MR SUTTON AT HASTINGS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3931, 25 February 1884, Page 4

MR SUTTON AT HASTINGS.

his position. Many of thorn were aware that ho had been a Government supporter, though there wero questions on which they_ did not agree. He would toll them something now— ho thought it was tho proper time to tell them—in 18S2, tho session before last, when the fate of the Government was hanging in tho balance, how certain votes went would turn the soalc, tbegentleman occupying tho responsible position of Government whip came to him and asked him how ho was going to vote. That was a very plain and distinct question, put as curtly and distinctly as possible. He said he did not know, that he had got his price. "Oh," said he, "you have got your price." He saw that every one else had got his price, and his price could bo related on the floor of the House. His juice was this, "What aro the Government going to do with tho Local Government Bills." He hesitated for a moment, "I think they arc going to pass them." " Aro you sure they are going to pass.them ?" He said, '' Yes,'' "Then my vote is right." That was the only question between bun and the Government ; if they wero going to pass tho.se bills, his vote might be depended upon. He had never related the circumstance before ("Is that all of it?") Those bills did pass in 1882, the prominent one he claimed to be the father of, as he was the first man who advocated tho Native Lands Rating Bill. Ho had always held that it was not a proper matter for County and Road Boards to be concerned on political questions, but Road Boards should have tho right of collecting rates from every piece of hind, no matter who owned it. If it wei'e matter of public policy that the Government objected to Road Boards levyin" - rates on certain lands, the Government .should pay the rates. Probably, iv consequence of tho action he took in connection with three or four other members, that was one of the bills in !BS2 which he included in his stipulation with tho Government whip. That bill passed in 1882, and the Government were bound to pay rates upon native lands within the Road Board districts ; they had the right to charge it on those lands, but they threw on Road Boards no responsibility whatever of collecting it from natives who might not bo the proper owners, and he thought ho was justified in thinking that tho County Council' of Hawke's Buy and the Road Boards mi«ht bo guarded in that way, and that they "wero going to get a sensible addition to their revenue. He found on tho 2nd February a proclamation exempting from the Crown and Native Lands Act more than seven-eights of the native lands in the district of Hawke's Bay. The large native reserve in their neighborhood, with its valuable paddocks, was exempted. The Hcretaunga Road Board, among other bodies, was expected out of its revenue, though that reserve had paid no rates up to tho present moment, to keep tho road in repair. He telegraphed to the Ministry that he considered it was an ovusion of the Act ; ho considered thoy were playing a freak upon tho local bodies, a trick which they would resent long, through their being led to believe they would receive rates for two years, and thou knocking it from their feet. He received a telegram in reply on Friday that tho proclamation of February 2nd had been revoked, and tho Government had put their tale between their legs and were now prepared to pay. Ho would liko to ask them if any man Math definite ideas of public duty in reference to tho rights and responsibilities of local bodies could put up with a thing of that sort ? So far as he was concerned, as chairman of the local board, although occupying that position, he would have thought a groat deal of the Government if they hud justified thenaction, but they did not do that. When they found the feeling of tho country was against them tl icy re yoked their proclamation, and were going to pay tho rates, Another matter which was of importance to local bodies was the Road Construction Bill. In tho session of 1881 it was brought in and passed by certain supporters of the Government. Ho agreed to a great extent with those gentlemen who opposed it, but he thought tho bill was of a* temporary nature, and the bill provided considerable assistance to tho counties, which would help themselves by taxation. The Hawke's Bay County made engagements to a large extent with reference to a work with which thoy wore acquainted, tho opening up of the Inland Patea district. They applied for £15,000 under the Act, and they wero prepared to find £5000 out of tho county funds to assist in that matter. Tho Government found it moro than they could comply with, and last session a bill was passed limiting them to £5000. The Government said the principle was right, but they could not do it, and what did thoy find now ? That the £5000 thoy had applied for was to be divided by five ; instead of getting £14,000, they were to get £550. Ho should not have been so plain on that question wore it not tor tho fact that tho House of Representatives providod the means to the Government for carrying out that Act. He had taken the trouble to look over public pa.pcr.