THE HON. E. RICHARDSON AT THE ODDFELLOWS’ HALL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 929, 16 June 1877, Page 2

THE HON. E. RICHARDSON AT THE ODDFELLOWS’ HALL.

;j Pursuant to announcement, the Hon. Edward i Richardson, one of tire members of the House | of Representatives for the city of Christi church, met the electors at the Oddfellow;* 1 Hall at half-past seven o’clock last evening, j There was a numerous attendance, and {amongst those on the platform were his j Worship the Mayor of Christchurch, Mr Rolleston, M.H.R., Mr Murray-Aynsley, M.H.R., and Mr Pavitt.

Tire chair was taken by his Worship the Mavor of Christ church.

The Chairman said this meeting was called by Mr Richardson in order to explain his action in the last session of the General Assembly, and he (the chairman) presumed also to give his views and intentions in the future. He need say no more on this occasion, as he was quite sure the meeting would give Mr Richardson an attentive hearing. Ho would now simply call upon Mr Richardson to address the meeting. The Hon. E. Richardson was received with cheers. He said —Mr Mayor and gentlemen,— I think it will perhaps be convenient, before commencing any reference to what took place during last session, that I should comply with a request that lias been made to me (I may say in an anonymous letter to-day) that I should explain why I resigned from my position in the Government. I shall do so in a very few words. My explanation is simply this: When you did me the honor of electing me as one of your representatives first in 1871, I had not the slightest idea of ever taking office, but, office was pressed upon me, and I accepted it. I held office for four years or more, and during the last year the strain was so much on me that I felt I could not faithfully and properly carry out flic duties of that department, and on that account I thought it my duty to resign, I was not arrogant or conceited enough to consider that there were not others who were perfectly well able (o take my position as Minister for Public Works ; and I have been succeeded by my friend Mr Ormond, who will no doubt carry on that department of the Government probably with much greater satisfaction than myself. I wish to gay these

few words in order to set myself right with the electors of Christchurch who returned me on the last occasion, when I held the office of Minister for Public Works. Now, with reference to last session, and what took place then. Of course during the session I was a member of the Government; my actions were the Government’s actions, and they have been so much before you that it would be needlessly taking up your time to refer in detail to the very many points which occurred then. They have been brought before you in many ways. They have been brought before you by my colleague for Christchurch (Mr Stevens), and other members who have addressed their constituents since the termination of the last session; and you have also been made aware of them through the medium of the papers, which you have had an opportunity of reading. I propose, therefore, tonight more to deal with what we may expect during the next session than with the past. [Hear, hear, and cheers.] I shall only refer to two or three matters that took place during last session ; and the first subject which I will refer to shortly is the Education Bill, which was brought in by the Government, and which they said was only to be looked upon as a temporary measure. One of the effects which that Bill had was the re-establishment of the Education Board, which I think must have been very gratifying to the residents of this part of New Zealand. [Hear, hear, and cheers.] Of course I shall allude to this question again presently. The next question that I will allude to shortly —and this I shall also refer to again—is the Land Bill of last session. The Government of which I was a member found it absolutely necessary that a Land Bill should be passed. A Bill was accordingly brought down, and I regret that it was not passed by the House as it was framed, but circumstances occurred which rendered it necessary —I am sorry to say that it was so—that one or two of the points which I think very essential to any Land Bill had to be given up by the Government. I refer to that part of the Bill more particularly having reference to the selling of land on deferred payments ; and I think that if we wanted proof that that would have been a wise precaution, what has taken place in this provincial district since the last session—where we have seen immense tracts of country bought, and absolutely, in many cases, sold again