THE ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 464, 9 December 1875, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

HON E. RICHARDSON AT CHRISTCHURCH. The Hon Edward Richardson addressed the electors of Christchurch at the Oddfellows’ Hall, last evening. There was a large attendance, and the utmost interest appeared to be taken in the proceedings. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and in opening the proceedings said that they had mot there that evening to hear from their old member, the Hon Mr Richardson, an occount of his stewardship, and also his opinions on the future. As there were perhaps many of those present who did not know what Mr Richardson had done, he would just state that for some time past Mr Richardson had occupied the high position of Minister for Public Works for the colony. He would also like to remark that Mr Richardson’s administration of the work of that department had been such that from all sides of the House—even from the Opposition—and also throughout the colony, he had received the highest possible commendation. [Cheers.] He should also like to give his testimony as a member of the City Council, and also as Mayor during the present year, to the way in which, on all occasions, Mr Richardson had worked in his place in the House for the interests of the city of Christchurch, and he would mention one fact which would bear out what he now stated; By the provisions of the Abolition Bill, it was proposed to pay £1 for £1 raised by rates in this municipality, but as the Bill did not come into force yet, they had no right to look for any payment being made; But Mr Richardson had arranged so that 6s 8d in the £ should be paid over to the municipality as an instalment, and this was in course of being done. [Cheers.] He hoped they would give Mr Richardson a quiet hearing, as they all knew that his forte was work and not speaking. Therefore, if they did so, all present would be enabled to hear what he had to say to them. [Cheers.] He had now much pleasure in introducing Mr Richardson. [Cheers.] Hon E. Richardson, who was warmly received on rising, said—Your Worship and gentlemen, electors of the city of Christchurch—l have asked you to meet me here to-night, as his Worship has said, that I may render to you a short account of my past actions during the five years that I have had the honor to represent the city of Christchurch in the House of Representatives. I will then briefly state what it is intended to do in the future, and of course you will expect me to say something from another point of view, that is, as a member of the Colonial Government. [Cheers.] Regarding the past I may say that when you did me the honor to elect me as your representative I went up to the Assembly entirely unpledged and as an independent member —[Hear, hear] —and acting on this, I voted on every question coming before the Assembly during those sessions independently, and in a way which I thought best calculated to advance the interests of the colony at large, and this municipality in particular. [Cheers.] I shall not detain you very long in noticing the various Bills brought before the House, as I have no doubt you are well acquainted with their provisions. At the end of the second session, as you are aware, I joined the Government. [Cheers,] I did this after some solicitation, and against my own personal wish. But, gentlemen, having accepted office, I did, as I have always done with anything I have taken in hand, my best to carry out the work committed to me with ability and integrity, [Cheers ] So long as I continue in charge of the Public Wurk> Department of the colony I shall continue to do my best, and I say if you do me the hot or to re-elect me I will so far as'l can, do my utmost to serve you in the future. [Hheers.J I can say what perhaps many members cannot that having been favored with good health I have been present at every sitting of the House which has been hold, except one, sinev 1 became your member. [Cheers.] There is one matter which I desire to mention, and that is, that I have never been asked by a private individual during the time I have been your member to procure them a favor, and I certainly have not taken any steps to procure a favor for any one, but have pur sued an independent course. [Cheers] Before going further, I would like to refer to an Act passed last session, which I find that many electors do not appear to be aware of. I lef i to the Regulation of Elections Act, By that Act the clerks of Road Boards and of municipalities throughout the i olony are bound under a penalty to return to the registration officers of the several districts the names of every person who shall have paid rates up to a certain period. [Hear, hoar.] I think the provisions of the Act in this particular will add very largely to the number on the rolls, and will also save great trouble to a large portion of the community. [Cheers. | In dealing with my past actions in the Assembly, you will naturally expect me to say something on the question which has occupied so much attention during the past year. I allude to the question of abolition. [Hear, hear.] My own opinion on this question is known to you in years past, and from the first time that I took a seat in the Provincial Council I thought that there was a necessity for a change in the system, and I never lost an opportunity of endeavoring to have the present system simplified and made more in accordance with our circumstances. [Hear, hear. | Therefore, when the matter was brought forward, I went in heart and soul to do away with the present system of Provincial Government, and substitute a simpler and more useful form of Government. [Hear, hear,] When I first went up to Wellington, what struck me