MR MACANDREW AT PORT CHALMERS.

Evening Star, Issue 3995, 14 December 1875, Page 2

MR MACANDREW AT PORT CHALMERS.

Last evening, Mr Macandrew met the electors of Port Chalmers in Crick more’s Assembly Rooms. There was a numerous attendance, and the Mayor of the borough (Mr A. M’Kinnon) presided. Mr Macandrew, who, on rising, was received with applause, promised his r marks by stating that he had received pi easing invitations to represent several important constituencies throughout the Province, all of which he had declined, under the belief that the tie which had for so many years existed between the Port Chalmers district and himself should not at present be broken, in ns far as he was concerned at least. When ho last addressed them ho was disposed, after s-o many years’ service, to have retired from the General' Assembly, and make room for others. ircu stances had occurred since th'-u, however, which would render it cowardly in him to withdraw from the impending contest, upon the issue of which depended the future welfare of New Zealand in general, and of Otago in [articular. He had been all along a supporter of the policy of progress, and the right of the peoule to manage their own local affairs. He regarded the diffusive principle as being the true theory of government, and as most calculated to secure the greatest possible happiness to the greatest possible number. The great battle which had now to be fought in New Zealand was partly in defence of this principle, and partly in opposition to that principle ef political communism which would compel those who, through frugality and industry and husbanding their resources, had acquired wealth, to share that wealth with others who had been less provident, or it might he less energetic. Take, for example, those Provinces which, like the Prodigal Sou, had wasted their patrimony—alienated their waste lands for 2s 6d and 5s an acre, the practical effect of the Abolition Bill would be to enable them to share with Canterbury and Otago the residue of their waste lauds, none of which would have remained

had they been open for sale at the same figure. '1 he Government and its supporters declared that the Abolition Bill, as finally passed, secured local allocation of laud rerenue. Never was there a greater delusion. He did not know whether to admire most the cool effrontery of the assertion, or the innocent credulity of those who believed it. There could not be Ihe slightest doubt that the sole aim and object of the Abolition Bill was to enable the Colonial Treasurer to lay hands on the Laud Fund, so that when he goes in for further loans h* may be able to show that his assets are so much more than they otherwise would be. As it is, even granting that there is any intention of localising the Land Fund, the primary charges thereon—to wit interest on Provincial debt, cost of survey and administration—wiil swallow up the lion’s share, so that the residue available for localisation will become small by degrees and beautifully less. If, in addition to the charges named, there be added interest on railways,

which do not pay more than working expenses, for which the Land Fund is also liable, it will be found that the residue available for local allocation will be nd. But even granting that it shall turn out to bo otherwise, and that there is a modicum left, ho felt persuaded that the provisions of the Abolition Bill would share the same fate as those of the Public Works Act, by which it was enacted that cost of railways shall he charged against the Province within which they are constructed, and any profits should become Provincial revenue. Now, howeve;, it has been stated by the Commissioner of Customs, from his place iu Parliament, in the hearingof his colleagues, audapplauded by them, that the law must be altered, and the profits derived from railways in Otago are to be applied to cover the loss which may arise on railways iu Mailborough, Taraua l i, and elsewhere. Prom this they would he ab’e to judge somewhat of the uatu e of the battle which has to ho fought it Otago is to hold its own. The two great parties iu New Zealand now are the Gentralists aud Anti-Centralists. Centralism of course means one governing power and oue purse for the whole Colony ; community of goods, and sweeping away of those distinct entities which have made the Colony what it is, aud but for which, iu all probability, instead of ranking fourth from the top, it would u w rank fourth from the bottom of all the Colonies iu the Empire. Ho need not say that he was ranged under the Anti-Centralist baunei. The term Abolitionist was altogether a misnomer.

