MR REYNOLDS AT THE TEMPERANCE HALL.

Evening Star, Issue 3681, 9 December 1874, Page 2

MR REYNOLDS AT THE TEMPERANCE HALL.

r fheHoa. Mr Reynolds addressed his constituents :it the Masonic Hall last evening There was a good attendance, and the Mayor presided. Wo give the principal parts of his speech. ABOLITION OP PROVINCES. Thy, hon. gentleman, after a few introductory reuwks, said ;—.Many of you are aware that for years 1. did not cease to agitate, both in Parliament and out of it, for a consolidation uf trie Provinces ayd to reduce th,efr number to two-ode for the Ngrth island a«jd one for this island. Had been * properly supported in this proposition, and'] euri led such a measure, there would have been no occasion for the resolution of lastsession. In speaking, in the session of IS/0, to my resolutions for consolidating the Provinces I stated, “ i may here take the op portunity of saying that I fully appreciate the diHicult;es under which any Colonial Treasurer must labor until there is a complete separation of the finances of the two islands ” It was then quite clear to me that some ' change was necessary, and could not bo long delayed. For yea»s past I have never failed fo point out that the Provinces in the .North JshuKr. wore not performing their functions < as but were existing on votes of : the Assembly. Such being the case, 1 think 1 you wild admit that the Ata.enj.bly, and not ; ] the Provincial Councils, should regulate the ' <

expenditure, and that whenever a Province I cannot carry out its proper functions without special votes from the Colony, then it should cease to ex>st But it may be argued that the resolution of last session does piot carry out my views for two Provinces. All I can say is, more is the pity ; but if I cannot obtain what I believe the best solution of our present difficulty, then I am bound to accept the next best. Prior to ' the meeting of the Assembly, the Government, after mature consideration, derided upon the policy it would adopt for the continuance of the Provinces, and what cash advances should be made them. The result of its deliberations was made known to the House in the Colonial Treasurer’s Financial ‘Statement, 'these proposed advances did not meet with the approval of several of the Provinces—their cry being “ more, more ” The Government found th it in proposing these advances they had gone to Tie full limit which it would be prudent io do, and were bound to make a stand against any further strain on the Treasury'. Pressure was then privately brought, to bear upon the Government to abo!i-h the Provinces, and the Government yielded to take the question into consideration. Now ido not, hesitate to inform you that when the qms tion of abolishing the Provinces first cmie before the Cabinet, my resolve was to resign my seat in the Government. After a good deal of discussion in Cabinet the following resolution was agreed to : _ That this House is of opinion that, taking the circumstances of the Colony into consideration, the Provincial form of Government in the North Island should be abolished ; and that in the measure giving effect to the same there should also be included a provision declaring Wellington to be the seat of Government of the Colony, and for continuing the localisation of the Land Revenue in accordance with what is known as the Compact of 185fi. That during this recess the Government should consider how best to give effect to the above resolution. This resolution was subsequently ratified by the House of Representatives. Now let us analyse it. What does it aflvm ? 1. That the Provincial form of Government in the. North Island should be abolished. In addressing himself to this part of th > resolution, the Colonial Treasurer (stating not only his own views, hut those of the Government collectively) remarked i The figures which I quoted in moving the second reading of the State Eorests Bill to show to honorable members the enormous amount of expenditure that was proceeding iu this island, either directly by the Colonial Government, or out of funds provided by the Colony, as compared with the expenditure out of funds of a purely Provincial nature, including land revenue, had very strongly impressed the Government. And there is another feeling which has aided to produce our present action—a feeling of doubt whether, notwithstanding the great trouble the Government have taken in the matter, they have oven now succee ied in making proposals which will suffice to enable the Provinces of this island to carry on their duties satisfactorily during the present year. Even stronger than the doubt as to the sufficiency of the provision made for this year is the doubt as to what provision is to be made for the next year. The whole period of the recess has, as a- rule, been more or less occupied by the Government in negotiations with the Provinces, with the view of meeting their requirements some of a pressing character, others merely of the nature of a desire to spend money. If we do not come to a decision Bus session as to the questions involved in my resolutions, it will be my duty during the recess, as it was my duty last year, to make the best possible separate arrangements with the Provinces, so that I may come to the House next session asking for the least possible assistance to enable those Provinces to exist during the recess. To put the matter very plainly” the Colonial Treasurer has not only to finance for the Colony, but he has, practically, to finance for the Provinces also. The conviction has existed in my mind for along while, and I think the ease lias been tbc same with most of the intelligent people of the Colony, that an organic change in the- system of government iu this island was imperatively demanded. I confess that, until very lately, my views were rather in the direction of substituting for the several Provinces of the island, one Province—consolidating the existing Provinces into one. Of this I am quite sure, that, in order to carry on to advantage the business of the country, there must be in this island but one Province or none at all.

