THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

Evening Star, Issue 4214, 29 August 1876, Page 2

THE POLITICAL SITUATION.

The public meeting convened by the Mayor, in conformity with the request of a deputation that waited upon him last week, To consider the Constitutional changes now occupying the attention of Parliament, and the bearing which the proposals of the Government will have upon the ratepayers of the City, and upon the people of the Province at large,

was held last evening in the Headquarters Drillshed. The attendance could net have beea more than 500, as at no time was the building half full. The proceedings were commenced by The Mayob asking for each of the speakers a fair, candid, and impartial hearing. His Worship read apologies from the Rev. Dr Stuart, Councillors Isaac and Wright, and other gentlemen who were unable to attend. Dr Stuart expressed the hope "that earnestness and practical wisdom would characterise the discussion." Mr W. A. Sligo moved the first resolution :

That this meet : ng desires to accord hearty thanks to the large majority of the Otago members of the House of Bepresentatives who have endeavored, during the present session of Parliament, to secure justice for the Province, and ta conserve the political rights of th 3 people, both of which we believe to be endangered by the proposals of the General Government. The meeting further pledges itself to give its best suppor* to the Otago representatives in any combined action they may take for the interest of the Province. He condemned the permissive character of the Counties Bill, which showed that the Government and Parliament doubted their ability to re-build the Constitution upon as sure foundations as it had existed. Till Parliament saw its way to passing a measure which it felt justified in compelling the whole country to adopt, it had no right to say the constitutional rights of the people should cease. The Counties Bill had only just gone into Committee, and no sane man could believe that it and other necessary measures could be maturely considered and put into shape before 30th September next. Thus the promises of local self government, of localisation of the land fund and railway revenues, upon the faith of which the Abolition Bill was passed, were gone to the winds. If it proved so, it would be someone's duty to request the Superintendent to come home and summon the Provincial Council (loud cheers) —to determine what shall be done—whether we shall surrender our political rights, and be content to be governed in an illegal manner by the Central Government and the Civil Service. The "unity of the Colony" was a grand idea, and "national sentiment" a fine phrase; but fine words buttered no parsnips. The best course to pursue was for a nation to work in sections not so large but that the extremes will understand each other, and that communities should understand their parts ; and not so small hut that public men may be induced to take part in their management. For these reasons he confessed himself more a Provincialist than ever, and for the further reason that a most solemn obligation had been deliberately set at naught as soon as the end for which the promise was made was obtained. The meeting would readily agree that the representatives of the Province, who stood shoulder to shoulder during the present session in upholding the rights of the Province, deserved their thanks. (Cheers.)

Mr I?, Wilson was not a Provincialist, but was there to assist iu doing what he could to preserve our land revenue. The pcop'e oi Otago had reason to be grateful to the majority of her representatives, who had fought so well for her interests. He thought the matter might safely be left in their hands, and he was certain the interests of the Province would not be neglected by them. He hoped whatever form of government we got would provide for the retention of our own revenue and for its distribution among ourselves. Mr Fish endorsed tho first part of the resolution. The existence of a political crisis demanded the consideration of every thinking man in the Province, for which reason this movement should not have come only from extreme Provincialists—(interruption) —but means should be taken to bring within its compass all shades of political opinion. The resolutions to be proposed should have been published, in order that people might have had an opportunity of judging whether they were worse ones or not. He asked the meeting to consider the present position of affairs. Parliament—of whom it was nonsense to say that they did not represent the constituencies—had decided that Provincialism should be abolished—(Cries of "No !") - and against financial separation; and such being the case, he asked the meeting whether it would not be wiser to adopt moderate measures and resolutions, which were likely to secure more for the City and Province than strongly-worded resolutions. He commended the action of Mr Reid in respect to the Counties Bill. He concluded, amid considerable interruption, by moving as an amendment:—

That, whilst thanking our representatives in the Assembly for their action in the interest of the

s^oe.-.tlito -meeting depreo&wKv farther or to obtain Separation at present, but earnestly "WJ** a "» to unite in ofiSffi sue* ™? ESS?* te . o *!W» «" wuHndertke present Si--w Pro , T ""».and tend to secure for the future as large a share of the land revenue as pos- *£ speech was mainly an answer to Mr Fish, municipal matters, and the action of the latter in reference to them occupying the greater part.of his attention. He cited the widening of Princes Btreet, which he characterised as a nefarious scheme and an error more flagrant than any committed by Provincialism, yet they therefore did not propose to abolish the City Council. There were means of improving an institution other than by abolishing it. The General Government had not acted ptraightforwardly, and they had no right to force upon us measures that were distasteful. From the first he had maintained our representatives should have said, " We deny your right to interfere with this question, and we will take no part in it. We hold our Cpnr stitution independent of you, and shall not remit the right to you to abolish it. "—(Loud cheers.) If the people of Wellington were determined to have our land revenue and property, let them come down for it, and perhaps they would find that we belonged to a race whose motto is, "Touch us not." Tire amendment found no seconder, and the original motion was put and carried by acclamation.

