MB WILLIAM KELLY’S ADDRESS TO THE ELECTORS.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 345, 29 December 1875, Page 3

MB WILLIAM KELLY’S ADDRESS TO THE ELECTORS.

The electors of the East Coast electorate resident in Tanranga met in the Temperance Hall yesterday evening to hear the views of Mr William Kelly, a candidate for re-election to the House of Representatives for the electorate of tho East Coast. The hall was well filled on the occasion, and tho proceedings were orderly throughout. The chair was occupied by Mr T. D. Wrigley, who having introduced the candidate, Mr William Kelly said that it was something over twelve months since he had addressed a meeting in Tauranga, and on that occasion he had given an account of his political career for the four years previous, for which he had received a vote of confidence. He trusted that after he had explained what he had done during tho last session he would receive a similar mark of confidence from his late constituents. He would refer first of all to the action he had taken during the last session of Parliament on many subjects which were of great interest to the district. In doing so Mr Kelly read copious extracts from Hansard relating to questions on which he had spoken in the House, relative to the “Tanranga and Thames Eoad;” to the investment of tho lands in possession of tho Ngaiterangi tribes in the owners, that the lands might be open for purchase and settlement; with regard to which an Act had been passed through the Assembly that Crown grants should be given for these lands, and that they should be settled on the natives, Mr Kelly informing the meeting that Sir Donald McLean had given him an assurance that Mr Clarke would come up in January and settle the whole matter ; also relative to the other large blocks of land in the Bay of Plenty district, which he would like to see put up for sale at small upset prices, or he would even prefer that they should be sold in small blocks on deferred payments to give small settlers a chance of settling down in the district—(cheers). Mr Kelly also read from Hansard what he had said in the House about the Tauraiiga and Rotorua road relative to its impassable condition during a great portion of the year, and to his proposal that certain work should he undertaken to put the road in a thorough state of repair. On this subject he remarked that when he saw nothing else muldhedone he had obtained a promise from the Government that the Native

Armed Constabulary should bo set to work on the road in the Europe Bush; and though some hitch had temporarily occurred in this matter, yet eventually the men had been set to work as promised. Mr ..Kelly also read the remarks made by him when he moved that all the lands in the East Coast District should bo cut up and put in the market; and relative to his speech on Abolition he said that as it would perhaps occupy too much time to read it he would endeavour to get it printed in the Bay of Plenty Times. Before proceeding to matters in general, Mr Kelly desired to assure his late constituents that in any act of his lie had al ways endeavored to bo guided by their wishes, and that any communications they had thought proper to send him had received prompt attention at his hands. Relative to the question of land, which was of the great est interest to the district he desired to represent, Mr Kelly gave it as his opinion that the price of land should be started at a low upset price, as if it was worth more it would be sure ,to fetch its real value, as in the case of the land at Judea, some of which having been put up at £3 an acre had fetched nearly double that sum. Ho was, moreover, an advocate of the deferred payment system, which was specially adapted to the wants of the settler of small means, who, by getting seven years, say, in which to pay for his land, was thereby enabled to invest Ms capital in the improvement of it. With regard to taxation, which it appeared to him was inevitable in the future, ho was in favor of a land tax, and he believed in an acreage taxation, and that local governing bodies should have power to tax absentees to the full extent (cheers). lie would also like to see education a general instead of a local tax as at present. Ho did not believe in the poll-tax system, and in the Council he had voted for a sliding scale; there was no doubt, however, but that the question would have to he grappled with by the the General Govonment in the ensuing session. Relative to the Abolition of Provinces, he had no doubt it was well-known that he was a thorough abolitionist; ho had stated that ho was so on a former occasion when his views had received the support of Ids constituents. As to Insular Separation, which was now proposed by some, ho -was thoroughly opposed to it, as ho considered it would only bo a means of introducing Provincialism in a 'worse form. Ho believed in local selfgovernment, as in every district men could bo found, who, better than any one else could manage their own local legislation* If, however, Insular Separation should take place, ho would propose (if elected) that the Seat of Government for the North Island should be either atTauranga or Taupo (laughter). Captain Morris, in his speech to the electors, had alluded to grants of land being given to Boards instead of money grants, but ho (Mr Kelly) considered money grants bettor if it was certain they would continue, as doubtless if land was given it would not bo the best land that would be granted. He believed, however, that it was the intention of Government to substantially endow the local governing bodies, but whether by land or money grants he could not saj r . He believed in triennial Parliaments, and if the question was brought forward, and it was his privilege to be elected, be would vote in favor of them. As far as he was concerned, he would always be prepared to give an account af his stewardship if he was returned. 'Cheers). Mr Kelly, in conclusion, invited the doctors to ask him any questions they might wish. Mr Norris wished to know how it was that the Endowment of Reserves Bill had not passed through the House luring the last session ? Mr Kelly replied that he had carried i second reading of the Rill, and was lien told by the Minister of Justice ind the Native Minister that the Bill mild not become law until there was some recognised local body in whom ;o vest the endowments, but as soon is possible the Government would jring forward a measure to vest the ■eserves in the local governing powers o be recognised under the ne w regime. Cheers). In reply to Mr Norris, Mr Kelly also laid that ho was in favor of a land tax, jut would support an income tax if u’oposcd. He did not think there vas any chance of the Road Boards getting more than the grant of 13s 4d his year. Mr Stewart asked whether Mr xelly was in favor of absolving cGrain persons from their acts as was wovidod in the Indemnity Act passed ast session. Mr Kelly explained the ircumstances of the case, and how ho Bill was passed through the House n a few minutes by the Opposition >arty. He also said in reply to Mr Stewart, that he had on one occasion oted for the reduction of the hon•rarium,- but did not now consider it