-Again he remarks : One of the greatest objections to the present system, however, is an objection to it in its financial aspect—the fact that we have, year after year, to come to the House with expedients and devices' to maintain in existence the Provincial system in this island, and to purchase permission to continue the immigration and public works policy throughout the Colony, We are constructing roads in the North Island, and the expense of them comes out of the consolidated revenue, or out of loans charged against consolidated revenue. Railway works immigiation, even subsidies to Road' Boards’, are going on out of consolidated revenue.

He then goes on to say : I think that with one Government—the Colonial Government—in this island, we should be in a position of so dividing the sources of revenue that we should not see an indefinite extension of the system of charging upon cousolida‘ed revenue large amounts, while the land revenue is absolutely 'applicable to such ex-IK-mbture. I go to the fullest possible extent in favor*<;f the localisation of the land revenue: and I give a Hat denial to any and all such assertions that the (iovanmeut have any idea whatever of coming upon the land revenue of either island, with the view of carrying out the policy which has been approved by the House and by the country, or of meeting any abligations, present or contingent, consequent upon carrying out that policy. The Government are perfectly willing that the trunk railways shall be constructed through both i. islands, that the ten million pounds, in all, air- ■ fhotised for public works, shall be borrowed and ; expended, and ‘.be charged upon consolidated revenue. But there must .bo si* ,ei>d to this system of charging. Future 'provision for roads in this island must be charged upon' the land revenue of this island, or upon advances against that revenue ; the cost of roads and works in the Middle Island must be charged upon its land revenue, or upon advances against that revenue. These, gentlemen, were some of the reasons urged by the Government in favor of the £■ st part of the resolution. The resolution: afSrins, secondly, that Wellington shall be the seatfof the .Government for the Colony;, and, thirdly!*the continuing t)je localisation of the land revenue in Accordance vvith the Compact of ISSQ. This Compact Was based < on a resolution which passed in the session of-; ISSC Ic was as follows: —“That this.' House is of opinion that the administration of the waste lauds of each Province should be transferred to the Provincial Go vernrnent of sues Province, and the land revenue thereof made Provincial revenue, subject to the following charges.” I used net # particularipe chan.es ; i-uffiee it to say that on the Middle Island was thrown the whole liability of the Colony tc the New Zealand Company, and which has evtei- since been, and continues to be, a charge against the laud fund of the Middle Island Since the passing of the resolution it has been frequently confirmed, In 1,858 the General Assembly passed the Band Revenue Appropriation Act, ISSB, the seventh ss Jtio# of which provides as ‘follows : —“After and subject to the payments to lie made under the provi .iouo hereinbefore contained, all the revenue arsing from the disposal of the waste lands of the Crown in the several Provincts of the Colony shall, in pursuance of warrants to be from time to time granted by the Government be pail over by the deceivers of Land Revenue to the respective Treasurers of such Provinces for the public uses thereof, subject to the appropriation of the respective Provincial Couucils. ” Again, the Public Revenues Act, 1867,

provides that the Receivers of Land Re venue. iot kt-r thnn thirty .lays after the end of each month, shall nay over to the Provincial account of each Province the sums received during the month. This is again confirmed by the Public Revenues Act IBtiS Your lime, however, will not admit of my referring further to the obligations of the Compact. I may, however, be excused if 1 quote the views of the Government on the value of the Compact These views were expressed by che Colonial Treasurer. In referring to this part of the resolution, he remarks :

