THE OTAGO CONVENTION.

Globe, Volume VII, Issue 746, 9 November 1876, Page 2

THE OTAGO CONVENTION.

[By Electric Telegraph.] {Per Press Agency.) Dunedin, NoTember 8, The followiHg is the address delivered by Mr Macandrew to the members of the Convention :

" Gentlemen, —As convener of this meeting, it devolves upon me to state the reasons which influenced me in calling you together, and the objects which in my opinion ought to be attained thereby. I may say that until the term of office conferred upon me by the people expires, which will be some few months hence, I hold myself to be de jure Superintandent of Otago, and as Buch I now address you. I need scarcely say that assuming the General Assembly to have power to abolish the province of Otago, the foundations of which many of you, in common with myself, helped, to lay, and

which we have Been grow up into a goodly fabric, it has been ruthlessly swept away by those who for years have fattened upon its revenues and been jealous of its progress. Its very name has been erased from the map of New Zealand ; its land revenue, which has always been regarded as the apple of its eye, and which we have been wont loudly to boast that no power on earth should deprive us of—our land revenue, by a roundabout process of political hocus pocus, is g ne as effectually as if it had been taken to Wellington direct. Our much abused local Parliament, which, with all its imperfections, conducted its business with economy and efficiency as contrasted with the General Assembly, has been by the latter debarred from meeting, notwithstanding the fact that each derives its existence from the same iource, and that the one was a much more complete transcript of public opinion than the other. A more arbitrary and revolutionary action on the part of a representative body hBS, I believe, never been perpetrated. It is one which I venture to think will recoil upon the Colonial Legislature in a way that was little anticipated. In my opinion, Provincial Councils had as much right to enact the abolition of the Colonial Parliament, as had the latter to enact the abolition of the former, and had the Colonial Govern, ment consented to refer the question to judicial decision, there is little doubt but the Abolition of the Provinces Act would have been found to be ultra vires. There can be no doubt that while the extinguishment of the provincial sentiment will be most disastrous to the material interests of New Zealand, it will be more disastrous still as respects those higher qualities of selfreliance, wholesome rivalry, political training, and such like, which it is part of genuine statesmanship to foster and encourage. Such are some of the circumstances which have led to this convention of representative men. It has been Baid that this convention is too late, and that it should have been called together before the Parliamentary session commenced. I can only Bay that, could it have been anticipated that the newly-elected Parliament, to which Otago returned twenty-one members, nineteen of whom were pledged to vote for financial separation from the North Islandcould it have been anticipated that this Parliament would have ignored and turned a deaf ear to the desires of the people, I should have invited you to meet prior to the session. I do not, however, believe, that had this been done it would have made the slightest difference, inasmuch as his Excellency's ministers, who speak the sentiments of the majority in the Assembly, have officially intimated in their reply to my telegram of 2nd of October last, that even were a plebiscitum to show that the people of Otago were all of one mind as to the form of local self-government best adapted to their requirements, their wishes on the subject would not for a moment be listened to, as against the dictum of the people.of Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, and the smaller provinces, which have a preponderance of voting power in the General Assembly, It is it is utterly futile to hope for justice at the hands of the New Zealand Parliament so long as Otago has anything to lose. When the life's blood is completely sucked out, then—and not till then will the horse-leech relinquish its hold. It might have been expected that our neighbours in Canterbury, whose inteterests are very much the same as ours, would have combined with us in our efforts to hold our own. Unfortunately, however, the dread of Otago ruling the roost in the proposed Middle Island Legislature prevented this, and it is to be feared that this illfounded feeling of jealousy is likely to hinder harmonious action between us for years to come. Under all the circumstances of the case, I am forced to the conclusion that there is no hope of extricating this province from the difficulties in which it is being entangled, and the evils to which it is being subjected, in any other way than by its becoming an independent colony with a supreme legislature of its own. The same remark applies to the great province of Auckland, which, were it allowed to manage its own affairs, and deal with its own revenues, would, I believe, be one of the most prosperous colonies in the Empire." His Honor then referred to the figures circulated by the Government to show that Otago would gain £IB,OOO a year by abolition. He denied this assertion; The only saving possible was the expense of the Provincial Council, £9OOO per annum, and he pointed out that in calculating this promised saviDg an omission had been made of the cost in the change of the form of Government, and the cost of the county councils. Neither had it been shown how the drain of £129,000 annually abstracted from the province was to cease. He also pointed to the fact that the province had expended out of revenue at the rate of £159,000 annually in promoting settlement and publie works, &c, fle asked, what provision had been made in the new order of things for th i continuation of this expenditure. When counties come to be compelled to tax themselves for re-erection of somo of the expensive bridges which have been constructed by the province, they will begin to comprehend the real effect of abolition. It will Boon be found that the residue of the land fund, after deducting liabilities which under the new order of things are imposed upon it as a first charge, is a delusion, and that it will barely suffice to find the counties with writing materials. In fact, as far as is concerned, abolition can only be characterised as a gigantic swindle, having for its effect the absorption by the colony of our local revenue, under the plea ostensible, of localising it 3 expenditure, but in reality for the purpose of enabling the colony to continue to live beyond its means. In point of fact the colonial expenditure is now so "reatly in excess of the colonial revenue that nothing short of the Middle Island land fund can enable it to carry on upon the same reckless state of extravagance into which for years past it has been gradually plunging deeper and deeper, and out of whicl» I' take leave to say that nothing could so effectually extricate it as that Otago should separate itself, paying, of coarse, its fair quota towards the Habilitieß of the past. You may rely upon it that the same power which has set at nought and ridden Tonghshod over the deliberate wishes of the people Jof Otago, this power will not hesitate, when the occasion arises, to affirm and enact that the whole of those endowments are the property of the colony, and must be shared by all alike. I repeat that to my mind the only panacea for the great wrong which is being inflicted on O'ago is that it should be proclaimed an independent colony, with a supreme Legislature of its own, and the absolute control over its own revenues. It cannot

