MR STOUT AT CAVERSHAM.

Evening Star, Issue 3591, 26 August 1874, Page 2

MR STOUT AT CAVERSHAM.

Mr R. Stout, M.P.C., Provincial Solicitor, addressed his constituents at the schoolhouse, Caversham, last evening; Mr A. Rutherford in the chair.

Mr Stout, after some preliminary observations, alluded to the special circumstances >f Caversham ; the only question concerning which, now pressing on attention was the drainage of the flat. It was a matter for the district to deal with, and one with which the Provincial Council could hardly tackle. In consequence of the rapid extension of Caversham, it would be advisable to extend ■he powers of the Road Boards, which might be effected by granting municipal powers’ to the Caversham and Moruington Boards, or by including Caversham proper within Dunedin. If application were made to the Provincial Council for increased powers, he believed they would be conceded. It'was for the inhabitants to discuss the matter and decide for themselves. Referring to the Provincial Executive, he remarked that it was a Coalition Government which had worked well. Amongst the measures was the formation of a Harbor Board for deepening and improving the harbor: a most important measure, not only as regarded the commerce of Dunedin, but on account of the drainage. Amongst the chief questions to be dealt with was the land question. It was hedged in with difficulties, because, perhaps, the mass of the people m the Province looked upon land as % source of revenue. This view induced nothing bub confusion, which those who administered the land had to meet. It was not only to be made a source of revenue but a means of settlement. Mr Reid told the Council that large public works could nor. be prosecuted without sale of land or a loan. The Executive laid the matter before the Council, and went in strongly for the sale of the largest area on deferred payments, at the same time laying down a new principle of selling only alternate sections, to prevent a capitalist buying up the block. Whether or nob the plan would succeed remained to be seen. Mr Reid then moved for application for a loan to the General Assembly. This Mr Bastings took credit for, although', on examination, it would be found he voted with the Opposition, On the , Permissive Bill his (vlr Stout’s) opinion was unchanged. If it were right to grant licenses for a monopoly, it was right that the public should say where it should exist, drunkenness would not be cured by the Bill, but, had Mr Haggibt’s motion been carried, which was intended to prevent the creation of undue vested interest, he believed it would have been a far better guarantee than the present Bill gave. The statement that the Executive had asked the Governor to disallow the ‘ Gold Exporters Repayment Bill’ was utterly untrue. Although the Government were in a minority they were bound to give effect to the Bill, which was disallowed, because “it would sanction Provincial Councils be’ng allowed to alter the tariff. He would not refer further to Provincial politics, but to Colonial. The remainder of Mr Stout’s address was a series of comments upon proceedings in Parliament. He condemned what he termed the “Constitutional party,” because it trampled on the Constitution. He considered three things absolutely necessary. Reform of the Upper House, which was constituted of capitalists, large landowners, and pastoral lessees. They managed matters as they liked, and it was % disgrace to New Zealand. If the people had any will they could remove the stigma. Amendments were necessary to allow the Otago Land Act of 1872, and the Southland Act of 1873, to be carried out, but the pastoral lessees were sufficiently powerful to obtain their rejection. There were in the House good men, with peculiar views, like Captain Frazer, Dr Menzies, and Major Richardson, but had there been any democratic power in the Assembly, the nomination to the Upper House would have swamped the oligarchy. There needed to beno change from the nominee system, all that was wanted was a democratic Ministry. He had supported MrJ. C. Brown’s motion to substitute leasing for selling laud, and that any deficiency of the revenue should be met by a land tax. This was fair, because the value of land was increased through no effort on the part of the proprietor, but through increase of population, construction of roads, and general improvement of the country. It was only fair, therefore, that the ."date should get the benefit and not the individual. In support of this view he would quote from various eminent Fnglish, German, and Ercu ;h writers. John Stuart Mill, in an address to the Land Reform Association, expressed similar views. He showed that land occupiers were monopolists, and that the r monopoly should be exercised, not at the will of the possessor, but in the manner most conducive to the general good. 'ihe date had the same right to control it as to control railways. No portion of the community had a similar advantage with a landord ; wages did not increase as land rose in value, nor did profit on capital. This view was supported by Spencer, Uoder, a Gorman ■Professor, and others. If tho system of I

selling land was continued, the Colony would soon be reduced to a state of feudalism, with its attendant evils, which ages would not be sufficient to wipeout. A leasing system would evidently do away with Customs i evenuc, and to a tax on laud and incomes, and until such taxes were adopted there would never be good government in New Zealand. He thought it extraordinary that the Colonial Treasurer should propose a Polynesian scheme and yet refuse to carry through a Loan t ill for one of New Zealand’s largest Provinces. The first consideration should be Colonial wants, and afterwards the South Sea Islands. With regard to the arbitration resolutions, he was not a Centralist, but he did not believe in sudden Constitutional changes, and thought before suchj changes were adopted, some expression of a wish far them should be given by the people. Me consid'red dr Vogel’s own speech, the greatest condemnation of the system, when he said “ Funds have virtually been provided by the Colony for the work of settlement in the North Island.” If the Middle Island submitted as the North had done, he only hoped they would not regret it. He was present at the meeting of the Council prior to the last general election, which affirmed that the only practicable way to arrive at works, having for their object improvement of the goldfields, was through a financial separation of the two islands. (Mr Smut quoted several passages from Mr Vogel’s speeches, which led huh to conclude the Premier was supporting the North Island at the expense of the • •outh.) He considered Mr Macandrew and others had taken up a sound position. If the Northern Provinces were abolished, Northern members would interfere with the management of the South Island, and Southern with the North, The people would yet regret that financial separation between the two islands did not take place ,n 1871. No State had ever been prosperous were Government was under one central authority. It was necessary there should be a more demecra ic element in the i ower House, He believed that if those present were determined, they could make their influence felt, not only in the district, but in the Province, aud perhaps over the whole island. There should be more system and principle in politics than in the past. Mr Vogel seized upon our revenues to make a country not so prosperous more prosperous, saying that in fifty or one hundred years, when the North Island was in advance of the Middle Island, the former could make a good return. The North would eventually, Mr Vogel said, be an important place, aud could bestow favors. The Middle Island did not require favors; the inhabitants could fight on their own bottom He thought he had shown them the pernicious system introduced into the Government of New Zealand, and hoped they would try and put a stop to that system. Another matter he had forgotten to bring before them. The abolition resolutions were—it was a strange fact—supported by almost every capitalist and man of squatting proclivities. With the abolition of the North Island Provinces, the abolition of those of the Middle Island would follow. If the administration of the lands were managed in Wellington, as soon as pressure came—not withstanding the land fund being locally secured the land would be sacrificed to current liabilities. The Provinces, whatever might be said against them, had a more democratic feeling than the Houses in the North.—(Applause). Mr Head moved, and Mr MTndoe seconded a vote of thanks to Mr Stout, which was carried by acclamation. Mr Stout briefly replied, and the meeting closed with a vo.e of thanks to the chairman.