Do not let there be any mistake, from my speaking of arterial works and the distribution of the revenue. It is no part of our object to impound any portion, of the land revenue for any past expenditure, or for any expenditure now authorised, or that may have to be autho vised, for completing the system of trunk railways through the two islands. What we now propose will not give any kind of facility to the Government in negotiating loans, or in meeting any of those real nr fancied difficulties which some honorable members are -leased togkut over. There is not involved in our proposals any ulterior or sinister object whatever. Again lie savs : - It may be asked, Why refer to the compact of ISoCi? I may be told, upon the principle “ Qui s'c.V'Mixr .sW/r-'c,” that, the very fact of proposing to deal with the question is equivalent to an admission that difficulty and doubt surround it. But that is not what is meant bv the reference to the Compact. What is meant, arid what it was desired to show, it that the changes proposed, and which can only be broadly pointed at in the resolutions, should be made without infringing that Compacf, and that they are not in any sense inconsistent with its maintenance. Therefore, it is proposed not only to recognise, but to ratify the Compact. Any attempt to depart from it would bo simply dishonest; and, besides, would be to the last degree impolitic. Ihj ive been asked whether we would consent to provide by the Act that any future alteration of the Compact should not. be possible, without the measure by which the alteration is to be mnrD being sent Home for the assent of Her Majesty. I reply that we are willing to accept a.ny provision the Middle Island may think necessary to make it most clearly understood that the land revenue of the Middle Island shall be applicable to .Middle Island purposes ; and that the land revenue of each Province of the Middle Island shall be applicable to the purposes of that Province. The < 'olonial Treasurer, not satisfied with giving the above-quoted assuranc •, remarks further : Now, as to the alleged attack upon the Middle Island, \Ve have all beard lobby rumors ; and we know it lias been plainly said that these resolutions are an attack upon the Middle Island land fund, I most emphatically deny that they are anything of the kind ; and I do not think there is reason why the Superintendents of the great Provinces of the Middle Island, and the members of their Executives, should he so bitterly opposed to these resolutions, I am sure they are public-spirited men, and I think they should regard these proposals from a publicspirited point of view. I repudiate any and every assertion that there is involved anything calculated to attack, or to render insecure, the land fund of these Provinces. These are the views of the Government, and I tuink nothing eon Id be more distinct and assuring to those who value the land revenue, and consider that it should be applied to local expenditure. I have always been a firm believer in the the; ry propounded bv the late Mr Gibbon Wakefield, namely, “that all moneys derived from the sale of land should lie devoted towards securing facilities for making the produce of such land available for market, by providing roads and bridges ; also for the introduction of immigrants to utilise the land, and for schools at which the settlers mav be able to educate their children : or, in other words, to devote the laud revenue to public wo'ks. immigration, and education. Now, gentlemen. I trust 1 have given satisfactory reasons for the introduction of the resolution I have referred to. Individually, I supported the resolution, because I consider that whenever a Province becomes efiete, and a ourdeu oa the Go’ony, the Colony should administer its affairs. I also supported it because, Pom the central position of the city of Wellington, 1 consider it to be the best place for the seat of Government for the Colony I further gave it my support because I con ider that, by means of the indicated legislation, there will be greater security for the continuance of the local expenditure of the Imd revenue. I have no doubt that, whether this isolation had been pas ed or not, there woul l have been, aud still wi.l be, a hard fight by some of the Northern members to make the land revenue Colonial. But [ have no fear of their success, unless the Canterbury and Otago members treacherously abandon the inteWs of t teir constituents. Having thus, gentlemen, briefly stated my reasons for supporting the resolution, I trust that your veidict will be in favor of my having d*me so Anyone who takes the trouble to look info the Colonial accounts mir-.t admit that the N irth Island has had the lioD*s share of Colonial expenditure. I mention this to slow the unreasonableness (not to use a harsher term) of some of our ‘•orthern friends who talk of repudiating the Compact of 1856. hi.'e I took the exception to the details of tho Public Works aud immigration Scheme when it was introduced, the principle has always had my support. And I -annot sympathise with thorn who are continually harping u on our indebtedness as a Colony. I am a strong believer in leaving our descendants and successirs a substantial legacy in the shape of permanent public works, anil with the legacy the privilege i f contributing for their .construction. -Now, the present indebtedness of the C dony may be tiken in round figures at L 12,500 000, then there existsjmrrowing power to the extent of some 4 / 50,000 ; m iking a total indebtedness (when we exhaust our present borrowing i authority) of a little over LIB.OOO 00(1 | ow the question is, wdiat will we have m sfiow for this indebtedness? Web, I expect that before it is all. exp nd-d we will have a prosperous and contented population not far short of 400 000 souls, a large area of valuable land under. profitable occupation, any quantity of live stock, comfortable homes, many miles of roads, our rivers and creeks bridges, as also I 084 miles of main trunk railway (all of; which are now authorised), together with the necessary rolling stock for working these railways—this exclusive of Provincial branch lines. Every facility in the way of opening up the country] and developing its resources naturally tends to givfc increased prosperity to the population, thus giving them great- v; S iending power, which in turn tends to an; increase of revenge. Since the present policy hj s been initiated, the revenue of the Colony has been continuously and steadily increasing. During the last financial year the Conso'n ated Revenue has mere ised from LI, 119 904 in 1873, to L 1,420,216 17s 3d, in 1874 ; .and during the first four months which have expired of the present financial year, naiaey, up to the Ist November, the receipts are 1510,749 17-s sd, as against ! 425,025 19s 5d for tho corresponding period of last year. THE PUBLIC WORKS POLIOV. It will thus be seep that while our indebted-; u!§s increases under the Immigration and' Public Works policy, our revepue increases in a more than equal ratio, the increase of ■ revenue being in excess of our requirements to meet the wjorcaged expenditure caused by our increasing iudebtednejss. But, iu addition to the increase of our ordinary revenue, we are fairly entitled to calculate upon a good return from our railways when they'are completed and in thorough working. Along with our public works we require a regular stream of immigration— me and women of the right

