MR MONTGOMERY'S MEETING.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 275, 7 March 1879, Page 2

MR MONTGOMERY'S MEETING.

Mr Montgomery, M.H.R. for the district of Akaroa, addressed his constituents in the Town Hall, Akaroa, last evening. The hall was well filled. On the motion of Mr Garwood his Worship the Mayor was voted to the chair, and introduced Mr Montgomery in a brief speech. Mr Montgomery said he appeared before them that evening to give an account of his actions during the last session of Parliament, and to express his opinions on political matters affecting the colony. He knew he could dopend on obtaining a patient hearing from the electors of this district. At the conclusion of his address he would be most happy to answer any questions as to any points which he miglit have omitted from his speech. He would have held this meeting at an earlier data, but for the electors having paid him the high compliment of inviting him to a dinner about six weeks ago, and he could not call this meeting immediately after that event. He trusted they would believe that he had given all local matters due and prompt attention.

Mr Montgomery here went into the history of what is so well known as the Impounded Land Fund, describing how this had been recovered for the local bodies by the action of the Public Accounts Committee, after those bodies had failed in their endeavors to recover it by course of law. He did not wish to arrogate to himself any undue share of credit for what he had done in the matter. The other Canterbury members on the Committee had all worked well in the matter, He would mention Mr Stevens and Mr Murray-Aynsley.

He would merely point out that he had done what lay in his power to secure telegraph stations at the Head of the Bay and Little River. That at the Head of the Bay would be erected immediately. With regard to the one at Little River he regretted that the matter had fallen, through, owing to the residents there being unable to agree amongst themselves as to a site. He had got the Minister for Public Works to agree to settle the just claims, in which the various Road Boards were interested, for compensation for diversion of roads incurred by the late Provincial authorities. These claims had been adjudicated on by Mr Ollivier, and no doubt his award would be found satisfactory. He had written numerous letters and had had interviews with the Minister of Lands regarding the arrears of survey, and the re-surveying which was necessary in consequence of the errors in original surveys. His representations had induced the Minister to employ a number of surveyors on the Peninsula, but • he regretted to say there were not sufficient to bring the work to a speedy termination. The cause alleged for this, which he believed to. be true, was the impossibility, of obtaining the requisite number of surveyors, as] there were a great many arrears of survey all over-the "pro vincej and competent men were/ only, to be obtained, in limited numbers. With regard to the' Railway, they were all ■ aware of the, .action which had-been taken. The latest information on the subject was.that an engineer and staff were now employed in making a survey for contract of the first seventeen miles from Lincoln to Lake Forsyth, that a number of miles had been' already surveyed and pegged off, and that the survey of that portion of thellme wou.d bs;completed within about a month, -when tenders would be called for the work; that another engineer had been engaged, arid was then, he.believed, at Work, to ascertain the best practicable route from Little River to Akaroa HarbOr. This survey should be completed, and its results laid.before the Engineer-iri-Chief for his approval before next session, so that an appropriation might be obtained for the work. He had that day received a telegram informing him that the Public Works Department were about to Open Lake Ellesmere, and afterwards to call for tenders for keeping it down to low level. He need not assure them that these matters should continue to receive his constant attention. Having thus briefly touched upon matters of local interest, he would proceed to notice those of more general importance affecting the whole colony. In as few words as possible he would state what measures members expected to be brought forward, and what was the state of parties at the opening of the session. They would all remember that Sir Geo. Grey came into power in 1877, that he had not then a real majority in the House of Representatives, but that the session closed with the power remaining in his hands Hej:hose as his colleagues a number of able men, known to hold advanced liberal opinions, and in order to strengthen his position in the House and in the country he made a tour round the colony, everywhere gaining adherents by his eloquence and the opinions he professed. The consequence was that nearly all the vacancies which occurred durisg the recess were filled up by men who were.his declared supporters, so that when he met the House again, it was computed that he had a majority of at least twenty. It appeared, therefore, that there could hardly be a better opportunity for bringing forward such measures as he had advocated, and he need hardly say that such measures were expected. When in Opposition, Sir George had advocated extensionof the franchise, re-distribution of seats so that all parts of the colony should be fairly represented, Triennial Parliaments, a Property and Income Tax, great reductions of taxation on-articles of daily consumption, and economy in expenditure. The policy a man advocated in Opposition he might not,

