Political Meeting of Electors at Newmarket,

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1712, 13 August 1875, Page 2

Political Meeting of Electors at Newmarket,

The adjourned meeting of the above was ■held last evening in the Presbyterian schoolroom. On the motion of Mr Wrigley, seconded by Mr McNeill, R. Graham, Esq., took the chair. The advertisement (in the Evening Star) convening the meeting was read by the Chairman, who desired that speakers should, with brevity and to the point, address the meeting.

Mr Wrigley was the first to speak. He said he had exhausted himself on the previous evening at Parnell. He alluded to the conflicting Acts in force on opposite sides of the boundaries of different provinces. He objected to the great number of Acts in existence, and contended that the only remedy for these and most other evils lay in the immediate abolition of provinces, and the merging of all into one General Government, if the Bill passed, the Assembly would have to meet again and draft one Act, consolidating all the provincial laws. At the present time not even £20 could bo raised and spent without the consent of the Superintendent.

A Voice : You won't get any at all to spend from the Colonial Government. A great uproar was here led on by an energetic gentleman who did not see the use of wasting time talking of what would be done, if provinces were abolished, when they were not going to be abolished at all.—

Mr Aitken proposed that any obstructor of the meeting should be shewn the door— carried.

Mr Wrigley stated he was speaking under difficulties—not having got warmed up yet. He referred at length to -the position of Canterbury, and other provinces which were doing weil for themselves and had a substantial Land Fund, he said that Auckland could raise money on the strength of her future Land Fund. — The speaker reiteiating his well-known cry of—whst good had Provincial Institutions done the couutry at large, or Remuera and Newmarket in particular. After a lengthy, speech Mr ' Wrigley proposed the following resolution.—" That it is desirable the provinces of New Zealand be abolished, and that this meeting approve generally of the

Abolition of Provinces Bill now beW ' I Parliament." 1 Mr John Allender seconded the resolution. 1 Mr Staines requested leave to speak which ' • i was granted. Be felt that Sir George Grey ' i had acted wisely in not bringing forward an* ' I fresh resolution during this session. (Hear, i 1 hear). Mr Staines would propose the same' i resolution as was so well received at ■ Parnell. (Cheers.) He read the amendment v § " That this meeting views with alarm the proposition to abolish the provinces without an appeal to the country by means of a general election, and protests against the proposed Abolition of Provinces Bill being passed by an Assembly whose term 0 f office is expiring and which does act represent the provinces fairly." (Cheers.) The present representatives in the Assembly were returned five years ago by electors numbering less by thousands than are now in the country. Mr Swanßon wished the promoters of the Bill to be candid and show what they were going to do, but Government appeared to have worked craftily . for about 12, months. He hoped in conch, sion that the electors of Auckland would show the|South they would support those who are sent down to the House. (Applause.) . Mr Jenkins seconded the amendment. Has would not puzzle the audience with references to the millions borrowed. Because last year he voted for the abolition of the provinces, that was no reason why he should swallow the present Ministerial bait. Mr Carlyle said that Mr Jenkins nearly took away his breath. He had sufficient left, however, to make a vigorous and in many respects a very able attack on Provincial matters. He had attended the Parnell meeting to hear whether Centralism was to be preferred to the dying out Provincial Government. He had heard 12 years ago that the Provincial Council was an incubus and a curse on Auckland. (Cries of no and question.) Mr Carlyle touched lightly on English history, instancing Sir Robert Peel's straggle in connection with the Repeal of the Corn Laws, as evidence that the country does not always shew a right appreciation. He demurred to the question > before the House being witheld for the sake of the new arrivals, who knew as much about the question as a pig knows about its grandfather. The Australian Colonies were not afraid to borrow, neither were they afraid of starvation. (Voice : Neither are we). Mr Wood : Who makes the laws ?

Mr Carlyle : The lawmakers (great laughter). When the land fund of the South is distributed equitably and fairly amongst us ail, he thought we should be better satisfied. (Cheers). He had great respept for Sir George Grey as a man, but as a politician and a representative, he had of him the very lowest opinion. (Hisses, groans, and a "number of gentlemen jumping on their feet and expostulating all at once, occasioned tremendous uproar. It was for some time impossible to hear any particular speaker. Mr. Baber came forward and protested against remarks of such a character against the absent.

Mr. Osborne expostulated warmly, and Mr. Hunter, with great warmth, declared he -wgukl not allow such words to be spoken in his presence, of Sir George Grey. Mr. Staines shouted out similar disapproval, while the meeting testified its feeling in an unbroken series of hisses and groans.

On obtaining a hearing, Mr. Carlyle said he was of opinion that he had said nothing offensive.

This raised a fresh outburst, several rising to their feet, addressing the chair, the late speaker, and each other. When the excitement subsided, Mr. Carlyle stated he was willing to apologise for anything that was in the least degree of an offensive character, (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Mr. Keane, with all respect to the Chairman, thought it quite right to criticise the absent. (Hear.) For many reasons he had thought favourably of the General Government scheme. There was, however, bo

many considerations at work that it was difficult to get at the right aspect of things. Mr Wrigley was Chairman of a Board, but he was generally well up to the Ministers, hut some would turn like a feather which ever way the wind blew strongest. Mr. Carlyle referred to Sir Eobert Peel. Mr. Keane hoped that Sir George Grey would prove a Robert Peel for Auckland. It seemed to him a job to get an abolition meeting up. The same men were at the different meetings. Perhaps they were going in for billets. (Great laughter.) Vogel was still going on borrowing : nothing seemed to keep him in cheek. He rushed out of the Choral Hall, and departed, being a curse rather than a blessing to the people. (Great excitement.) - Mr Wrigley rose to or<?er. (Some cried " No " and others " Yes.") The Chairman thought the language was rather strong. ; ; } Mr Keane at-once said he would imitate Mr Carlyle and apologise. (Laughter.) Mr Lundon rose to speak. He said Mr Wrigley had been talking about a Bill. He had not read— Mr Wrigley : I have read it, sir. Mr Lundon : Then I haven't, then. (Laughter.) A long list of benefits which had been conferred on the province by the Provincial Government was here given, Jihe General Government getting credit for no other donation than that of an incubus of debt. As a Catholic he would give his last, shilling to educate a child. (Cheers.) Because the Government bait was a showy one, "Road Boards were greedily swallowing it. The chairman of the district was tobe magnified into a magistrate. His friend Mr Wrigley was going to be a Justice of the Peace. 107 more magistrates were to be tacked on to 700 now in existence in our (For Conclusion of Meeting see Fourth Page.)