was that from the fact of so many Superintendents having seats in the House, together with so many members of their Executives, it was impossible almost to attempt to simplify our present expensive form of Government. I saw that every time when the Government proposed anything to be done in one province which it was necessary should be done, so sure was it the case that the representatives of another province combined together to get an amount of money expended in their district. Thisled to large sums of money being spent more than was actually necessary—money which, though perhaps well spent in prosecuting works of utility, might not have been wanted for years to come. I do not want to weary you on this matter, but as much has been said upon it, I think it only right that I should go further. At the end of the session before last a resolution was passed by the Assembly instructing the Government to prepare a Bill to do away with the provincial form of Government in the North Island, and during the recess the Government took action to

carry this out. One difficulty in the way of carrying this out was that the Superintendent of this province, I believe, and of Otago, went so far as to say that if tho_ Provincial Government was done away with in the North Island it must be in these. I think the terms used was that they would be the butt of the North Island, and that they could not carry on. The members of the Ministry, including myself, went through the length and breadth of the laud, and we found so far as we could ascertain that there was a general wish that there should be total abolition—[Cheers]— that it should come into force at once. [Cheers.] We met in Wellington before the session, and we agreed to go in for this, and Bills were prepared with this object. | Cheers ] I see that it has been stated very freely that we only agreed to this at the last moment, but that the Bills were in print for some time there is no doubt whatever. It was proposed that the change should come into operation in the month of November last, but from the opposition made this was prevented until the end of next session, so as to enable the people to express an opinion. For my own part I held the opinion that this opinion had been expressed, [Cheers,] But you have now got an opportunity of doing so again, and I think there is little doubt as to wbat that opinion will be. [Cheers.] The Government proposed a Local Government Bill, a Bill, which I may say was recognised merely as a tentative measure, to be tried for a time, and to pave the way for a more comprehensive measure in the next session. As, however, abolition did not come into force, there was no need for it, and the Bill was dropped. I shall allude presently to what steps the Government are taking with regard to the new Bill, The Mayor, in his opening remarks, has somewhat anticipated what I was going to say as to the action of this Bill with regard to the city. It was, I may say, originally intended to give the proportion under the provisions of the Abolition Bill for eight months, or 13s Id in the £l. Though the Bill did not come into force when we expected it would, the Government thought it only right to put something on the estimates, and we therefore asked the House to make some payment to Municipalities and Road Boards in the proportion we proposed of onehalf for the period, and that amount, 6s 8d in the £, as has been stated by the Mayor, therefore been paid, or is in course of payment, to municipalities. There has also, I see, some reference been made as to the question of nominees, and you have been told that the Government intend to introduce a system of nominees. Now the Government never intended to do anything of the sort. If the Bill had been passed matters generally would have been in a state of transition. The same state of things would necessarily occur in any mercantile or large establishment where an organic change was to be introduced, and we considered that no one would be better able' to help us in the matter than Superintendents, who were the elected of the people, and who we found in office. That was how far our nominee system was intended to go. [Hear, hear.] There is, however, now no reason for this. I don’t think I need go further into this matter, but if there is any question which any gentleman desires me to speak further upon, if he will put it I shall be very glad to reply. If I go into the whole of the past labors of the session, I fear it will detain you too long, besides, I feel myself physically incapable of a long address. One great point in dealing with the future—one which we keep steadily in view—is to preserve the unity of the colony at any price. [Hear, hear.] I don’t believe in separation, and I don’t believe in the division of the colony into four or more provinces. I be lieve il this inland is divided into two provinces it will create more discontent, and ih< re will be more crying out from the outlying districts than at present exists. We propose to centralise the whole legislative power in the General Assembly, to decentralise the administration provincially, and put it as far as possible in the hands of the local bodies and local boards. [Hear, hear.] The Local Government Bill, which is in course of preparation, goes in to divide the whole colony into shires —these shires to be constituted as the present Road Boards are, so far as the system will suit. The question of future electoral boundaries is one which will receive attention, and we intend so to arrange it in the division of the colony imo shires as to make the electoral boundaries coterminous with those of shire councils, and I think that there is no reason to suppose that there will be any difficulty. The Hoad Boards will get as fixed in