when in power, be able to carry out in its , entirety, as he might find it impossible to get colleagues to agree with him on all points ; but when a Premier went round the country after his Cabinet had been formed, and proclaimed everywhere his adherence to the opinions he had previously put forth,, the people naturally concluded that he was enunciating the policy, and expressing the convictions ot' the' Cabinet. The people of the Colony andjtheir rupresentatives in j Parliament therefore naturally expected measures embodying those principles which Sir George had so eloquently advocated. He (Mr Montgomery) regretted to be obliged to say that many of the measures introduced by the Government were widely different from those the House had reason to expect, and he need hardiy say that some members, who desired to give the Ministry a hearty support were much disappointed. The Laid Tax, so far from J being a general property tax which would compel all men to contribute to the necessities of the State according to their j means, waa a tai on ono species of property, and left the capatalist who had his money invested in mortgages absolutely untouched. There was a show of liberality about the measure in that it.left improvements untaxed, and exempted lands under the value of £500. In his opinion this latter was the worst feature of the Bill. As he said before, there was a show of liberality about it, but there was something more valuable than liberality—and that was justice. Could it be considered just that the man exempted should have the power of supporting a tax which only touched his neighbors and not himself ? Would the people of any road district tolerate such an exemption in the case of rates? Certainly not. He considered its effects would bo demoralizing, and that it was an insult to honest men to offer them as a boon such an exemption at the expense of their neighbors. In committee he had voted against the exemption, but he hud also voted against a proposal to tax improvements. He considered that improvements up to, say £500 should be exempt, as a tax on improvements was a very different thing from a tax on the land itself. Mainly on this ground he had voted against the third reading, as the exemption would cover much land held for speculative purposes. He had opposed the beer duty chiefly on the ground that it was the in traduction of an Excise Tax, which would no doubt have been extended to other Colonial manufactures as the necessities of theTrearury became greater. This Bill and the Joint Stock • Companies Bill were withdrawn, in fact they never received hearty support from the Government. The reduction ,of the tea and sugar duties was a step in the right direction, but was not equal to what had been promised. The remaining alterations in the tariff were of an unimportant nature, with the exception of those taking the duty off grain and timber. He thought ; the former would lead to a large importation of grain and flour from California to I the detriment of local farmers and millers, but people now-a-days seemed determined to ride tne hobby of free-trade to such an extent as not to see the difference between the circumstances of an old and new j country.

The next measure to which he should call their attention was a very important one—namely the Electoral Bill. The Bill introduced by the Government met with general support. It gave an extension of the franchise with a resident clause, and it extended the franchise to women. One clause in the Bill limited the Maori franchise, and as a good deal of misconception prevailed on this subject, lie would read them the clauseasit originally stood. Mr Montgomery here read the clause bearing on the question of the Maori vot& as it originally stood, with the amendments proposed on the. same. He went at full length into the history of the divisions that had taken place on/the matter, contending that the special representation given them by the Act of 1867 was intended to take the place of other electoral rights. But it was found that they could and did claim to vote as landholders as well. In some districts they were sufficient in number to swamp the electorate. Therefore the majority of the House hailed the original provision of the Act with approval.. As the paid neither rates nor taxes on their land, it was not fair that they should possess votes in respect of it. He animadverted on the conduct of the Government in withdrawing a Bill which they professed would confer the franchise on 70,000 persons because they could not carry this Maori clause, which would have enabled one man to control a large number of constituencies. They should either have resigned or appealed to the country. Regarding the question of re-distribution of seats, this was a very important question. On the basis of population Canterbury was under-represented to the extent of five members. Representation according to population was a timer, basis than by number of electors. district with a population of 24,000 had fewer electors than another of 12,000, No one was entitled to the confidence of the people who would not grapple with this question and settle it on a proper basis. Coming to the subject of Education, Mr Montgomery said that some people wished some change introduced—that the Bible should be introduced as a class-book into schools. He had as great a reverence for the Bible as any man, but was opposed to the introduction of the Bible as ajclassbook, as it would imperil the success of a national system of Education. He approved of the present system. There was nothing to hinder members of committees individually providing facilities for reli- ( gious instruction being given out of the regular school hours. The present system should not be tampered with. He would oppose tampering with the present Act, as it had given them efficient schools in every direction.

