MR VINCENT PYKE, M.H.R., AT TINKERS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 887, 18 April 1879, Page 3

MR VINCENT PYKE, M.H.R., AT TINKERS.

—Q— On Wednesday evening last, the 16th Inst., Mr Pyke, according to advertisement, addressed his constituents at Tinkers Gully on the “ Political Problems of the Period.” About fifty of the principal residents of the district were in attendance, of whom Mr Wm Qreenbank, member of the Vincent County Council for Matakanui, was elected to the chair.

The Chairman said it was scarcely neces sary for him to introduce Mr Pyke to the meeting, or his mission among them that evening, as mostly all were personally acquainted with the gentleman, and by presence there they were fully alive as to what the mission was. He would ask for Mr Pyke a patient hearing, and he felt. Justified in saying that after the address Mr Pyke would answer any questions that might be put to him. Mr Pyke then rose and said : Gentlemen, it affords me much pleasure in meeting you here to-night, to discuss with you' the "Political Problems of the Day” Last year I fonnd it impossible to visit every centre of population in the Dunstan District, and accordingly this year f purpose addressidg those whom I did not last. At the poll I received your unanimous support, and I sincerely trust that when Parliament is dissolved no single man among you will be able to say that 1 have forfeited the confidence you reposed in me by electing tn .* your representative. For my own part, 1 can safely say that my every effort has been to carry out every policy to the very, letter I enunciated when 1 courted your suffrages. My business, however, to-night is not to indulge in personalities, but to touch on questions of far more importance, namely, the political questions of the period. From the disorganised state of Parliament during the last session it is almost certain that during the coming one there will be a dissolution, ami I hold that with you (the electors) depends as to whether the succeeding five years will be as bald of good results as the last. The battle to be fought is avhethei the people will conquer or submit 'to serfdom. The first problem—it being in my estimation the most important— that 1 ■will touch on is that of the Land. Taxation, Education, &c., &c., are insignificant questions compared with that of the Land, and over it there will be more battling than; over the whole of the others put together. It will be capital against the people ; and 1 unless there is unanimity among the people capital will gain the day, and settlement will be retarded beyond what it has been. The battle will have ‘to be fought to the death, and hold to no more temporising for the future. There is a .determination, amongst the squatters to obtain a- renewal of their leases for another ten years, and I tell you that with you rests the whole thing. As evidencing the tenacity with which the land is held on to I may instance that of the one and a-half millions' of aeries in the Vincent County in the old Provincial District of Otago, only 22,000 acres of this amount have been sold within the last 16 years, and the best has fallen into the hands of the squatters. It is true 33,000 acres more, after no end of difficulty, have been surveyed, but there is no saying when it will bo placed in the market. There is no decided plan of settling the people on the land. 'Some quacks advocate agricultural leases, and' others, again, deferred payments. I want the Canterbury system—free selection before survey. I don’t know if the House will pass such a measure, but I intend to bring in one and chance it. The question of price of deferred payment land, L 3 per acre, of that it can only be said either that the Government were ignorant of the meaning of the measure they brought forward, or that they coolly and deliberately perpetrated a swindle. Mr Donald Reid, when the question was before the House, drew attention to the clause, and said that it would raise the price to 1,3, but Mr Stout, the Attorney-General, said, no. But the judges ruled that it would, and it has remained at that price. The Parliament expressly intended the price should be 30s, and the people who have paid more are justly entitled to have it returned.

Another problem —onr taxation—but on which we are only on the threshhold, is neither black, white, or any other color, but a dirty mulatto ; if we are to have direct taxation, we must have it on those things we produce, and not on those wo donotproduce. The financial policy of the Government is what may be termed a whistling through a keyhole one, not bold enough, when reducing the tariff on tea and sugar, the whole should have been removed or none, as by the reduction of only half penny from sugar and three-pence from tea, the poor man, who has to buy by the pound really derives no benefit"

The next problem—representation— is one of great moment, and one not easily srited, I take it as a fact that cannot be >gMnsaid, that manhood suffrage is the only true policy, the great difficulty to contend with, however, will be the rabble of the, towns, my policy is that representation be based on population in the proportion of three to country districts and two to towns. The next problem—Electoral Districts something more like an equalization should be arrived at, no district to have more than one member.

The County System is next, and when I tell yon the whole system is in danger you doubtless will be surprised, but it is a fact nevertheless, because the squatters and property holders do not like being taxed I propose favoring an extension of boundaries, or failing that, the seperation of North ant) South islands, and the abolishing of the* County System.

Another question I will touch upon is the Gol>l Duty, and I will ask you before you come to any conclusion to reckon the cost of abolishing. (Mr Pyke here entered into the explanation, that during the passing of the Public Works’ Scheme, a compact was entered into between Members, that if the Duty was not interfered with mining property should be exempted from taxation, which meant that, instead of paying L 2400, the amount paid as duty last year, they would pay more than twice as much m taxation, as the value of mining proper, ties In the County, irrespective of claims, was L 130.000. The question is one that has to be considered solely by the miners, but it is one not to be thought of in a hurry. The Education question it a thing that has to be fought nut during the coming Session. M y opinion is that the whole difficulty can be met by a measure similar to that brught in and lost last session by Mr Curtis, the Member for Nelson. I do not know if he will bring it up again, but should he I will agoin support it. I hold that it is no part of the duty of a State to assist in educating one denomination and not others

As the commencement of my address was on the land question, bo shall be my closing remarks. Under the Public Works’ Scheme all the people of the interior were drafted to the seaboard’ and it only now requires the opening of the lands to bring them back ;to effect this there will be a great fight. The squatters in this district especially, absent themselves ; if they do not deem it worth their while to live oh the lands, then it is for you to raise your voices as one man to obtain it for yourselves. Vou must not be led away with any specious promises of being allowed to occupy a small patch here} and there—the right is yours to have what now is given yon as a compliment I willforgivel any Government* thousand faults if they will only throw open the land in a liberal manner, and in conclusion I say it behoves you to be on the alert to retu r n at the next election a man favorable to opening the land. I desity now to thank you for the patient hearing accorded me, and to say that I shall be pleased" to answer any questions that may be put to me.—Applause. Mr G. Mellor : Are yon willing to throw open Thomson’s Creek as a tail-race ?

Mr Pyke : The creek you refer to is freehold property, being a of the preemptive right of Matakanui station, and no legislation can affect it. It can only be obtained by purchase. Mr Greenbank : Will you endeavour to obtain a line of communication between hero and Ophir, either by telegraph or telephone ? . , Mr Pyke : I obtained a promise of a telephone between Cromwell and Pembroke, but have not yet got it. I will see what can be done.

Mr Spain : Will you during the next session support the present Ministry 7 Mr Pyke : I have always said that I am no party man. 1 will not support the present or any Ministry, excepting their views or measures agree, with mine.

In answer to further questions, Mr Pyke said that it was his intention to bring in, a Bill next session to lower the price of deferred payment lands. That with respect to the Chinese he was prepared to limit the number to arrive in the Colony by any ship; also to impose a poll-tax of LlO per head on those that may arrive. He could not agree that Chinese should be debarred from tendering for County works, wniie European contractors had the right to employ Chinese labour.

After a lapse of a few minutes, and there being no other questions asked, Mr S. Read proposed : That Mr Vincent Pyke was a fit and proper person to represent the Dunstan district in the Legislative Assembly, and that ho be accorded a vote of thanks for his address. Seconded by Mr J. O. Mellor, and carried unanimously. In returning thanks, Mr Pyke said it was very gratifying to him to hear the unanimous and outspoken expression of confidence.