CAPTAIN MORRIS’ ADDERSS TO THE ELECTORS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 343, 22 December 1875, Page 3

CAPTAIN MORRIS’ ADDERSS TO THE ELECTORS.

A MEETING was held on Saturday evening at the Temperance Hall convened for the pur pose of hearing the views of Captain Morris, a candidate for representing the East Coast Electorate in the coming Parliament. The meeting was largely attended and the proceedings orderly, while evident interest was token in them, Mr E. G. Norris presided. The Chairman having introduced Captain Morris to the meeting, Captain Morris said that this was the second opportunity ho had had of addressing the electors of this district 5 on the first occasion lie was, so to speak, a stranger, but having since then had the honor of appearing as their member in the Provincial Council he could refer to his action in that sphere as a guarantee to a cer • tain extent that he would faithfullyporform his duties in a more extended field. With regard to hiajviews in general, Captain Morris considered that the management of the lands in the North Island should bo placed on a different basis, and that instead of the Government having the sole control of them, with the power —through a Government nominee—to put them up for sale at fancy prices, the lands should be sold at almost a nominal price, and the settler thereby given an opportunity of improving his land with his capital instead of having'to invest it all in the land. During the session of the Provincial Council which ho had attended, ho had endeavoured to .get a Land Act passed which might have proved the thin end of the wedge in bringing about the change he considered necessary, as, until tho present system was altered, settlement could not go on on Government lands —30s per acre being more than any one could afford to give for fern land with any hope of reaping a benefit therefrom, He could not help making a few remarks in connection with the purchase of lands, and the Native Department, by which a large number of very good billets were given to agents, who being pushed on by Government, were obliged to make a show of acres bought, regardless, in a great measure, doubtless, of the quality of the land purchased. Sir George Grey had said every acre could carry two sheep to the acre, but in this he must have been misinformed. Captain Morris did not consider that the electorate he wished to represent had been properly treated by the Government.. Many reasonable requests on its behalf had been

made in the way of Public* Works which were urgently required: the Cambridge mid Thames roads for instance, which had not been granted. He would ask the question whether Napier or Canterbury would hare been treated in the same way ? and if ho was relumed as member for the district, he could only say that no Ministry, whether Opposition or not, should receive a : steady vote of his, unless the wants of the district were attended to. With regard to 1 finance, the colony was now very heavily indebted, and the debt incurred must be paid. A Property Tax was, therefore, almost inevitable, and perhaps an Income Tax. Ho would advocate a Property Tax, as, at present, taxation was unfair and not equally distributed. Another question which was wont to stir up the vials of wrath of the people, was that of Education, under the present system of direct taxation. He considered that educm tiou should be provided for out of the general funds of the colony , and not by a special tax as at present: he believed that the present Poll Tax had done more barm to the cause of Education than could be recovered in several years. If returned, he would vote for Edu< cation being provided for out of the general fund, though, under the old system of Provincial Government, this would have been impossible. Captain Morris here referred to the action taken by the Auckland Provincial Government relative to the existing tax, and explained how, though it was at first proposed to impose a tax on a sliding " scale, it was eventually found necessary to adopt the present tax, on account of the Provincial Secretary bringing forward high legal authority adverse to the sliding scale. Captain Morris said, that when he was asked on a former occasion whether he would support Abolition, he had replied “That if a proposal came before the Provincial Council that provinces should be abolished, he would support the motion,” which he had done, though the proposition was not eventually carried in the Council. The Abolition of Provinces was now, however, an accomplished fact, bat ho did not believe in substituting for a Pro# vincial staff of officers, a Superintendent and a largo staff of officials appointed by the Government without the voice of the people, as too much power would thus bo placed in the hands of the General Government. If he was elected, ho would set his face against such nominations. It was said the present officials could not be done away with, but ho could not see why, for though their services could not be dispensed with at once perhaps, yet in the course of a year or two, the present system could gradually bo altered, though he might say that with regard to the present Superintendent, he had every confidence in him personally. Captain Morris, referring to Road Boards, spoke against the present system of granting aid to Boards, and advocated the principle of land being given to them in their districts, with power to tax the same. Within the Tauranga district there were a great many blocks of land whose owners wore absent or dead, and power should bo given to the Boards to sell these lands to recover the rates. He had not thought the subject out thoroughly, but some such project might favorably be considered. With regard to the period for which representatives wore at present elected Captain Morris considered that in a new country it was too long, and if the matter were brought forward he would be in favor of a three years instead of a five years Parliament. Relative to Insular Separation, he could not see why on any grounds it was desirable. Consolidation was the principle of the present day, not separation, at home and everywhere else j and ho considered that outside of the persona] desires of the inhabitants of the country with regard to their own local interests a grand general ambition should animate the people to further the advancement of the colony as a whole. This could only be attained by federation, and not separation, and he would say that if elected he should vote strongly against any proposals in the direction of separating the islands of New Zealand. Foreign to political matters Captain Morris alluded to the present attempt to prospect the Kairaai country. He was much surprised that after arrangements had been entered into that the prospectors had been driven back, though he assured the meeting that everything that could be done by the committee to enable the prospecting to be carried on had been done. In reply to Mr Holler, Captain Mom's stated if Sir George Grey’s policy was to retain the provinces he would oppose him j but Sir George Grey had advocated so many important measures, and in many cases so ably, that doubtless in some cases he would support him. Mr Mitchell asked if Captain Morris was in favor of retaining both Houses of Parliament ? also if he saw any way to propose retrenchment in any department ? Captain Morris thought it advisable to retain an Upper House as a check on the Lower House, but considered the members of

