PUBLIC MEETING IN DUNEDIN.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 710, 28 September 1876, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING IN DUNEDIN.

[BY TELEGRAPH.] (Per Press Agency., Dunedin, September 27, A public meeting was held this evening in Theatre, the Mayor in the chair. The build ing was crammed to overflowing; it seats thirteen hundred. Mr Macandrew, who was received with loud and prolonged applause, said—lt was unusual for members of parliament to address their constituents when the House was in session, but there were exceptions to the rule, and he took advantage of his presence in Dunedin to address them. He was there to ascertain whether his actions had met their approval. [Cheers,] He accepted their applause as an indication that it had. Last week he had received a memorial reflecting on his action as a representative. He was there to meet the charges made against him. [Hear, hear, j He had been charged with obstructing the public business. ( No, no” ; and cries of “Yes.”] This, however, was the charge that would always be urged against public men. He and his colleagues had done their best to preserve local Government, and to preserve their local revenue. 1 Cheers.] Their right of determining for themselves the form of Government best adapted to their requirements was one that no Government had a right to take from the people. If this was obstructing public business, he pleaded guilty, and gloried in it. [Cheers.] It was those who sent that letter to Wellington who were obstructing the public business of the colony. But for that, his resolutions would mors than likely have been carried. It was those who were seeking to pull down the constitution and had not the capacity to place anything in its stead who were really the obstructors. [Cheers.] It was said the Counties Bill would put everything right. But without it they had the control of their own revenue. This Bill was simply the shell without the substance. [Hear, hear.] A board of works was suggested. He would be content with this board, but the thing was impossible. The Government had been waited on in reference to a board of works, but the thing would not be entertained. They might as

well talk to a deaf adder as talk to the Legislative Assembly in Wellington. The result of the present session so far was a cost to the country of £45,000. It was possible the session would last for three months longer, and the expense involved would then be thrown away in a vain endeavor to manage the affairs of the colony from Wellington. Sir George Grey proposed the only solution of the difficulty—two separate Parliaments for each Island, with a federal government in the centre. This was defeated, and he (Mr Macandrew) then proposed certain resolutions, leaving the people to determine what change of local government they desired. _ But for this memorial sent up to Wellington he believed these resolutions would have been carried. As the result of abolition, their railway receipts would be carried away to Wellington. What would become of the money ? At the present time the ordinary expenditure of the Government exceeded the revenue to the extent of £IOOO per day. To make up this deficiency the land revenue and railway revenue was required. The Government cared nothing about local government or abolition, but they wanted the money [Uproar.] But the land and railway revenue would not be sufficient to make up the deficit, and unless the present system, which was a rotten one, was changed, additional taxation would be necessary. There must be retrenchment, and this could be effected by confining the Assembly to purely federal functions. The only thing for Otago was to erect it into a separate colony. [Loud cheers,] This could be done by constitutional means, as had been done in the colony of Victoria and Queensland. Let them go direct to the Imperial Parliament. He believed if Otago was made a separate colony it could raise a revenue of £700,000 a year. It was the jealousy and prejudice of the smaller provinces which was retarding the progress of Otago. He then read an article from the New Zealand Times of September 23rd in reference to the memorial sent to the city members abusing the people of Otago for their selfishness, &c. Otago had been the milch cow of the colony. They should no longer remain so. It was time they made an attempt to become a free and independent people. [Loud cheers.]

