The Globe. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1875.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 454, 27 November 1875, Page 2

The Globe. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 1875.

Me Moxxoomert’s address to the electors of Akaroa, was a carefully prepared and interesting speech. He was exhaustive in his details of the circumstances which had led him to vote in the manner he did on the Abolition Bill, and his speech bristled with quotations from reports which had appeared in the different papers, with a view to showing that his conduct had been consistent throughout. Mr Montgomery is one of those who do not believe that the sums arising from the sale of the waste lands of the province will be returned to Canterbury. He believes, as so many opponents of the present Government do, that it will be found imperatively necessary to apply the revenue arising from this source to the paying off of liabilities incurred by the impecunious provinces. An attack was made on the Local Government Bill, and with some justice, as it is absurd to suppose that the people would submit to a rating which might reach the sum of five shillings in the £. But through all this Mr Montgomery recognises the fact that provincialism is dead, that there can be no reviving the system under which he was a power in the land, and that the scene of future triumphs, if they are Store for a cautious politician such as he is, is the House of Representatives, That “ crude and unsatisfactory mea- “ sure, the Abolition Bill,” has become law; the electors have declared for it, and the returns at the General Election, so shortly to take place, will show that the country in general approves the principle of the Bill. When Mr Montgomery comes to the question of the financial arrangements of the present Government, he is an undoubted authority. He is severe on the reckless expenditure which has resulted in the formation of political lines of railway, which will not pay the interest and sinking fund on the cost of their construction. He knows how and why these lines have been constructed, and is naturally indignant that the colony should be compelled to bear the cost of them. From this point the speaker travelled to the question of the appearance of paid officials as members of the House of Representatives. He declares against any members of the House, except, of course, the occupants of the Treasury Benches, being in the receipt of official salary. In this case we cannot but agree with him, but we are afraid it will be but a vain crusade if Mr Montgomery tries to induce his fellow-members to look at the subject in the same light. The subject of Education received a lengthy notice from the member for Akaroa, and he defended himself very successfully against the charges of extravagance brought against him by his opponents in the district. He proved that instead of the Board of Education having, as was stated, overdrawn to the amount of £16,000, there was a large unexpended balance. As the question is one of facts and figures it is to be presumed that Mr Montgomery is right and his opponent

wrong. In direct contradiction to those principles which Mr Beswick declares should influence the member for any district, Mr Montgomery will not go up to the House with a determination to get a railway to Akaroa at all coats and hazards. Not holding the Beswickian ideas, he considers that if he was to make the construction of such a railway the price of his vote in support of any Ministry, he would be rendering himself unworthy of representing the community which has returned him to the House. And, this being so, he wishes local matters to be dealt with local bodies, and logrolling, which, according to the aspirant for Kaiapoi, is to distinguish the next House of Kepresentatives, to be reduced to a minimum. If Mr Montgomery can do anything towards the extinction of this practice, he will be doing the country good service, and every one must hope that his efforts may be successful.