the Abolition Rill £1 for £1 on the rates levied, to be found out of the Consolidated Revenue, and the shire councils and districts will also get a portion. I have only sketched out what we intend to do, of course there may be some modification when we come to the Bill. So far as I see the municipalities also will get the license fees and endowments as proposed in the Abolition Bill, With respect to the shire councils, we see that it is necessary, to make them attractive at all to gentlemen who will take part in them as members, that they should have a fixed and reliable revenue. The revenue which they will have will be in the first place part of tne revenue after the £1 per £l, and they will also have power to rate for large works such as main roads, bridges, or otht r works, such as described in the present Abolition Bill. By these means I say these shire councils will rather increase our local administration than otherwise, and on the whole I think we shall be in a better position to carry out large local works than the Road Boards at present are. Then after paying the charges which by the Bill are now charged on the land fund, we propose that the residue of the laud fund shall be divided amongst the shire councils, to be by them allocated amongst the Road Boards or ridings of these shire Councils, so that the land fund will be spent in the local districts, and be at the disposition of the local bodies. We are also generalising the laws on scab and impounding, when at present we have half a dozen different laws existing over the colony, which I believe will be a great boon to the whole country. [Hear, hear,] With regard to public works, in the future the Government propose to continue steadily on with the construction of those lines which have been already authorised by Parliament. When all the money shall have been raised for which we have the authority of the House, we believe we shall have sufficient money to construct all those lines, and we have no reason to suppose that we shall not be able to carry them on successfully to the end. [Cheers.] With regard to the future, the Government see no reason to doubt, so far as we can see at present, that money will be forthcoming to carry out

the great work which we proposed in the original scheme, that is to carry on the great trunk lines of railway until the whole of the works we there proposed shall be carried out. With respect to immigration, we propose to continue a steady stream, that it shall be kept up continuously, but only in such a manner as we think best suited to the resources of the country. With regard to railways now open, a deal has been said as to their not paying interest on capital. So far as we have evidence on the subject, with one or two small exceptions there is no line that will not pay expenses. In this province they will pay well, and the same remark applies to those in Otago. There is, I believe only one exception, in the North Island, where the lines now open will not pay from 2 to 8 per cent on working expenses and cost of construction. A statement was made by the Colonial Treasurer that, supposing we wished —or I say were foolish enough—to part with our railways, we could get some eight millions for them, including the provincial lines. I see that this statement has been disbelieved somewhat, as being over estimated, but I believe that this estimate is rather under than over the mark, because the lines are all paying well, except in respect to one or two small lines, which from their very smallness are not likely to affect the general revenue. With regard to the question of the lands of the colony, you are most of you aware that I am personally interested both as a squatter and a freeholder. There can be no doubt of this that it is the duty of the Government to conserve the public estate as much as possible, [Cheers.] It is their duty to see that settlement is pushed on as much as possible—to have agricultural lands, as they are doing in the North Island, ready for settlement, both for cash purchasers and those on deferred payments. [Cheers.] With regard to dealing with the runs, I am decidedly of opinion on this that it is the duty of the Government to see that a fair assessment of these runs should bo made, and that the present occupiers should have an opportunity to take them at these rates, or that failing their doing so, they should be let to some other persons. [Cheers.] But as regards offering them to auction, that is the very worst thing that could be done. [Hear, hear.] It would give rise to jobbery, and the formation of rings such as America has hardly ever seen. Another question which the electors will doubtless want to know my opinion upon, is that of education. I consider it is the duty of the Government to see a fair education provided for every child in the colony—[cheers]—and such an education as cannot interfere with the religious scruples of any one. [Cheers.] It must be, so far as the Government is concerned, a purely secular education—[cheers] —and also it is the duty of the Government in this case—by means of scholarships probably—to provide for the education in the higher branches of those children who, in the lower schools, may give signs of aptitude for learning, and so put those children in the way of getting thevery highest education the country can afford. | Cheers.] A great deal has been said as to where the endowments we propose to give are to come from. My own individual opinion has been for years past that when some such system as I h ave been describing shall have been established, it will enable the Government to diminish very largely the existing departmental expenses by consolidating the official work throughout the colony. [Hear, hear.] I say that in my own department,—and