Mr Stout said he appeared in answer to the challenge conveyed by the memorial respecting his conduct in the House of Representatives. Did they send them as representatives to obey the wishes of the Ministry at Wellington ? [“ No, no ”J The 800 memorialists might have been delighted had they done so, because the work of legislation would have been finished speedily, but he understood they were sent there to fight for the welfare and interests of their constituents. [Oheera.J Mr Stout then proceeded to review the proceedings of the Assembly in connection with the Piako Swamp question. On that occasion the Ministry had been saved from a defeat by the casting vote of the Speaker. He contended that the Government and not the Opposition had caused the debate on that question, and those who had signed the memorial challenging the members with having obstructed the business of the Assembly, could not have been acquainted with the true facts, [llear, hear.] On the Hid August, after the Government had made all their financial proposals, and the Financial and Abolition Bills had been brought down, the separation debate had arisen, because he thought it was his duty to do what he could in the interests of Otago—to do what he could to prevent the destruction of their con stitution, [Cheers.] Only eight days had been taken up in this very important discussion, and he asked if this was wasted time ? | “ No, no,” and cheers,] The disqualification discussion next ensued. Then came the struggle in which the minority tried hard to maintain the dignity of the Parliament. Yet in the face of this here comes this lamentable memorial telling the members who had been fighting their battle untiringly for three mouths, and were wearied. Hear, hear, and cheers ] Their memorial was published iu the Wellington papers before the memorial reached them, and it was stated that Messrs Gillies and Strode headed it. [Laughter and cheers.] It was alleged that because it was signed by Messrs Gillies, Strode, and Fish, all the people of Otago were in opposition to their members. [Laughter and applause.] It bad the effect, however, of weakening their position in the Assembly. He had the honor of representing the first constituency in New Zealand, but he would at once resign the honor if he thought for a moment he was misrepresenting the opinions

of his constituents. When the Abolition Bill came ‘down they were told they would have their land fund secured for ever by A.ct of Parliament. It is to the credit of Dunedin, however, that with all these promises, it determined it would not be bribed. It was promised also that certain charges for education and other purposes would be made on the consolidated fund. But what would they lose ? They would lose under this new scheme, in the Province of Otago alone, £150,000 per year. This was under the abolition arrangement, and it meant also of that amount for public works. The goldfields would suffer, for under this scheme, if they became counties and wanted to obtain their subsidy, they would have to tax themselves. This would have the effect of paralysing mining enterprise, The memorial asked them to discuss the finance and the county questions, but if provincialism had its faults, who but the people were responsible? [Cheers,| He had no objection to the taking away of the legislative powers of the Provincial Councils. Last year they had asked for a Board of Works Bill, and if they had got that they should have been satisfied. But by the Government scheme the squatters were saved from contributing their fair share towards the revenue. By abolition they were giving up the control of their land and their revenue, and in return they were getting a barren Abolition Act, which would be altered and amended at the whim of the day. The Government was issuing Treasury Bills, and the money to meet these would be taken out of the funds which had hitherto been managed by the Provincial Councils. Although he represented the first constituency in the colony, he did not wish to act without their support, and he asked them that night if they thought they were contending for their rights, and striving to do their best for the colony. He would go back and fight it out. [Prolonged applause.] Three cheers were given for Mr Btout and Mr Macandrew.

Mr Lawson then moved the following resolution, seconded by Mr Hallenstein — “That Messrs Macandrew and Stout are entitled to the hearty thanks of this meeting for affording their constituents this opportunity for mutually hearing and expressing opinions in reference to the past and future of New Zealand politics ; that in the opinion of this meeting the Otago representatives who have acted in opposition during the present session of the Assembly, have faithfully, honorably, and nobly fulfilled their trust, and deserve and have the entire sympathy of the great bulk of the inhabitants of Otago in their effort to obtain justice for and maintain the rights and privileges of the people of this province,” Mr J, G. S. Grant attempted, amidst great uproar, to speak to an amendment amidst great interruptions, groans, and jeers. The Mayor then put it to the vote whether Mr Grant should be heard, when it was decided not to hear him. The resolution was then put and carried, with three cheers for the members. It was proposed by Mr Maloney, and carried unanimously—That in the opinion of this meeting it is hopeless to expect anything like justice to Otago from the present House of Kepresentatives, and that the Superintendent and Executive be strongly urged forthwith to convene a meeting of the Provincial Council with a view to the necessary legislative action being taken to obtain a plebiscitum of the people, so as to ascertain their wishes and opinions as to the form of local self-government best calculated to secure to the province the exclusive enjoyment of its own revenue, and the control and administration of its own affairs.” The last resolution was carried in the midst of confusion, occasioned by pepper or some such stuff being distributed in the pit. It was—“ That his Worship the Mayor, as chairman of this meeting, be hereby respectfully requested and authorised to forward the resolutions to his Excellency the Governor of this Colony.” A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings, the Mayor protesting against the scandalous conduct of the parties unknown.