MR S. P. ANDREWS AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1952, 27 May 1880, Page 3

MR S. P. ANDREWS AT THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

Mr S. P. Andrews, M.H.R. for Christchurch, addressed his constituents at the Aoademy of Mußio on Wednesday. There was not a very large attendance.

His Worship the Mayor occupied tho chair, and, in introducing Mr Andrews, said that he had boen asked to take the chair that evening, and did bo with very great pleasure. Mr Andrews always met with a good reception in Christchurch, so that his duties as chairman were likely to be very light. Mr Andrews intended to address them on the subjects which were likely to oome before the Assembly, which were of more importance than persona generally imagined. Mr Andrews, who was well received, said he had invited them to meet him there that night in accordance with the custom provalent in Christchurch and in other parts of the colony, which was that the member should meet his constituents prior to a new session to know what were the views of his constituents. He felt that making post, sessional speeches entailed going over a very great deal of ground already traversed, and partook a great deal of playing at follow my leader. He would, however, endeavor to deal with the subjects ho had to speak on as briefly and clearly as possible. Political life in the Assembly differed greatly from their little Provincial Council experiences. He himself had gone to the Assembly as a working man, to express the opinions of the electors of Christchurch, and he must say that every consideration had been shown to him. He had gone to the Assembly last session as a pledged supporter of Sir George Grey —[Cheers] —and he said that he would stand by him should a voto of want of confidence be put. If this were carried he felt himself free to take any course he might deem desirable. Amotion of want of confidence was moved by the Hon. Premier of New Zealand in the Ministry " as at present constituted." These words were attached to the resolution, which he looked upon as a piece of politioal subterfuge, and ho fully believed, had they been omitted, the motion of want of confidence would never have been carried. On that romarkable occasion the vote was carried by two votes, and bo soon as the result was recorded those two members who had swayed the result walked into the Liberal caucuses ; so that really it was a personal matter, and not against the Government. No sooner was the vote taken than the Premier, Sir George Grey, called his party together and wanted their decision. The party considered that the best way to keep the party together was to depose Sir George Grey from the leadership, and another gentleman was put in his'plaoe. This, he believed, was a mistake, as he believed that the result would have been different if Sir George Grey had retained the leadership. At one of the meetings, Mr Swanson, member for Newton, spoke on the leadership of the party being given to Mr Macandrew, and he then said it

waa one thing to depose Sir George Grey, and another giving the leadership to Mr Macandrew. Mr Swanson had asked Mr Sheehan what were Mr Macandrew's views on certain subjects, and getting a reply he rose from his chair and said, " this is no place for me," and left the meeting. Mr Swanson had been classed as one of the rats—tho chief of them it was said—but he (Mr Andrews) commended Mr Swanson for his conduct in this matter. He had wished to call his constituents together when he came baok, but Mr Hall, when he undertook the Government, asked for time to look into matters, and see what policy they should pursue. He said this, that up te the present time the present Government had never given theiu a policy. [Mr Oliver—" They have not got one."] The Government had given them bits of policy, but since the rising of Parliament no policy had been given to the country. It was unparalleled. It was not like a new party unÜBed to politics taking office. They had the Hon. John Hall, Mr Bolleston, and Major

Atkinson, all old politicians, and yet they had never told the people what was their policy. The Honorable Premier had delivered a speech, which he (Mr Andrews) read with diappointment. He had told them nothing. [Cheers.] He was surprised to find that the Premier should have occupied ten full columns of the leading newspapers of the colony in abusing a man whom he said no one believes. |"Cheers.] "While he did this, he did not speak at all hardly on the subjects of importance, such as district railways,. which was simply glanced at. Was the Addington workshops spoken of, or the removal of the staff to Dunedin ? No, not a word. All these subjects were studiously avoided, and the whole speech was such a smearing of dirt as he never Baw or heard of in New Zealand. It was wonderful that Buch a speeoh could be made by a man in high position. Then again, he (Mr Andrews) desired to defend not alone Sir George Grey, but the honorable gentlemen by whom he was surrounded. He would refer to that celebrated despatch quoted by Mr Hall at Leeston, and his remarks thereon.

