MR THOMSON, M.H.R. AT CATLINS.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 197, 19 April 1878, Page 5

MR THOMSON, M.H.R. AT CATLINS.

Mr Thomson, M.H.R., met the residents of Ontlins in the Owake schoolroom on tho evening of Saturday lasi. There was a large attendance^ and Mr A. Lees was voted to tho chair. After a few introductory remarks, Mr Thomson said that he would shortly refer to some of tlie main questions which occupied the attention of members during 'last session, arid those which would most lively be rbalt with during the ensuing one, and first of all ho would refer to a question tho most interesting to this district, a?id indeed to every district in Kew Zealand. He referred to the land question. He viewed with dread and a good deal of distrust every new Land Bill introduced in'o tho H >uss. Seeing the altered state of affairs in N<iw Zealand it was considered necessary to consolidate the laud • kw-i, and consequently two Sills wore introduced during last session, namely, the Land Bill by the Atkinson Government, and tho Crown Lands Rhles bill by tho present G-overnment. The Land Bill lias some good features in it. A d\s ; ferred payment settler cm now take vtp 320 acros instead of 200 as formerly, but there was one great flaw in it— ho cau only take up one allotment as it is called. If there is 820 acres in it good and well, but if there is only 50 acres lie cannot take up another allotment ; he must be content. with it. A groat change had beeu introduced in regard to the pastoral lands. As the lerioe.s of the runs foil in, Commissioners were appointed to classify tho Laid. They were to say what was fit for agriculture and what was purely pastoral. The Waste Linda Board was empowered to cut up the pastoral land into small runs from S'JO to 5000 acrvs. These wore to be sold on the system of deferred payment at .tho upset price of £1 per acre. Fifteen years were given to }.;ty it, and the conditions wero nob very heavy. He though c this would lead to. good settlement, Fair 1 freeholds would bo acquired on fair terms. By the Crown Lands Sales Bill the price of Jand has been raised to £2 per acre.' That i*, if a peraon apply for land in the usual way, ho had to p:iy£2 per acre for it ; bub ifhe thought it not worth that amount, he could ask the Board to put it up to auction at £l per acre. Unfortunately this Bill has had the effect of raising the prico of -deferred payment sections i to £'6 per aero. Now this was never intended by those who helped to got tho Bill through. A proviso was inserted in the JBill excluding deferred payment sections from its operations'; but somehow in the hurry of business, when members were preparing to return home, this proviso dropped out. The Government should certainly have informed the House that such was the caso. As the Bill stands, however, it has the effect of making the pries of deferred payment sections £\ per acre. Thnh msau-? a rental of Gs p-:v acre per annum for 10 jears. This, he considered, was injurious to boua fUe settlement, as a great deal of the land wus not worth £3. la refet'H»ce to tho Land Fund, Mr Thomson said- ho considered it wrong in principle to make it colonial revenue. Although the present 'Government had done so, it was in effect colonial , before they came into office. The charges laid against it were so great that something like £1200 was all that appeared available for public works in Otago. Twenty per cent was novv handed over to the County Councils for public works. -Some agreement he considered must shortly bo como to between the North and South Islands. Tb was ur likely that- fh> members from Otago and Canterbury would stand" quietly by and sen their ■ resources swallowed up by the' .North Island. There was no question which ifc would be more desirable to go to the country upon than the relation between the fcwo islands. Mr Thomson, theu reviewed the Education Act, and stated" that lie was in favour of the capifcafciou tax, as it "would lighten the burden on the consolidated revenue aud act as a gentle compulsion on the parents to send .their, children to school. Touching upon the native question, he {Mr Thomson) considered that a great deal, of the time . of the -House was needlessly wasted in dis-. cussing it. He had no hesitation 1 "'in- saying that a whole month waa occupied last session upon ; . phis question. , It was continually creepirigup in every shape and. form. , There was, iio , end of.disputes ,in reference to titles, &c , . which he would like 'to see done away with. Tho present bolioy is to get- the -Maoris to' place their hinds :under the>wing of the Government to be dealt ■ with in the same wax as crown lands, Now this i 3 very good for fche Maoris, but it puts no money