Abolish what? Tiny say abolish tho Provinces. Why, the Abolition Bill does not even pre'end to do this. It simply changes the name Province to Provincial district, and the Government from ProvincPl to Central—that is to say, tho powers hitherto exorcised within the Province by men elected by and directly responsible to the people are transferred to the General Assembly and Colonial Executive at Wellington. To his mind, the great curse of tho Colony—that which has involved it in an enormous public debt—which has wasted the energies of its public men—has been that spirit of Centralism which, during the past twenty years, has striven for the as eudaucy, and which, unless the forthcomiug election shall determine otherwise, has now got the Colony completely in its grasp; it will thereby have succeeded in defeating what he believed to bo one of the finest Constitutions ever conferred upon a people. Tho Constitution Act of New Zealand has not had a fair chance. The spirit which inspired it has been entirely defeated by the persistent action of a few ambitious nn-n for their own purposes. He bad heard one who was once termed New Zealand’s greatest statesman, or greatest orator, be forgot which—certainly one of the chief apostles of Centralism—declare in his place in Parliament that but for the Maori war this Colony would not bo worth living in as a school for statesman. The spirit and intention of tho Constitution was to confer upon the different communities which colonised Now Zealand the powers of managing their own local affairs, and of making laws for their own pc ce, order, and good Government. It was to confer upon the Central Legislature the power of dealing with certain Federal functions. This Central Legislature, however, had not been content to confine itself to Federal functions, but had arrogated to itself and usurped 1 hose which tho Provinces were supposed to be able to exercise for themselves, and which he

maintained they were and ure still best aide to perform. So nmcli so had this been (be case that it is positive y illegal in many instances to dot your i’s or stroke your t's without the special sanction of the Unv rnor iu Council. As a specimen of this sort of thing, it was only the other day that the Otago Harbor Board, which is entrusted with the expenditure of a quarter of a million of money, had to apply to his Exccllciy'y to appoint an officer to collect jetty dues. Just fancy a body supposed to bo qualified to bo entrusted with the management of Otago Harbor having to go to Wellington to get sanctioned the appointment of the man who is to collect the sixpences. —(Laughter). The thing, to his mind, was most humiliating, and was only a specimen of the whole tendency of that Centralism which is bent upon having a finger in every man’s pic. It was only the session before last that a BUI was actually introduced by the Government, which, if passed, would have necessitated every private individual, and every Road Board ami Municipality throughout the

Colony, before they could construct a ditch or a culvert, to procure plans and obtain the concurrence of the Governor in Council. It was chiefly through life efforts that the thing bad been so far modified. It is said that coming events cnSt their shadows before. These are only some of the shadows of the vexatious and unnecessary interference which every man may expect wheu the principal of Centralism shall have reached full fruition—wheu every man in the Colony, before blowing his nose, would require to obtain fhe sauefi m of a Minister of the Crown at Wellington. It would pot bo so bad, perhaps, if they had a Minister at, every man's door —or even at t);o great centres of population—but the aggravation of it would .ho that tjie paternal Government could not be Interviewed without making a voyag-e across Cook Strait. Ho bad said that one of the results of Centralism, ainon others, has been that it has wasted the epcrglps of our public lubi:, What ho meant was, t-liaCthoso who and been called upon to administer public affairs iu ibo Provinces, instead of being left lo devote themselvQg osclusi rely to thepractical work before them, have had their time and energy disti acted in defending the interests with which they wore charged igalnst the continual encroachments and thwarting propensities ef a grasping and into me Idling Centralism There has, in fact, been scarcely a progves. (live movement—in Otago at least—which lias not

been attempted to b: knocked zv. %\,z usad by Centralism ns being uhra vires, or which has not been accomplished, so to speak, at the point of the bayonet. No man used to dilate with more scathing eloquence upon the evil of an intermeddling Central Government than Sir Julius Vogel. He would give a case in point which occured to lum at the moment. Some years ago it was found ibsolutely necessary to make provision for the custody and training of neglected and criminal children, with which view the Provincial Council was asked to vote tho necessary funds for the ■ uilding, and an Ordinance was passed to enable children to ha placed therein. There is no institution in the Province of which ho felt more proud than this—nipping in tho bud, as it has done, a vast