advisable to reduce it. That he believed the Government was prepared to pay the grant to Road Boards as it had promised to do, and that lie was against nominee Superintendents or paid Government Agents. (Cheers.) Ho did not think the Government had a right to seize the lands of absentees, but that it had the right to dispose of them under certain circumstances. Ho considered a Bill should be passed to enable local bodies to dispose of the land of absentees for payment of rates, and that afterwaids the balance should bo paid into the hands of the Public Trustee for the benefit of the owners or their heirs. (Cheers). In reply to Mr Norris, Mr Kelly stated that ho was against Insular Separation and revival of Provincialism, and in favor of Local Governments. In reply to Mr Bodell relative to the conduct of the Native Office during the last live years, Mr Kelly was unable to say how it was the waste lands in the district were in the same position as live years ago. Mr Clarke was Under-Secretary to the Native Department, and drew his salary accordingly. Being pressed by Mr Bedell to say whether Mr Clarke was Commissioner for waste lands in Taiiranga, Mr Kelly reiterated his assertion that Mr Clarke was Under-Socrotary, and also said that ho was the head of all the Commissioners. Mr Bodell referred in warm terms to the wrong done to Taiiranga by the absence of Mr Clarke, and by Ms nonperformance of his duties as Commissioner. Ho also referred to what ho called Mr Kelly’s blind support of the Government, and said lie did not consider Mr Kelly a fit representative for the district in consequence.

Mr Kelly, in reply to Mr Bodell, denied that he was a blind supporter of the Government, and wished to know how the district would faro if lie went on the side of the Opposition. It was all very well for the members for City West and other town constituencies to ho on the side of the Opposition—they had no roads or bridges to make, and if ho (Mr Kelly) had been a supporter of the Government in all reasonable measures ho considered at least that his late constituents had honofitted by the line of action he had adopted.

Mr Eedmond wished to know how Mr Kelly had voted on the question of Immigration in the year 1871 ? Mr Kelly replied that he had voted with the Government, but that he had not voted for exclusion of the Irish.

As no other elector desired to question the candidate, MrNorrisproposod, and Mr Asher seconded, that a vote of thanks bo given to Mr Kelly for his address.