there are many others which I have occasionally looked after—a large saving may bo effected if the matter is grappled with by the Government with a firm hand. [Cheers ] Of course it will be the duty of the Government to watch this matter most carefully, considering the amount of our expenditure and the large amount of interest on the public debt. I for myself see no reason why all the provisions which are made in the Abolition Bill cannot be carried out in their integrity. The revenue will bear it, and taking into accountthe large increase of population which we arereceiving, I see no reason why it should not only keep up to what it is at present but be largely increased. [Cheers.] The-rail-ways which are being opened will also largely add to the revenue, and any one who has seen, as I have done, the amount of business which is being Transacted upon these lines will see that this is the case. In the neighbouring colony of Victoria, the railways there, which have cost £20.000 per mile, yield at present, at a very moderate tariff, 3£ per cent on the total cos' of construction, and I think it is very little to expect in this country—though I grant that the population is small—where the railways have cost on an average only £5600 per mile, and the tariff charges, which the peopleare well able to bear, are larger, that the lines should contribute largely to the revenue, (Cheers.] I am not looking at it from a revenue point of view, as this would be very foolish, because the lower the rates of carriage are, consistent with paying fair proportion of working expenses and cost, the better it will 1 e for all. [Cheers.] One point in his Honor’s speech at Papanui last night I wish to refer to He ttiere stated that the Ministry were not in .tccord, and instanced the action taken with regard to immigration, and he also quoted certain correspondence. No ono will doubt that it was a very unpleasant thing for the Government to have to produce such correspondence as this, but they saw no way out of it, and this because copies of these letters were in the hands of members long before the meeting of Parliament, and therefore it was better to give the whole truth, and not to wait until it was dragged out bit by bit, [CUccio.] x state positively now that the Government are in accord, and am quite prepared to take ray share of the action that has been taken by them. [Cheers. 1 No doubt there was a disagreement about immigration and the action taken by our absent colleague in this matter at home. It must be |remembcred that in a colony like this changes come very quickly, and our absent colleague looked upon matters here in the way they stood when he left them while we looked upon them as they were. Therefore we requested to alter the arrangements If this is disunion I don’t know what is. We looked at things as they were; he looked at them from the same point of view as when he left the colony. This was whal took place, and I say again that there was no disunion, and that we are in accord [Hear, hear.] I think now, gentlemen, 1 have touched on all the points necessary;! regret that I am unable to address you at greater length, but shall have an opportunity of speaking to you on other occasions. If there are any points upon which you desire to be informed, I shall be happy to answer any questions you may put. There is one point, however, which has been put to me, and that is the difficplty of voters getting to

the poll under the present hours. I hope, however, that the large employers of labor will not be too strict, and will give opportunities to men in their employ to go to the poll on the day, [Cheers.) Gentlemen, I thank you for the way in which you have listened to what I have had to say, f Cheers. J In reply to questions, Mr Richardson said—That, so far as he knew, it was the custom all the world over that the police should not have a vote, and he thought this was just as well. With regard to small contracts, they were very well in their way for a certain description of works, and he was in favor of them; but in large railway works he was not in favor of small contracts. So f>r as his present information went, he thought the revenue of the colony would stand the necessary expenditure for education. Mr Wynn Williams said that what he wanted to know was, how school accommodation was to be provided for the children which were growing up ? Mr Richardson said that, from the information the Government obtained, it was believed that £40,000 would be sufficient to provide the required accommodation for the financial year. Dr Turnbull enquired what limits should be placed on the future borrowing of New Zealand ? Mr Richardson said that he certainly would not place any limit on it whatever. They had sufficient to carry on the works for the next two years, and he thought it undesirable that the borrowing power should be limited, as circumstances might arise whichwould render it desirable to borrow further. In reply to another question, Mr Richardson said that the municipalities and Road Boards got from the consolidated revenue £1 for £1 alike. The payment from the land fund was another matter. He believed that most of the municipalities, although he believed not all, were endowed; this was not the case with the Road Boards, and it was thought well to give them a contribution from the land fund, so that the outlying districts might not suffer. Dr Turnbull said it was proposed by the Abolition Bill to give 13s 4d to the Road Boards and 6s 8d to the towns. He should like to know on what principle this distinction had been made. Mr Richardson said it was known that many of the Road Boards had entered into prospective works, and it was thought that the money could not be better expended than in helping them.

