THE ELECTIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 3219, 14 June 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE ELECTIONS.

MR CUTTEN AT ANDERSON’S DAY. Mr Cutten addressed a meeting of the Peninsula electors at the Drill-shed, Anderson’s Bay, last evening. There were about forty persons present, and Mr Grainger was voted to the chair. The Candidate, in the course of his remarks, said all present were doubtless aware that the elections had resulted, through his Honor granting the request of the Executive to have the Council dissolved. He could not see any constitutional grounds for it, and it was but a repetition of the action taken by the General \ssembly in 1854. His Honor had visited the people in the country districts some short time ago, under the pretence of an official tour, but it was really an electoral one, as he (the Superintendent) well knew that if a dissolution was asked, it would be granted, the matter having previously been cut and dried in Wellington. Looking at the present aspect of affairs, the Government party would have a majority in the next Council; and as it was not at all improbable that Mr Gillies would be returned as Superintendent, the Opposition would then adopt the course so lately taken by tbeir opponents, and for this reason principally he asked them to return him. Another proof of the Superintendent’s interest in getting a dissolution was that as the new Council would be hastily called together, candidates would have no time to canvass the City; such was the case. Now, he would ask them what was the result? Why, six of the seven named on the card were returned, and those were members chosen by the Superintendent’s committee. Mr Cutten then requested those present to be careful who they selected as their representatives, for the latter might become converts, or, as it was commonly called, rats to the winning side, and not pay any interest to their constituencies. He referred to the Hon. Mr Bathgate and Mr Fish as belonging to that class, saying that he (Mr Cutten) had, through sticking his harpoon into Mr Fish, made him a great Fish, whereas formerly he was only a little Fish —(lau.hter) —and that he was a Fish that should be put into a glass case and sent Home ; and if he could not prosper there, he might be made profitable as an immigration agent. ( renewed laughter.) He next referred to the various local and political matters now engaging attention, and wound up by iniorming them that he had taken an active part in politics during the last fourteen years, and Le hoped that he would once more have a seat in the Couucil. > s everal questions were then put and answered, and Mr Fllison proposed, and Mr Haig seconded, “ That Vlr Cutten is a fit and proper person to represent Fortobello iu the Provincial Council.” The mo ion was carried unanimously, In replying to the vote, Mr Cutten said that he was so busy at present, and as there was so short a time before the election took place, he would, beyond addressing a few meetings, be obliged to leave the election in their own hands. The proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

MR ROBERTS AT KAIKORAI.

Last night Mr John Roberts addressed a thinly attended meeting of electors at the Drillshed, Kaikorai. Mr Geo. Sheriff was voted to the chair. Mr Roberts, who on coming forward was greeted with applause, expressed regret that, by some oversight, the meeting had been called for a time when Mr Leary was engaged addressing another meeting of electors in a different part of the district. He regretted that fact, as he could not claim to be so well acquainted with the residents in that place, and he was the more anxious that his views should be fully expounded. He had, however, decided upon Bolding another meeting before the day of election. Fie first alluded to the dead-lock in the Provincial Gounod. Not having been a member of the late Council, Jio was unable to go into ali the ins and outs «f the matter. Of course, everyone had an opportunity of forming his own opinion on the point. The opinion he formed was that tuere was a great lack of judgment on boih sides He thought the superintendent and hia party might have been a little mare forbearing; the same with the other side, and so have prevented the occurrence that happened. That was simply an expression of opinion on his part—an opinion formed by a cursory view of the matter. Not being iu the Council at the time, he was not in a position to say definitely who was right and who was wrong. In proceeding to give them a statement of his views on the general aspect of Provincial politics, he would deal first of all with the Superintendent’s Address. In looking over that Address, the first thing that attracted his attention was the question of bonuses, provided for the encouragement of native industries. In a new country where labor was high and everything operated against the carrying on of industrial pursuits, it was very right that these should be fostered by the Government. He not only approved of bonuses being provided, but he would support any effort made to increase the values of those bonuses. At the same time he had to object to the manner in which those bonuses had heretofore been disposed of. He could furnish them with a leaf out of hia own personal experience on the point. In company with Mr Stand, he proposed some time since to start a wool-pack and bagging m nufactory. Application was made to Government for the bonus, when they were lold that another party—Messrs Hay, Ure, and Booth—had applied before them and had got a promise of the bonus. After having secured bondsmen to the extent of LI,UUO for the due fulfilment of their engagement, that firm failed in carrying out its undertaking. They thus prevented the enterprise being commenced by others, and yet their bondsmen were not called upon to make good the Li,(JOG for which they had become security. He (Mr Roberts) was quite prepared to find security to the required amount, and had he failed iu his engagement, he would have been prepared to forfeit the money. He did not regret the fact that he had not secured the bonus, as he

