ADDRESSES TO CONSTITUENTS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1379, 17 July 1878, Page 2

ADDRESSES TO CONSTITUENTS.

—♦ HON. E. RICHARDSON AT THE ODDFELLOWS’ HALL. The Hon. E. Richardson, M.H.R., for (he city of Christchurch addressed his constituents at the Oddfellows’ Hall last evening. The attendance at the hour fixed for the meeting was very small, only about thirty persons being present. This was subsequent ly increased until the hall was about half full. On the platform were Messrs C. C. Bowen, M.H R, R. J. S. Harman, F. Hobbs, M. B. Hart, and J. Jebson. On the motion of Mr Richardson, his Worship the Mayor took the chair. Upon doing so he said that he very readily acceded to the desire of Mr Richardson that he should take the chair, because that gentleman was so well known and,always so well received that the duties of the chairman would be more pleasant than onerous. He would suggest that there should be no interruptions during the address, but that those wishing to put any questions should do so at the end of the meeting. Such a course would, he felt sure, meet with the approval of all present, and would he more pleasant for Mr Richardson. Mr Richardson thou came forward, and addressed the meeting as follows: —Your Worship and gentlemen,-—I hqve since I camp to the hall this evening had one cf the evening papers placed in my hand, in which there is a most extraordinary statement made to the effect that this meeting is to be used as a grand political party demonstration against the present Q-overnment. I can safely state that there is no such intention. I have asked nobody to attend here this evening, except by advertisement in the usual way, and nothing would he further from my feelings than that any such demonstration should bo thought to be intended to take place. I have asked you to meet me in the ordinary course, and you have come here in compliance with my advertisement. Gentlemen, I have asked you to meet mo somewhat later than I originally intended, in ordi r that 1 might ho in possession ol the latest information as to the measures which Government intended to bring before Parliament during the ensuing session. We have had two reports in the papers, one from the Hon. the Premier, and another from Mr Ballance, the Colonial Treasurer, who has stated some of the intentions of the Government, and later still wo have had the opinions of Mr Stout given at Dunedin. I shall this evening devote myself to the statements made by the latter gentleman, us from them wo gather the opinions of the Government as to their measures for the coming session, and I feel convinced that you don’t w ish me to weary you by going over a history ot all the occurrences of last session. In the first place, the daily papers have given you full accounts of every thing that took place in Parliament, and, after that, all those who care for it could pretty readily obtain access to “ Hansard,’ 1

