HON MAJOR ATKINSON AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 474, 22 December 1875, Page 3

HON MAJOR ATKINSON AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

[By Telegraph.]

New Plymouth, December 20.

Major Atkinson addressed a meeting last night. 500 people were present. Mr Northcroft in the chair. He had an enthusiastic reception. Major Atkinson, after apologising for having had the meeting postponed, said he appeared before the electors in a double capacity, as their member to render an account of his actions in the past, and to stand as a candidate for re-election. He did not propose to go into the details of the session, but to direct their attention to the very important matters that had occupied a large portion of it, and the effect they would have on the colony at large. He referred to the immigration and public works policy. [Here a portion of this message appears to have been accidentally omitted in the course of transmission.] They had 1645 miles ol telegraph poles, and of wires 3900 miles. Now, they would observe that the total increase in the public charges was about £40,000 a year, but they would also observe the increase in the revenue was £670,000. The departmental services had increased £170,000, for the ordinary departmental expenditure in 1871 was £478,000 and in 1875 £650,000 ; and notwithstanding the large increase in public charges and departmental expenditure, they had still over £IOO,OOO to the good in the yearly income, which must be regarded as exceedingly satisfactory. As to the constitutional changes, he said it had long been admitted in all parts of Ihe •olony that 6ome constitutional changes were absolutely necessary; and to show them the public approved of that, out of all the opponents to the change there were only two candidates who thoroughly advocated provincial institutions. He said that by provincial institutions their best men were prevented from giving that attention to colonial matters that they should, and instanced Mr Macandrew, who was Superintendent of one of the largest provinces, and who said in the House last session that he knew nothing of colonial finance. He asked how it was possible for the Government to go on satisfactorily whilst their leading men neglected to give that attention to the affairs cf the colony that was necessary, or to look after the wants of the people as a whole 1 At present the Government had to suit their finance, not actually to the necessities of the people, but to suit the caprices of the different Provincial Governments, and consequently it was utterly impossible to obtain a real consideration of colonial finance. He then referred to the action of the Government last session with respect to the Abolition Bill. He said when the Government found that all the Opposition wanted was delay of a few months in making the Act operative they consented, believing that the people were with them, and he believed at the coming election the decision of the electors would be in their favor. It was with this view that last session they cleared the ground in order that the new Parliament might build up an effectual system of local self-government. The Government was of opinion that a paper constitution was useless, as a constitution must be of slow growth, and could not be carved out by any but able statesmen. They took the Road Boards as the unit from whi> h th ■<. people could build up a county system. Government, however, would now be prepared to submit to next Parliament a complete form of government. As the Opposition only wished the operation of the Act delayed to give the people a voice in the matter, it seemed only reasonable that Government should acquiesce. He would now glance at provincial matters, although he thought no man was fit to be a member who did not take an interest in colonial matters, still he had no right to neglect the district which he represented. With regard to this province, a road was opened up to Patea, with the exception of that unfortunate gap—Pariaka. It was a matter of regret that that was not open, and had considerably chafed him both before and after he became a Minister ; but there were cross purposes to contend with, and it might be a question of peace or war. Many of those present knew what war meant, and he for one would put up with any amount of inconvenience rather than be subjected again to what they had already gone through. He then pointed out the work done during the last five years, as nothing had been done previously worth speaking of. Roads had been made ; they had also got their railways started, and twenty thousand pounds had been spent in opening blocks of land, and they had had 1500 immigrants brought into the place. They had already made great advance in the question of a. harbor for New Plymouth, for they had passed an Act setting aside a quarter of the land revenue as an endowment for that important work, no doubt owing to the zeal and perseverance of Mr Carriugton, who was close on being rewarded for all his efforts. There was auother thing, the confiscated lands had been handed over to the province. From the facts he had enumerated he thought they could not complain of being neglected. He now referred to the questions that were likely to be brought before the next Parliament. First, with regard to a united colony, the Government would give no countenance to any scheme for breaking up the colony in any form. [Great applause. J They would not support the reviving of Provincial Governments ; they were already abolished and should not be revived. Nor could they agree to any Federation Government. They would submit a Bill to next Parliament to divide the colony into shires, so as to give the people absolute control over their local affairs. He denied that the Government wished to centralise administrative powers. He believed good Government impossible if such a thing was attempted. The Bill to be submitted provided for the endowment of Hhire Councils a"so giving over the land fund to the districts after the deduction of interest on the loan, and pound per pound as subsidy to rates levied by the Boards ; the Shire Councils to have power to levy rates and borrow money. With regard to public works, Government proposed to construct the main trunk line of railway, as the original scheme, through the two islands, and, with cure, he thought it would be accomplished without difficulty.

Intimatelj connected with railways were harbor and river improvements, and it was the duty of the Government to grapple with them when the provinces were abolished, and they were handed over to the Government. With regard to education, it was the duty of the Government to consider the question, and they proposed to make provision out of the consolidated revenue for educational purposes. He was of opinion that no scheme of education would be complete without the higher class of educational establishments. A Bill would be brought in next session in accordance with those views. With regard to taxation, all depended upon the people themselves. If they unduly forced on the public works, they would have to face increased taxation and a monetary crisis. Otherwise there would be no need of fresh taxation, except that it might be thought necessary to relieve the land fund of the charges now upon it. He then proceeded to state that at present people did not suffer by taxation, and that they did not pay too dearly for the blessings of good government. With regard to the goldfields he would divide them into counties, and give them large powers of local control, subsidising the revenue as provided by the Abolition Bill. At the conclusion of his address, which was listened to with the utmost attention, Major Atkinson received a unanimous vote of confidence and pledge of support.