Mr Macarthur at Feilding

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 92, 10 February 1887, Page 3

Mr Macarthur at Feilding

On Tuesday evening Mr Macarthur addressed his constituents in the Public HaU. There was a very good attendance, S. Goodbehere, Esq., the Mayor of the Borough Council, presiding. The chairman briefly introduced Mr Macarthur, who said he had already made an address .in Palmerston, but on that occasion he had only to speak of the past. He would now ref rain from going over old ground. Since his address in Palmerston Sir Robert Stout, the Premier, had spoken at Dunedin, and he (Mr Macarthur), as a member of the party in opposition was bound to traverse his s.peech. As - <A the other members of the Ministry made speeches he. would have opportunities of ; criticising them, when he made addresses at. Halcombe and Ashhurst, which he would do at early future dates. He then referred to certain points in Sir Robert's speech, which was not merely an address to his constituents, but an address to the whole colony. What Sir Robert said as a member of the Crown would have greater weight than what was said by the speaker who was only a member of Parliament, but he would endeavor to justify his opposition to the present _ Government. It is admitted on all sides that Sir Robert Stout is one oi the best special pleaders in New Zealand, and is at the head- of his profession. He can make the worse appear the better cause when he has his ease to make .out for the Government. He often admired the. art with which Sir Robert turned the tide when it appeared to be making strongest against him. Sir Robert Stout had said, " a politician should be judged by his acts, hot by his platform promises." Mr Macarthur showed -this was a most unfortunate remark when applied to the Stout- VogeL. combination. He considered a politician should be judged by the nearness his performances came to his promises. The Ministry now in .power were the most *' promising" men who ever occupied the Treasury benches in a New Zealand Parliament. When Sir Julius Yogel cam© out to the colony (last time) there was a deficit in the revenue of £150,000 which increased the unpopularity of the Atkinson party and made the electors desirous for a change. They were in difficulties, and instead of looking to : themselves for help they could only look to the Government. These circumstances led to Sir Julius Yogel getting into power. The Canterbury members thought that Yogel would do more for the Midland railway than Atkinson, or the Continuous Ministry. The Stout- Vogel Ministry possessed two individualities. These two men were head and shoulders above their fellows. It was often a question with the Press and tbe people ef the colony as to who was the real ; head, but to tbe speaker's mind Sir I Julius Yogel was. the leading spirit. Mr Balance had reason to be praised as au administrator of native affairs and band. Tole and Laritach needed no mention. They might be compared to uuder-secretaries wbo did th«nr work very well. Richardson, the Minis tei for Public Works deserved a word or two. Great things were expected oi him when he accepted his portfolio, aa be was considered au expert. As a debater he was a nonenity, wbo had to depend on either Yogel or Stout to support or defend him and his measures. Referring again to Sir Robert Stout, he said his power of glossing over was shown in a part of his speech, occupying a column and a half of newspaper, about native affairs. He knew these were neither interesting nor familiar to southern people, and he .easily, imposed on them. Reference was made to. the : Civil Service Reform BiU and its fate. He gave a detailed account of Montgomery's motion for a reduction- of £75,000, and the* circumstances attending it, with which the public, is already familiar. Coutinuing-^he said Sir Robert Stout made a great point about members wanting retrenchment in other members constituencies. It was the duty of the Ministry ~to propose retrenchment, and if the members of the. House would not support them the onus of extravagance would lie with them. He referred to the Civil Service Reform Bill, and its mutilation in the Upper House. Speaking of his own electorate he said this district had never pressed him to obtain the expenditure of Government money/ He had never received a letter or telegram on the subject. He knew how other members of the House were pressed by their constituents. He believed the Government could largely reduce their expenditure. They . were i n possession of all the details, and should not expect outsiders tb. show them where fco apply the pruning knife. He referred again to the position of the Government when they took office. They said the previous Ministry had got the colony into a financial muddle. In his famous speech at Ashburton Sir Julius Yogel had made a great many promises which had not been fulfilled, especially where he said, '♦under a reinstated finance the colwould progress by leaps and bounds.* 1 The phrase had how become a bye-word. : Had , that promise been fulfilled ? He admitted the colony had steadily .progressed, but that was not due to the Government. Sir Robert Stout now recommends economy* prudence, ' and thrift to make prosperity. He said at Invercargill the colony must " taper off" borrowing, while Sir Julius Yogel had said at Auckland he would go in for a ten million loan. Tho public were puzzled with the two statements, but Mr Macarthur's theory was there was a general election pending, and the Ministry wanted to hedge. Sir Julius Yogel appealed to the reckless, ahd Sir R. Stout to the cautious .to save the colony from unbounded extravagance. When Sir Julius Yogel was chaUenged to explain he said the money was only to be expended in railways and roads while Sir Robert Stout only made vague replies. Then a compromise was made for the l£ million loan. He referred to the " earmarking" of