and since the Assembly rose you have had reports of addresses from the various members giving versions of what took place during the session. I shall content myself first of all with alluding to two or three of the more important matters that took place, and then address myself more particularly to what we h ave had foreshadowed for the coming session. The first Bill, and the most important, to which I shall refer was the Education Bill. I am led to make a remark upon that, because in some quarters fault was found with me for my voting in support of small schools. I thought it not an unwise thing to make provision for coupled with a return of a portion of the fees for attendance. I thought this would prove, as it has done, an incentive to parents to make their children attend regularly at school. However, it was decided otherwise, and, I believe, as far as I know the feelings of this constituency, that this is satisfactory to them. The only other point is the innovation with regard to the election of school committees, whereby particular interests can be represented upon them. I believe it will bo found to work well. The next point T would refer to is the Waste Lands Bill. I shall only say about this, with regard to deferred payments, that I am very glad it was fully provided for. It is true, that as far the whole provincial district of Canterbury was concerned, the Waste Lands Board have power to lay aside blocks, and in their discretion have not thought proper to do so. As the land has been sold under the present system with such rapidity, and so much has been taken up for settlement, I should like to have seen it made mandatory and concurrent with free selection, I cannot here lose this opportunity for expressing mv feeling of regret that any Government should have attempted to take the steps the present Government did at the end of the late session to obtain the Governor s veto to that Bill, considering that this Bill had been prepared by the previous Government, was taken up by the present Government, and passed through tho House by them without any serious stand being made against the portions which have since been said to be objectionable. I think that there is no doubt the action of the Government in this instance will be a caution to members not to leave Wellington till the prorogation has taken place. Nobody had the slightest idea that this Bill would not be passed in the same way as any _ other. Immediately in connection with this comes the question of the taking of the land fund. The proposals of tho late Government I think necessitated the taking of some £58,000 from Canterbury in order to make up tho consolidated revenue for tho year. They looked upon it, as I did, as a temporary measure, and had not made up their minds as to finally dealing with the land fund. There was no law upon this matter and until there was they did not intend to make any final arrangement. Had the question come to a vote I should probably have been found supporting them. The party now in power violently opposed the Atkinson Government for thus robbing the laud fund, and stated that any Government that could be guilty of such a crime was capable of committing any offence that could be named; but as soon as they themselves came into power they took, I was going to say the whole, but they took 80 per cent, of the land fund at once. I am free to admit that when abolition took place a fresh arrangement had to be made, and supposing this to be a final arrangement, I am hardly prepared to say that a better one could have been made, but wo hardly had an opportunity of considering whether it was lair and would work out right or not. But tho Government having got the support of all the representatives of the North, and of a certain proportion of the representatives of the South for taking 80 per cent, I question very much whether they will not go in for taking the remainder. It will be optional with you, Canterbury having a land fund accruing, but there are many parts of the country which have no land fund accruing, and the members for those districts will look with envious eyes upon Canterbury, and will make an attempt to get the 20 pep cent, thrown into the general revenue. I shall be found opposing it if any such proposal is made, as also I will oppose any attempt to meddle with the education reserves. I quite concur with Mr Stout that to these reserves wo shall have to look for the funds necessary for higher education. We shall be very well off if these arc retained, and shall be able to give a good education to all the children throughout the colony whether rich or poor. There is another Bill, that for hospitals and charitable aid. In that Bill there was a good deal which I did not approve of, but it could have been put into a workable shape, and would have put a stop to and prevented the annoyance which has lately occurred. I shall refer to this subject again presently. I propose now to deal with the proposals of the Government for the coming session. If you wish to put any questions to me in connection with my action during last session I shall be glad to answer them. The Bills for the coming session which |have been foreshadowed by tho Government are —first a Bill for the adjustment of representation, next a Bill for improving registration. Besides there arc Bills for the extension of tho franchise, and for altering tho incidence of taxation and a Licensing Bill. With regard to the adjustment of representation, 1 have, to a certain extent, the advantage over other members who have addressed you, and many other members who have addressed constituencies in different parts of the country, in having a knowledge of the results of the census. That shows that a great change is required and that an adjustment ought to be made, larger and oftener than heretofore. There are at present eighty-four members besides the four Maori members, and taking the population basis which is announced as the policy of the present Government, eighty-four members would give a population of 5000 to each member. Taking a rough calculation we find by these figures that at the present moment the North Island has two members more than it is entitled to, and this Island two members less than it is entitled to. But on closer examination we find that a great number of constituencies are largely under-represented, and some of tho districts are very much over-represented. Notable amongst these last are the districts of Nelson and Taranaki. Nelson, with the old Marlborough province, we find to have four members in excess of what they ought to have. With regard to Christchurch, it is under-represented by two members. It ought to have five instead of three members, as at present. Heatlicote has one less than it is entitled to. With regard to other Canterbury districts, I don’t think it is necessary to refer to them. Gladstone and Lyttelton are over-represented. At Gladstone this could easily be remedied. Lyttelton is an exceptional case, and would have to bo exceptionally dealt with, it is a seaport of great importance and no one would be inclined to begrudge it a member. I think it is quite clear to you that any basis that may be adopted, whether that of population or any other, can only give an approximation to an equal representation. If population is taken, and I am nob averse to it, the greatest care will have to bo taken in laying out the districts. If not tho sparsely peopled districts will fare very badly, and will be very much undor-represented. 1 am sure none of you will wish that, for you know well that the prosperity of towns depends upon that of the country as much as via; versa. With regard to tho representation of Christchurch for the future, I am clearly of opinion that the city ought to be divided from tho suburbs. Christchurch should have two representatives who should represent Christchurch proper and the mercantile Interest. The suburbs should be divided iu!o two constituencies—Sydenham and that side having one member, and tho other suburbs having a fourth. It seems to mo that tho interests of the city and of the suburbs are so different, and tho population in this direction has grown so largely of late that the suburbs should have a separate representation. I see that Mr Stout, in speaking on this subject the other day in Dunedin, rather points to the fact that wo are not going to have an adjustment, and Air Ballanco spoko quite in the opposite direction, while the speeches of the Hon, the Premier have also pointed to an adjustment. For my own part, I think it would be most improper