-j in his possession, und he found the Houso of Representatives voted £75,000 and £100,000 out of tho land funds. A list was publishod ten days ago in both papers—the Government were going to allocate £69,000, And he was notsatisficd, and the Government had not treated local bodies as thoy ought to. All Governments should consider that local bodies wore the people themselves, they were tho samo people as the Government represented. They were all concerned in Town Boards or Road Boards, and if the Government attempted to tread on the rights of local bodies they wero treading on the very men who returned them, and ho was not likely to support any Government that was going to insult tho local bodies. The Government, in their proclamation of February 2nd took a perfectly legal course, but when he saw it his hair went straight up, and he went at once to tho county solicitor. Tho position was this—there was si clause in the Act of 1882, which was put in by the Government, that allowed them the option of advising His Excellency the Governor to withdraw and make subject to the ordinary rating clauses of tho colony any district. It was explained that during tho three years that must elapse under tho Property Assessment Act there might be changes in the nativo lands occupied by Europeans who were rateable, and thero might be an European entitled to pay. The Government said it was absolutely necessary to give them power to exempt native lands which • had passed into the possession of a rateable person. But tho clause reads, the Government havo power to issue a proclamation, bo that, within the Clive, tho Heretaunga, the Petano, and Puketapu Road Board, districts tho native lands wore exempt from rating at all, and they say to the local bodies, "Very well, you can get your rates from any person you like." He should liko to know how much tho Clitfo Board would get from those lands, orthqPnkowhaißoardfrom a property which was valued at £89,000, and from which the Pakowhai Board would now get £137 and the county £176. They had no recourse, and tho Government having received a plain statement of facts thought it better to withdraw and pay, Tho Hcretaunga Road Board will receive from Government about £150; the Olive Road Board will receive £230 or, £240; the Okawa, in respect , to the Omahu property, £400 ; and the County Council about £1100 or £1200. Those wore monies .for which he did not thank the Government at all. THE BREAKWATER.. There was another subject on which they would expect him to say something. A movement was going on in reference to the Napier harbor. He would be honest beyond all shadow of a doubt, that so far as any action on his part could go he should do his best to assist Napier to get a decent harbor. Ho had the honor of representing —ho said it with pride—the blue ribbon of the North Maud constituency—the constituency of Hawko's Bay was larger than any other district in the North Island; it showed on the valuation roll more property than any other district. It contained settlers of great pluck, and it was much to bo regretted that by any action of naturo they were not able to tako advantage . of thoir position. Ho hoped they should bo able to take advantage of their position in another threo or four years. It was not at all likely or probable that that district would .over be enll»d upon for a penny of rates to

pay interest on tho Napier harbor. If the Napier harbor dues did not pay that interest double them; if they did not pay it then, treble them, but the Napier harbor, he was perfectly certain, could pay the interest. If it were necessary—though he did not pretend to be an engineer—the Napier Harbor Board could pay interest on £400,000, and he did not think £400,000 should stop them, if they could get a really serviceable harbour, as they had got at Timaru. He had been looking up some figures the other day, although it did not oome within the scope of that meeting, it would not be improper to allude to them. Within the last twelvemonths the export of frozen meat from New Zealand had assumed large dimensions ; indeed, until he saw some papers which ho had access to the last three or four days, he was not aware it had assumed such dimensions as it had. Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin had supplied to the English market no less than 230,000 carcasses of sheep, which had represented in the English market £380,000. That they would admit had been denied them—tho benefit of that trade, and it had been denied them principally if not wholly because thoy had not a harbor in which largo steamers could come and discharge their cargo. They had in the near future arrangements by which a certain number of ships would load there and take their frozen mutton, but they would not tako it at the same price as other ports, and he was perfectly certain the difference in the export cost by steamers of frozen mutton from the roadstead and put on board the ships at the wharf would pay the whole of the cost of tho breakwater. He was surprised and very much gratified to find that in that important question of commerce New Zealand had taken tho position it had. It was not moro than two yours ago that he met the general manager of the N.Z. Shipping Company—Mr Coster—who was iv Wellington principally for the purpose of interviewing the Government so as to arrange a subsidy of £25,000 for a forty-five days service, but the company had in less than two years developed a service of which New Zenlanders should be proud of, less than 45 days and without a subsidy at all, and he hoped tho time was not far distant when they should havo periodical visits from such steamers, for the breakwater off the Bluff would enable them to put on the London market at the cheapest rate their mutton. Without doubt any measure that would have to bo brought before