Mr Hall said, referring to Sir George Grey : " The speaker did not think it worth while to explain to his so-called constituents why he about fifteen months ago sent a telegraphic despatch to the Secretary of State, asking him to send out 6000 paupers to this country. When addressing an audience of the working claeses, the reason why that despatch was sent would have been an interesting piece of information. I have the despatch. It is as follows :—' New Zealand Government regrets greatly distress in Mother Country. It respectfully informs Imperial Government that Bix thousand able bodied emigrants could find permanent and profitable employment in New Zealand, in addition to large numbers whose passages was being paid by the colony.' Could it be construed that the despatch asked for 6000 paupers f It said able bodied men, and he asked them was that. the proper language for a man holding the highest position they could confer upon any one iu New Zealand ? If any man could so wilfully misconstrue a plain despatch and dare put suoh words in Sir George Grey's mouth, he (Mr Andrews) said that he was not worthy of his

confidence or that of the people. [Cheers.] Let them read the telegram of that day as to what Mr Stout said at Dunedin. It was as follows ," Mr E. Stout then entered into an explanation of the circumstances in connection with the cahle message sent Home for 6000 more immigrants. He was then Minister of Immigration, and took all responsibility on himself. A number of deputations waited on the Government, complaining of the scaroity of labor, and all that the New Zealand Government did was to suggest to the Home Government that the surplus labour in England should be sent here. If this had been done £120,000 would have been saved." Now this statement had been made in the House time after time, and Mr Hall must have hoard of it. [Cheers.] He would now pass on to touch' on another subject. Mr Hall had snid —" The speech further says that the time has come when men who are to rule men mußt speak to great communities of their fellowmen, and not to a few farmers in a country district. Now, gentlemen, I say this is rubbish —transparent rubbish —which may go down with a crowded meoting at the Oddfellows' Hall, where a man is liable to bo ejected who does not agree with the speaker, but I don't think you will accept it as common I sense." This was a most horrid libel on the electors of Christchurch. He could imagine a man at Auckland or Southland making such a statement as this. No man bad ever

been ejected from the Oddfellows' Hall for differing from Sir George Grey or anyone else. Mr Saunders said in the House that any person differing from Sir George Grey could not get a hearing. He (Mr Andrews) challenged this statement, and went to ask Mr Bolleston to go with hini to ask Mr Saunders what he meant. " Oh," said Mr Bolleston, "I was refused a hearing at the Oddfellows' Hall." He (Mr Andrews) pointed out that this was the occasion when Mr Saunders himself had charge of Sir George Grey, and he (Mr Andrews) had been rofused a seat on the platform. [Oheero.] Now, when Mr Hall took charge of affairs ho said in the House : " Gentlemen, here is a measure which you have had dangling before you for some time, we intend