the Tipper House should be elected and not nominated. Relative to retrenchment, he could only mention the Native Department as one in which a reduction might advantageously be made, though ho could not say at tho time exactly how this was to bo done. Mr Rhodes thought that if this district was contested by three candidates it would be probable that the Poverty Bay electors would have the privilege of returning tho member, as in that district they commanded a majority of votes. Ho would therefore propose, “ That it is the opinion of this meeting, and for tho benefit of the district, that two out of the three candidates should retire from the contest.”

Mr R. Hill seconded Mr Rhodes’ proposition, and thought that Mr Wi Marsh might advantageously retire. The other candidate he would like to see retire was Mr W. Kelly, who voted entirely for tho Government, though be believed that as far as lie had been able Mr Kelly had done what he could for the district.

Mr Rhodes, m reply to the chairman, wished to leave his proposition as it originally stood. He did not wish to dictate to the meeting who should retire. Mr Redmond proposed as an amendment, ‘ £ That this meeting pass a vote of confidence in Captain Morris, and pledges itself to support that gentleman to secure his election.” Incalculable Joss had been incurred by tbe district through the want of an independent member being in the House. Would-be settlers bad come to the district, and had been obliged to leave because there was no land for them to buy, and the member for this district should remedy this. Captain Morris’s position enabled him to be independent—he could not be influenced by

promises of Government nor by the smiles of swells, for Captain Morris was a swell himself. Mr Redmond concluded by criticising Mr Kelly’s conduct in the House, Mr Dobbyn considered that. Mr Kelly had done all he could for the. district. Mr Parsons seconded Mr Redmond’s proposition. Mr Edgcumbe, referring to Mr Rhodes’s proposition, wished to know before such a ridiculous motion was put to the meeting how the meeting was composed that it could dictate to any candidate that he should retire from the field. He would simply ass the meeting to consider the nature of Mr Rhode’s proposition before going farther with it.

The Chairman bating asked Mr Rhodes if ha would withdraw his proposition, ho (Mr Rhodes) declined to do so, and indignantly repudiated the manner in which his motion had been referred to by Mr Edgcumbe. He did not wish to dictate to any one, but merely put a proposition before the meeting for it to decide upon. Mr Edgcumbe had no wish to hurt the feelings of Mr Rhodes or the meeting at large when he called Mr Rhodes’s proposition ridiculous. Supposing the proposition to be carried no step would be gained, as no meet* ing could expect a candidate to retire at its request; and relative to any other remarks made by Mr Rhodes, he (Mr Edgcumbe) would say that, notwithstanding his connem tion with tho Bay of Pienxy Times, lie would always rise and speak at every public meetiug when ho considered it his duty to do so.

Mr Roller proposed that a vole of thanks bo given to Captain Morris for bis address, as he considered that was all tho occasion demanded. Mr Somerville seconded tho proposition. The amendments and original proposition were then put to tho meeting, and Mr Redmond’s proposition, “That this meeting pass a vote of confidence in Captain Morris,” was carried by a majority. Captain Morris thanked the meeting for the honor done him, and invited his supporters to meet him with a view to taking the necessary preliminary steps for opening the campaign. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated,! ho proceedings.