THE ABOLITION BILL.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 367, 16 August 1875, Page 3

THE ABOLITION BILL.

MEETING AT OXFORD. On Friday evening a meeting of electors of Ashley district was held at the Road Board office, Oxford, to consider the proposal to abolish Provincial Councils, About thirtyfive persons were present, Mr Paul, chairman of the Road Board, in the chair. The chairman explained the object of the meeting. Mr T. Woodfield having been one to sign the requisition, explained that he wanted to see the abolition question discussed, so as to come to a decision whether it would benefit them or otherwise. At present he was not favorable to the abolition of the South Island provinces. He would not then move a resolution, but having heard the opinions of others would bo prepared to propose or second one at a later stage.

Mr Ingram, who had taken the requisition round for signature, stated he would have preferred that some one better at home with the question had proposed the motion put into his hand. His desire was to see the abolition question deferred, and the meeting was informed he was a provincial ist. The Oxford district had a revenue of £2127, viz —from provincial grant, £llOO ; special votes, £SOO ; and General Government grant, £2OO. .low, by the Lyttelton Times' statement it would, under the Abolition Bill, receive only £740. Mr W. Fisher dissented to Mr Ingram lumping out a lot of figures, with which he might be unacquainted. The £SOO special vote was, for instance, granted on the understanding that the district contributed an equal sum. Mr Ingram thought his statements would be correct, and if the electors present went in favor of abolition, he maintained the district would lose about £IOOO annually. On reference to the paper alluded to, he might, have been slightly in error, but in the main considered he was correct. [Hear, hear.] He moved—“ That in the opinion of this meeting the Abolition Bill should not be passed this session, in order that the people of the colony should have an opportunity of <.spressing an opinion on it,”

Mr Stubbs briefly seconded the motion.

'■«!' .1. R. Gorton said he favored abolition, bn' ihat it should not take effect till an

appeal had been made to the constituencies, so that expressions could be obtained on the Local Government Bill, fHear, hear.J The rim •, in his mind, had come when the colony ought to come under one national law and government— [Cheers] —to bring about belter government ; but that change, he argued, ought not to he made by the present Parliament,

Mr U. L. Higgins, M. P.C., who was well received, said as their representative he had attended that meeting to place his views on the matter under discussion before the electors, cordially supporting the motion, because the Provincial Councils ought not to be removed without first obtaining a decided expression of public opinion. [Cheers.] Contrasting the present against proposed positions, the public would certainly be influenced by that state of affairs which would benefit them most. He then explained the position of the provincial finances, and referred to the proposed nominated Superintendent. He urged that, under the bill, the people would lose all control of their land fund, and maintained that the members of the Assembly would not appropriate the b»nd fund to the province in which it was raised. As to the endowment he said that under the Bill the district would receive £1320, as against its present revenue of £2037. [A passage of words occurred between the speaker and Mr W, Fisher, in which the latter objected to a special vote of £SOO being included in any calculation made and the balance of last year’s provincial grant, which points Mr Higgins conceded, and then declared a balance against the abolition of £700.] He maintained whatever waj it was reckoned the result came out in favour of the Provincial Government system. He then referred to the desire of the Government to create a land fund for the provinces, and yet they sold 80,000 acres in the Waikato to Mr Thomas Russell, and that therefore the Government could not be trusted. After referring to the connection of the Bank of New Zealand with the Government; after referring to what Provincial Governments had done, and saying that their acts were more immediately under the control of the people than those of the Assembly, he concluded by expressing a hope that representation would be increased, and when that was done abolition might safely be attempted. Mr Dilnot Sladdeu thought he would make but a slight impression after the long speech of Mr Higgins. He could not let the statements just made to pass without contradiction, He took the view of Mr Gorton, that abolition ought to be considered in its widest sense, and not as referring to one small district. [Hear, hear.] Mr Higgins appeared to first approve of the Bill and then to condemn it, saying “ delay it till next session.” Now itwas to the best interests of Canterbury aud Otago that it should be passed without this delay. They would be aware that, at a meeting in Wellington, this delay had been agreed to, for the simple reason that Canterbury was likely (as Wellington considered) to get too much, and Wellington was not able to touch our laud fund. [Cheers.] Tbe provinces must be abolished in any case, and there was no telling but the members from other provinces would make a combined attack on our land fund. The abolition might not please Oxford, but it was a capital measure for the country. [Cheers.] The Government could not fail to see that the Provincial Councils were bringing undue pressure on the Assembly, aud hence the proposal last session, to abolish the North Island provinces. The Bill, he maintained, was brought forward to prevent the very corrupt practices alluded to by Mr Higgins. The time had fully come for centralisation, and the objections of Mr Higgins were trivial in the extreme. The present prosperity of the province in regard to tbe land fund would not last for ever, and the Oxford district, like every other, would have to look to the General Government for its grant. The prosperity of the province was due to tbe public works policy, and the policy of that Government now favoring abolition. (Cheers.) They were fast spending their capital—viz, the land fund, and unless the General Government stepped in no reserve would be made. It was a short-sighted view to take against a national reform, that Oxford would lose a pound or two. They must look at the advantages io be gained in the end. Having pointed out the log-rolling practices of the Provincial Councils, be urged that the public ought to accept tbe Abolition Bill with open anus—[cheers] —aud moved—“ That this meeting is of opinion that the Bill brought down by tbe Government for the abolition of the provinces will be advantageous to the colony and to this province,and believes that no good object will be gained by delay in carrying the measure iuto law.” [Cheers.] Mr W. Fisher with considerable pleasure seconded the amendment, pointing out that till the political differences of the country were arranged, there existed a great barrier to the progress of the nation. [Cheers. |

The chairman asked Mr Woodford to take the chair, Mr Paul then announced his intention to support the Abolition Bill, in spite of the confusing figures that had been imported into the discussion, and hoped to see Provincal Councils wiped out this session. (Hear) He adverted to the fact that railways, coastal steamers, and the telegraphs now connected the whole of New Zealand, that there was no necessity for Provincial Councils, which were originally intended to manage isolated districts. Thv Provincial Ordinances, he considered, were many of them not worth the paper which they were printed on, for ever and anon they were found to clash with the Acts passed by the Assembly. Unless the province always had a large laud fund the cost of Provincial Councils was too much. He supported immediate abolition. [Cheers. J Mr R. Parish was in favor of referring the Bill to the electors at the next election. Mr J. R. Pearson, who spoke with some energy, supported immediate abolition. Mr Higgins and Mr Ingram replied. The amendment was put, and resulted on the show of hands in a tic of twelve on each side, when The chairman said he would give his casting vote for abolition. Mr Higgins called for a division. The numbers were then counted. For abolition 21 Against 13 M rjority for immediate abolition 8 It was decided, on the motion of Mr’Pearson, seconded by Mr Sladden, that the chairman telegraph the result to Mr J. E, Brown, M.H.R. for Ashley. With a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting terminated.