MR. DRIVER AT THE NORTH DUNEDIN DRILL SHED.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2379, 16 November 1870, Page 2

MR. DRIVER AT THE NORTH DUNEDIN DRILL SHED.

About two hundred and fifty persons assembled on Monday evening, in the North Dunedin Drill .Shed, to moot Mr H. Driver, M.H. I’., and to hear his account of the proceedings at the late session of the General Assembly. On the motion of Mr Simpson, Mr Beeves took the chair. Mr Driver, who was well received, explained the reasons that induced him to postpone the meeting until that evening. He said that at the North-Bast Valley schoolhouse there were very few assembled, owing to its being Saturday evening ; and as he wished to give every publicity to his statements, he had deferred giving them until he could address a larger number. Although lie did not represent the district in the Provincial Council, he thought anyone quite competent to put any questions to him they might think fit, and he would answer them to the best of his ability. It was with some regret that he understood a certain section not only of the community but of the Press—a very small portion it might hje—took every opportunity to malign and blackguard every public man. It was very poor encouragement to any to come forward at a sacrifice annually of perhaps three months of their time, and if persisted in, would drive any man possessing self-respect from coming forward to represent them. Allusions had been made to men, far above suspicion, with whom he had worked in the General Assembly and Provincial Council, to whom base motives had been attributed, and who had been basely attacked. Ho trusted that the warning he had given would be sufficient, and that such a com se would henceforth be avoided. It would occupy too much time to go through the whole detail of the legislation that ha l taken place during the past session, which was probably tho most important that had occurred since the New Zealand Constitution Act was brought into operation—important not so much on account of the present effect of the legislation, as of its future bearing upon the weParo of the Colony. The legislation of the past session would not only alter the entire form, but in all probability the existing political institutions. The legislation proposed could not be carried out successfully without a material alteration in the system on which New Zealand was governed. He referred to tho large financial proposals of the Colonial Treasurer. He (Mr Driver) received the first intimation of them in Dunedin prior to his going up to tho General Assembly, and in common with everyone else could scarcely help expressing his surprise at the change that had taken place in the form of the financial statement. Formerly drawn up in a routine way, each statement seemed a copy of the previous one. But the large proposals almost took a man’s breath away. He arrived in Wellington in the heat of a debate upon the proposals, and gave the whole affair as mature consideration as he was able to do. No doubt many were aware, from telegraphic reports, that lie was supposed not to be a supporter of the present Government. That was both true and untrue. He could not agree with tho Government for two reasons. First, he considered the proposals were founded on a wrong basis. He tried to convince the Colonial Treasurer that his propo-als, in themselves good, would ultimately lead to scrambling and confusion, and end in nothing. He did not wish to flatter the bon. member for Dunedin, Mr Reynolds, hut lie (Mr Driver) would say, unless the Government started on something like the proposals ho brought forward, they could not lea 1 to any practical result. He was not going to say much in favor of his intentions in bringing them forward, for he knew they could not be carried, and it was useless to put them on the Order Paper unless he had fourfifths of the House in his favor. He (Mr Driver) had been afited why he did not vote for those resolutions ? It was simply because they were not pressed to a division. Had there been a divi ion upon them, he should have voted for them, whatever else might have been before the House. So long as Middle Island affairs were mixed up with those of those of the North Island, it was impossible that there could be equitable doings for the South. If seven Otago members formed the Government, such was the state of affairs that in three months they would be North Island advocates. Once across Cook Straits, and it would be impossible to obtain justice. His second objection was that no proper machinery was provided for the administration of the largo amount to be expended on immigration. With a properly constituted Board tho Middle Island might get its fair share ; but without it there was no likelihood of justice being done. As be predicted, a most unseemly scramble did take place. At one time the Government did not intend to specify any railway works, but merely asked authority to build railways. But their plan was broken through, first by a deputation from Canterbury, then from Auckland, then Otago mnd have eomethimr, then Picto.i. then Taranaki, then Hawkes Bay. Ten days before the division took place there were deputations and logrolling going on. One member would say to another “ Vote for this railway, and I will vote for that.” It was disgraceful in the extreme. The eqd of it was that a million sterling was resolved to he expended in the present year, and Otago’s share was a possible guarantee for the constructiqii of the Clutha railway if it did not cost mope than L 200,00(). Ami what provinces would have to pay the interest? Otago and Canterbury. In liis opinion tlpat was condemnatory