to have a general election until an adjustment has taken place. The old I Canterbury district is found to be under- : represented to tho extent of about four | members. The next Bill, and one which 1 ought to go hand in hand with that for the readjustment of representation, is ( ho extension of the franchise. I feel myself in a consider, ible difficulty in dealing with this question, insomuch that the statements made throughout the country by the hon. the Premier were in one direction, and those made by his colleagues are very considerably at variance with each other. Taking Mr Ballance’s statement: if you will allow me I will quote what he says:— “ The new Bill of tho Government therefore would retain the three qualifications under which votes can now be recorded. Firstly, tho franchise by right of property would be retained, as it was held that any man should have a vote for property wherever that property existed. Secondly, (he ratepayers’ qualification would be retained, and here ho would remark that only under this qualification should Maoris bo allowed to vole, such franchise to be Held by them only so long as they fulfilled the qualification. [Hear, hear.] Thirdly, the household qualification would remain. He now came down to the residential qualification, and it would absorb tho franchise now granted to lodgers and to holders of miners’ rights. It was perhaps pretty well known that a lodger paying four shillings per week rent could register his vote ; but he must be the sole lodger, so that if two men lodged together, and paid 20s per week each, they were debarred. The restrict! >n was wrong, so that it had been considered better to include it with the residential qualification Now, what was residential qualification, and what did it mean ? It meant that every 1 man who had been resident in the colony for /two years should be entitled to vote, provided that after having been say three or six months in any one district he applied to have his name registered as a voter, and then he must be able to sign his name to the chum. Such provisions, while acting in a measure as an educational test, would prevent the flooding of any roll by tho importation of immigrants by Government aid. It must bo remembered that this residential qualification was only additional. A new settlor in the colony could register in the ordinary way under the old qualifications if necessary. Ho considered the measure he hud sketched out was a perfectly safe one, without a single dangerous feature in it.” Well, gentlemen, as far as that is concerned, tho proposal of Mr Ballance I am quite prepared to support, and I think six months residence is as short a time as should entitle a man to a vote. With regard to the Registration of Electors’ Bill, Mr Stout has told us that we are going to have a Bill to facilitate registration. I shall be very glad to support it, for I think giving an opportunity for registering twice a year instead of only once is a very good thing. Mr Stout lias told us that wo are going to have a Bribery Bill. As far as my own experience goes I have seen no necessity for such a Bill from anything that has occurred at any election in New Zealand ; but if there is necessity for it by all means let us have it. If Mr Stout is going to prohibit tho use of cabs at elections, I must say that the expense of elections to Government will be greatly increased, as a much larger number of polling booths than are at present necessary, will have to be opened. Such a provision would bo a great boon to electors, and I hope it will be carried. I see that Mr Stout proposes that all publichouses shall be closed on the polling day. i don’t know why they should be from anything that I have seen in New Zealand ; only In the city of Auckland has anything taken place, as far as I have heard, which would necessitate it. Anything that can bo done tor facilitating the recording of the votes of electors should be done, so long as it is done fairly, and no repressive measures are taken. The next Bill that is proposed, and that I am going to refer to, is that for a change of incidence of taxation. On previous occasions, when I was questioned on this subject, I expressed a strong opinion that in the event of further taxation being required it should take the form of a property tax. I have no reason to change my opinion I think a property tax is the fairest and best tax that can bo imposed. The Government proposals, as far as we have them, and they are in a very crude form at present, are two — one from Mr Ballance and the other from Mr Stout. In both it appears that Government proposes as the only additional tax a land tax pure and simple. Mr Ballance says that the Government are going in for the classification of the land into three classes, and went so far as to say that holders of less land than 320 acres should not be taxed at all. 1 am bound to say, that, judging from Mr Stout’s speech, I gather that Government have altered their minds. I should oppose this, and I will tell you why—because it would be perfectly absurd to make such a limit. You must all of you he able to count at least a dozen cases whore people within a mile or at most three miles of the city, and in the outlying districts, own fifty acres which are worth £3OOO or £4OOO, Why they should escape I can hardly imagine, and I can hardly believe that Mr Ballance was authorised to make such a statement, though ho says he was. Mr Stout goes in for a somewhat different system, viz., to tax the increased value of land without taxing improvements. The difference between his opinion and mine is this —I think that considering the large amount of duties which are going to be put upon the County Councils and Road Boards throughout the colony they are the people who should he left free to raise t«x-8 up n the land. They are going to have the maintenance and construction of groads, and the maintenance and construction of bridges, and a large amount of works, and if they are not left free scope to tax lands, I don’t know how they are to do these works. We shall have every county and road board going to Parliament for every little work they require—a matter very much to be regretted. [A Voice : “ Why not tax unimproved us well as improved land ?”] 1 will say at once that I have no objection. The gentleman has anticipated by only a word or two what I was going to say. The General Government are justified in putting on a tax for unimproved land. People who hold land without attempting to make any improvement should be taxed, and I am quite prepared to support any fair and reasonable taxation in that direction, but that is tho only land tux pure and simple that I am prepared to support. Tho tax that I consider Government ought to propose is one that will tax not only land hub property of every description. Why tho gentleman who sells his land and invests his money in bank shares or other property is to escape I cannot at all see, and I never could see. I should bo pre pared to support a property tax, which should tax every description of property that men hold throughout the country with a saving clause for property under a certain amount. Government puts down a limit of £SOO worth of land, if that is taken ns the limit for property I see no objection, as it would give the struggling man a chance as against more wealthy people. A very great deal has been said as to the intention of Government to take off a great deal of the taxation upon what are called necessaries of life. Neither Mr Ballance nor Mr Stout made any allusion to this as far as I have seen. I am quite prep ired to accept the proposition that it is impossible while the colony has borrowed, and still continues to borrow so much, that indirect taxation can be done away with. It any well devised scheme for altering the incidence of that indirect taxation, and for equalising more fairly the burden, is proposed, I shall be prepared to support it, but I don’t believe any large amount of it can be spared. Mr Ballance has given us the pleasing information that wc are going to have a surplus of £IOO,OOO instead of a deficit, as was anticipated. This is more pleasing to other parts of the colony than to us, us wo must feel that it is owing to the large amount of the land fund taken I rotn this district that wo have a surplus instead of a deficit. I am not going to weary you with figures to show exactly what each head of tho population pays in indirect tuxes. All I wisa to say is that my opinion on the matter is that we ought to have a property tax, including land 1 and every description of property, and to follow the maxim that has been laid down by clover men that every one in the state ought