on deferred payments, and those who bought reaping the benefit, which might just as well, in my opinion, have gone to the Crown would supply it. This I think proves what a wise precaution it would have been to have had the selling of land on deferred payments provided for in that Bill. Of course I shall refer again to this matter presently when I come to deal with the question. I think also that it was a very great pity that some settlement was not come to with regard to the pastoral leases in this district. My own opinion, as I expressed it to you very freely before you elected me, was that the Government arc bound to get the most they can simply for the grazing of the land, and that whatever they do they should offer no impediment whatever to the land being bought exactly as it is now, and that no restriction whatever should be put on or anything done which would in any way or shape curtail the case with which anybody, who has got a little money in his pockets, can go and buy a homestead for himself, j [Hear, hear, and cheers.] The next question j I shall refer to in connection with the last session is the Counties Bill. There again I think a great mistake was made in the introduction of the permissive clauses, as they arc called, in that Bill; and I take leave to think that it will be found out and admitted to have been so. I think this —and I am | now expressing my own opinion with great diffidence to my friends here—that it was a very great pity that the counties have not put that Bill into operation in this district, because I feel, as a member of this district, that I go up to Wellington without the experience I might have had, and which all other members would also have had, if the Bill had been put in force and they had seen its working for a few months and been able to judge what amendments were wanted to make it more workable than it is at present. [Hear, hear, and cheers.] We must all know that whatever new form or system of Government is introduced, it cannot be supposed to be perfect at first; that, I think, we will all admit; and we all know that many flaws have already been found in that Bill; and the better'prepared we are to deal with the question when we go to Wellington, the better it will be for all of you. [Hear, hear.] Of course I am aware that a meeting is called of the chairmen of the various County Councils, and I hope and trust that in their discussions they will come to some tangible results, and that these results will be placed in the hands of the members to enable the Government to see what is really wanted by way of amendment. Another effect of not putting this Act into operation in this particular district, and which very seriously affects this and the other counties in the provincial district of Cantcrbury —I refer more particularly to the question of the maintenance of hospitals and charitable aid. When the Counties Bill was framed, it was anticipated, and I hold that it was only proper, for the districts in which these hospitals existed and where charitable aid was required,. to at all events to a great extent support them, and as the Bill was framed it was intended to meet that, but alterations were made in the House the effect of which I, as a then member of the Government am free to admit, did not realise at the time. And the fact is, that the counties having levied no direct rates have] got no direct subsidy, and consequently have paid nothing towards charitable aid and hospitals, and it has fallen on the boroughs. With regard to Christchurch, the city of Christchurch simply contributed during last year an average of twenty-three patients during the year, and the outer district sixtyone, and yet Christchurch has hud to pay for the maintenance of the whole of them. This quest-ion has been raised and debated a good deal lately, and as your member I have been in communication with the Government, and have received from them an expression of regret that they are bound to comply with the law and have no remedy. They realise the position, and have certainly pledged themselves to remedy the existing state of things in the amended Act next session. [Hear, hear and cheers.] The question of separation came before the Assembly last session, as you are all aware, and no doubt it will come before the House again. There was a time, many years ago, when I was a member of an association here in favor of separation; but I have looked upon it for some years past ever since the colony began to borrow so largely—that separation was entirely out of the question. I therefore opposed it, and shall do so if it comes up again; and I hope the Govern-