of the whole scheme. He told tl]o Nlinigtry it was impos-iblo to carry oqt their measures. But he felt bound to s>y in the present depressed state of affairs, the Government deserved tho host thanks of the country because when their proposals wi-ro modified and carried into execution they would largely benefit the Colony, and if the electors sent good men to the Assembly, an ontiro change in tho management of affairs would result from the Government mpasqrqs. (f it were asked why affairs were so depressed, ho would reply that since tho reduced produce of tho goldfields, people, like tho Kilkenny cats, had be.u living on ono another. If one man earned LIOO lie got it out of his neighbors, and itjwas chipped off and chip cod off until there was nothing left. Another objection that ho had to tho government scheme was tho manner in which the immigration scheme was to be carried out. It was not needed to import a large lot of farm

servants. One or two importations of that class would bring .about a state_ of things no one would like to see. Immigrants were wanted with a little money in their pockets, and such a supply of labor as would enable them to obtain a fair return for the use of it. The Government proposed what they called a Colonial scheme. They siid on the one hand the expenditure of the money could only be based on a certain increase of population to enable them to pay the interest on the borrowed money, and on the other they put it entirely out of their own hands, for the Immigration Bill stated they should , only introduce such immigrants as should be recommended by the Provincial Councils of the Provinces. He would admit they were the best judges of the kind of immigrants wanted. But how could the Government undertake to expend that large sum of money when they retained no control whatever over it. Were there men in Parliament determined to assist the Gove nmeut there was no doubt the proposals might be carried out to the ultimate prosperity of the Colony. With regard to Mr Reynolds’s resolutions, he said distinctly, and told him so in Wellington, that the principles of them had his most hearty support, and if he again represented a constituency he would use his best efforts to have them, or something like them, carried out. Although political separation was impossible, he believed financial separation might be had, and that would do as well. It was quite possible that members from other parts of New Zealand wo dd join Otago in obtaining it. He did not expect the meeting cared about his going through the history of all the measures of the session. He was not afraid to state that ho thought ho had perfectly mastered the Acts in connection with public works and immigration, and unless some arrangements were made for financial separation, year by year the money borrowed would be appropriated to North Island use, until the only part the Middle Island had in it was to pay the interest. Amongst other votes was one for water supply to the Goldfields. He considered that one of the best and probably the most productive votes that had been passed. Tie believed, also, good would result irom the expenditure on roads in the North Island, if properly conducted; hut very naturally, from the state of things there, a great deal was improperly spent—not intentionally, but matters were in such a state that it was almost impossible for any person to judge of what was necessary, unless he was there. One of the most important measures passed affecting Otago, was the re-union of this Province with Southland. Whether it agreed with the opinions of the meeting or not, ho considered it one of the worst measures for Otago that could have happened. The New Provinces Act, which created those small Provinces, was one of the worst that ever was passed, but it did not follow because it was bad and worked badly, that it was wise to pass another Act to bring matters to the state they were in before, after various complications had arisen under it. Without being factious, he did his best in the Assem. bly to oppose it, but it passed. If lie were a member for Southland, he would have voted for its re-union with Otago. Southland had no revenue, and was in a state of miserable impecuniosit}’’. They could not pay the police, nor the salaries of its officers, and it became evident that Southland must either cease to he a Province, and that the General Government would take it under its care, and pay its debts, or that it should reunite with Otago. His impression was that the day was not far distant when the Middle Island would be united in one large Province, and he considered that would have been the best arrangement. To re-unite Southland with Otago was to make the Province responsible for Southland’s debts, and he could not he convinced that Otago, which was as much indebted, as i s population could afford to be, was justified in at once doubling that debt without showing a contra for it. Speaking from memory, the two Provinces owed L 1,200,000, and the interest of this had to be paid by some 40,000 or 50,000 inhabitants. The debt of Southland was somewhere about L 450,000, and some L55,0000r LOO,OOO more required to be spent. Thus about L 500.000 was added to the previous debt of Otago. On examination of the map of Southland it would bo seen that the best portion of the land was already sold, and for some years to come the revenue would not meet the necessary expenditure. Otago wouid have to provide for it, and the people of the Province could uot be expected to be content with our merely paying the interest on their portion of the loan. Becoming one with us they would expect a fair proportion of money to be spent, and he would ask how we, who could scarcely reach the Dunstan in a we k last winter, or get up a school-house within a mile of Dunedin were in a position to take upon us the debts of Southland. Unless the country were sent a-head by immigration or public works nothing but difficulty could be anticipated. It was a common complaint that the revenue of Otago was appropriated to the use of the North Island, but now it was proposed to spend it on Southland. For his part he thought the revenue should be spent as nearly as possible in the local ty whence it was derived. Although he opposed the re-union he was not going to offer any factions opposition to the fair working of the two Provinces. Southland had been taken for good or bad, and justice must be done to it with as little injustice as possible to ourselves. The next legislation affecting Otaro was the initiation of a line of steamers to San Francisco with Port Chalmers as a terminons ; L 40,000 was voted for that line, the vessels to touch at Auckland, Wellington, and Lyttelton. It had been stated by the morning journal of Ejunedin that that sqm was preposterous. Some, and amongst others Mr Colley, who perambulated the Province and never found his level until he reached Melbourne, and' some other gentlemen got an idea that he and those with whom ho was connected were the only per-, sons who could initiate a lino of steamers to California. Ha (Mr Driver) believed from his mercantile experience, and in this he was borne out by telegrams that the contribution of L 40,000 would secure a first-class line of steamers. To have the terminus here would put new life into the Province ; largo sums of money would be spent, and Otago would be brought into the world’s notico. The Daily Time * mi<dit perhaps say the steamers should bp 8000 tons burden, but steamers of 1400 to 1500 tons would bo able to do the work. If the American Government treated * with Now Zealand as the principal, in the arrangement, the Australian Governments would have to pay their share or their letters would not be forwarded. In view of the advantages derivable from the route, he considered it a wise thing to initiate the route. By that line tea persons knew of the

existence of New Zealand when one knew it previously, and that at an expense only equal to the subsidy paid for a mail to Melbourne two years ago. The present line was imperfect and imperfectly carried out, bnt it might lead to a betrer. The University Bill was carried through the Assembly. He voted for it. He found much fault with the way in which the Council was nominated, but that was capable of being rectified. Among other bills passed was the Gold Duty Bill. It was almost impossible amid such conflicting interests as were represented in he Assembly to get any measure passed except it was of general interest without being pulled to pieces by Superintendents and their tails. This was the result of Provincial jealonsv. Through this the Gold Duty Bill, the "Public Trusts Bill, the Disqualification of Members Act, and several others, were passed in forms that rendered them almost useless. The Gold Duty Dill was rendered necessary through the difference in value of gold in Auckland and the Middle Island. Northern gold was not worth ro much as Otago by a pound an ounce, and it was unfair to charge both with a duty of 2s Gd per ounce. The Assembly was disposed tc make the duty an ad valorem duty, bui the Bill was pulled and hair led about until it was dropped altogether. The Transfer of Land Bill Act was an important one, and hj; belieued in a short time it would be i'u operation in the various provinces. It hod his hearty support, for it would prevent taking money out of the pockets of poor men to put it into the pockets of lawyers and their clerks. It would facilitate the transfer of land at a light cost, and be a boon to the community at largo. He could not avoid speaking on tho land question, though it was one that to explain fully would occupy much time. When he was a candidate for Roslyn, that question n as the main one, and he was returned on it. In addressing a large meeting at Mornington, ho went a great length into it and convinced the electors that the best legislation had been adopted under the circumstanses. The Act of 1566 was imperfect, and bad from beginning to end, and that rendered something necessary to mend it. Nowhere excepting in the Australian colonies was the system of leasing adopted. Such a thing was not known in America. There they had free selection all over tho country. In Otago the system was adopted of granting leases to persons who would put a certain amount of stock on the land, and pay a certain rent. Had it been honestly done, it might have been for the welfare’of all parties. Such Crown lands were leased as would on ah] a the people to open up the country at a nominal rental, the Government reserving the right of resuming possession when they were wanted for sale. If that principle had been stuck to, and land taken as it was wanted, the course of ac f ion would be perfectly fair and honest ; but in all cases there was a desire for a change—no one could say why—possibly a little more rent might he wanted. So long as the yield of gold continued all went right b u t when the depression was felt the question was asked why should the runholders have lands at a penny per head for sheep ? Tho Government wanted money, and therefore made a jump from a Id to 7d at once. It was only necessary to deal with the Act of ISGfI as it repealed all existing Acts. It gave rnnholders the option of working out their licenses at Id per head or coming under a lease at 7d per head for sheep. Several runs had five, six, and seven years to run, and the Government of the day rightly or wrongly granted leases to all licensees who applied, reserving the right of resuming the land without compensation to the ruoholder. When different people applied to the Government under the now Act, A had one granted immediately because it was known there was no agricultural land on his run, hut B who had live or six thousand acres of good land was refused, unless he would covenant that the land might be declared a hundred, and thus he thrown open for settlement when wanted The Hundreds Regulation Act was to remedy the evils that grew up under that Act, and he defied any to shew him in any leading article written against that Bill even the shadow of an argument. There was a difference of opinion between tho Superintendent and his ministers on the subject, and a special meetin" of the Council was called to decide whether his Honor or his ministers were right. It ended in those gentlemen who condemned the Bill bringing forward resolutions in order to avoid being turned out of office—whkh, had they been brought forward by any one who voted with him would have got him still more blackguarded than he had been. The only argument urged against the Bill was that the General Assembly had passed it without consulting the Provincial Council. He admitted any change of that sort should have the opinion of the Province pronounced upon it, but there really was no change in the land laws of the Province. The Act merely .prescribed the mode in which hundreds should he declared. There was a clause in the original Bill with regard to the valuation of English grasses which never emanated from the Waste Lands Committee. It was proposed and carried, hut he considered it of no use, rnd from the last Bill it n as struck out. Whether the Act was perfect or not he did not intend to say, A clear-headed man would < have made a better if it had been left to him, but it was intended to provide for a fair arbitration between the Government and the runholder. It was also passed to prevent a dead lock, for the General Government declared if it were not passed they would not proclaim hundreds. It was the only way of doing justice to those who paid for their leases. It was now eighteen months sfnee the Act was passed, and the Provincial Government were blaming others for not having brought it into operation, but had not members qf the Government perambulated the country, and prevented the Act‘being brought into operaflop its operation would have been known, and’if needful, amendments prepared. He believed there was a growing feeling in the country in favor of free selection. The present land laws were not what they should he They had been so muddled up with Goldfields Acts that they effectually shut up the land He had tried to rectify those faults, and not to set cue class against another class. But some got their . living by agitation on the land question. He was an advocato for free selection. Why should a man with LSOO in his pocket he told you cannot by land excepting here or there ? Why not let him go and select land where he chooses '! Ho knew in advocating free selection ho was advocating that which would be injurious to the class with which he was supposed to he connected, and that some of them would he ruined if it wenadopted ; but it would spread population over tli© country. He did not believe that pittking regulations that one man should only

buy so many acres would prevent capitalists buying land. In his opinion the only way to touch capital was to tax unimproved land. The first price of land he considered of small consequence, and, therefore, in certain localities he would make it 1,2 per acre. No speculator would then buy land to lie unimproved. Many other Bills wore passed, but they were of comparatively small importance, and he should not therefore detain the meeting further. In reply to a question by Air Reynolds, Mr Driver said that, in his opinion, that gentleman could not have expected to carry the separation resolution-! propased by him, for it avas perfectly useless to put them on the order paper unless the Goverment were prepared to support them Air Reynolds had stated there M T cre 25 members ready to support them, but he (Mr Driver) said there was nothing of the sort. Air Reynolds bad asked tho Government, avho said they would not support them. They said if Air Reynolds could show a large amount of support they would make it a Government question. He (Mr Driver) could not say what took place before the Public Works scheme came out, but when he arrived in Wcllingt m there avas no chance of carrying them. Mr Reynolds said the Colonial Treasurer told him he avonld support the resolutions, but never told him he avonld not. Air Driver said that had the resolutions been pre sed to a division, he should have voted for them even if tho Government had been ousted by their being passed. In reply to Mr Attwood, Air Dniv hr said he avas not aware in America of any Government system of deferred payments for laud. He thought it a bad system. Air Stout asked a number of questions on the Huudrejla Regulation Act, avhich Mr Driver answered satisfactorily to the meeting. In answer to some questions ho said he preferred bonuses to particular duties. He was not p.repared to repudiate New Zealand debentures or any agreements entered into by the Government. On the motion of Air Simpson, seconded by Mr Newlanps, a unanimous resolution was passed, expressing full confidence in Mr Drive as representative of the district in the Assembly, and thanking him for his attendance. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.