the House of Representatives to authorise a loan, that measure would have his most cordial and thorough support. The interests of Napier and the interests of the country, so far as harbor accommodation was concerned, were identical. The interests of the countrywere larger than those of the town itself, and it was a question on which they might work together without any jealousy, and he should be happy to give' any assistance lie could to such an important work. THE future. In those renmrks he had thoroughly abstained from what they might call tho coming events, which were casting their shadows before. Ho believed within the next three or four months it would be his pleasure and pride to stand on that platform to ask for a renewal of the confidence they had placed in him. So far as ho could judge events they would have a short session. The House would probably meet in May or June, but the Government would not attempt to bring before the House anything liko the business of the session, but would court an ad verso vote with the intention of going to the country. Ho did not want to say anything as to what might take place then, except that so far as ho could judge ho hoped to havo the pleasure of addressing them on the questions that might be brought forward. He thanked them for the attention they had given him, and he should go to the House to do his best for tho interests of the country aud the constituency ; but, •should a question ariso between the two, ho should consider the interests of the colony demanded thoir claims should be his. Ho thought tho Government had shown indecent haste in rushing surveyors over tho ■\Vcst Coast—Tho Mokau-Cambridge line. He had never expressed himself decidedly on that point before; he had expressed himself in the House, and he was bouud_ to say the Government had shown a deal of indiscretion and impropriety in rushing all the available surveyors of tho country to survey the Mokau lino. Ho did not think tho interests of that part of the country should be neglected by withdrawing all the necessary officers from Woodvillo for the Mokau - Taranaki line. It might be a fad which was acceptable to certain members representing the Auckland districts, it might bo acceptable to tho members representing the Taranaki district, but lie never read anything in his life with more surprise than when he saw tho chairman of the Auckland Chamber of Commorco had said the work was absolutely necessary for the good of the colony—a colonial work—if thoy had seen a plan of tlic Mokau-Cambridge line, ho thought they would require a pair of spectacles to believe that could bo a colonial line. It might serve the interests of Taranaki and Auckland, but that it served New Zealand he was perfectly satisfied it did not. Ho should endeavor, so far as ho could, to get the lino that had been surveyed from hero to Taupo -that might bo called a central line, but the line from Mokau to Taranaki should have his most determined resistance. In reference to the Minister of Public Works, thoy all knew that since tho last session of Parliament he had resigned, and was also about resign his seat. Humor said ho was going home to assume the Agent-Generalship. There had been two resignations during tho recess. Tho Premier had resigned—ho was a tried man who had been in responsible positions for thirty years, so it was not to be wondered at that he retired with the respect of the country. He thought, however, the appointment of the Minister of Public Works was an insult to the colony and to tho House. So far as ho knew the gentleman ho was an estimable man, locally known, and highly respected as a private gentleman, but ho did object to an important position being given to a gentleman who had got no political opinions at all, who could not tell them the way to administer tho department, a gentleman who had no experience, and who had given no evidence of ability on the floor of the House, but who was selected solely because ho was an Auckland man. He had always held that tho seven Ministers should be selected from tho best men of the party no matter where they resided. He did not think the House would pass over tho slight which had been put upon it, The gentleman's name was only to bo found on the fly-leaf of Hansard. He hoped the time was coming in New Zealand when a Ministry would be selected from the best men the country offered. A general election was at hand, and he did not intend to predict what the result would be. They should return gentlemen fit to lead the House honestly and fairly. He should not be a supporter of the Ministry during the coming session, as ho had advised them he was not in the least attached to the very improper administration of theirs. Ho was one of those who looked forward to the election of certain gentlemen who could assume office and lead the country to the destiny which awaited it. In answer to questions, ho said ho had opposed Mr Green's Eight Hours'_ Bill because it was ono of tho most mischievous fads in Now Zealand, Where would their crops havo been if an Eight. Hours' Bill had been in force in the district ? Ho had, always been in favor of the general manager of the railways employing the best men he could get and. paying them well, but the Railway Department must be managed as a commercial speculation. . Mr Sutton resumed his seat amidst loud and prolonged applause. Mr Ellis moved, and Mr Knight seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr Sutton for. his address, which was very warmly accorded^