ment will see fit, when the question comes up, not to have a long discussion upon it, but to take a vote as soon as possible, and so let the business of the country, which I look upon as being of more importance than the discussion of separation, go on as it should do. [Hear, hear, and cheers.] There was another question that came up several times last session, with which I was intimately associated in my official position as Minister for Public Works —I mean a question in connection with the railway management. I am not going to refer to any details of railway management to-night; that would be entirely out of place ; but I want the people to understand this —and I should like what I am saying now to go forth and be studied not only by the people of Christchurch only, but also by the farmers and those having an interest in produce throughout the country—that I am perfectly satisfied no Government, and if the Government were so inclined the people of this colony would not allow them, will spend money to build sheds and to increase the rolling stock on these railways to be used only for some four months of the year, and to stand idle all the rest. I am perfectly satisfied that the people who farm land here must realise the fact that they must do something to cover their grain and put up proper storage, if they want storage. The railway should be a carrying machine, and nothing else. I am aware that the Government have lately issued some fresh regulations as to the giving of facilities for the erection of stores. They arc prepared to give further facilities, if necessary, throughout the country, and I only hope these will be availed of before next season comes round, because I repeat the Government would never be allowed to erect the amount of storage necessary to cover the grain that is and will I earnestly hope and trust be produced in larger quantities year by year in this district. The rates that are charged on the railways (have been very much altered lately, and I am not prepared to express an opinion exactly as to how they will act, although I have studied them pretty closely ; but the Government is bound, while they are not to exact the highest rates they can get, still at the same time they must have a fair paying rate for the work they do, because these railways must be made to yield something towards the cost of their construction. [Hear, hear.] That brings me on to the question of the revenue. I am bound to say that during the last week or two I have read with very considerable alarm—l did at: first —some articles which were published in the daily papers hero, and within the last two or three days—l allude to an article which appeared in the Lyttelton, Time .v—which showed that there was going to be a- deficiency in the revenue to the extent of nearly £200,000. Of course I am now alluding to the ordinary revenue, and not to the question of Treasury Bills, which I shall allude to presently. I shall have to deal with a few figures—they are not many —and I hope the meeting will bear with me while I give them the few I have to present them with ; because they will agree with me that when the only means they have of gaining information and leading the public astray, I think it is the duty of anybody who can do so to set them right. [Hear, hear, and cheers.] That is my object in touching upon these figures to-night. I do not profess to be any financier, but I do profess at the present time to know something about the revenue of the country. [Hear, hear.] In this statement the Customs’ revenue was estimated to be £1,2-10,000, and in this other statement it is put down that the figures will be £53,000. I will state this at starting, that these figures are made by the actual figures in the Gazette published up the 31st March, and then in this statement which I am alluding to now, the figures to make up the last quarter of the year are calculated on the proportion of the other three quarters. Now, from my experience, and from the experience of anybody who has dealt with these matters before, they will know, with regard to the last quarter of the-year, that a very great number of items come in that do not appear, and, consequently, the fourth taken in that way is not a fair proportion. Taking the Customs revenue, and applying the figures in the proportion that appears in the last quarter during two or three previous years, I make out that there will be a deficiency in the Customs revenue of something between £30,000 and £40,000. It is impossible for anybody at present to make a nearer approach, because the arrival of a ship a week before the end of the year, makes a considerable difference in the revenue. A statement appeared a few days before that the principal deficiency is in the item of spirits and ad valorem, duties. Now, I think all those gentlemen who were present last night in this hall, or who take an interest in that matter, will not be sorry to see there is a deficiency in the revenue with regard to spirits. [Hear, hear, and cheers.] Looking at the decrease from another point of view—one likely to be taken by a Colonial Treasurer —it may be asserted that when the revenue is falling off the population is not so well off. At all events there is this fact, that the revenue on spirits is less this year. As regards ad valorem, duties, I take it that the very large increase in the manufactures in Dunedin and Auckland of boots and shoes, clothing, and woollens, will probably account for the small deficiency which will be found on this item. If this be so—and I only give it as my opinion—l can only say that I am glad of the cause of the deficiency, and hope that it will increase. From what I can sec of the accounts up to the 31st March, there will be an increase in the revenue of the Post office and stamps which, though not large, will yet help in some way to make up the deficiency which will exist on the revenue as a whole. The two other items upon which it is said there will be a large deficiency is on the railway revenue and incidental receipts. Now the incidental receipts are essentially receipts which come in at the last quarter of the year, and from the amount of money that the Government have had in their hands lately, I fancy when the accounts at the Bank come to bo balanced, that the interest receivable upon this account will bring up the item of incidental receipts up to the amount estimated by the Colonial Treasurer, With regard to the railway revenue, that is another question altogether. I may say that when I delivered the Public Works statement early in July of last year, I estimated the total revenue from all the railways in New Zealand —supposing that it was intended to take over the provincial lines almost immediately —1 say I estimated the revenue of all the lines for the year at £445,000. Now, the actual results of the revenue up to the end of the year —that is part actual results and part estimated, is as follows. Before referring to them, however, let me say that the estimate in the Public Works statement was as follows: —Line, worked by the Government, £132,200 ; ditto by the Canterbury Provincial Government. £185,000 ; ditto by the Otago Provincial