to pay in proportion to the benefits he receives from Government. I have been thus explicit, because I have been told that I am afraid of the land tax —that because I happen to hold land I fear a land tax. I am not at all afraid of it, but I think that when tho General Government for the good of the whole country require a tax they should tux all properly and not merely land, for by so doing they will cripple a most important industry. Gentlemen, there is another question which will no doubt come up, and that is the question of defence, I think yon will all admit that it is quite time that this colony took some active steps in the way of defence from outside. [A voice—“ It is time we had a change of members.” Another voice—“ Will Mr Richardson speak a little louder ; the reporters may hear him, but we cannot,” The Mayor— Mr Richardson’s voice is not very loud, and he is suffering from a cold.] While on this question of defence, I only wish to express my regret that an opportunity was lost for obtaining a valuable report from two of tho most eminent engineers in tho British service. From that we should have had good grounds to go upon, and the Government would have been justified in taking more active steps No doubt some credit is duo to them for having sent home for heavy guns, but before now we ought to have had some proposal for the placing of those guns where they would be useful. This must como up, as having these guns you must see that we require regular artillerymen to work them when placed in position. With volunteers wo can do a great deal, but with guns such us are on their way out here something beyond volunteers will he required for working them efficiently. You will all have fresh in your memory the address delivered to the volunteers by the Governor a few days ago, and speaking as an old volunteer I am quite sure that many valuable hints may be derived from that speech. Another excellent speech was delivered by an old Canterbury man Governor Weld, in Tasmania. I am sorry it was not reported in the papers here. In that speech, he gave excellent advice to tho volunteers. His concluding remarks are so good that I will quo f o them :—“ His Excellency concluded with exhortations to the fulfilment of personal duty, and observations on the necessity of discipline. ‘I want you,’he said to the volunteers, ‘to make the thing a reality. If it is not to be a reality, better have nothing at all to do with it; and I tell you, you cannot make it a reality without, earnest work, discipline, and diligence for the men—painstaking exertion for tho officers ’ ” No one values more than I do tho sacrifice of time and the pains that volunteers take, but I am sure that you will agree with me that very much remains to be done, and that volunteers could not do better than pay attention to the words I have quoted. The other Bill I have not alluded to, so far, is tho Licensing Bill. We have not received from Ministers any very authoritative statement as to what it is t o do, but wc have had by telegraph an evidently “communicated” information which deals with several proposals in the Bill, and certainly, as far as I can see, that Bill does not go nearly so far as it was thought it, would when those interested interviewed the Premier in Christchurch. They aregoi gto dealwiththe question of adulteration, but there is ample power in the Adulteration of Food Act of 1865 or 1866 to punish persona selling adulterated food of any kind. But it appears to mo that this subject has not been dealt with as fully as it deserves. Anybody w' o has travelled about the country must be quite aware that the most vile and abominable drinks are supplied, in fact poisons. I cannot understand why the subject, should not be dealt with in a larger way. The first place where action should be taken is in the Customs. Unless the liquors imported are tested, and thus known to be free from adulteration a very great injustice will bo done, because those who buy them will think they have got a wholesome article, and yet would be liable to be pulled up for adulteration. It has just struck me that I might here touch upon the subject of kerosene, which is agitating the public just now. The Customs authorities should lest that and brand it, and everybody would then know what they were about, and would be able to get at the right people at once. I know that many of my constituents do not approve of my action with regard to the Local Option Bill. I opposed it because it did not provide compensation fur houses that were closed, but that was really the only point of consequence that I could see, because under the present Act there is power to close houses not properly kept, and to prevent houses being opened in new districts. The members of the present Government are largely at variance on this Bill. Tho Premier stated that he would bo no party to any Licencing Bill not containing a compensation clause, whereas Mr Smut will have nothing to do with one that does. The more I look at it, tho more convinced I arn that drunkenness cannot be put down by Act of Parliament, but by the establishment of working men’s clubs, and places where men can meet without being called upon to drink, as Mr Stout says, for the good of the house The liberal education which is now provided by the State will, I think, tend more in this direction than any Act of Parliament which may be passed. [Cheers.] Gentlemen, 1 will now say a few words on pubic works, and more particularly in connection with the revenue derivable from the working of the railways now constructed. The accounts which are published officially in tiie “ Gazette,” and in tho papers from time to time, must be taken as very gratifying to see. Tho very great increase in the traffic revenue which is being derived from the railways —of course, I mean the constructed lin -s is far more than was ever anticipated or calculated upon by Sir Julius Yogel when he introduced his public works scheme in 1870. [Hear, hear.] Besides, there is one thing which must, be borne in mind in dealing with this question of railways, and the returns derivable from them, as compared with their cost —that is the direct bemfit derivable from them, as shown on paper —and that is that in the North Island the railways are doing to a great extent what waa done in this island before we had railways by the roads. They are doing the work of roads, and taking their place in the development of tho country, and opening it up for settlement, and therefore we must, in estimating revenue received from them, remember that the roads whose work they are doing return nothing in tho shape of revenue to the State. [Cheers.] “ Now, I have obtained a few figures on the subject which are merely approximate, but which will probably come before us when we meet at Wellington in a more extended form, I will give them to you, in order to show the results der v bio. I will 1 the Christchurch section first, as being tho oldest, and I find that the cost of constructed lines open to date on what is known as the ArnberleyMoeraki section, including branch lines and provincial expenditure, has been £2,500,000. The gross receipts over that section for the year ending the 30th of June, 1878, has been £202,000, and the expenditure for the same period £192,000, thus leaving a net profit on the year’s transactions of £IOO,OOO. That amounts to 4 per cent, on the cost to date, leaving that amount to go towards tho general revenue of the colony'. [Cheers.] I think gentlemen that must be taken to be a very satisfactory result. [Cheers.] Taking the Dunedin section next, that is carrying on tho lino from Moeraki to the Bluff and Kingston, the cost of the open lines over that section, including provincial lines, has been £2,300,000, the receipts for the year £152,000, and the expenditure for the same period £105,000. This leaves a profit of £47,000, or at the rate of 2 per cent, on tho cost to date. Of course gentlemen this does not compare favorably with Canterbury, but the circumstances under which tho settlement of the country has been carried out are so different, and besides the Cant rbury lines were begun so much earlier, that the results now shown arc not by any means to bo despised, i think too, from what, I know from my former official position, of the traililikelv to accrue, that the traffic returns from the Otago lines will show next year a far larger increase. [Hear, hear.] The railways in the North Island —and in speaking of these you must remember wbat I said a few minutes ago —including those in Westport, Greyraouth, Nelson, and JPicton, some of which have to include wharfage, cost £2,700,000, and the receipts for tho year have been £125,000. Tho expenditure for tho