i to bring it into praotical effect." Had > he done this P He said no. [Cheers.] Had 1 Mr Hall brought in a Bill for redistribution ' of Beats ? Again he said no. The Bill he had brought forward first was the Triennial Parliaments Bill, and this was considered by Mr Hall as the most important , as leading to electoral reform. But what a Bill. He (Mr Andrews) had pledged himself to vote for this, but he was not yet satisfied that it would be a great Liberal measure. They had not passed the Regulation of Elections Bill, but what did Mr Hall say about this : "We shall introduce the measures of electoral reform that were not passed last session - a Bill for the Regulation of Elections, I a Bill for the Prevention of Bribery and Corruption, and a Bill as to the Trial of Election Petitions. The last named measure will provide that petitions of the kind shall in futuro be tried, not by the House of Representatives, but by Judges of the Supreme Court—an absolutely impartial tribunal, in which politics have no influence, and whoße decisions are not likely to be questioned, as those of Parliamentary committees always are." On the Redistribution of Seats Bill, Mr Hall says, "We hope to introduoe at an early period of the session a Bill for tho Redistribution of Seats." We hope, not we Bhall. Did they expect a Redistribution of Seats Bill, because if they did he did not. Mr Hall was quite alive to ita_ importance, as ho said at Leeston—"The existing distribution has become unfair through the growth of population being greater in some parts of the colony than in others. This unfairness is especially felt in the Canterbury district and in Ofcago. The first consideration in the allotment of representatives will be population, but it will not be by any means the only consideration. [Applause.] We think that other things should be taken into consideration also ; for instance, the permanency of the population—whether it is of a really settled character or not. The question of contribution to the revenue should have something to do with the matter, and tho facilities any particular district may have for making its influence felt in Parliament and by the Government, should also be taken into consideration. After carefully weighing all these points we shall lay before Parliament proposals for redistributing tho representation in a manner which, while doing justice to those districts that are now insufficiently represented, will, I trust, not do injustice to any part of the colony." He wanted to show them that there was nothing new in this. It had been re-echoed all over New Zealand j but there was no Re-distribution of Seats Bill. Were this carried out it would mean the taking out of the Houee a number of staunch supporters of the present Government. Let them look at the promises made to Nelson, where thousands of pounds were promised to keep votes together, even to the promising of a railway, which one of their supporters, Mr Saunders, said might as well be made into the desert of Sahara. [Cheers.] Ho said this, that the preeent Government were kept in power simply by buying of votes. [Cheers.] The District Railways Bill \ waa one of these measures. Tbey found that • £150,000 waß promised for these district railways when the whole colony was called on to practise economy. What was this but buying of votes ? [Cheers.] Sir George ! Grey would tell them that if he had supported this District Railways Bill he could have had Bix votes given to him. [Cheers.] Mr Macandrow differed from Sir George Grey, and had voted for the Bill, because the provisions would give a great deal to Otago. They wanted a man

like Macandrew was for Otago if Canterbury was to keep her position as she deserved to do. It would pay them here to put their hands in their pockets, if it coßt them £2OOO a year, to get Mr Macandrew to live in Ohristchurch and work for Canterbury. [Cheers.J They had no men who could look ahoad like Mr Macandrew did for Otago. What was the last move in Otago ? Why, the forming a penal settlement at the heads of Otago harbor. Who had recommended this ? . Why the chief surveyor, an Otago man. They wanted to get a large amount of public money spent in Otago, and all the prison labor utilised there. So with regard to Mr Conyers. He had gone back to Otago to work for them because he had been appointed by them, and he therefore wanted to go back to them. Everything was drifting to Otago, and the public men of Otago seemed to be able to get what they wanted. Now Mr Hall knew very well the opinion of Christohurch, the gross injustice which had been committed