Mr W. Xanglands considered the question on the Constitutional ground and on that of justice. If the Province took its proper stand the Abolition Act would not be brought into operation—(cheers)-and he hoped such a demonstration would be given that evening of public feeling in Dunecßn as would arrest the Act. He advised the meeting to stand upon their rights under a Constitution granted them by the British Crown, and not to accept a Board of Works which came from the Central Legislature, which might abolish it or starve it to death. He argaed that the manner in which the Abolition Act had been assented to by the Queen showed that the Imperial Government did not approve of the destruction of our Constitution ; and he believed the British Government would sustain them in any resistance to it they might offer. He warned the Colonial Government and Legislature of the unconstitutional act they were attempting, and of the probable results of it. He advised the meeting to determinedly and as one man reject the Abolition Act, and if it was to be forced upon them to send forth, with one voice, the cry that "we shall have Separation for Otago."—(Cheers.) He moved That this meeting, while desirous of seeing the Provincial form of Government simplified in many of its details, is yet strongly in the belief that it is the form of government best suited to Otago under existing circumstances; and feels assured it is also the form of government best enabling the whole body of the people to closely watch, and take an intelligible interest in the administration of their own affairs. Provincial Councils were schools for legislators : without them could we have sent to the Central Legislature such men as we had done—a body of men who were an honor to us, and would be an honor to any country)? Boards of Works or Counties could only have a crippling effect upon the intellects of the people. Mr Bukt, in seconding the resolution, said a member of the Assembly who had lately come down from Wellington, had told him he went up to Wellington a Centralist, but before he had been there a woek he was thoroughly converted. Mr G. Findlay, who moved the third resolutions as follows: That in the opinion of this meeting the County system proposals of the General Government are unauited to the requirements of the people of this portion of New Zealand; that they would be exr pensive and cumbrous, if not unworkable, and the I result would be a dwarfing and deadening of that ' political life which should animate a free people, spoke of the county system as a signal failure in Westland, which was almost in a state of beggary during its continuance there. The same thing would happen if Otago or any integral part of the Province was made a county. The working of the Provincial system they knew. Our Provincial Governments had been an honor to us, and our Provincial business had been transacted in a manner that would do credit to the General Assembly. He maintained there could be no better local Government than we enjoyed at the present time. Mr Kobin reviewed the action of the General Government towards Otago. We did not want counties which were unsuitable and unworkable; and would be satisfied with nothing short of the revenues raised within our own boundaries. If our representatives could not get justice for the Province they should be invited to return home. Let the Superintendent and Mr Stout return and lead and the people would follow, even if the servants of the General Government were sent back to Wellington "unwept, unhonored, and unsung." This was not the time for declamation, but the Government should remember that while we were a law-loving and law-abiding people we were a free people, and would not tamely submit to being deprived of our rights. Mr Bolt proposed:—

That, in the opinion ofjthis meeting, should the representatives of Otago fail in securing for the Province the administration of its own land revenues and a satisfactory measure of local self-govern-ment, it will become their duty to leave the Assembly en mawe, in order that the political situation may be considered by the Provincial Council.

Mr Barrowman, who seconded the mo tion, had intended to propose the follow ing: -

That this meeting, viewing with distrust the tendency of the measures of the General Government as affecting the future of Otago, request the hearty co-operation of every electoral district in the ProTince of Otago, with the view of recalling the members from Wellington and the holding of a convention of the Provincial representatives to consider and advise what form of government is best suited to the inteießts, tasteß, and convenience of the people of Otago. Mr R. K. Murray moved :

That the resolutions which were carried be forwarded to the Speaker of the Hous- of Assembly in order that the members may know our feelings in the matter of Abolition.

Each of the resolutions given above was carried by acclamation, and the proceedings terminated with the customary vote of thanks to the Chairman.