t.tus loan in connection witb the Nel-son-Taphouse line, and the debates ir Committee. There was a deficit oi ; £150,000, and probably more iv the I revenue tbis year. This cannot bt I called a reinstated finance. The Government had the advantage of the Sinking Fund wbich, with the deductions from Charitable Aid and Public Bodies," meant they, had £330;00G taaore revenue thah was on their estimates, yet they could not make both ends meet. i FBOTECTION ANB FBEETRADE. I ; The Government did not use the word Protection. They said .- * encouragement to ' local industries." They want to revise" the Customs Tariff to get more revenue out of the ■ pockets df the people of the colony. I ..:-.*, 0 :•■• ■ -Bj-xitEN-CHXIIiNT. I Retrenchment, should : begin at the top... Ministers should cut down their own salaries. He admitted they were not greater than were/paid to managers in Banks and Commercial houses, but a reduction I might be made. They should spend less in travelling expenses and alterations in Ministerial residences and luxurious furniture. The honorarum of members might be cut down to £150, but no lower, as it would prevent poor men getting into the House. He considered the officers of the Civil Service already under paid, and any further reductions would drive away their best men. This had already occurred in the Railway Department. Referring to the Local Bodies Act, he said Sir Robert Stout was indebted to Major Atkinson for the idea, and quoted from a speech in Hansard, made by tbe Major, in support of his contention. He criticised the railway system and condemned the Government for failing to appoint Boards, free from Government Control. Sir Julius Yogel Baid it was absurd to leave the work to one man, and Mr Richardson had pledged himself to resign if Boards were not appointed. Sir Robert Stout had said he expected to save £50,000 on the railways this year. It may be he was wrongly reported, but if he could do this now, why could he not have done the same two or three years ago ? The Native policy of Mr Ballance, was taken great credit for, by Sir, Robert Stout. . Mr Macarthur recognised the great merits of. Mrßallance as a Native Minister, but he was not so sure about his Native Land Bill which would probably be inoperative, or break down from its own weight. Sir Robert Stout gave an unworthy sneer at Mr Bryce for his conduct with Te Kooti, but he conveniently forgot the Government were enabled to do what they did to To Whiti entirely from the actions of the previous Government who had shown tbat chief bow enormous was the power of Europeans iv the colony in comparison to the Natives. Stout ought to have conceded to Bryie how he had smoothed the way for 'Ballance. He referred to the land policy of the Government and the assistance Mr Rolleston and Maj >r Atkinson had given in supporting th« measures of tbe Government iv that Aspect. Mr Ballance was liberal in his views on the subject. Ho believed bis small fai ni scheme would work well if the right men got on the land, but the village settlements would fail. A real opiuion, however, could not be formed until four* or five years had passed away. Mr Ballance diff erred with his colleagues as to the comparative value of railways and roads. Stout preferred railways, and Ballance preferred roads, and he was right because without the latter railways could not exist. The Representation Bill brought in last session was defeated by three members of the Ministry voting against it. As there were a great many enquiries being made on the subject he would give a brief resume of the matter. If representation is founded on a population basis the South Island would lose and the North Island gain three members, tbe latter having increased in population at a more rapid rate than the former. On a population basis the towns would hold the county districts at disadvantage. The latter required more represent^tion, because the population is moie, scattered^ while,.each settler or . farmer has a heavy stake in the colony while the denizens- in the towns have, in comparison, none at all. He considered 7000 a good basis for towns and 5000 for country electorates. If this Bill can not be adopted, a Bill must be passed extending the term -of the present Representation Bill to enable the business of the country to be carried on. He did not believe in the towns having a preponderating weight over the country. Men in the couutry were as a rule fixtures, while those in the towns were bound by no permanent . ties. Mr Macarthur had no faith in the ultimate benefit being derived from all ■; these conferences abqut federation,, especially to us in New Zealand.* "We would never submit ..to taxation from any outside source. ; : Tt might do for Australia and Tasmania whose interests were closer together. Ha hoped Maj or Atkinson would not be led away by any false opinions on the matter. Mr Macarthur concluded by stating his willingness: to Teply to any questions. Mr J. C. Thompson asked if Mr Macarthur would support Fisher's Bill, fe prohibiting brewers owning 'public houses. Mr Macarthur said he would not pledge himself to support any meas- ! ure until he saw the whole Bill. Mr Thompson asked if there was a movement in the House to modify the residential clauses in the Small Farms Regulations. Mr Macarthur replied the Government made the regulations under the Act. The House could not interfere. The Major proposed, and Mr Gosling seconded, That a vote of confidence in Mr Macarthur be passed. — Carried by acclamation.