found upon further inquiry that the thing would have been a losing concern. Still that did not alter the fact that if he had under taken to establish the work he was bound t»i do it He therefore thought that if bonuses were granted fur a particular industry, the arrangement should be carried out in a proper way.—(Applause ) Tne education question was the next point to which he alluded. He thought the present system worked very well. The only thing that was wanting was additional accommodation for schools at present in existence, as well as districts not yet provided for. He would, if returned, be prepared to support a measure having that very desirable object in view. —(Applause.) He was also favorable to the appointment of additional inspeetors. At present Mr Jdialop was the only inspector employed, and he was aware that he was overworked altogether. The establishment of a normal school for the training of teachers was also an institution he was in favor of. Regarding the railway question, he proceeded to say that no person opposed to the carrying on of those works would b« listened to. With him that was no new idea. Two years ago, when he addressed them as a candidate for their suffrages, be advocated similar views. Indetd, he urged railway works as matters of vital importance to the progress of the Colony. The completion of two railways in particular, viz., the (Jluth* and Mataura, and the i/unedin and Moeraki lines, were strongly urged by him. The Canterbury people were rapidly forming their lines into the very heart of this Province. Unless they carried on the lines connecting Dunedin with similar spirit, an important part of the trade would be diverted away from Dunedin altogether. He scarcely required to tell them that he was in favor of the two pounds to one Road Board subsidy. It was a matter of great importance to them to have liberal provision

made for their roads.—(Applause.) With respect to the question of immigration, he thought more inducements should be held out to men of small capital, say men having a few hundred pounds at their dis posal. He looked upon the present land laws as being about the best that could be adopted. He had all along been in favor of free selection on deferred payments, with residence and improvement clauses. A great many complaints had been made against the Waste Land Board as at present constituted. It had been said that Mr Tolmie was not a proper person to be there. So far as he (Mr Roberts) could judge, Mr Tolmie had always acted very fairly indeed, and it would be time enough to say that be was not a proper person to sit at the Board when it was found that he was not willing to carry out the Act in its integrity.—(Applause.) The Provincial Council he believed might be very much modified. Forty-six members, of which it was at present constituted, was far too many. He thought at least one-half of that number might be disposed of with advantage to the country.—( A pplause.) With one half the present number much more would be done, and the work would be got through iu a more busi-ness-like way. The honorarium question was one of very little moment in his estimation. He thought men should be paid the expense they were put to in coming to Dunedin and attending the Council. At the same time, he thought care should be taken not to make it an inducement for men to go into the Council with the view of making a few pounds, when things otherwise were not very brisk with them. He did not think it was proper that men holding seats in the Colonial Legislature should also occupy s ats in the Provincial Government. Had a law to that effect been inexistence, the late dead lock would not have happened. Besides, he could not see how men so situated co d fulfil aright both offices, Messrs Reynolds and Bathgate, who were now in Welling on. could not be expected to attend properly to affairs in this Province. It had been s .id that deputies could be appointed; but deputies could never be expected to get through the work as well as principals.—(Applause In reply to a question put, Mr Roberts said that under the present land laws, not more than 200 acres could be taken up bi one man on the deferred payment principle. Me thought that too small an allotment for practical purposes. In Victoria the area uas 640 acres, and he thought that quite little enough. Mr David Andrew moved, and Mr Wm. Raven seconded a vote of confidence in toe usual terms. The motion, on being put, was carried with acclamation, after which tbe meeting broke up.