" With regard to the Upper House, his own opinion was in favour of an elective Upper House, but there were questions of more pressing importance than reform of the Upper House. This matter could wait. „ ■ ■

He was opposed to an elective Governor. It had been said why should not the Governor be elected, as Superintendents were. This argument was most suicidal, for Superintendents had often had serious quarrels with their Executives. An elective Governor meant severance from the Empire, and he was quite sure there was too much loyalty among the people to approve of anything which would have the effect of dividing that Empire on which the sun never sets. (Loud cheers.)

i The speaker next referred to Finance and Bhowed that the province of Canterbury had contributed over £600,000 to the

Colonial Treasury in the shape of land sales over and above what had been returned. What the Treasurer would do without this supply for the future he did not know. He did not envy him his position. But this large amount of money had gone away from them and that was the cause of the present d< They could only get over it by h -rd work. He vvishpd to state his poll ie 1 opinions. It was not enough for a man a> say " I o'ljuct to this" he should also be willing to state what his opinions were.

To sum up, tbe main points of his polical creed were—Extension of the Franchise, with a residence qualification, retaining also the property qualification—■ Representation on the basis of population, population to mean all natural born or naturalized subjects of Her Majesty in all districts in' which the Queen's writ can Parliaments— Unsectarian Education—Property Tax, so that every man shall contribute areurding to hw means to provide revenue for the necessary expenses of the colony—Public Works, where necessary to entabli-sh communication between rarioua parts of the colony, and develop its resources ; such works to be undei taken only after careful survey, estimate of cost, and consideration of the financial condition of the colony—Economy in 'expenditure. Gentlemen (niiid Mr Montgomery, in conclusion), I have spoken unreservedly of public matters and of the Government, I think I have made myself clearly understood that I was disappointed with the measures brought in by Ministers last session, those measures being different from what we were led to expect. The Government iv my opinion considered too much what would be palatable, and put their own principles on the shelf for a time. In a word I think thoy showed a greater anxiety for safety than for principles.

The Maori dual vote was a great political blunder, which I trust they will not repeat. I stand here as your representative, with opinions which I hope are in accordance with yours, and I think yon would not expect me to be a slavish follower of any man or any Ministry. My desire in to see liberal principles triumph, and it is with the hope that the Ministry will boldly and unreservedly trust to the majority of the people of New Zealand that I point out where I think they have erred, and would urge them to go forward fearlessly in the path of reform, and if a majority of the House be against th_m r appeal to the people, and leave the decision with the electors. I shall go up to the Assembly and support the principles I have enunciated to-night, and if I cannot obtain exactly what I wish I shall support whatever measures may be most in accordance with them. My sympathies are altogethee with the party of progress of which the present Ministers are the leaders. I have confidence in the majority of the members of the Cabinet. I consider them able, zealous men, and I have no sympathy whatever with the leaders of \ Opposition. I consider they have shown themselves to be Conservative obstructionists—thatthoy clung to place, and were supported hy other would-be leaders, after humiliation and defeat, after the loss of almost every vestige of political principle. I consi«Jer this clinging to piace after defeat is most injurious to the public welfare, and that such deviation from the plain path of duty should not be lightly treated or soon forgotten. ■■'■'-.

I consider the' practice which prevailed for so many years of fil.-hing from the Opposition some of its ablest men by th& tempting bait of a seat on the Treasury benches, or of places of honor or profit, thus destroying ail efforts to maintain that which is, in my opinion, absolutely necessary to good government —a fearless and independent Opposition—deserves the reprobation of the people of New No, I have no sympathy with such politicians. I wish to see a Ministry bring forward well-considered liberal measures free from all taint of class legislation, and if snch measures cannot be carried .in Parliament that an appeal should be made to the people, and the decision left to them. Mr Montgomery resumed his seat amidst loud and continued applause. Having intimated that he would be, happy to answer any questions—

Mr Garwood asked what were Mr Montgomery's opinions on the Chinese question. Mr Montgomery thought the Chinese could not be looked upon as colonists in the true sense of the term, and might become a very dangerous power in the State. But there was a difficulty in dealing with, the question of keeping- tbsm oat in conSequence of our treaties with China,;;As far as lay in his power he would support any measure that could be devised- for checking their influx. , .

Mr Shadbolt asked what Mr Montgomery thought of reciprocity as between the various colonies.

Mr Montgomery had not ranch faith in its practicability as between nations.:■■■ He did not think Victoria would reduce her duties on our productions in the slightest, on account of our reducing tho duty on their wines.

Mr Garwood thought as their representative had spoken with no uncertain sound, it behoved them to do the same. He was not good at painting the lily and so on, but would propose "that the electors present have ever}' confidence in "Mr Montgomery as their representative, and thank him cordially for his able address"

Mr Shadbolt seconded the; resolution, which was carried with acclamation.

Mr Montgomery briefly returned thanks, and a vote of thanksi to' the Chairmrn terminated the proceedmgs. '-••-