MR. HAUGHTON’S LECTURE.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2606, 24 June 1871, Page 2

MR. HAUGHTON’S LECTURE.

Last evening, MrC. E. Haughton,M.H.R., M.F.C., gave a lecture at St. George’s Hallj for tho benefit of the library of the Catholid Young Men’s Society. There was a large attendance, and the chair was taken by the Right Rev. Dr Moran, Roman Catholic Bishop of Dunedin, who in a few brief remarks introduced the lecturer to the audience. The subject was—“ How we are .overned; with illustrations.” Mr Haughton, who was received with cheers, divided his lecture into two parts—the first of which was a detail of the Constitution as it is, aud the reasons which Rendered its existing form desirable. He remarked that the circumstances of the time (1853) gave no promise of rapid progress of civilisation and settlement. Sir George Grey in 1851 described the Colony as made up of nine principal European settlements, besides smaller dependencies. The largest contained 9000 European inhabitants, and the whole European population was 26,000. The settlements were separated by wide intervals, and communication, even for persons on horseback, only existed between three of them. To meet these circumstances Provincialism was instituted, as the only way of securing local self-government. It was an attempt to adjust the English Constitution and its balance of power to them. Under the Constitution the Governor has the potyer of summoning, pporogqing, and dissolving Parliament; disallowing the oleotiou of a Superintendent or removing him from office, dissolving Provincial Councils, appointing justices of the peace, and is the medium of communication with the Imperial Government. In conjunction with the Legislative Council arid House of Representatives, he forms the General Assembly, the functions of which include all legislation excepting the loxil matters entrusted to the Provincial Councils. The Governor’s power is not merely a controlling, but a concurring one in Colonial legislation. Although analogous in some points, the position of Superintendent differs essentially from that of the Governor. He is an elected' officer, ftud although he can supimqn and prorogue, he canppt dissolve the Council. The dissolution of the Council de facto terminates his office. If the Superintendent therefore differs from his Council, no appeal can be made to the Province except by voidance of office on bis payt—a cqurse which has led to practical inconvenience, to sacrifice of the public good by mischievous compromises, and to depriving electors of their right to direct influence in public affairs. The question h-.s beeu discussed, therefore, whether it would not bo better that Superintendents should be nominated by the Crown, or, if elected, have power to dissolve Councils. The House of Representatives consists of 78

members, rep esenting the Provinces thus ; —Auckland, 16; Taranaki, 3; Hawke’s Bay, 2 ; Wellington, 9 ; Marlborough, 2 ; Nelson, 7 ; West' Coast, 4 ; Canterbury, 12 ; Otago, 19; the Maoris, 4 Thus there are 34 members representing the North Island, and 44 the Middle Island. If therefore tho North devoured the substance of the South, it must be through the votes of Southern members. The representation of the Maoris seemed a mist ike practically, however just theoretically Thcv neither speak nor understand the language in which legislation is carried on, and vot pretty much as they are told by the Minister of the day. Among them in the last Parliament was Mete Kingi, who had peculiar notions of the functions of a legislator, besides other weaknesses. Among them was a way of walking off with the soap and hair-brushes out of the lavatory. He was met by the lecturer walking on the beach at Wellington on one occasion with the handle of a hair-brush sticking out of his pocket. He had also a way of borrowing half-crowns without repaying them, and this was especially practised on the eve of a division when as Government whip the lecturer suffered in pocket considerably. He also paid great attention to the cook, with whom he one day had a terrible row through having thrust his fingers into a dish of trifle. But the Maori representatives had some disagreeable propensities - in the way of eating that rendered the position of interpreter very trying occasionally. It was often a source of wonder why a certain fishmonger exposed to vi w dog-fish and small sharks in his shop, but. the wonder was unravelled on observing Mete King! proceed thither in a cab and emerge from the shop carrying with him a shark three feet in length. It was hardly possible to endure Maori company for 8p no days afterwards. He was believed to have had some notion of setting up a Maori Stationer’s shop, for the paper and blotting sheets in the committee rooms were always swept away by him. 'i he greatest speech Mete Kingi ever made was as follows (the dashes denotinglong pauses) : “ England is a great nation—the Maoris are a great people the English have called us to this great house—we sit here—they impounded my cow at Wanganui.” Having said this in true North American Indian style, he said “ I have spoken,” and sat down. It was the best speech he ever made. All the old members have not been returned. _ Gne new one is said to have distinguished himseli a few yeors ago by c iting a white baby. No doubt he will be one of those who will support the Government. At present the Legislative Council consists of 45 members nominated by the Governor. The idea was m oted lately of making it an elective body, hut there are grave difficulties in the way, and perhaps the time has not arrived when it is desirable. In addition to the control of police, roads works, harbors, education, &c, the Provincial Councils have the administration of Waste Lands of the Crown, and practically their recommendations have been given effect to by the General Assembly. In consequence the land laws vary with the Provinces. This has proved so inconvenient that probably at no distant time the General Assembly will introduce some general schcm •. As colonisation has been connected with the disposal of the waste lands, it has assumed very much tho nationality and opinions of the early settlers. This, if perpetuated, would divide the Colony into a number of petty states, having no common bond. The Immigration and Public Works Act of last session will go far to prevent that, and tends to distroy the spirit of exclusiveness that such a state of affairs leads towards. One function of the Provincial Council is the management of the goldfields. It is an important trust, as upon its due performance the future prosperity of the Colony mainly depends. Superintendents. Provincial Councils, and Houses of representatives are elected by persons holding different qualifications—by freeholders, leaseholders, householders, and possessors of miners’ rights, With regard to registration there seems great room for an improved system. At present, the various qualifications in the hands of an incompetent or unprincipled man may be made the means of disfranchising duly qualified vote's. The present system is inoperative as a conservative measure, as the exclusion of a lodger suffrage prevents a great number of young men in large towns having the privilege of voting. On tho other hand, as holders of miners’ rights are usually leaseholders, they practically have two votes—one in the distnet in which their leasehold Is situated, and the other apy whore op the goldfields by virtue, of their miners’ right. Ifanhqod suffrage would be a better plan, as it would tend to give the franchise to a better of voters ; nor is it by any moms oleac that women should not enjoy the privilege of voting. They would exercise it as intelligently as the present electors, and generally hold sound political and social views. New Zealand suffers through there being no distinct political parties. Without such division the tendency of Government is towards an diarchy of the worst description; and another bad effect is that the best and ablest men are not brought to the front. Elections are consequently not based on Erinciple. A few illustrations serve to show ow the franchise is usually exercised

