MR McLEAN AT PALMERSTON.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1233, 15 February 1878, Page 3

MR McLEAN AT PALMERSTON.

[By Telegraph.] [pee press agency.] Palmerston, February 14. Mr George McLean addressed a large number of his Waikouaiti constituents at Palmerston Town Hall last evening, the Mayor (Mr M. Fagan) in the chair. At the outset Mr McLean referred to an article which appeared in the Otago “ Daily Times ” on the 9th of February, reviewing his speech at Waikouaiti a few evenings previously. What he said on that occasion, about one portion of the colony living in apparent luxury, was that in order to equalise the amount the Middle Island was receiving from the land revenue, the Assembly was voting large sums in lump for the different provinces who had no land fund, and thereby swelling up the colonial debt to an extent they were little dreaming of ; that whilst we were thinking money was being spent here, it was going elsewhere, though we had to be responsible ; that was the position of matters which reconciled a number of the party who supported the late Ministry to abolition. Then the subsidies granted to Counties and Road Boards out of the consolidated fund and land fund were in some way to equalise the expenditure all over the colony, in fact giving to those districts that had not hitherto taxed themselves as the people here had done an inducement by those subsidies to help themselves. If the people would throw back their recollection, they would remember that the subsidies wore first given to Road Boards in Otago, and were the means of stimulating them to exertion. This was the reason perhaps why wc had such good roads in Otago. Another matter referred to by the “ Times ’ ” leader was in referring to the late Government constantly interfering with the terms of the Abolition Act under which the land fund was given to provincial districts. The “Times ” said that, in addition to the 2 per cent, taken for railways in 1876, about £200,000 was to be taken from Otago and Canterbury in 1877 by the so-called Atkinson pocket-picking Ministry. Now in the adjustment the charges that were to be taken on the consolidated fund, 1 itberto be me by the provinces, and the interest on the railway debt, were well considered and agreed to by most people as a fair charge on the land fund, seeing that several of the services had hitherto been paid by the provinces out of the land fnnd, and were now taken on the consolidated revenue. The provincial districts were fair gainers by this transaction. As to the £200,000 that the late Government were .about to take last year, but which was really £167,000, the portion from Otago was not to be taken from the laud j u'id immediately, but made a charge on the land fund. In the course of thirty years the debentures would become payable, and he believed they might be pretty sure that by that time the land fund would be in such a position that people would not care if it was taken out of that fund or not. Seeing tire excuse that had been made by the present Government for taking the land fund, he much regretted having agreed that the money should be taken in that way. Had lie had the least idea that such a peg was to have been put up on which to hang such an excuse for the taking of that fund he certainly would never have agreed to it in that manner, but would have found some other way to raise the required amount to make education free. Regarding the eecoqtj of tbo fee (JejyeiJ fje

hod ever said that the whole land fund had become colonial revenue. He said 20 per cent, was to go to the county wherein it was rtised, but also stated his reasons for believing that the 20 per cent, could never be continued. As to the third question raised by the article, he had plainly stated at the whole of his meeting! that any North Island members of the late Government would take the land fund if they could get it. Had Major Atkinson, Whitaker and Ormond got the Southern members to agree to take it, no doubt they would have taken it, and have been the heroes of the hour in the North Island instead of the present Government. There was no doubt that the people of the Southern provinces had to rely upon their representatives in Government to preserve the land fund. Ho had approved of raising the price of land by putting 25 per cent, on the value of all lands under £2 per acre, and which would not have done any injury to settlement. But there was a wide difference between raising land 100 per cent, in Otago and 300 and 400 per cent, in some rases in the North Island, thus stopping settlement. It was stated in the Land Bill, and he never meant to conceal it, that deferred payment was to be the price at which land was to bo bought for cash with 50 per cent, added. Regarding the homestead system, which he was accused of opposing, it was not necessary to tell Otago people that was also necessary. To give free land, 40 acres for the settling down and working, it might do in the North, whore land was poor. Having referred to other points of the article he pointed out that the present Government could not have spent about £70,000 per week if the late Government had left them an empty treasury. In answer to questions, he said he would not condemn cumulative voting for an Education Board until it had had a trial. The late Government took no steps to modify the Legislative Council, but it only appointed one member. He used to %e in favor of an elective Upper House, but since he had seen the advantages of a nominee Upper House. The Upper House was now virtually in the hands of the people. Mr James Arkle proposed a vote of confidence in Mr McLean as the representative of the district.

Mr C. McGregor seconded it. Mr Fraser, a solicitor, moved an amendment—“ That this meeting, while thanking Mr McLean for his able address, and for his exertions on behalf of the district, does not endorse his action as a member of the House of Representatives .” Mr A. Ross seconded.

For the amendment 16 voted, and for the motion expressing confidence 26. The motion was carried with applause. Mr McLean returned thanks. If convinced that he did not possess the confidence of a majority his seat would be immediately placed at their disposal.