be disputed that Otago is in an infinitely better position to stand alone than was New Zealand when self government was conferred on it, and it is in many respects in a better position than was any of the Australian colonies which separated from New South Wales at the time of their separation. Hi* Honor Tead a table of revenues of the British colonieß, and asked them to contrast with this the revenue of Otago, provincial and colonial, for the past year, which amounted to one million sterling, a revenue which will go on increasing, and out of which they could defray their proportion of the past liabilities of New Zealand and carry on those public works which under the new order of things, if carried on at all, must be provided for not out of revenue as hitherto, but by means of additional and special taxation. We should be enabled to construct railways to every important'district in the province, and this out of our own revenue, and without bending the knee aa humble supplicants to the representatives of Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, and Wellington, and being, after all, refused. We should have our own Parliament; our own representatives would be spared all the dangers, discomforts, and inconveniences of a sea voyage to Wellington. We can scarcely realise to ourselves the advantages which would result from Otago being created into an independent colony. It would vastly enhance the value of property all over the province. It would impart fresh life and vigor into the whole community. It would enable us to make all our shipping ports free ports, thereby giving an enormous impetus to trade and commerce in every direction. I have no desire to go back to Provincialism as it has been of late years; My aims are far higher than this. What I have contended for has been the Provincialism of the Constitution Act, but seeing that we cannot have that, the best thing by far for us is to become a separate colony, with power to govern itself and work out its own destiny in its own way, untrammelled by the millstone which a vicious system of centralism has yoked about its neck. I know it will be said that all this is Utopian and impossible. I know well that the New Zealand Parliament, as at present constituted, will never consent to let us go until the orange is sucked dry, when probably it would not be worth having, but I am convinced at the same time that separation is not impossible if the people will it. I am convinced that if Otago is determined upon it, and goes the right way and constitutionally about it, the Imperial Parliament will grant it. Such is the object which, in my opinion, ought to be aimed at, and which I trust will be attained by the convention. Assuming that you agree with me on this point, it will become a matter for very serious and earnest deliberation as to the modus operandi to be pursued. Now. whatever course of action may be decided upon as the best one, the thing is clear, that to succeed will involve thorough earnestness of purpose and considerable self-sacrifice, both of time and money. I have reason to believe that opposition on the part of some to this proposal is an ill-founded and absurd idea that my object in making it is a desire for power and personal aggrandisement. The slightest reflection, (however, may set at rest this fear. Should Otago succeed in beeoming a separate colony, a Governor will have to be nominated by the British Crown, an honor which those who dread such a contingency may rest assured is not at all likely to come my way. I can safely say that I have no object to serve in urging upon my fellow citizens the course of action which I am now doing other than to promote the interests, and secure the happiness of the people of Otago. I feel that if the province is true to itself there is a Seat struggle before us and al o a great ture which is well worth struggling for. It is gratifying to me to know that we shall not be alone in this contest, and that we shall have the sympathy and co-operation of the people of Auckland at least, who I rejoice to think are determined to shake themselves clear of that extravagant and reck less centralism which has .steeped that groat province in poverty, just as it is doing in the case of Otago. He who is not with us in this contest is against us, and if it would disarm the opposition of those who take up that position on grounds personal to myself, 1 pledge my word that the day Otago hoists its own flag I shall retire into private life." The following notices of motion were tabled at the afternoon sitting:—

By Mr C. Delatour—" That a committee to j consist of be appointed to prepare an addresß to her Majesty, praying that an enquiry be made into the conduct of her representative Governor in New Zealand ia allowing the feelings and wishes of the majority of her loyal subjects in New Zealand to be misrepresented to her Government in his name, and in supporting unduly with his influence one political party to the detriment of the other. Such address to humbly desire that if upon such enquiry it shall appear that the impartial position which should be adhered to by her representative has been in thiß case abandoned, she will please to order his recall." By Mr J. S. Plemming—" Whereas Otago, against the will of her people and representatives, has been deprived of a large amount of her revenues by the (recent legislation of the General Assembly—resolved (1) That a committee be appointed to draft a petition to her Majeßty, asking that Otago may be proclaimed a separate and independent colony: (2) That the said committee consist of Messrs Robin, Stout and the mover." By Mr James Seaton—" That Mr Macandrew having the entire confidence of the people of Otago it is desirable that in accordance with the provisions of the Abolition Act the management of provincial affairs until the 31st December, should be entrusted to him, and that therefore the convention requests Mr Macandrew, in the i beet interests of Otago, not to refuse to watch over its affairs."