“The first symptom vihich publicly dis* plays itself is extreme loquacity ip the moribund Coupci}} members whose vocal efforts have been confined to ‘ aye ’ and • no,' suddenly rise into orators, so far as consumption of time is concerned ; while the Order Paper is flooded with the urgent wants of everybody’s district. Boad Boards and municipalities become things of might, and their slightest hint is not ‘taken up’ but ‘rushed at.’ Joltor, M.P.C., wants LIOOO upon the supp'ementary estimates for a road, said road leading nowhere in particular, but being very convenient to an influential publican. Jawkins, who has ateetotal connection, tables a Permissive Bill, drafted by himself ; while Jowles, iu the interest of the victuallers, attacks the bottle license. Tfip goldfields members are on tbeir legs every five minutes—now moving for impossible returns, now making incredible statements as to the ‘vast importance’ of some twopenny halfpenny village in the interior, and demanding the rest of the country as oommonaf,e. Tqoy almost fight over the privilege of proposing the reduction of the gold duty, and are not upon the unfortunate Chinese. They know there will be many candidates f,.r their seats, and that no ‘walking over’ awaits any of them. The City members unite for oucc, and make a strong pull and a pull togeth r for a good sop to the municipality ; they are also very liberal with tho money of tho Province for any purpose; purely metropolitan, and take every opportunity of blowing their own trumpets for the hem lit of the gallery. There is great activity

in the way of telegrams and correspondence. I Bounce, M.P C , telegraphs shortcomings of Sheerer, M.P. to the latter member’s natural'enemey, the Mayor of his municipal I town, and receives compliments after, which he displays with a chuckle to his friends. N.B.—Bounce means contesting the seat. The real business is hurriedly got through, everyone for himself is the motto. The Government are defighted for they carry their Estimates quietly, and between ourselves, the Estimates smack of the ejections. Thu following specimens of election addresses were read by the lecturer: “ To the Electors of the City of Dunedin. “Gentlemen, —Having received a large and influential requisition, I am induced to offer myself as a candidate for your snfFraves at the ensuing election for the Provincial Council. “The large majority secured by the present Superintendent in the City leads me to tho conclusion that by the date of the polling day you will probably have changed yonr minds ; and I therefore offer myself upon the League ticket, feeling confident in tho security of electoral inconsistency. “ I am in favor of settlement of the people upon the most liberal basis, whatever that may mean ; of the construction and maintenance of all works within the City at the expense of the Province; of the. reduction of all rates, rents, and taxes, and jetty dues; of free immigration of stone-breakers; and of everything else my committee may deem it judicious for me to affirm. My efforts will be directed to benefit myself with as little harm as possible to my constituents. I am willing to take office at the lowest possible figure, and to remain there at an extended screw for an indefinite period. “ I am strongly opposed to any change in our Constitution. Provincial institutions are at once tho strength and glory of our land ; and to preserve them in their integrity, I am willing to shed the last drop of the blood of those Volunteer Companies to which Ido not myself belong. I think circumstances might justify seizing the Customs revenue, and in that case I shall be prepared to act as provisional trustee in receiving the duties, to be accounted for upon the settlement of the new Constitution,

“As 1 shall have many opportunities of addressing you at the various public-houses kept by my supporters, I will not say any more at present. “lam, Gentlemen, “ Your obedient servant, “G. Tkafight.” An address adapted to a country constituency : “To the Electors of Mount Blazes District. “Gentleman, —I beg to offer myself as a candidate for the representation of yonr important district in the Provincial Council. I have long looked forward to the time when yon would have a representative of your own, and have endeavored steadily to work up to the point, by boring myself to death at your Improvement Committee, Hospital ditto, and have even condescended to municipal botheration. “ Gentlemen, - My principles are advancedly liberal. lam in favor of everything which will relieve the miner and agriculturalist from taxation —will settle them upon other peoples’ land, and lay the foundation of universal prosperity by the annihilation of capital, and extermination of the squatters. The land belongs to the people, and should not be diverted to the accommodation of sheep and goats, but indiscriminately appropriated to the purposes of that important and valuable class—the jobbing butchers and storekeepiug slaughtermen who form the mainstay of our goldfields. “ Gentlemen, —I shall advocate the repeal of the Gold Duty Act, and the reduction of the fee for Miners’ Bights. I think no fees should be paid to Warden Courts, and that all exciseable goods used by miners should be admitted duty free. Wherever there are ten miners within an area of ten miles, a Warden with his staff should be established, and a public house with free drinks provided at public expence “The Chinese, now they do not deal with onr storekeepers, are becoming a great nuisance, I shall at once, if elected, place a poll tax of LIOO ahead upon these foreigners, and give notice by next mail to their Emperor not to presume to send any more. ‘ ‘ Your obedient servant, “Bkown Badges,”