same period has amounted to £105,000, leaving a net profit of £20,000 or about J- per cent, on tho cost. This may appear very small indeed when compared with the percentage on tho other lines in the Middle Island, hut if you go back to the early days of Canterbury and take tho results of the working of the railways, then you will find tho results I have given you very nearly akin to our results here then. The railways in the North Island, as I have already pointed out, are but little developed yet; they are doing tho work of roads, hut still I notice from the papers that the traffic is increasing in all directions, which cannot but be regarded as very satisfactory. The total results are as follows—The lines now open have cost £9,500,000; (lie gross receipts for last year amounted to £569 000, and tho expenditure for the same period to £402,000, the net profit being £167,000, or 2{ per cent, on the total cost of railways open to date. [Cheers.] It must bo remembered also that several sections of the lines I have referred to have only been open for traffic for part of the year, and thus tho returns present a more unfavourable view than they should. I have taken the last month’s receipts and expenditure at a fair average, as tho official returns have not yet been published. I think, gentlemen, that 2\ per cent, on the total cost is a very satisfactory result —[cheers] —more satisfactory, indeed, than could bo or was anticipated. If tho Canterbury railways are worked on a commercial basis, that is taking up traffic wherever it is to bo got, wc may fairly anticipate that next year the Canterbury Railways will pay 5 per cent, profit on the cost. [Cheers ] I see that Mr Stout said the other day that Mr Macandrew had stated that it was tho intention of the Government in future not to make lines where t hey would not pay a fair proportion of profit on the cost, and I think that this is a very good proportion. I hope the Government will bo strong enough to stand to it. Sir Julius Yogel made a similar proposition in 1874, but the Government then were not strong enough to stand against tho united efforts of provinces to got railways, many of which it would have been perhaps far better if they had not been made just when they were. [Hear, Shear.] Before leaving this question, I would just like to say a word or two with regard to branch railways. These must be made under the District Railways Act, because it will be seen that the settlement of the country is so rapid that a large amount of expenditure is actually required on tho main lines to keep pace with the requirements of the very largely increasing traffic, I may tell you that more particularly as regards the Christchurch section the Government will be very hardly taxed to keep pace with the very large development of the resources of Canterbury which is now taking place. In my official position as chairman of the Lyttelton Harbor Board, I have been told by the Government that a very large addition to tho rolling stock, necessary to keep pace with tho requirements of the traffic, will be provided in a few months. It is calculated that the cost of this addition will bo about £120,000. Now the additional station accommodation rendered necessary by this will come to about £IOO,OOO, or making a total expenditure of £220,000. It will thus be seen that the Government will in the future have to provide very large sums to keep pace with the groat development of the country. As regards the questions of the Hospitals and charitable aid which has recently been creating a great deal of interest, I may say I entirely agree with the resolutions agreed upon by a conference of county chairmen in March last, and I am glad to see that the Government have also agreed with these resolutions. I shall be very glad to support a scheme based upon those resolutions. I don’t lay very great stress on the fact that the Government have gone in for reform in expenditure. My experience of Governments is that every one we have had has laid claim to the same thing. I think that Mr Stout, when referring to this subject, should have been more candid and stated that tho coming into force of Abolition has enabled them to carry out many reforms. The late Government made many savings, and I hope the present one will save even more than Mr Stout says they will. On this point, however, I agree with Mr Ballanco, that the public must not expect—or if they do expect they will be disjointed that any large reductions can be made suddenly in the civil service. It is the backbone of the Government of the colony, and if interfered with will seriously affect it. As regards the question which is now agitating the public mind here—l mean the stoppage of the land fund—l am bound to say that though on the first appearance it may seem harsh, it is not wise to be precipitate, but to see what the Government may have to say about it. There are two large items which wo are informed the Government intend to charge against the £315,000 which was the balance duo to the Road Boards of the Canterbury Provincial districts at the end of last year. There can be no doubt at all about this that all members of the House—not alone tho Canterbury ones considered that the amount of £315,000 was going to be paid over to the Provincial District of Canterbury within ninety days, only subject to any small deductions on Provincial account which might turn up. The two large items to which I have alluded are one of £124,000, and one of £IOO,OOO. Tho one of £124,000 is we are told to cover the cost of the survey of land which has been sold up to the end of last year. If the Government can show that they have dealt evenhanded with all provincial districts throughout the polony, then they may have good ground to go upon in making this deduction ; if not, there can be no doubt that their proceeding is a very harsh one, and that their treatment of Canterbury has not been right. They will probably argue that Canterbury has received very large sums for her land, and that on tho closing of the partnerships accounts, as it were, by the passing of the Abolition and Financial Arrangements Act, it is only right that this should be accounted for. For myself I will say this, that I cannot conceive how such a large amount has been arrived at, I confess it has taken me altogether by surprise. I suppose we shall have the figures put before us, but I cannot see how it has been made up. I think it will require a very great amount of explanation on tho part of tho Government to put the matter right. [Hear, hoar ] But still I think it would be better not to be too precipitate. As regards the £10(1000, that is another thing, and I detqin you a few moments in order to explain it to you. In 1872 tho province determined to go in for harbor works, and in order to carry these out it waa determined to borrow £IOO,OOO. In their wisdom the Provincial Government decided not to use tho borrowing powers conferred upon them by tho Act passed, but to take the money standing to the credit of tho land fund in tho Bank holding the borrowing powers, so that when the land fund account required the amount to be paid back, they would he enabled to do so. They went on expending the land fund, however, and expended, not only the money belonging to the Northern part of Canterbury, but also to the Southern, and when a settlement of accounts came to be made, it was found that £IOO,OOO had to be paid to the South. Arrangements were made with the Atkinson Government that the amount of £IOO,OOO when borrowed, should be charged to the permanent debt of the province,and the£loo,ooo when borrowed was handed to the Timaru district, in fact was appropriated for harbor works there. In 1876 the Financial Arrangements Act made this provision, as it was also made provisional on the passing of the Lyttelton Harbor Board Loan Bill, and it was quite understood what was io bo done. It seems to me that the Government did wrong in tho matte?, because they have not used the power under the Lyttelton Harbor Board Loan Act. Why this waa I do not know. Tho powers of the Superintendent have passed under abolition to tho Governor, and no doubt, the money will bo raised and paid back to the land fund of Canterbury. There was a rumor current at the end of the session that the present. Government intended to dismiss tho AgentGeneral, Sir Julius Yogel, That there were some grounds for this appeared pretty plain, as a gentleman who was going home stated publicly that ho had got the appointment. I think you will agree with me that it would have been a very great calamity to tho country if Sir Julius Yogel had been removed from his present position. [Loud cheers,] 1