Government, £127,800. This makes the total up to what I have already said was my estimate for the year, viz.— £445,000. Now let me come to the actual results up to 30th April, and estimated for the next two months. First then the actual receipts on the lines worked by the Government in the North Island, Marlborough, Nelson, and Westland to the 28th April was £70,553. The receipts on the Canterbury lines for the six months ended 31st December was £101,583, and for the four months ended 30th April £98,170 or £199,753 in all. The receipts on the Otago lines for the six months ended 31st December was £66,620, and for the four months ending 30th April £53,860 or £120,480. In speaking both of the actual and estimated receipts I have left out the odd figures. Now, putting the totals together, we get £390,786 as the gross actual revenue on the New Zealand railways to 30th April. Now then we bare to take the estimated receipts on the same basis for the two months of May and Juno. These I put down as follows :—Government lines, £15,000; Canterbury lines, £51,000; Otago lines, £25,000; or, £91,000 altogether, which added to the actual receipts makes a total of £481,786. But we have to deduct the wharfage from the Canterbury lines, which is estimated up to 30th June at £7OOO, and this leaves us a total revenue for the year from the New Zealand railways of £474,786, or an excess over the estimate of £29,786. [[Cheers.] The Colonial Treasurer on October 9th, 1876, estimated the railway revenue for twelve months colonial and six months provincial at £345,000. The actual receipts to the end of April were as follows ; —Government lines, £70,553 ; estimate for two months £15,000, or a total of £85,000. The actual receipts on the Canterbm y railways for four months to end of April was £98,170, and the estimated receipts for May and June were £51,000 or a total of £149,170. On the Otago lines the actual receipts for four months were £66,620, while the estimate for the other two months was £25,000 or a total of £91,620. This gave a grand total for the whole of the lines for that period of £325,790. But from this as in the other accpuut to which I have referred must bo deducted the sum of £7OOO for wharfage in Lyttelton. This leaves a revenue of £318,790 for the six months. These figures of course are subject to the same deduction of £7OOO for the wharfage, which will come to the Harbor Board. Then it must be recollected that there are several lines—which it is estimated will yield some £20,000 of revenue—which are not yet opened. There is, however, no expense to be incurred in the maintenance and working of these lines, and this will have to° come off both sides of the account. The result will be that in place of a deficiency of £93,000, as attempted to be shown, that there will be an absolute profit on the working of the railway lines of the colony of about £IOO,OOO. There is no mistake about these returns; they have been most carefully prepared. It would appear that the estimates arrived'at by the writer of the article I have referred to in the former part of my speech are not correct. This I think arises from the error of the writer in adding “expenditure” to “ advances,” not understanding how the accounts arc made up. My hearers will understand that there must necessarily in the service of the Government be large sums advanced, which amount at the end of the year to a very large sum indeed Consequently these are not taken into account as expenditure, and hence the mistake of the writer of the article. The statement of receipts and expenditure for the nine months ended 31st March is as follows : —Revenue ; Quarter ending 30th September, 1876, £18,110; 31st December, 1876, £35,262 ; 31st March, 1877, £117,235 ; total, £170,607. For purposes of estimate for year, add similar amount for 30th June to that’ending 31st March, viz : £117,283, which makes a total of £287,842. The expenditure for the quarter ending 30th September, 1876, was £12,365 ; quarter ending 31st December, 1876, was £30,243 ; quarter ending 31st March, 1877, was £56,126; or a total of £98,734 ; adding a similar amount for 31st March to represent June, we get £56,126, making a grand total of £154,860. Now the Times’ estimate of expenditure for the twelve months is £256,896, but the actual cost, as derived from the Garottes, and to which is added the reproduction of the expenditure for March for the same quarter, in accordance with the Times’ suggestion, as above, was £154,860, the difference being £102,036. The excess of revenue over expenditure for nine months actual was £71,873, and for twelve months £122,982. The difference I have alluded to between the actual returns and those given by the writer of the article is that the latter lias not understood that “advances” arc not expenditure, and has added to Ins estimate the whole of these, and reproduced the advances forth c month of March for that of June, which are found on examination to represent the difference of £102,036 within £lßl. _ As far as I am able to judge from a pretty intimate know ledge of the items of revenue and expenditure, we shall find at the end of the year that the revenue and expenditureid ways excepting Treasury bills —is nearly at balance. lam perfectly satisfied that when the Colonial Treasurer comes to make his statement, there may ho £IO,OOO deficiency, or a small balance. ' It will all depend upon the number of vessels arriving within the next few weeks. Regarding the issue of Treasury Bills, this is another matter. I see that the Government, from the published accounts, have issued a large number for various provincial districts. There has been a large advance to the provincial district of Otago, which will in all probability be recovered, but as to the advances to other parts it, may be somewhat problematical. For myself I may say that 1 am of opinion—though I know a, number of the members do not agree with me—that a good deal of what has been advanced to the provincial district of Auckland will be recouped. I say this because I know that there will be a large amount of land put, into the market during the next few months. There have been reasons for it not being done before, one of which is that if it had been placed upon the market a great deal of it would have been taken up by holders of volunteer land scrip. The holders of this scrip have been holding back some time to take up this land, but now that the time for which this scrip has been issued expires in a few months, I take it that it will be the duty of the Government to force the land into the market, which will supply the means of repayment. [ Hear, hear.] The Government have I sec issued some £IO,OOO of Treasury Bills to the provincial districts oi Auckland and Westland. If we do not receive this I think that the changes in the form oi Government which have been recently made, will bo done cheaply even at, this cost. [Pressure on our space compels us to hold over the concluding portion of this report till next issqe.]