by the workshops being removed, on the faith of the retention of whioh hundreds of working men had bought and paid for their land. They had done so, and now they found themselves sold—decidedly sold. What he wanted to say was this, that they had a Premier who could spend ten columns of the papers in abuse, whilst he could not spend any time in trying to advance the interests of Canterbury when a gross injustice had been committed. (Cheers.) He had been asked whether he approved of the action of a Premier prying into the secrets of the telegraph office. He (Mr Andrews) said that this was a most unwarrantable proceeding. The secrecy of the post and telegraph offices were not safe in the hands of such men as this. What did Mr Hall say—"A report was sent that there were a considerable number of such telegrams, and they were accordingly brought to me. I took the precaution to go through them, for the purpose of seeing that none had been—as far as I could see—improperly included, and finding one or two such, I put them aside, and laid the rest on the table of the House." Was not this a most unwarrantable proceeding on the part of a Premier ? [Cheers.] If the Premier could so far descend from his high position to examine suoh telegrams, he said it was a debasing of the office he held. [Oheers.] Why would he not have entrusted the duty to some high official, such as Mr Maginnity, rather than have done it himself. No; he preferred doing it himself. This brought him round to another thing. If they could not depend upon the Government observing the secrecy of the Post and Telegraph offices, what security had they for the revelations of their private affairs, which were demanded by the Property Tax Act ? A voice—" We won't fill them up."] If this was the case the whole of their business transactions would leak out. He (Mr Andrews) had opposed the Bill at every stage as being inquisitorial, and he should do so against any Bill of the kind. [Cheers.] He said that not only was it inquisitorial, making it penal for any one declining to make the statement, but that it crushed out every attempt to establish local industries, because a man was taxed on every thing he put up in a woollen manufactory or any other local industries. [Cheers.] What they wanted was an income tax, so as to get those who derived money from the colony and contributed nothing. Mr Hall had spoken of the land tax, and said that it produoed nothing. Well, if this was so, and they found Id not enough, let them put on 2d or more. What they wanted to get at was the unearned increment. There were thousands of acres of land which had beon almost doubled in value by the works which had been oarried out by the money of the people and by the taxation of the people. What he said was this, that if his (Mr Andrews') land had been improved, he was justified in paying for that. [Cheers ] It had been said that Mr McCaughan had stated the policy of the Government when he spoke at Biverton. Now he (Mr Andrews) said that a property tax should never be imposed in New Zealand. Mr McCaughan said : He advocated the abolition of the education voto and the Boad Board and county subsidies, the imposition of a beer tax and tea and sugar duties, and pledged bis support to any Government adopting these changes in lieu of the property tax, which he maintained is ruinous, and which the country cannot afford to pay. What did this mean ? Why, that the working men would have to pay the greatest part of the taxation of the country. Put taxes on sugar and tea and take it off the land. This meant taxing the working men and lettine the wealthy class go free. [Cheers ] What did the remarks at to the education question mean ? Why, an imposition of fees. It meant that they should roturn baok to the dark days when education was denied to the people. They now. had free education, and let them look at what would be the result if, at this season of financial depression, the children had had to take their eighteen ponce to sohool ; where would it have come from ? He (Mr Andrews) would never consent to their free system of education, in which Canterbury had nobly taken t ; 'e lead, being done away with. [Oheers.] Now as to finance. They had, it appeared, n number of croakers amongst them, but they bad nothing tangible put before them. Mr Ballance had given his statement, but what had the present Government done? Why, Major Atkinson had spoken, but Mr Ballance had replied to him, showing that he had given the very darkest complexion to the finance of the colony. The miin points of Major Atkinson's statement had, he con-