think also that he was not rightly treated as regarded his not being appointed as Commissioner for the colony to the Paris Exhibition. The Government, as you are aware, decided that the colony should not be represented in the matter of exhibits at the Paris Exhibition ; but what do we see ? Why, that a member of the Government lias been appointed to the post of Commissioner for the colony at the Paris Exhibition, which I take it was a great wrong to Sir Julius Vogel. [Cheers.] I think that the services of Sir Julius Vogel to the colony, which have indeed been great, will be far more appreciated in time to come —though your applause when I referred to him just now shows your appreciation of them—than they are now If anything would tend to call forth the respect and admiration of the colonists of New Zealand for Sir Julius Vogel, it would bo the paper on New Zealand recently read by him to the Colonial Institute in London. [Cheers.] I believe that has done more good for New Zealand than anything that has occurred for years past. [Cheers.] I "will now conclude I have represented you for seven years, and I trust that I have done what I could for you. With regard to the present session, we are in this position : We have had the Premier going round the country sketching the bare outlines of very many pretty pictures. We have had Mr Ballanco doing the same at Marton, and putting in some rough details. Mr Stout followed him, and his details—or the few he was good enough* to give us—widely differ from those of Mr Ballanco. It is therefore very difficult for any man to say how ho would support a Government under such circumstances. 1 will not bo a party to factious opposition to any Government. I have never di ne so, but till we have the Bills in detail before us I cannot say what course I shall adopt with regard to them. You will see from what I have said to-night—and I have spoken fully and plainly upon all the subjects I have touched upon—that my views go in the way of those of the two members of the Government. If the Bills they bring down seem to mo to be for the interests of the colony at large and for your interest, I shall support them I thank you very much for the kind manner in which you have listened to me this evening. I shall be happy to answer any questions. [Applause ] An Elector—Are you prepared to support Sir George Grey and the present Ministry ? Mr Richardson—l think the remarks I made at the end of my address are almost as straight an answer as I can give to you on the subject I am quite prepared to repeat them, but I could not tell you more if I spoke for a week. The Questioner—l don’t think that is an nswor.