Dr Turnbull said that if Road Boards and municipalities were to be subsidised by the Government, was it right that the Mayors and chairmen should act as election agents for members of the Government? Did Mr Richardson think it right to employ, as chairman of his election committee, the salaried Mayor of this city, which was subsidised by the Government. Mr Richardson said that before he left Wellington the Mayor telegraphed to him and asked him whether he would allow him (the Mayor) to assist at the election, as he had formerly done. He (Mr Richardson) replied that he could not come down, as he was much occupied by his public duties, but that he would gladly accept the Mayor’s kind offer. He gave this answer to the Mayor just the same as he had answered others who had made similar offers of assistance. The matter had never struck him in the light in which it was viewed by Dr Turnbull. He did not ask the Mayor for his services, but when offered he accepted them, and he was bound to say that he should do so again. [Cheers.] The Mayor said that these questions were evider tly intended as direct hits at himself and Mr Richardson. He claimed the right to act in two individualities ; first as a private citizen, and secondly as Mayor of the city. It was as a private cit zen he had preferred his services to Mr Richardson to help to return him, as he had done on a previous occasion. With regard to his being a salaried officer, he was sorry that any gentleman could think so meanly of him as to suppose that he would take any money from .Mr Richardson for his services ; in fact, if that gentleman had not accepted them fiuo of reward, he (the Mayor) would not give them. [Cheers.] As to his being a salaried Mayor, he might state that he had not received a single sixpence for his past year’s services. As, however, he would have to serve as Mayor ror another year—no other person having been nominated—there was an understanding in the Council that an honorarium should be voted just sufficient to cover the amount of cash he might expend in the discharge of his duties as Mayor of Christchurch. This was the only sum he would receive. [Loud cheers ] In reply to other questions, Mr Richardson said, that if there was a necessity for further taxation, the tax he should prefer was a property tax, He thought that the present taxation bore equally on all classes, and it would be a pity to disturb it. The present electoral rolls were not based on the rate rolls, and were no doubt very defective, but as the law at present stood the present system of registration must continue. He was of opinion when any change was made in the incidence of taxation that it would be iu the direction of a property tax. He demurred altogether to the idea that the necess tries of life were too heavily taxed. When Sir Geo. Grey brought the subject forward, certain inquiries were made in Wellington, and the result brought out was that in Wellington some 6a or i s a head per annum was all that was paid for taxes on the necessaries of life ; he bad made similar inquires here, and found that parties here nad been unug u.uvi* than those in Wellington, for the duty ran up to 12s a head. He was not quite sure whether triennial Parliaments would answer; personally he had no objection to them. He thoroughly believed in the integrity of the ballot, at the same time he thought it was necessary that some distinctive mark should be put ou the voting papers. He hoped, however, the day would come when the real principle of the ballot would be more valued, and the system of canvassing would be done away. He thoroughly objected to the employment of paid canvassers. As to the sale of the Piako swamp, a very searching investigation was made into the circumstances by a committee of the House of Representatives, and their report was generally that a favourable sale had been made by the Government ; no doubt, however, the law had been exceeded to a certain extent, inasmuch as a survey had not been made and an Order in Council issued, before the sale took place. But the fact was that the Government for political reasons did not deem it well to force that survey. Under the circumstances the arrangement made was considered by the

Government to be very advantageous to the country, and the road which was now being made would open up communication did not it had long been wanted. If they did not think he should represent their interests, he hoped they would not elect him. If the State went in for compulsory education he did not think that the State should insist on the child going to any particular school. There was no idea of taking the land fund of Canterbury away for the benefit of the whole Island. He believed that any Government would make large reserves for education. The information as to the expenditure on account of Sir Julius Vogel’s trip home would be laid before Parliament. Mr Pratt moved—“ That this meeting desires to express their thanks to Mr Richardson for his past services, and desires to express its continued confidence in him.” Mr T, D, Jones seconded the motion, which was agreed to almost unanimously, A vote of thanks to the Mayor terminated the proceedings.