[ tended, been disproved by Mr Ballance. Major Atkinson had said that he could not say for certain what was the real state of finance until he knew more about it. Mr Hall had skipped lightly over this matter, and he (Mr Andrews) felt that it would not be needed, with the Treasurer's statement coming on, that he should go into finance. Shortly he might say that he believed with economy and thrift they would find that New Zealand would yet be found to be prosperous. They had a goodly land, and if the management of its affairs were placed in other and better hands they would find that prosperity would smile on them. If it was true that the finance of tbe colony was in such a dark position as Majorl Atkinson contended he had no right to promise a thousand, a hundred, or even one pound to the Auckland rats or the West Coast rats. [Cheers.] Why should tho Government go on promising thousands to places ? It had been said that there was no promise made to Mr Masters. What made that gentleman, after going on the Grey tioket, turn round and go into j the onemy's camp ? That promise might not have been kept. That was nothing. But the Premier could not deal this way with the Auckland rats. What did the notorious Billy Swanßon, of Auckland, do ? Did he trust the Premier of New Zealand ? iNo ; he asked the Premier what he thought of certain subjects, and whether he thought Auckland had justice done to her. The Premier replied, but Mr Swanson wanted it in writing, and got it. [Cheers.] He should have liked to have seen that compact, which was initialled and marked "confidential." What he wanted to get at was this : How could the Government give railways to a Colbeck and promises to Masters when they were in the state which Major Atkinson had made out ? If they had money to do this, what need for this oppressive taxation ? He believed that Canterbury would have to pay as much taxation as the whole of the North Island put together, and this too when they had been robbed of their Land Fund. When their Provincial Council died, they left a million in the chest. What had become of it ? It had gone, and now there were their lunatics lying on the floor in a rotten old house, though the Provincial Council voted money to complete a suitable building. Yet now they had this money dribbled out to them in a few paltry thousands. [Cheers.] The Premier had asked anyone to show him how reductions could be made in the Civil Service. He (Mr Andrews) said this, that there should be a rigid classification of the Civil Service, and a doing away with the system which now existed of putting in people on the recommendation of "sisters, cousins, and aunts." It was necessary that this should be done to bring the Civil Service to a state of efficiency. He knew that £SOO, £6OO, and £BOO a year was being paid to persons to do nothing. Tbe Commissioner of Actuaries was asked before a committee of which he was a member : " Are you an actuary ? No. Are you an accountant ? No. Are you a book-keeper ? No." Well, then, what were the special qualifications of this gentleman for his oflioe ? Simply nothing. He (Mr Andrews) had proposed that the salaries of civil servants and the honorarium of members should be reduced by 10 per cent. When he did this Mr Sw*nson told him that he might as well try to fly as to reduce any civil servant. So soon as any of these were touched quite a crowd of friends rose up in the House and begged that so and so should be spared, from his high connections, long service, &c. [Cheers.] He was beginning to see the force of this. But he desired to ask them what was to become of the young men who were taking their scholarships in the public schools. These were the 'men who should build up the Civil Service of New Zealand, and not by the sisters, cousins, and aunts. [Cheers.] To take these youths from school, where they had won their distinctions, and put them to the plough, would be wrong. They now had in ithe Civil Service of New Zealand the sons of some of their eminent men. Could they be put in there without a good salary ? No, it waa managed by calling them a private seoretary, which gave them a larger salary. He (Mr Andrews) would do his best for Christchuroh in all ways, but he also would do so for New Zerland. [Cheers.] The Premier had said that if it was wanted to shelve a thing appoint a committee; if it was wanted to lose sight of it altogether appoint a Commission. He (Mr Andrews) was opposed to Commissions ; not because he was not on one, though the Premier said that thore was not wisdom enough in the Opposition. .He objected to the appointment of Commissions because it shifted the responsibility off tbe Government. Suppose the Commission on Railways recommended that the railway to Hororata should be gone on with immediately. Well, the Government l would say, " Oh, this is not our recommendation ; it is that of the Commission." [Cheers.] The Government had selected not the best men, but men who were their strong supporters, and who were instructed as to the verdict they were to bring in on various points upon which the Government did not dare bring any'recommendation themselves. [Cheers.] Now, what were the Government doing in regard to the unemployed? They were simply treating the men as paupers. Let the Government, instead of sending men to the Relieving Officer for passes to Waikari, let out work in small contracts so that all oould have a chance of going iu for it. He would read an advertisement from a Canadian paper, calling for tenders for the year's Bupply of rolling stook, the condition of which was that the whole must be manufactured in the Dominion of Canada. Thiß is what they wanted here, because if they did not send their orders for railway material home they would find factories sending out branches here to supply such an amount of stock as four years' supply so as to compete. This was what they wanted here ; they wanted the Government to look ahead, as the Canadians had done, to keep the manufacture of their working stock in the country, and so afford an opportunity to the working men to get employment. [Cheers.] The date of the advertisement he had quoted was February, 1880, so that it was no old fashioned notion, but the wisdom of the American people. [Cheers.] He had trespassed too long on their patience, but he would just now say this, that he desired to ask them whether, after having seen the picture of the Premier he had painted, they wished him to follow Mr Hall ? [No, no.] If they did so, he should a*, once put his resignation in the hands of the Speaker. [Loud cheers.]