Mr Richardson —Well, my friend asks me if I would support Sir George Grey and the present Mini-try. My answer to that is that I have no intention of opposing them so long a> the measures they propose are in the interests of this constituency and the rest of the colony. [Cheers.] An Elector—ln the event of any alteration being made in the franchise next sess : ou, will you take any steps to secure the representation of minorities P

Mr Richardson—That is a very large question to deal with._ A very great deal has been written and said about it, and no doubt if any reasonable plan could be devised to bring it about I should be tlad to support it, but I don’t see how it could bo done in this colony. The new Education Bill makes a small provision in thi- direction, but it remains to bo seen how it would work.

Mr p. M. Gray—You mentioned in your ad dress just now that it was impossible to put down drinking by Act of Parliament, are you aware that the experiment has been successfully tried in some of the States of America ? Mr Richardson—No, I am rot aware that such has been the case. On the contrary, I know from the experience of some friends o’ mine who have travelled through the country, that in states where the law ag dust selling drinks is exceedingly -trict, it can be procured as easilv as in this town.

An Elector- Can yon give us any idea from the census returns of the male adult population of the colony ?

Mr Richardson—Speaking from memory I think it is about 250,000 exclusive of Maoris.

The questioner—Don’t you think that represent tion should be based upon the adult mule population ? Mr Richardson —If you go on the basis of population, I think you shoiill not stop at the male adults. You should take the whole adult population. [Cheers ] An Elector—Do you think that publicans should be compensated for the loss of their licenses by legislation any more than mail coach proprietors were when railways were first introduced ?

Mr Eichardson—T will state frankly to you my opinion on the subject. You now encourage persons to enter into business .and expend a very large amount of capital to meet the requirements of the law; indeed ii was stated in the House that notably in the Province of Auckland, persons were [encouraged to do this for revenue purposes. I don’t see why power should be required to put down well-conducted public-houses that are licensed under the laws of the country without compensation being given. [Cheers and hisses.] An ■ lector—Will you introduce a clause into the Municipal 0 rporations Act during the next session to enable householders to have a vote, although the taxes are paid by the landlord ? At the present time nearly two thirds of the population of Christchurch are disfranchised. Mr Eichardson —I may say that it was tried to introduce some such clause into the Municipal Corporations Act of 18(1(3 when it was before the House, but it met with great opposition. Ido not see why a householder residing say for six months in one place should not have a vote the same as the rest of the electors.

Mr M. B. Hart said that he was very much pleased with the address of Mr Richardson, though he had not been so explicit as he should have liked to have heard him. Christchurch had very great claims on the Government, and no representative of Christchurch, from Mr Fi zGerald downwards, to the present time, had endeavored *o obtain for the city that which it was c ititled to, and ho was going to ask Mr Richardson whether ho would, in ca e of any Bill being brought into the House for giving Christchurch greater endowments as regarded charitable aid, &c , do all in his power to get a fair proportion of endowment for the City of Christchurch ?

Mr Hart was proceeding, when the Mayor said that he desired to remind Mr Hart that if all gentlemen asking questions were to make speeches, they would be there a very long time.

Mr Hart—l intend to ask Mr Richardson whether he will assist in carrying through a Bill to enable the City of Christchurch to get those endowments to which it is entitled.

Mr Richardson —Before answering the question I should like to correct a statement made by Mr- Hart as to the two other members for the city not having addressed their constituents. One of them, Mr hi. 0. J. Stevens, has done so about a month ngo. As regards the question, I will at once say that I shill be prepared to support any legislation in the direction pointed out by Mr Hart, though his remarks seem to indicate that I have not done my duty in this matter. I may say that I have made very great effort in this direction already. When the matter came up before the Hou e there was great opposition made to the corporations getting even the 2000 acre endowment which they now p sscss. On that o casion I spoke in favor of Christchurch getting the endowment, aud I believe Mr Moorhouse did also. I am sure Mr Stoveas did I may as-ure Mr Hart that I fully agree with him that Christchurch, under the eircumstances of the loss of the reserves, is entitled to special consideration at the hands of the Government. An t‘lector —Will yon advocate the opening of publiehouses on Sundays? Mr Richardson —My opinion on the subject is this—that seeing the way that the law is broken throughout the country, seeing that public houses are open barefaced throughout the country, notably in Auckland and Dunedin, that it is much better to have them kept open for two hours in the middle of the day on Sundays. [Cheers and hisses.] i would, however, make the penalty for a breach of the law very much heavier than it is at present. I would make the penalty, say <£so, and I feel sure that publicans throughout the country would much rather sec their servants enabled to get a part of the day as a holiday than be forced ns at present to remain in, during the whole of Sunday. My idea, ;s that it would be advantageous t j have thy bouses open for a period on tnat day, because a very large section of tbo public will have drink and want it. [Cries of “ no,” and cheers ] Well, it is so. An f- lector—l would like to ask Mr Ti chardson whether in the face of the large profits paid by the Canterbury section of the New Zealand railw >ys ho will help to got a reduction in the tariff rates at present ex-sting - Mr Richardson—l don’t thi. k it M’ould bo advisable to make redactions, speaking generally of course. There are now continual reductions being made in vari ms ways, and I think our rates would bear favorable comparison with the rates on the English railways. It would not