amount of crime and misery. Judge of his disgust, after all tho trouble and pains which had been taken in tho matter, to find that the Ordinance was disallowed by Centralism at Wellington, which itself never thought of initiating anything of the sort. Great encouragement this, was it not, to those who were endeavoring to promote the real iuterfsts of the Colony ! The ultimate result in this case-has been that the Provincial Ordinance was changed, verbatim ct litcratini, into an Act of Assembly, with the Governor’s name substituted for that of Superintendent. Another case in point was the Duneain and Port Chalmers Railway. It would bo recollected how pressing they were some years ago to havethis line constructed, Tho policy of Centralism at that time was neither to construct railways itself nor to permit Provinces to do so. Under these circumstances they could have no concept! u of the difficulties encountered, and tho persuasron which had to bo exercised to get the line made upon any terms. Had it not been that there was at least one enterprising contractor amongst thorn it would not have been made to this day. Fortunately Centralism was not quite so strong then as i is now, or they would have been served with an injunction from the Supreme Court not to proceed, and the Port Chalmers railway would have remained in the womb of futurity. Another result of Centralism was its enormous extravagance. While it abstracted from the pocket of every man, woman, and child some !L5 a year, it gives back nothing adequate in return. Nearly all that Otago gets is the honor and glory of belonging to this great united Colony, of being governed from Cook Strait, and of sending some twenty-five men for over three months in the year to aid others in doing for us there what could be done so much hotter and more economically here. As a mutter of pounds, shillings, and pence, it would pay Otago to take upon itself considerably more than its share of the debt of the Colony, in order to have the disposal within itself of its own revenue and the management of its own a (fairs. It is difficult to conceive how a young country like this has allowed its resources to be absorbed in an extravagant, unproductive expenditure, altogether incompatible with the nature of things, and which there was no practical

way of getting out of unless brought more directly uuc er the eye and control of the people than could possibly be the case uuder a distant and comparatively irresponsible centralism at Wellington. As an instance of bow the money goes, there is now being erected in Wellington i wooden building, the contract price of which is upwards of L4o,'ou. By tbe time it is finished and full oi furniture wo may reckon upon its costing at least LTO.OOO. It will contain a whole army of officials, at salaries varying from L2OO to LBOO a-year, very few of whom are absolutely required for the (good government of the country, but all of whom will tiud employment under the bureaucratic centralism now proposed. In the building in question there are several hundred rooms. They were, however, he found, far too few to accommodate the amount of patronage which would bo at the disposal of the Central Government when the Provincial Administration is abolished. He had not yet heard one good nud efficient rcas.m why the Provincial system should be abolished. There may bo many reasons why it s ould bo reformed and improved in various ways, but to abolish it is the work of children or of madmen. There can be no doubt but the Provincial system has in the past produced great result-;, notwithstanding, and in spite of the obstacles with which it had to contend at the hands, or rather under the shadow of| ; tbe Ceutralistic Upas tree, beneath whose pestiferous shade all life dies and death lives. —(Cheers.) Wo were engaged in one of the noblest and most honorable missions which can fall to the lot of humanity, rearing up what he believed is destined to become a great nation, and if we direct its growth properly, posterity will arise and call us blessed.—(Applause.)

Let them remember that it is with nations as with individuals—the chil 1 is father to the man—and it is easier far to bend the sapling than the knotted oak. What he desired was that they should be impressed with a sense < f the enormous responsibility which devolved upon them, and that every man who possessed the electoral franchise should regard it as a sacred trust, through which ne can shape the destinies of a country which, it may be, will yet become the seat of the Empire. If this country is to bo governed, and its affairs administered by clerks and permanent heads of departments at Wellington, then by all moans let them go in for Centralism pure and simple; Centralism, which will feed you, clothe you, dot vour i’s, and stroke your t’s—no doubt this is the very best form of Government for serfs, nud that by which the few can be aggrandised, at the expense of -the many. He ventured to submit, however, that it was not the best for free men, or for the perpetuation of free institutions. There were men in New Zealand who, to all this, would exclaim, “ bunkum men who had not souls beyond sixpences; who could comprehend no higher principle of political aetiou than the main chance. Prom all such he fervently prayed, “ Good Lord, deliver us.” On - strong argument agaiust Centralism was the extreme difficulty there was in getting men willing to go as representatives to Wellington, and to spend 25 or 50 per cent, of their time there. For one good man they could get to g from this Province to represent any portion of it in Wellington for

three months in the year, let alone for six, they could get 100 good men who would gladly represent it for .three weeks, say In Dunedin, in Christchurch, or anywhere else. As regard the adoption of the best system of Government, ho could not help sometimes contrasting the advantages which we possess in this respect, as compared with other countries, where the prejudices of ages have to be overcome and the cobwebs of feudalism swept away, before they could roach anyt htng like perfection.

