THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION.

Evening Star, Issue 3794, 22 April 1875, Page 3

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION.

MR RICH AT WAIKOUAITI.

Mr F. D. RIOH addressed a large meeting of the electors of this portion of the electoral district in the Mechanics’ Hall, on Monday evening, as-candidate for their suffrages at the forthcoming election of a member of the General Assembly. The Matob (Mr T. S. Pratt) occupied the chair, and in a few remarks introduced the candidate.

Mr Rich, who was warmly received, said that, with their permission he would commence his address to them by referring back to six years ago, when he last sought their suffrages. Many of those present would doubtless remember upon that occasion he informed them that his only object in wishing to go up to the Assembly was with reference to the Native difficulty, and that he d id not profess to have given any great attention to other political questions. He thought they would admit that time and events had proved that the change of Ministry which then took place had been—so far as establishing peace amongst the Native race—eminently successful, and had fully realised the opinion he then _ expressed as to the probable results of Sir Donald H'Lean being at the head of Native affairs again. He believed now it was pretty generally admitted that there was little probability of another Native war. He should not have come forward to represent the district upon this occasion of his own free will, as he never had a wish or desire to again take an active part in politics; but when a|large and influential requisition was presented to him by the electors he felt it his duty to place his services at their disposal. In the first place he considered that the district had been greatly neglected, and virtually unrepresented by the electors haring chosen successively three members who had but little stake in it. That this district had been neglected no one could deny. Even Mr M'Lean, in his address at Palmerston on the 16th inst., when asked the question, replied that “justice hadnotbeon done to it,” and he could not exonerate the then member from great blame in not strongly opposing the construction of the Tnapeka lino of railway until authority had been obtained for the completion of the line through the district which he represented. He felt sure that one could presume to say the Tuapeka line was of so much importance as the connecting Dunedin with the Northern seaboard. It was well known that on Mr M'Lean’s resignation, and at the time of the election of his successor, the ques tion of railways in the district was being shelved. He, therefore, with other electors, as they were all aware, did his utmost to get a local man returned, in the person of Mr Joseph Preston, and he was fully persuaded that had they been successful in getting that gentleman elected the line of railway through this district would Row have been in an advanced state. He noticed, on perusing Mr M'Lean’s address to them the other night, that be read a letter addressed to him by Mr J. L. Gillies, and the remarks in it with regard to himself he had heard generally characterised as anything but creditable to the writer. It would also appear from the letter that he (Mr Gillies) on one occasion, when a member of the Assembly, had unlisted the assistance of a large number of members of both Houses of Parliament, and waited with them as a deputation upon Hr Riphardson, and amongst other things strongly pressed upon him the question of railways in the district j bat he (the speaker) observed, even at this important deputation, there appeared to have been nothing said about connecting the district with Dunedin. It was a pity that the late member should have “hidden his light under £ a bushel” in not having come to address his constituents and let them know what he had done, and the results of the deputation. Should he be elected be would use all his influence in having the line throngh the district hurried on. During his recent visit to Wellington, he, in company with the Horn W. H. Reynolds, waited upon the Minister of Public Works, and from the information kindly furnished by that gentleman he felt certain no unnecessary delay would now take place in the vigorous prosecution of the railway. The question of the

ABOLITION OP THB PBOVINOB3 was one deserving their serious attention. He had given the matter his beat consideration; and after carefully reading the various speeches that had been made in its favor, he failed to see either the' necessity or prudence of any change so far as Canterbury and Otago were concerned, and he took it that these Provinces, in importance, constituted the greater part of New Zealand. He would, in as few words as gissible, state his objections to having our rovincial Institutions swept away for some years to come. He considered we might look upon it as a fact that a great battle had yet to be fought in this Province, and that was the runhoWers would be opposed at the expiration of their leases to having the country cut up and divided for settlement upon an extensive scale. Now, if this were accepted as a fact, that there would be such opposing interest, it certainly would be most unwise to have any change in our present form of Government until the existing leases terminated, liberal land laws were formed, and the country settled. It was not likely that Road Boards, which were to take the place of onr Provincial Institutions, could do this equally as well. Were he a squatter, and studied his own interests, he would bo in favor of abolition, but being a freeholder, and directly interested in getting a large settled population to helphim to bear the hervy taxation which was looming in the distance, he was opposed to a sudden or violent change, as he believed it would be a fatal blow to the future settlement of the country. For it the disposal of our agricultural and pastoral lands was to be settled at Wellington by the Upper and Lower Houses, with no Provincial Government to exercise any restraining influence, he considered it would be a great calamity. He had also an objection to the abolition of the Provinces in the South Island, as he believed it would tend to weaken our position with regard to our Provincial estate, although Mr Vogel had promised that it should be retained and locally spentarid he felt quite satisfied as to the sincerity of his intentions—still circumstances might occur oyer which he had no control, and with the intention so plainly expressed by the Northern members # in trying to obtain our land, it would be unwise for us to have any change. Should he be returned he would oppose any alteration in our present constitution, for the reasons above stated. With regard to hia views upon