In answer to a question from Mr Garrard, Mr Andrews said that he had told Mr All' wrighfc, who was in doubt as to the way he should give his vote on the question of Sir George Grey's retention of his seat for Ohristchurch, he, as a Justice of the Peaoe, knew enough of English law to be sure that the prisoner got the benefit of the doubt. Mr Ballance, who was standing by, told Mr Allwright that the only way to deal with the matter was the good old English maxim quoted by him (Mr Andrews). Sir George Grey had come down there in good faith and they had elected him, and, therefore, he (Mr Andrews) thought that the existing state of affairs should not be disturbed. In reply to Mr Moffat,

Mr Andrews said he was in favor of the waste lands of the Crown when they fell in in in 1882 being said by auction. He was decidedly in favour of getting rid of the Property Tax. He would be prepared, if necessity arose, to support a land tax, or if necessary an income tax. He should not be prepared to support a petition to remove the record from the Journals of the House of the ousting of Sir George Grey, because the Speaker had stated that it could not be re-opened, that the decision of the committee was final. Besides, what was the use of appealing to the House when parties were as now. It would be better for the people of Ohristchurch to wait until the turn of the tide, and until the power was altered. [Cheers.] Ho would not. therefore, be prepared to vote for the petition spoken of. He would be prepared to urge on as speedily as he could the Redistribution of Seats Bill, but the matter was in the hands of the Government.

In reply to Mr Oliver, Mr Andrews said that the expression of opinion on tho part of the people had been so strong that it was not likely the Christchurch District Drainage Bill Amendmont Bill would be brought before the House. He would oppose any suoh Bill if it were brought forward. [Cheers.] Mr Tread well moved—" That, inasmuch as this meeting is of opinion that as the property tax passed by the present Government is iniquitous and inquisitorial, steps should be taken to repeal the same in favor of a land and income tax." He then proceeded to criticise and deny Mr Hall's statement us to the operation of the property tax on the working classes. Mr Kent seconded the motion.

Mr Andrews said the exemption in the original Bill stood at £3OO, and it was only by hard pressure from the Liberal party that it was altered to £SOO.

The motion was carried unanimously.

In reply to another question, Mr Andrews said that he would support election petitions being tried by a Court of Justice instead of by committees,. aB now. Regarding the question of publicans' licenses, I he (Mr Andrews) was in the dark. Mr Hall had told him that the Bill was prepared, but Mr Dick and himself only had seen it, and that the Cabinet, had not yet discussed or seen it. He (Mr Andrews) oould not, therefore, say whether he .wibuld support or oppose it. Mr Clophane moved—" That this meeting accords to Mi- S. P. Andrews a hearty vote of thanks, and expresses renewed confidence in him as the Liberal member for Christchurch." [Cheers.] He was sorry he could not provide them with as good a Sootohman as Mr Macandrew was to Otago, but he could give them a good Irishman. [Cheers.] Mr Montgomery said he had come there that night as one of the electors of Christchurch to testify by his presence that Mr Andrews was worthy of their confidence. He came also as a member of the party to which Mr Andrews and himself belonged. It had beon said that the Liberal party were disunited, but they might rest assured that they were united in this, that justice should be done to all parties, and that not only one should be considered. Now, with regard to the removal of the railway staff to Dunedin. When the Grey Government were in Mr Macandrew was charged with desiring to remove the staff to Dunedin. There was never a more unfounded assertion than this. The fact now remained that the railway staff was not removed while the Grey Government were in power, but that the present Government had done so. As regarded Mr Macandrew being chosen as leader of the Liberal party, it was not his request, but at that of Mr Reader Wood. He trusted that when they met in the approaching session there would be unanimity in the Liberal party. (Cheers.) So far as he was concerned, he recognised Mr Maoandrew as the leader of the Liberal party and his leader. (Cheers.) He believed that though Mr Macandrew had done what he could for Otago, he believed it had been done for tbe benefit of the colony at large. (Cheers.) Mr Andrews had spoken of Mr Masters only getting promises. He had got more than that, and he said this, that the present Government had obtained office through the promises of expenditure of money that they had made. He said this, that Mr Andrews was one of the most energetic and straightforward men they could have selected to represent them, and he (Mr Montgomery) admired the intrepidity with which Mr Andrews stood up in the House, as a new member, and stated his views on subjects coming before it. [Cheers.] Mr Andrews thanked those present for the vote they had passed. He had undertaken a great trust, and he should always do, as he had done, his best to discharge his duty to them faithfully and conscientiously. [Cheers.] He would now ask them to pass a vote of thanks to the Mayor, for his presiding over them that night. The proceedings then terminated.