A number of questions were put, and to the principal of them he replied as followsHe had no hesitation in giving his word of honor as a gentleman that, in his opinion, Abolition would he against the welfare of New Zealand. Its effect would be to rob Otag of at least L 200,000 a-ycar for all time to come. It was too late to have a plebiscite. But if one cou d he taken in Otago at this moment, he believed not i tithe of the electors would go in for Centralism. It was really a very sad thing, but it was, ouly from want of men at this moment that Otago was not sending up twenty-two men in one boat. He believed public feeling, the more it got enlightened upon the actual state of affairs, the more it is uumistakcably in favor of our local lust--tutious such as they have been, If they were to poll Otago to-morrow, they would find au overwhelming majority of the electors iu favor of leaving things as they arc, with, of course, improvements and reforms on our local institutions, which he didn’t any they are not susceptible of. Prom the fact of our being so mixed and yoked up with other parts of the Colony, it was really very difficult to return to the status quo ante absolutely. If it wore not for this he believed Otago could manage her own affairs, and would bo content to do so. Perhaps it may he attributed to vanity, but as arising out of this question, he had been very much gratified to flud—indeed, by every da>*a post he was receiving letters from all parts of the Provincedistricts he had thought to be either iudiffereut or entirely Abolitionist, to ho the very reverse. A great deal of this is attributable—although he said it—to the short pamphlet he published. The more the people read it by their firesides and reflected upon it, the more do they seem to be convinced that there was something rotten iu the state of Denmark.—(Laughter J He did not menu the Provmcial Denmark, hut iu the Central Denmark (Renewed laughter.) Ou the principal that small fish were bettor than none he would favor ouo Government for each island, but he would rather have two Provinces for each island. He could understand some statements by bir Dillon Bill to tho effect there would be great jealousy on the part of Otago in allowig Canterbury to have the whole of the territory north of th*e Waitaki. Ho had not the slightest objection to Canterbury's having (ho whole of New Zealand provided we get Otago.—(Applause.) He would* never think of wresting auy portion of its territory from Canterbury. Ho had no doubt that iu tho course of a few years tho two Provinces will voluntarily unite, and that was the true solution of tho difficulty. Provincial institutions wore the best for Port Chalmers. For every ruuholder we have now, we might have twenty thirty, or forty, ns tho case might bo. lie would uot like to biud himself by auy certain rule as to the areas into which the runs might he cut up ns the natural contour of the country would have to bo taken into consideration. He thought the general idea was that tho country cau carry many more families as sheep farmers than it does at present.

Mr Alex. M'Kenzie Raid that as Mr Macandrcw had left the question to be decided by bis constituency as to whether he should stand for Dunedin or Port Chalmers, ho would test the feeling of the meeting by moving—" That for the furtheiauce ol the case we have ut heart wo will a.low Mr Macaudrew to retire—(hisses) —iu favor of any other oaudidate who may come forward.” By that means they u dght gain for their party two members instead of one.

The motion la , sed for want of a seconder. Mr Miller moved, and Mr Neale seconded, a vote of confidence iu Mr Macaudrow, which was carried amid applause. Iu acknowledging the vote, Mi Macanmew said ho a apposed it meant that they desired him to represent them in the next Parliament.— '(Applause,) Fie sincerely hoped that the result of his representation would be more satisfactory to himsell and to his constituents iu the future than it htul been hitherto. Nothing was more disheartening to hup than to spend 25 per cent, of his time at Wellington, and to feel that he was doing no good—that he was wasting time and energy, and working hard, without auy satisfactory results. If ever ho had the honor of meeting them iu the Same capacity again, he sincerely hoped thai the General Assembly would bo dipped of its wings t-( Applause.) The General Assembly could do all its busing m a mouth at least, a it would

Sm y n^f* 114 i to / lm Pl y Cotoakl business, and if It PV* &S? h I G f iiS SA pense its present purai hornaha, and instead of costing L 50,000 a year, or iis 9d per head, for Legislative and Executive departments, it would hn Couac i l it- “«mbj; o Xing it a round table covered with a green cloth. Thov talked about peacocks* feathers in the Provincial oouncils, but the Assembly out-Herodod them oil. i thanks to the chairman, and three for Mr IMacandrew, closed the pro.