deficit. He; meant, speaking plainly, nol ' only a tax on land, but also on bank and other shares, mortgages, &c. No man possessing only propertj' to the amount oi £500 to l>e taxed, but, for instance, a man possessing £600 would be taxed on £100. If a working man with £100 a year pay.' £18 per annum for wife and children, and a man with £10.000 a year pays the snme, it is not just that lie should do so. We have gaols, asylums, hospitals, &c, to support, and why.should not those possessing property assist to pay for them. Of course we have to pay for a road or a bridge, but that is an immediate local benefit. Why not assist to pay .off the national debt? An income tax was not just. The man with a thousand a year and a family was as good colonists, but the man of some income without family was not a good colonist, yet the former would be taxed equally with the latter. It is not the man with 500 acres struggling to make a living that should be taxed, but men with theirthousands of acres—those were the ones to be taxed, and the taxation should be on the value of property. In contrasting the colony with Victoria, the public debt there on June last was £17,011,082 ; of this, about a million and a half was unexpended. The interest on 30th June last was £795,191, but the nett revenue from railways, wharves, waterworks, runs, and cor-

p orations, &c, was upwards of £045.000, leaving only a difference of £150.000 to l>o provided from other sources. Victoria lias double the population of- New Zealand, and her indebtedness is less by £2,000,000. On the subject of readjusting the- Representation, he was of opinion districts should be represented according to their population. Under the present act, great injustice was done, some small places having two representatives where others of more population and larger in extent had onlyone. Population should be the basis of represntation; it was so in America, Holland, and Switzerland. Representation based on the electoral roll would give mining districts a large representation. It would be far butter for the colony that districts should be represented according to numbers. The population of the colony was 420,000, and it would be fair to have one member to every 5000 of population. By the Constitution Act every person possessed of an estate or in possession of a certain annual value has a claim to vote. It was said one class oppressed another, but that was wrong ; people out here were too free to allow oppression. There was the Rating Franchise, the Lodger Franchise, and the Miners-right Franchise, and he thought this wanted regulating. There were young men, clerks, <!ic., living with their fathers, who had no vote, and he was anxious to see the franchise extended to them. Often, miners came over, having no interest in the colony, and these should not have the same privileges in voting. He would wish to see a law introduced, that a man must be twelve months in the district, which would qualify him to vote —a declaration to that effect being taken before the returning officer, and even then residence in the locality should be considered—a resident suffrage as he termed it. No man should have undue preponderance, at the same time he was opposed to manhood suffrage. Mr Montgomery then said he feared he had trespassed on the time and patience of those who had come to hear him, and expressed his readiness to answer any questions, and he thanked them for listening so patiently.

Mr Piper Chairman of the Akaroa and Wainui Koad Board, here asked Mr Montgomery it" the Government intended to pay outstanding Provincial liabilities. Mr Montgomery replied that £260.000 had been voted to cover these, also £980 for diversion of roads. He knew some injustice had been done to the district, and would try to get matters settled. Mr Whitfield asked if more surveyors were to be employed on the Peninsula. They were very much wanted, in order to get the work done, and old errors corrected as soon as possible. Mr Montgomery said he had spoken to the Chief Surveyor on the subject, and directly the men could be obtained, they would be sent down. Mr Wagstafj? asked if it was the intention of the Government to change the constitution of the Upper House. Mr Montgomery replied that the Upper House should be made elective. (Cheers and hisses.) He did not wish to change the franchise, but to make wider districts. Mr Duxbury then put a few questions with regard to the German Bay road diversion through Mr St. John's land. Mr Montgomery said the correspondence which had passed between the Public Works Department and the Eoad Board (which has appeared in the reports of proceedings of the fioad Board) represented the position of airairs.

Mr Piper then proposed a vote of confidence in Mr Montgomery.

Air Dawbeh seconded the proposition, which was carried unanimously, amid loud cheering.

Mr Montgomery replied in suitable terms, and having proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting terminated.