stamp, who in coming here will not only benefit themselves but will also bem fit the Colony. This desideratum, gentlemen, I feel assured will receive the earnest attention of my honorable col eague, the Premier, during h;s sojourn in the United Kingdom. I have no doubt you would like to be informed what proportion of the 1,048 miles of railways already authorised for the Colony are to be constructed in this Province. Those authorised for Otago are nearly one-third of the whole—namely, 331 miles. Of these, 233 miles are either open for traffic or are under contract. All the contracts entered into are to be completed on various dates between this and the 16th September, 1876 • and the 92 mi es not yet under contract, the Government intend to let in an ample time to have them all completed by the same date—September, 1876 I foel assured you will admit that the Colony, and this Province in particular, has made, and is making, substantial progress uu er the present administration. Although 1 have always bad great f uth iu tin ultimate success of the Colony and Province, yot I confess that when you (iisi di i me the honor of electing me one of your repreprese itativea (now over twentynue years «go), I ha i no idea that iu so diort a time L would be in the position to congratulate you on the prospect of having, within the next two years, some 331 miles of main trunk railways, be■'•idcs several branch lines. [We are obliged to hold over till to-mor-io\v Mr Reynolds’s answers to questions put to him,] Mr bisH moved—“ That the thanks of this meeting are due to Mr Reynolds tor his address ; an I that be still retains the confid nee of oho constituency of liunedin as their member.” The motion was agreed to unanimously.