MAJOR ATKINSON AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1238, 22 February 1878, Page 3

MAJOR ATKINSON AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

[by telegraph.] Jlew Plymouth,' ifVbruary Zl. Atkinson addressed a "largely" attended meeting'at the Oddfellows' Hall, a number of liis constituents coming in from Egmont district to hear him, notwithstanding me bad -weather. The Mayor wa3 in the chair. Major Atkinson spoke, for about tw.o hours, his remarks consisting of a review of the late session, and the part ho took, in \t. the gf the session,, said, #ie aisti<y'\ bad. a: majority; Through the notion: of interested parties, who were opposed to the abolition of provinces, a determined opposition had been raised against the Ministry, and, although the financial statement and other parts of their policy were introduced early in the session, yet no work was got through, owing to the interminable discussions of the Opposition. To make matters Btill more difficult, a large majority of the House utterly distrusted Sir George Grey, and a Middle Party was formed to oust I he Ministry, but who at the same time wished to keep out Sir George Grey. The party, however, seemed to forget that there were only two lobbies, and consequently got info great difficulties. With the assistance of Sir Geo. Grey and* his section of the House the Middle Party sue reeded in displacing the Ministry, arid then, very much to their astonishment., they found Sir G. Grey master of the situation, and he formed a Government. The Middle Party then broke up; some coming to the ranks of thtf Opposition, some,going with Sir George Grey. The Opposition numbered a majority of from four £o sir., }io \raa ehoson leader. - That party had- several vlroeetinga, ! and they '...decided to wait till the flnanoialstatenaent was brought down before any attack was made. They waited some time for that statement, but finding it was not made, he moved a vote of want of confidence. That vote was discussed, the debate lasting over several days, and was at last lost on the casting vote of the Speaker, through two or three of the Opposition being absent. The Opposition were. • then deter* mined to give the Ministry another chance, b.ut fiuding that they coxii'4 get no oatisfaction, lie gave'a second libticc oiMwaht of oonfldenoo,. Miiohythe Government treated with contempt. Major Atkinson said the new Government adopted the late Ministry's estimates; their Land Bill, the Consolidation of Stock Bill, and other measures. He said Sir George Grey had declared he could make reductions to the extent of £100,000,-but he had failed to do so. The speaker referred to the incidence of taxation, and showed that, if a pro- '■■ ySefty ta.% 'was' introduced; f-he Wj44 ifaj; ! be |srge. In Bptrnkiiigidf the new Ba*d ©ill,'Mejdjb said that the Colonial .voted against' hisiiown Government on that occasion. What confidence, he asked, could they have in a Premier, when he permitted his own Treasurer to walk into the Opposition -■ lobby against him? ■ That Bill, when the majority- of members left ; tbejr cabßitewd,'WW to ftecowe

law, and little expected that the Government w..hid recommend his Excellency to disallow it. He considered it was a most unconstituI ttonal course for a Minister to take after a Bill bad passed the House, to recommend the Governor to disallow such an important measure as, that. Eeferring'to the constitution of Waste Lands Boards', ho said he was opposed to mouthers being elected, and considered that the duties could be better performed solely by a commissioner. With regard to the Native policy, he said the late Government were very much abused for what they had done, but Sir Geo. Grey and Mr Sheehan Were doing exactly what Sir D. M'Lean had previously done. He believed in the view Mr Sheehan took of Native matters, and was glad to hear of the firm stand he had taken with regard to the confiscated lands, although he blamed him for stopping the surrey when lie did. He then proceeded to speak of the public works scheme, giving a history of its development since IS7O, and shewing, in similar words to those reported in " Hansard," his opinion of the financial position of the colony. He said that the statement laid on the table by Sir George Grey showed that he. would have a deficiency on 30th . June'next of "£148,000. After that the supplementary estimates for some £IIO,OOO were passed, but not provided for, so that the defiency was about a quarter of a million, for which the Government had made no provision. Abolition, he said, had effected the objects its promoters had in view. It had created a national finance, and entirely altered the position of the colony, for now the people looked to the General Assembly with a greater interest. He referred to a table, he had prepared showing the indebtedness of the colony and its actual revenue and expenditure, and pointed out that under 'the Provincial form of Government they were spending far more than their income. With regard to what he had said about the deficiency there would be at the end of the financial year, he could not help thinking that additional' taxation would be required, and judging from the past year he felt certain the Government could not carry out as they were doing, and a property tax would be proposed in addition to the present taxation. He said the House had passed a resolution last session, directing the Government to introduce a property tax next year. He thought it was a very reasonable tax, and it was desirable to have it, but it would not relieve the customs to any amount. With regard to'the electoral franchise, he said the present Government proposed to introduce next session a system of universal suffrage. He thought the . present qualification quite liberal enough, and considered, if there was a change;; lit should be in the manner of registration. He thought that a twelvemonths residence in a place before being entitled to vote was necessary, and that an officer should be appointed who would have power at any time to register persons who had the proper qualifications,- and who should also have authority to strike names off the roll when necessary. The Government, he said, intended to disfranchise New Plymouth, they intended to abolish the Egmont district by throwing the Patea end of it into the Wanganui district; and he supposed this end into that of New Plymouth. They would thus take one member from Taranaki. Major Atkinson then referred to matters of local interest. With regard to the Mokau, he said the late Government were always most anxious to get it'opened, but found that it could not be so except through the King country, and in that opinion Mr Sheehan coincided. He said but for his influence the Harbor Bill would not have - been: passed, and he denied that his moving the vote of want of confidence in the Government in any way jeopardised it. He then touched on one or two other local matters.

A Tote of confidence in Major Atkinson was proposed and carried at the conclusion of his peeeh. , . , - , -