be prudent, I think, to lower the rates, because th i Government are bound to pet a fair remuneration for the use of the railway, and so far as I know, the rates are not excessive on any section of the New Zealand railways. After some further questions as to compcnsalion to bo paid to publicans, in which Mr !<ich-urd.-on reiterated mainly the answers given above on the same subject, Mr Triphook said— Do you think it right that a man who has been for seventeen years in the Civil Service of the country, and spent the host years of his life in it, should have been turned adrift at three months’ notice, without compensation, while you were at the head of that department ? Mr Richardson—Pro ision was made by law that compensation should be paid to those officers whose st rvioes were dispensed with owing to the Abolition Act, on the basis, so far as I recollect, of one month’s salary for every year’s service. I think this has been done, and wherever it baa not been it lias come before a committee of the House of Representatives on petition, and has been dealt with. In some cases it has been granted and in some not. Of course it would be invidious on my part to remark here on any individual case. An Elector—Are you in favor of a direct line of railway from Christchurch to Greymouth and the VVest Coast P

Mr Richardson—Certainly. This was one of the principal points in the scheme of railways in Canterbury that ultimately they should be connected with the West Coast Steps are now being taken I believe, in another part of the colony, to connect the southern portion of the island with the W est Coast.

The questioner—Will you strongly oppose a railway going to the West Coast from Dunedin? Mr Richardson—Were I to reply to your question iu the affirmative, it would pledge me to oppose a line which has been recommended to Parliament as one which would pay well, and would open up a large amount of land. I should he prepared to support a line from North Canterbury, but I would oppose a line through the Pass, as I consider it will be many years before the Government should be asked to construct the latter.

An Elector-Would Mr Richardson support any legislation for the protection of Trades’ Unions ?

Mr Richardson—l think that trade societies, which have large accumulated funds, have a right to claim protection under the same provisions as those existing under the Friendly Societies A ct.

An Elector—Are you opposed to the reading of the Bible in school* ?

Mr Richardson—l should consistently oppose anything which would interfere with purely secular education. I think that the ministers of each denomination should look after the religious education of the children belonging to them.

Mr Jebson moved —“ That this meeting, while thanking Mr Richardson for his address, are of opinion that no Government, or representative, is entitled to the confidence of the people of this colony who will not honestly and fearlessly legislate in favor of the principles adopted by the New Ze tland Political Reform Association, most of which are named in the programme of the present Ministry.” He was pro ee ling to address the meeting at some length, when he was stopped by the Mayor and sat down. An elector in the body of the hall seconded the motion.

Mr F Hobbs said he would move an amendment—'“ That this meeting thanks Mr Richard* son for his address, and expresses confidence in him as their representative.” Mr Richardson said that he desired just to say one or two words. He was a public man, and as such quite prepared to meet all he got. He must say this however, that as regarded these resolutions of thanks and confidence, he did not think it was at all needed on occasions of this kind, the more so that the constituency w. re but sparsely represented. As regarded Mr Jebson’s resolution, he would just say this, that if such a resoluti n was to be proposed the "lectors of Christchurch should have been publicly notified, so that they might have had an opportunity of attending, and giving their opi ion upon the policy put forward by the Reform Association. At present he had to learn that the programme of the Reform Associat on embodied the views of the electors of Christchurch. Mr S. Clarkson seconded the amendment of Mr Hobbs.

An elector in th-» hall said that the propositions of the Reform A sociation were unknown to the majority of the electors present 1 herefore, in asking them to support the resolution proposed by Mr Jebson, they were asked to do something about which they knew little. Mr C. M. Gray moved, as a further amendment—” That this meeting thanks Mr Richardson for his address.”

This was seconded by an elector in the hall. The Mayor then put Mr Hobbs’ amendment, for which 38 hands were held up, and 23 against, and he therefore declared that Mr Hobbs’ amendment was carrie 1. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.

The last feat accomplished by Bell’s telephone is the saving of a diver’s life. According to a report made to the Admiralty by Captain Arthur, of Her Majesty’s ship Vernon, a diver engaged in receiving some ballast suddenly fainted and called out, “ Pull me up.” He did not signal with his rope, but was heard through the telephone attached t > his helmet, and was at once brought to the surface. The man has recovered, and thanks the telephone for his restoration.

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