ABOLITION MEETING AT MOSGIEL.

Evening Star, Issue 3905, 30 August 1875, Page 2

ABOLITION MEETING AT MOSGIEL.

A meeting of the electors of the Taieri district took place at Webb’s Hotel, Mosgiel, on Saturday evening, to consider the abolition question. There were over 100 persons pieseut, and Mr Charles Findlay was voted to the chair. We take the following summary of the proceeding from this morning’s ‘ Times’:— I he Chairman said he expected there were i:O v itlemen present ready to express an opinion on both sides of the question, and ho trusted there would be no hesitation in giving an opinion.

Mi George Praik remarked that any expression of opinion he might give on the Bill would not represent the result of a special and close attention to it, as he bad not studied the "dl If 1 * lua °h- His opinion was that they should get the opinion of the constituencies. Otag i especially would feel the cost if the measure were pressed through. He proposed the following motion : —“That this meeting views with alarm the constitutional changes at present being debated in the General Assembly on the Abolition and Local Governments Bills, and is of opinion that the measures proposed to supersede Provincial institutions are not fitted to carry out the objects for which they are intended, and strongly urges that the measures be not pressed until the various constituencies have haa an opportunity of expressing their opinions thereon at the next general election.” Mr Robert Chartres seconded the motion. In doing so, he could say he thought there never was a time in Ne .v Zealand when the people were more called upon than the present to discuss so important a matter. It they would look at it iu thc#light in which he did. they would ask : What have- Provincial institutions done -not only for Otago, but for the whole (.olony'/” It had been the expression of people who looked about, and of travellers who visited the place, that great progress had been made, and the conclusion come to was that the Provincial Council and Provincial institutions hail done a great deal for Otago. It was a poor policy that would sweep away Provincial institutions, that said that there was no use for them while there was yet. much use for them. The Bill contained nothing that would super--B"de their Provincial institutions for the better. He douiited if they would have any better government of the country under nominee - than under the Superintendent, Executive, and Provincial Council, and he should be very sorry to see the Abolition Bill pass in the present form. He referred to Mr Reynolds's Temperance Hall promises re abolition, and asked what faith could they have in a Government that hi ought forward abolition resolutions after the promises made last year that they would ot inteifere with the Provinces or laud revenue. He be ieved their laud would go soon after Provincial abolition, ami that their eduediou reserves would be taken from them. He considered the Bill should not ie passed this session, so as to give the people time to consider it iu a constitutional manner. Mr Todd considered they should know what they .got, m the place of Piovincialism before they parted with it. He believed certain promises were unde, hut the value of these was shown by the fact that not long ago it was promised I’rovincial institutions iu Otago would not be abolished.

Mr Findlay remarked that it was said in favor of abolition that two Governments were dipping into a common purse, and that abolition would lead to simplifying the administration. He argued that there would not be a better management with abolition, economy, or simplification. The nine Provinces had been compared to nine sturdy beggars, bathe did not think that by abolition they would get rid of the ninesturdy beggarsaseasilyasthey thought. I'ho Bill was not fair to the outlying districts, and he considered that if these distiicts had seen copies of the Bill they would not bo so much in favor of it as they were now. Mr John Findlay fully concurred with the motion. When such radical changes were about to be made, the constituencies should at least have time to consider. He had no doubt that Provincial Councils would be done away with—(hear, hear)—but at all events take time, and make what is to replace them as peifect as possible. He believed the laud fund was at the bottom of the matter.

The Chairman put the motion, and a number of hands were held up for it. Then, without asking if there were any to the contrary, he said, “ There is no amendment, and the motion is carried.'*

Mr J. H. Murdoch said he had a few words to say on the opposite side. He considered the Bills now before the country were part and parcel of the great policy they had been living under for the last few years. They knew Provincialism had been a very good policy —they had none well under it; but they hid grown out of their baby clothes, and now wanted to put on a new suit. If Provincialism were done away with, they would have something better instead -they would have central legislation and local administration. The 'and fund, he considered, was secured to the Provinces by the Bill. Bo did not go in for delay: if it was good, let them havn it at once.

Mr Dei moved—“ That the Chairman telegraph to Mr D. lieid the foregoing resolution, and tender to him the thanks ot the meeting for the action he has taken in the matter,” which was agreed to.