By Mr &. Rutherford—" Whereas consistent and continuous misrepresentations have been made during the past two years to the Imperial Government sufficient to entirely conceal the real feelings and wishes of a great portion of the colony, resolved that Sir G. Grey and Mr Macandrew be requested to proceed to England to lay before her Majesty the united prayer of the people of Auckland and Otago that they may be allowed to retain the rights, liberties, and privileges originally bestowed on them under the Constitution Act."

By Mr Horace Murray—" This convention sees no reason why the outlying districts desirous of being constituted into counties and endowed with full powers of municipal government, should not be so constituted and endowed, but is of opinion that the provisions and endowments of the Otago County Ordinance, 1872, would be more satisfactory

to the residents of the province for Buch purpose than the Oonntieß Act now about to be enforced throughout the colony." By Mr Stout—" Whereas the province cf Otago is not sufficiently represented in tue General Assemby, and whereas her autonomy as a distinct province, guarding her own revenues, has been destroyed and broken up without the consent of her local legislature, it is agreed that an Otago Convention be formed, and that the representatives present be, with their consent, enrolled as members of the Convention. 2. That the said Con vention meet annually, or at such other times as the president or vice president and council shall determine. 3. That for the purposes of management there be a president, vice-president ,and council of nine members. I. That Mr Thomson be appointed president, and Mr Clarke vicepresident." The Convention resumes to-night and sits to-morrow.

{From a corresvondent of the Press.) There was a large attendance at the opening of the Convention. Mr Macandrew, on entering the hall, was received with cheers, and was frequently applauded during the delivery of hiß address, which occupied about half an hour. Mr Gillies declined to act as chairman. Mr Thomson, M.H.8., being appointed as such immediately after Mr Macandrew's retirement, explained he was only there out of courtesy to the Superintendent, but that evil would result from abolition was assuming a fact not yet proven, he deemed it right to retire. Those present to-day comprise M.H.R.'b—Bums, Wood, Hislop, Lumsden, Brown, Stout, Larnach, Manders, Macandrew, Beaton, Delatour, Thomson, Beid, Hodgkinson. Mr Joyce will be present tomorrow. Provincial Councillors, fourteen out of forty-five; representatives of school committees, fortyseven ; chairmen of Road Boards, fifteen; Mayors, seven, Mr Reid will take no part in the discussions, and declares if he had known the length the Convention purposesto go, he would have declined to attend. The attendance of the public this evening is small. Forty-six letters and telegrams have been received. Of these twenty-two refuse to attend, the rest regret their inability to do so. Mr Delatour has just moved, in a short speech, re petitioning the Governor's recall. He says it is solely framed by himself, and if it is thought it will give rise to the idea that the Convention is travelling beyond its legitimate functions he will withdraw it. Wood, M.H.R, seconded the motion. Mr Lumsden, though holding very strong opinions on the subject, deprecated taking up such a question, which had been dealt with in such a way by the Assembly, as he thought would lead to the Governor's recall. The Convention should by all means avoid coming into conflict with the Queen's representative. Much amusement was caused by Mr McDermid, who _ was one of Mr Reid's bitterest opponents in the Provincial Council, endeavoring to draw Mr Reid out by proposing that be should be appointed a member of the committee to draw up a petition. In this he succeeded, as Mr Reid, in a short but vigorous speech, disavowed all sympathy with the motion. He deeply regretted such had been brought forward, as it would lower the weight attaching to the Convention's deliberations. He absolutely refused to subscribe to the statement that the Governor had unduly favored one political party at the expense of the other. Mr Stout is now speaking, and strongly urges the Convention to adopt the resolution, saying it will be nambypambiness of the Convention to believe that the Governor had acted as a partisan, and yet be afraid to open their mouths publicly. Replying to Mr Reid's taunt that those who called the Convention should have submitted resolutions, Mr Stout said as it was called by the Superintendent, his Provincial Secretary should have assisted him. Mr Keid retorted that he was never asked to do so. Mr Gillies asks to amend the resolution by limiting it to saying that the despatch undue partisanship. It is expected that tue Convention will finish by Friday at the outside. So far the speeches have been poor. There is a feeling to wait rather till the resolution comes up. The Convention sits to-morrow