MR. SAUNDERS, M.H.R., AT KAIKOURA.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2077, 20 October 1880, Page 3

MR. SAUNDERS, M.H.R., AT KAIKOURA.

i[PBR PBBBB ASSOCIATION BPECIAI, WIBH.J WELLINGTON, October 19. Mr Saunders addressed a largely attended J meeting of his constituents at Kaikoura tonight. He apologised for not addressing the electors last recess, and advanced as his excuse hia appointment on the Civil Service Commission, which occupied so much of his time, thereby preventing him from meeting his constituents. He said that though he had been elected on the Grey ticket, yet when he enquired into matters he found Sir George Grey's protestations of practising rigid eoonomy and working reforms amounted to mere moonshine, and that instead of practising what he preached he was actually engaged in most extravagant and iniquitous practices. He (Mr Saunders) had in changing sides not changed opinions. He then proceeded at some length to j accuse the late Government with having not merely mismanaged the affairs of the colony, but with maladministration of the worst possible kind. Evil had been done to the colony by Sir G. Grey and Messrs Sheehan and Macandrew. He supported the charges by reading extracts from speeches made in the House and papers laid on the table, and proceeded to say that, extravagant as former Governments had been, none had approached the Grey Government. He did not eay that money had never been spent so uselessly, but certainly never for such vile purposes as had been done by the late Government. They might vulgarly be called three B's and three E's. Sir G. Grey surrounded himself with two men destitute of principles and three devoid of brains, for his purposes. He had to have three men, who at least bore the character of being honest, but he did not think they knew how the money was being spent. Sir G. Grey squandered money for the purpose of rewarding his friends and favorites ; Mr Macandrew to satisfy toadies ; and Mr Sheehan to satisfy self-indulgencieß. Though his expenditure was not in some instances so damaging to the country as that of his colleagues, it was less creditable to himself. It showed the fallacy of the idea that Mr Sheehan was even honest as a public man, as he was deserted by his friends. He thought that the crushing debt that the colony was now groaning under, and likely to continue under for a century, had been brought about by the reckless extravagance of the late Government, and that was sufficient reason for his withdrawing his allegiance to them and supporting the Hall Government. He did not believe altogether in Major Atkinson's policy. There was no man in the House or country who knew finance as he did or could talk on the finances as he can, yet he had not that acquaintance with the politics of the colony that satisfied him (Mr Saunders). In the early days he had been prejudiced against Mr Hall, but he belioved that there was not a more honorable, conscientious, hard-working man than the present Premier, who, although he worked like a slave at small matters, . yet did not grasp larger subjects as he should. He devoted too much time to minor affairs, which ought to be handed over to men of smaller intellects, so as to leave him free. Mr Bryoe was a good common sense man of strictly honorable principles and truth. There was not a more intelligent hardworking man than Mr Rolleston, who, although he was somewhat eccentric and made mistakes in judgment, was honest. The Minister for Public Works was the weakest man in the Government. He was utterly disappointed with the Public Works statement. After Mr Oliver hod obtained so much information from the Civil Service and Railway Commission reports he had expected something approaching what might reasonably have been looked for. He thought that horses, milch cows, sheep up to a thousand, and agricultural implements should be exempted from taxation. It was highly necessary that agriculturists should be freed frcm all possible taxation if the country was to be extricated from its present position. He told the Treasurer that if this were not done there would soon be no one in the country to tax. He thought that if the country was to hold its own among the nations of the world they muut continue the education vote. Children must be eduoated if they are to make any headway in the world. He took an extremely gloomy view of the financial position of the colony, and although he did not wish to appear an alarmist, he feared they might have to repudiate debts, and the country would be brought into disgrace, and colonists afraid to show their faces amongst honest men.

The following resolution was unanimously carried—" This meeting desires to thank Mr Saunders for his address, and the great service rendered to the colony as Chairman of the Civil Service Commission and in the Houeo of Representatives, and assures him this he possesses the ontire confidence of he electors."