Mr Dobbyn proposed as an amendment, and Mr Cummings seconded, that a vote of confidence in Mr Kelly be passed by the meeting. The resolutions being put to the mooting, there wore 20 votes in favor of the amendment, and 22 for the original proposition, and the vote of thanks fertile address was accordingly carried. A vote of thanks to the chairman then terminated the proceedings.

OUlt AUCKLAND LETTER. (I’ROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT ) Auckland, December 21,1875. We are in the midst, of the elections. In the streets, under the TOrandahs, in tho hotels, oven private circles, the talk is politics. The papers bristle with election addresses and articles full of figures professing to represent a true and faithful account cf the “ available balance” (whatever that may mean) which will be left under the opposite systems of Government; and interlarded with such terms as “ Separation,” “ Allocation of Land Fund,” “ United Colony and One Puwe,” “Piako Swamp Transaction,” “Local SelfGovernment,” &e., all of which are intended to express some far deeper meaning than tho words themselves imply. Tho Opposition party hero, owing to the presence in our midst of Sir George Grey, are apparently in the ascendant. They have already returned two members for City West, —namely, Sir George and Mr Dignan ; and they have Mr Swanson unopposed in Newton, and Mr Reader Wood in Parnell. Both these two last-named gentlemen have delivered their speeches, which were characteristic of the authors, Wood’s being scholarly and abusive of the Government, and Swanson’s being a practical defence of the Provincial system. '1 he contest between Mr W. L. Bees and Mr J, Me Posh Clark for City Fast will to the most interesting fight we shall have, but before I refer more fully to this I must say something of Sir George Grey’s speech on the election day at City West on Wednesday. As Sir George usually does in his speeches, he made many points, aud much laughter and applause by introducing in a serious manner little references to commonplace subjects which big speakers generally consider out of place. For instance, here is a specimen : —“ If you fill the country with a poor laboring popula« fcion, who have no hope of acquiring land for themselves or their families, there will be an enormous increase of children. Fotlrng increases the number of children more than people knowing there is no hope before them. If they know there is no hope before them, that the public will have to support their children, every poor, improvident person in the community will be quite regard ess of how many beings ho brings into the world. (Great laughter.) I his idea does not originate with Sir George Grey, but my next sdeotion is quite novel and may be read with much complacency by tho Tauranga “helps.” He said : 1 —“ Just look at the position of the ‘ servant girls.’ They are not anything too well off; they

may be bo;tor ofF than in Great Britain, but to become wives an<l mothers of children, they are not by any means too well oil’t n the wages • they receive. If the master did not find food for them he would havo to pay them more wages. Yon will see, therefore, those poor things do contribute to the taxation, and I will be bound they give their fair proportion. And, just think for one moment what is the real truth of the ease. Why, it is the maid servant, who, in a great many instances, enables the master to pay the taxes. It is her cooking for him, her attending to Ids wants, her nursing him, that enables him to fulfil his position in whatever state of life ho is in, and is it not of the proceeds of that labour that the poor creature contributes to tho ■ revenue. And yet tho Colonial Treasurer could stand up, and say this is an instance that nurse girls do not contribute to tho taxation.” lids kind of thing always goes down, and did on tho present occasion. Mr Dig nan spoke, a “piece,” but was not very brilliant. The feature of his remarks was a great lament that the seat of Government had been removed to Wellington,and tho Cross' di I not forget to remind him that Sir George Grey could havo prevented that if ho had chosen. Both tho candidates for City East havo aldressod the electors, and their speeches were good as illustrating tho arguments pro and con of Separation, Clark denies that ho is put forward by tho Ministry, but declares openly against Separation, which ho is euro will bo the ruin of the colony, and especially of tho North Island, by destroying her credit, and making her actually more poverty-stricken than she is at present. As a business man, tho qualification upon which he bases hie claim to support, he wont largely into figures, and expressed a contempt lor tho “sentimentalism,” as ho calls it, winch Grey has imported into tho political question, For a beginner in public speaking bis speech waa excellent, and gave a very masterly compendium of the financial aspect; but it waa evident that ho had got it well off by rote. lift did not spare tho Government, and instanced as an abuse in tho Native Lands Department tho six years postponement; of tho settlement of the claims in tho 100,000■ acre block in tho*. Bay of Plenty. Mr Kccs spoke on Wednesday night, and there was such a rush to hear him that hundreds could not got into tho Mechanics’ Institute. He made a most eloquent speech, and exhibited a wonderful command of language, especially in his ironical comparison of Atkinson, McLean, Vogel, and Dr Pollen, with Fronde, Stuart Mill, and Carlyle. The ready way in which ho makes any fun poked at him from tho audience recoil upon the head of the perpei trutor Ims immense effect, and assists greatly in carrying his listeners with him. His effort' of Wednesday was certainly one of hie beet. It was entirely tho enthusiasm which ' it created for the moment that secured him an all but unanimous vote of confidence. I believe the supporters of Clark who were present wero afraid of being bonnettedpf they held up their hands against him. At the nomination on Thursday he obtained the show of hands by - 57 to 23, but for all this it is by no means certain that bo will go in, though tho pro* sumption is in his favor. Ho has u good many enemies, and is besides too unstable for people to place much reliance upon him. lie would bo a poworful ally of Sir George Grey’s in Parliament lor the reason staled by tho Star, namely, that ho would do a lot of rough slanging, which Sir George would bo very glad to be able to delegate to another. There is no Groyite caudidato out yet for Eden, but wo are promised ono every day, though 1 rather fancy the Opposition are at (heir wits’ end to know whore to find a man. They won’t own Hugh Carlcton, who is already in the field.