THS SETTLEMENT OF THE COUNTRY, he was in favor of the deferred payment system, but was of opinion that the blocks wore too small, and supposed the limited area at the disposal of the Government prevented larger blocks being given. The question of free selection at L2 per acre, the same as they have in Canterbury, had been spoken of, but he felt sure it would not be of any advantage to this Province, as we had but little unsold land worth that sum. He was quite certain no extent of settlement would take place under free selection in Otago. They were all aware how the lands were locked up by the extension of the leases granted to the runholders on their assenting to pay the extra rate of sevenpence per head upon the carrying capacity of their runs. The large amount of revenue thus derived had been in past years of the greatest importance to the Provincial Government, but we were now suffering from the effects of it having the lands locked up. As soon as the leases fall in he hoped to see every run that was suitable for settlement divided so as to carry the greatest number of settlers. With their permission be would give them his ideas as to the manner in which this ought to be done, and be claimed to lie upon this subject of some little authority. In the first place it was out of the question to attempt to divide the pastoral from the agricultural lands, os it would be impossible for men to bo confined to small blocks of the latter with profit to themselves, but allow each man the right to rent the adjoining pasloral land-say to five or six times the extent of his freehold, and at a sum equal to what was now being paid by the pastoral for a term of seven or ten years, with the option of purchasing at any time during the lease—of course, at a lesser price than that paid for the arable land. He would have the regulations framed so as to meet the requirements of every class of settlers, from 100 to 1,000 acres, with a corresponding area of pasture land. Every inducement ©tight to be held out to men with some capi-

tal. He Ventured to say that those who would yet occupy our rough hills, and unite the two pursuits—-agricultural combined with pastoral—would yet be the most prosperous class in the country. He need not dwell further upon this subject, as there was no difficulty connected with it which could not easily be overcome. It was his opinion that unless the country was so occupied, the taxa tion would be so heavy as to seriously affect the value of all their freehold properties. He would much like to see the most liberal encouragement given to

THE GOLDFIELDS in the shape of abundant water supply, as a means of affording permanent employment to a numerous class to whom the country had been very much indebted for its prosperity, and ultimately being a means of employing any surplus labor when the railways were completed. [Mr Rich dwelt at some length upon the benefits which this Province would experience by the carrying out of such an efficient saheme.] With respect to

THS UP?SB HOUSE he said that he was in favor of its being an elective instead of a nominative body. He was of opinion that such a change would have a beneficial tendency on the country. Very often land regulations framed by the Provincial Council at a large amount of labor and expense to the Province, and having for their object the offering of greater facilities to the settlement of the country, were frequently altered and muti lated so as ts defeat their intention, in this House. He thought, as a safeguard, that the members should be elected from a certain property qualification of voters. In concluding, he expressed his willingness to answer any questions put to him. He had not asked a single elector for his vote, and he did not intend to do. He hoped that every man would vote as he thought best. If returned, fig wpvUd be proud of the honor. In seeking their suffrages he was fulfilling what ho considered a public duty. He was actuated by no private interest, and it would involve a great sacrifice of his time. Still, he was quite prepared to devote his services to the district, and as his interest was that of the electors, it was quite natural that he should do all he could to advance its piosperity. He did not reside in Waikouaiti, but be took as much interest in it as he did in Shag Valley. (Applause.) In answer to questions, Mr Rich said No man could have behaved more liberally than'he had done in reference to his bush land He had allowed people to take firewood without charging them one shilling. He had not given much comideration to the Education question ; bm he i expected the conscientious scruples of others. _ He believed in the denominational system, ifthe population was large enough to support different schools. At pvesgqt l}e yfas in favor of leaving the schools as they were. His views on the land question had not recently changed. He held the same views when elected before, hut went up to tlje Assembly on that occasion, as he had told the electois, entirely on the Native question, and he felt well satisfied with the change that then took place. He had voted against the declaration of Hundreds, under the impression that there was plenty of land of that description in the market, and that the Hundreds system was greatly abused. He challenged anyone to say that he had changed his opinions on the Land question. He could see nothing for it but to induce a population of bona Hd* settlers, and to do this they must have more liberal land laws. The squatter would net pay his taxes, and the interest on the 120,000,000 must be paid somehow. The proposal was to abolish the North Island Provinces. The members for Otago and Canterbury were, be believed, strongly opposed to these Provinces being abolished, and be would strongly oppose it. He did not think there was any fear of the Southern Provinces being abolished at present. If such a thing were to arise, they could depend upon it the Northern members would endeavor to obtain a share of our land fund by making it Colonial revenue. The first step would be to repudiate the compact allowing each Province the expenditure of its own land fund. Before giving an opinion on the Constitutional changes advocated by Sir George Grey, the question required more consideration than he had given it. The public work he had referred to in bis interview with the Hon. Mr Richardson was the railway between Deborah Bay and Moeraki. Mr Richardson had promised that that section of the line between Moeraki and Palmerston should be let in four months, and this on the representations be (Mr Rich) had Wftde as tfi the immense boon it would confer on the settlers. A great saving would be effected if the settlers were enablod to forward their produce by railway to a port of shipment. He was not inclined to support any further grant of money for harbor improvements where lines of railway were In existence or proposed, Ha was m favor of having every run out up, or doing anything that would promote and hasten settlement on the lands. If the Provincial Government could see their way to paying the runholders compensation, he would advocate their doing so, and would not renew their pastoral leases as they fell in* H# was in favor of cutting the runs up into blocks of from 1,000 to 5,000 acres and subdividing these. *He ted to see the runs so divided that they a ee profitably occupied with advantage to the State and the country. He was opposed to further taxation, which he wished to avoid by opening up the lands and increasing the bona fid* settlement of the country. After some further questions had been satisfactorily answered, Mr Cowan, in a few complimentary remarks, proposed the following resolution“ That Mr Rich is a fit and proper person to represent the Waikouaiti Electoral District in the General Assembly.” Mr Latham seconded the proposition, which was declared carried unanimously. A vote ef thanks to the Chairman brought the proceedings to a close.

MR RICH AT MACRAES. Mr F. D. Rich addressed a large meeting •f the electors at Macraes, in the Sohoolhouse, on Friday evening, the 16th inst, Mr Donaldson being m the chair. At the conclusion of Mr Rich’s address a vote of confidence was carried, proposed by Mr Price, and seconded by Mi Hammond. The electors unanimously expressed themselves much pleased with Mr Rich’s statement of hia views.