into the public treasury. The Government saya to the Maoris, " We'll sell the land; and give yott the money." But supposing the land wore settled thus, who will make the roads ~ to it? Tho settlers pay taxes and. think they have a claim on tho Government for help. Now he did' not see why the laud revenue of the South Islaad should be taken to improve tracts of country " from which uo revenuo is derived..- In reference to the railway to Catlins, he (Mr Thomson) would tell them that .they must not run away with the idea that tho Government; are auxioua to construct- the railway. H<3 did not think the Government would undertake branch linos with borrowed money, and it would be a considerable time before they could do- it otherwise. If the people wish a railway they must be in earnest in the matter. Something might bo done by way of setting asido a block of land say 50,000 acres, -as if carried through, this railway would open up a large amount of land. Mr Thomson then referred to the suui3 of money voted for Oatlins lliver. The telegraph was on hand, und the Government was committed to the £1000 for the road to Catlins. The other works would no doubt bo proceeded with ns soon as money was available. He then invited questions from tb.oßß present. Mr R. Miller: Will you move during next session m the matter of getting a block' of land set apart for railway to Catlins' ? Mr Thomson : If the Government does not bring down some general scheme, I will move an far as Oatlins River railway is concerned. Captain Andrew : Will you endeavour to Ret the Education Act amended so that those who are well able to pay for their children may bo compelled to do so ? . Mr Thomson ; I have already indicated my views on that point. lam not in favour of free education, and will support the amendment of the Acb so that fees or rates may."be charged. Captain Andrew: Will you "endeavour to get alterations made in the Land and Crown ' Lands Sales Bill, so that settlement on 'the deferred payment system may not bo retarded ? Mr Thomson: If no other one : does, . I will move iv that matter. Mr Jas. Millar : Perhaps' Mr Thomson will give his opinion on the Local Option Bill ? ' Mr Thomson : I will soon my opinion on the Local Option Bill. I have not drunk spirits for years, and will always support any measure that would induce temperance or morality. I supported Mr Fox'a Bdl two years ago, and voted for tho second readiug of the Bill intro' duced last session. The people should have a voice iv the granting of license. For instance if there were four public houses in any district' and only two required, the people should have a right to say which of the two should remain open. At the same time I think the promoters of the Local Option Bill went a little tod far. Captain Andrew; Do you think it likely that the question of insular separation will be taken up at next meeting of the Assembly ? Mr Thompson : Before such a question can be dealt with it will -bo necessary to appeal to the country, and this island must send up mea pledged to vote on that particular question, I am strongly in favour of insular separation with a Federal Government. Captain Andrew : In the event of a petition being got up for a harbour endowment will you take charge of the petition, aud also move in the matter during next session of the Assembly? • Mr Thomson : I shall be very happy to take charge of the petition, and also move in the matter of obtaining an endowment for the harbour. The same idea occurred to me while the House was in session L-.st year, but as we got LIOOO for the rocks I. thought it best not to ask too much at once. Captain Andrew : ' Are you prepared to go the length of Sir George Grey in the matter of . manhood suffrage ? Mr Thomson : While I think I am liberal enough in my views 1 am somewhat conservative - in this. I am not prepared to go the length of Sir George Grey with regard to manhood suffrage. Our franchise is very liberal. To Sir George Grey are we indebted for this. It was he who framed tho constitution, la no other section of tho district I represent can I say this with more disadvantage to myself than at Catlinß River. Mr Sandlant : Do you not think it wrong that the Government should receive taxes from a working man stud refuse him a voice in the Go. vernmeut of the country, suppose he does carry a sw.ig? Mr Thomson : T do not think that tho present system of representation is anything like perfect. For instance, I have always been able to carry an ' election in the Glufcha district ; I have always had a majority j but who represents the minority. If I had tune I think I could convince Mr Sandlaut that I was quite of the same mind as he. A vote of confidence, proposed by Mr Sandlant and seconded by Mr Andrew, was carried by acclamation. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings.