THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2472, 18 January 1871, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

MR REYNOLDS AT THE MISSION HOUSE.

Mr W. H. Reynolds met the city electors at the Mission-house, Russell street, hist evening. Mr William Hay was voted to the chair, and there were about 50 persons present. 'l’he candidate observed that he had never previously held a meeting in the ci'y; but as it hail been represented that the electors would hi wil'ing to hear him, he had called them together. 1 ' He had, however, to apologise for'the shortness of the' notice ‘ given; He was very much averse to any candidate referring to another candidate'; but at the same time he fe]t bound to refer to some remarks made by Mr Mabassey in reference ti) himself. He should therefore briefly refej' to those remarks, without attributing any blame to that gentleman, who bad no doubt committed au error of judgment; but would merely clear himself. He bad been charged with ■ inconsistency ; but he denied that any single instance of inconsistency oh his part during the time he bad represented the'' city : could be shown. He did not intend to go fully into the various questions, as by‘doing so he would occupy some twelve hours ; hut Wndd lie brief in his . remarks, and then answer any questions that might be put" to hiiu. ' Referring to Mr Macasscy’s statement-!; that gentleman had said “ He had taken the trouble tp gq tlip.Tigh Yhe speeches cjelivpvgd by % Reyholds during the course of the session, au4 hh must say that the statements which he toadu ht the Princess Theatre betrayed glaL ing inconsistencies when compared tvitfi his recorded acts aiid speeches, Mr Reynolds, in speaking upon the financial scheme, after pointing out tho unfair allocation of the proposed expenditure on the North and South Islands, said : Sir, it may be supposed from my remarks that I am making an on-

slaugbt on the G-overnmeiit policy as brought -down by the Treasurer ; such, however, is not my intention. L consider the statement as one of the most able, if not the in st able, that I have ever heard in this House.” Mr Keynolds, it was true, proceeded to qualify the st teinent which ho made, but was that the language of a member who Avas strongly and consistently opposed to the linancial measures of the Government?” He (Mr Reynolds) avas as strongly opposed to the financial measures of the Government as he could be, and that ho avjs opposed to them could be seen by Hanxnrd. He believed them to be very unfair towards the Middle Island ; but at the same time, Avhilst he strongly opposed them, he still held the statement Avas one of the most able, if not the most able, statements he had ever heard in that House ■—■( applause) ; whilst he did not agree with the ('tdonial Treasurer in Into, he agreed with him thus far ; if the policy were only reversed—if, insteul of the Colony contributing towards the Provinces, tlie Provinces had contributed towards the Colony that was to say, if the ProA’inees contributed lo the Colonial expenditure, instead of the Colony taking the whole of the revenue and contributing towards the support of the Provinces, the scheme woidd have been a firstr vte one. What he did say Avasthis : Sii, it may be supposed from my remarks that 1 am making an onslaught on the Government policy, as brought down by the Colonial Treasurer ; such, hoAvever, is not my intention. I consider the statement as one of the most able, if not the most able, that I have heard in this House. It is, however, a little too one-sided to meet Avith the entire approval of the Southern Island. If dove-tailed on to the resolution I am now submitting to the House, the policy enunciated would, 1 believe, receive the support of a large majority of the inhabitants of the Colony. _ It Mr Macassey had read the Avhqle of Ins remarks, he would have borne quite a dineient opinion. And Avith regard to Ins (Mr Reynold’s) inconsistency, Mr Macassey further said Therefore, if they, found that Mr Reynolds or any other membei deliberately supported and voted for any ot those measures, they must of necessity infei that they supported the policy of the scheme. He found that upon the division taken upon the fifteenth clause of the Immigration Bill, Mr Reynolds voted with the Government, aud assisted them iu defeating the oppusition to that clause by a very considerable majority.” That Avas the only vote he had given upon the Government iinancial measures, and it was upon the Public Works and I nmmration Acts, on the amendment propAsecl°by Mr J. C. Richmond, for striking out from clause 13 the following words “ Or by- gra t of any land uvhich he [the Governor] may be authorised by law to contract to grants as compensation for such works.” He voted with the Government and against that amendment, because he belioved power should be given to giant ment for public works in land instead of in cash, if thought payable. Again, Mr Macassey stated —“Mr Key no ds came forward at an early period of Ihc session with a sffiSme for financial separation of the Colony. That scheme was clearly opposed to the financial measures of the Government. Ibe Government proposed in this grand scheme to units a'l the discordant elements of the Colony, to secure for it a great future, aud destroy Provincial disaffection. Mr Reynolds, however, came forward Avith his scheme of financial separation. He declared- and he (Mr Macassey) happened t>hive his declaim'ion in Hmmrd- that he would not withdraw is resolutions, aud that he would press them to the vote. They had found since that Mr Reynold’s financial scheme Avas withdrawn, because, as he suggested, he found his supporters lukewarm.” He had never withdrawn his separation scheme. On its coming up one of the Wellington members moved the previous question, Avhich meant shelving the question ; he knew the House Avas against him, because member after member rose and stated it was his intention to support the previous question. Mr Macassey further said:—“He thoroughly believed that if Mr Reynolds or any other of their representatives had ass:sted upon the scheme being withdrawn for a time, and submitted to the deliberations of the electors, the House would almost unanimously have agreed to the proposal. . . . The Ministry would for their oavh sake, and in order to avoid that disaffection and dissatisfaction that had arisen in a considerable part of the Colony, have only been too glad to have rested satisfied Avith the honors they had won. and have submitted the scheme for the calm and careful deliberation of the electors.” In Wellington there appeared to He none of the dissatisfaction Mr Macassey alluded to. From the telegrams and articles in the newspapers, and the meetings held in different parts of the country, it appeared that throughout the length aud breadth of the Colony the people Avcrc enamoured with the scheme. Jjo was somewhat puzzled about it. All his colleagues from Otago scorned to bo in favor fif the scheine ; but lie took his own AV.iy. He knew it was not right'; he dil not believe that his constituents understood the. question thoroughly, because they had not the whole of the Bit's before them to examine them for themselves. He therefore determined to take his own course. But he did not withdraw his resolutions. He was compelled to accept the previous question. He did not call for a division, because it would not show the exact position of the matter. He would read Avhat ho s' ated upon that occasiOh “ He held that not only might this question (financial separation) be left for the constituencies to decide, but even the larger question, the question of the financial proposals of the Colonial Treasurer, Avhich would involve a heavy debt Upon the inhabithuts of this Colony- both thesu might be well left for the decision of a future parliament.” |n reference to the previous questions which had been moved, he remarked that he did not intend to call for a division, because he felt sure that by doing so he avouLl not got the mind of the House. One member requested him not to divide, because be y(W in favor of th§ rcstflutW'JS : al,n) !’ t Cr member stated hj;. would vote for the previous question, because lie was opposed to bring on the ouestion rt that tiUe. ' Ho (Mr Reynolds) state (f'hd AVoiiid take the opinion of the House before going into committee of supply, •when he avoulcl again move his rcaoluti ns. ' He then gave notice of the following mo■jijqn i— ‘(ThatAvith a vjow to give the people of the Colony an opportunity, by limans 6f the general elections, to consider whether it will conduce to their interests to Secure either complete or final separation of the two Islands, it is desirable that the financial legislation of the present session should be framed so as to impede such separation, if by the constitnncies thought advisable (Applause.) By that the question avoii! I have been entirely left to the electors to decide. When; the question again

came on he was told that the previous question Avould be again moved, the consequence of Avliich would be that he could not bring it on .again during that session. Seeing that such would be the case, and the cost of the legislature was something like L2OO per day, he did not think it his duty to Avaste the time of members or put the country to that expense, merely to gratify himself, by it being reported in Hansard that he had persevered with his resolutions. He had also been accused of misrepresenting the constituency. ’ He had now represented it for seventeen years, and if he had ever misrepresented i i one instance, it had been through error of judgment. He had reaped no personal advantage from being a' member either of th(T Assembly or Provincial (Jomieial ; he had endeavored to do his duty, and he considered he had done it. and he did not know that anyone had ever accuse 1 him of doing .anything Avroug since ho had been representative for the City (Applause.) It Avas all A-ery Avell to moke those assertions, but when made people should be able to prove Avhcrein he had misrepresented the constituency. He denied, as stated by Mr Macassey. that the Otago and Southland Re-union Bill was a permissive measure. Clause 2 of it is as follows : “ This Act shall come into operation on such day as the Governor shall by proclamation appoint, but no proclamation bringing this Act into operation shall be made until the Speaker of the Provincial Council of each of the ProA'inccs of Otago and Southland, shall have certified to the Governor that the Provincial Council of Avhich he is Speaker have parsed a resolution requesting the Governor to bring the Act into operation.” So that the electors con’d only decide upon the question through their representatives in the Provincial Council, Avhich they had done. As to Mr Macassey’s argument, that the electors had had no opportun ty of expressing an opinion upon the subject he (Mr Reynolds) said the question was one that Avas prominently di-cussed at the general elections in 1807. He know that the present Superintendent made it so, when at a meeting in the theatre, he said it Avas one of the points he intended to carry into effect if elected. He (Mr Reynolds) believed he pledged himself to it; at any rate, he then said he Avas in favor of the re-union—(Ap-plause.) The matter was discussed in the session of the Council before last, when a resolution Avas passed, urging the Southland people to unite. No ojfposition Avas then raised. In 1809 a Permissive Bill Avas passed by the Assembly, and that fact was avcll known, and in 1800 the present Act Avas passed, so that the question had been before the public for six years. Whether it avas a good Act or not, it had been supported by two-thirds of the Otago members. Mr Macassey had charged him with being mainly responsible for the measure, which he was not. He certainly did support the re-union, and he Avas prepared to say, hoAvever much it appeared to be against us at the present time, he thought it would ultimately turn out to be a good thing. He only wished that the union of the Middle Island ProA'inccs could be secured in the same way ; if that could be done avc had the material Avithin ourselves to make this a prosperous’ Colony (Applause ) He was almost ashamed to have to deal at such length with Mr Macassey, but he felt hound to do so iu justice to himself—(A Voice: Never mind Macassey, and another Voice : Give us your own opinions.) There was another point he must refer to. On the hustings yesterday Mr Macassey had received a slip from a membr of the Assembly—a friend of his (Mr Reyro’da)-- and he had commented upon his pairing. He was compelled to leave Wc'liugtan before the session closed ; all the fiuanci 1 hills had been read a second time, and they had been affirmed by large majorities only eleven members out of a House of 77 opposing them. When he left Wellington, he gave a general pair in favor of the Government. He was at one with them on every question, save the financial policy. He authorised Mr Macandrcw and Mr Main jointly to relieve Mr Harrison from his pair on any question which they deemed advisable. He also paired with Mr Taylor of Wellington City against any special votes for that Province, Avhether supported by the Government or not, and ho had a similar pair -with Mr Macfarlane of Auckland ; so that Ige had 'used all the precautions he could. When* the bids had passed their second reading and had been affirmed by large majorities, he thought it was clearly the proper course for him to adopt to pair against their being made Averse than they vTere. It was to be bo: ne in mind that there Averc only 10 out of 77 members opposing them, but he knew from behind the scenes that some members wanted radical alterations which would have been against the Middle island, and if combinations could have been formed the attempt would have been made. The Government would submit to no radical alterations, but they put it that if they avcrc left with a small House it was just possible that they would lie unable to prevent anything of the kind. Mr Macassey, had he studied Parliamentary tactics, would have known that the Government with such a majority at their backs as they had could carry their measures, Avithout submitting them to the constituencies at all, and he avoulcl have known that no one could have paired, hotter than he (Mr Reynolds) had. As to quitters financial; For years past there had been appropriations largely in favor 1 of the No.th, There had hem voted,, since 1803, for special purposes in the North, someAvherc between four and five millions, of which not one farthing had been spent in the South. We avere complaining of dull times and distress; tlqat wnl-. owing to having to hay tlje interest aud sinking fund tor large expenses in the North, He trusted our representatives whoever they might bo, avould take oare to secure a more equitable apportionment of the expenditure in future. He then referred at some length to the figures he had prepared in regard to last year’s appropriation, and ' ga j ( j t ( iat luj had been ’’ liey Eluded votes for 1888, 1809; and 1870. That was true ; but the votes had been brought to account last session, aud year after year the same thing was done. ' Votes for defence purposes appeared in every shape and form, the Government being afraid to put them on the estimates iu a lump sum. Ho did pot believe one out of every three members took the trouble to look into them. Ho himself went over them most carefully, and anyonS who read Hansard would see that he was continually pecking at the Government when the estimates were before the House. After referring to the question of the ballot, aud the workman’s lien question, which the Minister of Justice had requested him to remind him of, and he would introduce a Bill in the ensuing session—(applause)—Mr Reynolds said his connexion with the bonded store had been mentioned on the hustings. Some years

ago the Customs department requested the Government to erect a bonded store for the accomodation of the Customs, and the Government determined to do so. He was a member of the Executive, and urged that it should be a private undertaking. A site was granted, and offers advertised for a (irst and second time, without success. The third time, being then out of office, he took the site. The Government built the store, but he had to pay for it. The conditions of the lease were that the Government were to superintend the erection of the buildings, and at the expiry of the lease he was to receive full compensation. When it was proposed to erect Government buildings in Dunedin, the country members objected on the ground that the money might be better spent in making roads. He pointed out that th ■ block of laud on which the old buildings stood would, if sold, almost repay the outlay. At that time, about five years ago, it would have done so. He was afterwards reminded of his suggestion, and he said he considered it was quite right that the land should be sold. Of course the block did not include the piece of land on which his bond stood. When the Government proposed to sell the Lind, two years ago, he proposed they should take that piece. The matter was referred to the Provincial Council!, and they decided to take it over. It was then anticipated the land would sell for L 15,000 or LIC,OOO, but through some forgetfulness, either on the part of the Executive, Provincial Solicitor, or some permanent officer in the service, there was no Ordinance authorising the Superintendent to sell the land. A delay of twelve months occurred, and when the land was sold, of course the value of land had much reduced, and the price realised fell short of what was anticipated. The only advantage he received was that his lease was earlier terterminated. Instead of getting L 4,000, he got L 8,700, twelve mouths sooner. The buildings cost him L 7.400, so that he only got h : s money hack with 8A per cent, interest ; whilst during a greater portion of the time it would have brought him 121, or 18 per cent. With regard to the honorarium, the Council had decided that it was merely for him to receive the declaration of members that they were entitled to it. (In answer to a question, Mr Reynolds said Mr Sibbald had received his honorarium, and he considered he was as much entitled to it as some who received it). In conclusion, he had to say he had represented the constituency for seventeen years, and he trusted to represent it for five years longe-. If elected he would endeavor to serve the constituency as faithfully in the future as he had done in the past. Having done his duty, he expected their votes not only for the Assembly, but for the Provincial Council—(Cheers.) The candidate answered a number of questions. after which, upon the motion of Mr Lowry, a motion of confidence in him was carried unanimously. AMr Fox endeavored to propose an amendment, but did not get beyond reading the first hue of it.

MU BATHGATE AT THE WATER OE LEITH.

Mr Bathgate addressed the electors at the North Dunedin Drill Shed, last night; Mr llobin presiding. A vote of conMdenoo in the candidate was carried.