Fresh complications bare arisen in tho Pacific Mail service, and I am very much afraid that wo are on the eve of another breakdown. You know that the Colima broke her crank shaft on her journey from San Francisco. She lost three weeks before she left this port, and when she gets to Sydney she will have to lose another two months before sbo gets her injuries thoroughly repaired. Tho day after her departure the Cyph rones came in from £ho South with a flaw in her propeller shaft. It was temporarily strengthened, but tho Govern' ment Inspector would only, license the boat to go as far Kandavu, instead of going through to "Fri-co. She will therefore have to tranship her mails and passengers into the Macgregor, which is expected to take tho Colima’s p'aco as this month’s outward boat from 8) duoy. The Mi egrogor by i igh's shou’d hi to come on to Auckland, and there may be difficulties in the way of her going to San Francisco. Then again what are wo to do for a boat for next month’s outward mail ? Tho Auckland agents have sent word to Kandavu to get tho City cf San Francisco to come here instead of going on to Sydney. She left San Francisco at tho beginning of this month. Even if she arrives opportunely at Fiji it is doubtful whether the captain will feel justified in deviating from his proper route, and wo have already had an instance in Captain Bice, of tho Yasco de Gama, of how “touchy” these American skippers are at any interference with their direct orders. So you see there are no end of chances that something will occur to throw tilings into confusion. In my opinion these complications will continue-to arise so long as tho “forked service” is insisted on. Kandavu is so shut off from communication of any kind that it is impossible for (ho captains of tho steamers to let one anotl er know if anything has occurred to delay them. Under the present system three boats have often to bo there within a short time of another (the present difficulty is a case in point). Two may be all right, but tho third may be behind from some cause or other. One of the punctual two has to deviate from its proposed route. Directly that has gone it • is possible tho “ lagger” may turn up. What follows ? Why then we get two boats, one pelting after another to the same port, and > arriving as the City of Melbourne and tho Mikado (I think those were tho two) did last year within an hour or two of one another. Sydney, I am confident, would be better served by the route via Auckland, even if she got her mails a day or two later than by tho Kandavu route she would at least know when to expect them. This I think has been proved by the experience of last year,. Under tiro present system they save a day or two one trip and lose a week another owing to tho continued delays, and the uncertainty is more injurious to business men than any amount of known delay. lam supported in my opinion bj many practical men hero, and by tho captains of ail the old mail boats, except Moore of the Mikado, who being a Sydney man, is naturally rather prejudiced, I foei confident that I am right, and the Sydney ~ people will see it too some day.