MR. WAKEFIELD, AT GERALDINE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2125, 15 December 1880, Page 3

MR. WAKEFIELD, AT GERALDINE.

[By Tblbgbaph.] fpBOJI OUB OWN OOEBBSPONBBNT. J TIMAEU, December 14. Mr Wakefield, M.H.R., addressed a mooting of his constituents at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Geraldine, on Monday evening. The building was crowded, about 200 electors being present. He was accorded an attentive hearing. Mr Wakefield said that he proposed to deal with the principal political events of last session, the present position of the country, and the prospects from a standpoint. They would remember that during the past twelve or eighteen months the country had experienced the greatest period of depression that the colony had known for years. When he was returned on the last occasion the most pressing question was how the colonists could Jjstavo off the bankruptcy staring them in the face, and make the best of their embarrassments. A new tax was proposed the session before last, the property tax, and at the beginning of last session the principal question agitated in political circles was the question whether this tax oould be collected or not. The Government and Parliament wore placed in a very difficult position. The credit of th© colony had to be maintained abroad, and the year before the people demanded by a majority that if any new tax should be imposed, it should be a general tax on property. It was only when the electors were brought face to face with direct taxation that they began to wince. From the first he was opposed to the property tax. But he was only one of a few, and as the result of the expression of the country ho believed that the majority of electors were in favor of such a tax. The question was submitted eventually to a meeting at Geraldine, and he received a telegram intimating that the electors there supported the financial proposals of the Government. On the following day he received a communication from Temuka, stating that the inhabitants of that part of the district entirely opposed the property tax. He communicated the respective advices received to the Government, and acted upon hie own convictions. On the question of the property tax he felt that it was necessary to support the Colonial Treasurer, whose proposals appeared reasonable. The Colonial Treasurer proposed to cut down the expenditure and increase the revenue, and he resolved to give a hearty support to the Government, seeing that they must keep faith with the public creditor. _ At this juncture. Sir G. Grey tabled a motion, which in effect was simply a proposition to repeal the property tax. He agreed with the resolution as it stood, but much was behind it. Sir G. Grey intimated that while he would repeal the property tax he would restore the land tax, increasing it from |d in the £ to 4d. They knew how oppressive the tax of a halfpenny was, and if it were increased the farmers would have to boar the burden of taxation, while wealthy townspeople would escape. He considered the property tax, if no exemption were made, much fairer, and therefore voted against Sir Q. Grey’s motion. On that division the Government had a clear majority of fifteen votes, while Sir G. Grey had only twelve or thirteen of his own following, the othere who voted with him voting against the Government because they did not like them. No sooner was the motion lost than Sir G. Grey proposed a vote of wont of confidence in the Government. For throe we-*ks the House did absolutely nothing, pending the result of the debate which ensued, in which he took no part. Half the members were wearied out, and when the division came between thirty and forty were absent. But the result was the same as before, the Government beating Sir George Grey by some fifteen votes. The first thing that ho and the party who acted with him did was to tackle the Government on the subject of retrenchment. He told the Government that he had supported their taxation proposals, and he now moisted on the wholesale reduction of departmental expenditure. The Government made fair promises, but he insisted on their promises being given effect to. He held that the Government should give an earnest that next year they would abolish the property tax altogether, and that could only be done by largo reductions in departmental expenditure. The House accordingly passed a resolution that reductions to the extent of £200,000 be made. Mr Satinders moved that 10 per cent, be deducted on all salaries and wages, and the resolution was carried. The Government, with considerable reluctance, agreed to give effect to it. One thing that greatly assisted them was the fact that the Ministry began by taking 20 per cent, off their own salaries. Suoh a step had never been taken by any previous Government, for although Sir G. Grey brought forward a Bill for the purpose his Ministers voted against it. He considered that it was only fair also that the honorariums to members should be reduced, and although he was not a rich man he would do bis duty to his constituents even if the honorarium were altogether abolished. They resolved to take 10 per cent, from their honorariums. By these means they succeeded in saving a quarter of a million expenditure for the year. This would do away with a great deal of taxation next year. Last session had beep called a barren one, but as regards expenditure it was productive of eminent reforms. He referred to Major Atkinson’s dismal and appalling financial revelations and the way in which the five million loan had been practically spent before it reached the colony. One million sterling had been pledged for land in the North which nobody wanted, much of which was worthless, for it was a notorious fact that the Natives kept the good land for themselves and sold only rubbish. They resolved to break the bad bargains whenever they could, and supported Mr Bryce heartily when be said be would repudiate all engagements that he did not consider Government was bound to execute. Provision had to be made for undertakings, the Minister being entrusted with discretionary power in dealing with them, and when this was done the loan was found to be exhausted. Thanks, however, to the skilful way in which bad bargains had been receded from, he believed they would be able to get the greater part of a million back ; and the money which the last Government were devoting to the purchase of scoria plains and pumice stone reefs in the North Island would be saved. He held that was no need for hurry in the purchase of Native lands. The land was not wanted for settlement, the Natives were gradually decreasing and dying out, and if patience were only exercised they would in fifty years obtain the whole of the land. After all that was said about dealing fairly with the Natives, where did the money they received for lands go to ? Did it not find its way to the sly grog shops ? From a statement which Mr Whitaker supplied respecting the Patatere block, he found that the Government had advanced £II,OOO, but scarcely a shilling had found its way to Native owners. The £II,OOO had been squandered in a corrupt and reckless manner on a variety of objects in Wellington. In one direction the Government had not prosecuted their policy of retrenchment as they ought to have done. He spoke of the education department. - Although a friend of education, at a public man he could not support the present extravagant system. The total cost was about £400,000 yearly, and if not checked it would go on steadily increasing till within the next ten years it would be £BOO,OOO. How, then, were they going to support it ? It would certainly break down of its own accord, and then the cause of education would suffer more than if they proceeded by more modest steps at first. Mr Bolleston came down with his budget, and said that the system which provides education at a cost of £3 10s for each child should not be interfered with. The Boards of Education were to have the money, but the sum of £32,000 allowed to school committees was to be abolished. A motion was brought forward to reduce the education vote by £60.000, and this, if carried, would have rendered the amendment of the Education Act unavoidable. The motion, however, was lost, and the Government carried their point, but were warned that this was the last time that the House would vote £400,000 for educational purposes. Free education was a delusion, as the money came out of the pockets of the people. He believed that parents were hotter satisfied if allowed to pay for the children directly, instead of receiving education in an apparently gratuitous manner. He considered that every child in the country should be educated, and parents who could not pay should be assisted, but those who oould contribute should be required to do so. A , number of Koyal Commissions had been appointed during the last recess and these had been abused by the press and people of the country in a most refreshing manner, although none deserved it less or cared less about it. He referred to the Bail-

Iway Commission, the Oiyil Service Commisiion, and the Oommisaion for Native Industries. The Oommisaion on Railways told the truth, and performed a most important service. They furnished reports on railways that were likely to be reproductive and on political railways that did not pay axle grease. They showed that while certain railways might be made to pay if economically managed, others would be a long lime before they would pay for interest on the money spent, while others were projected which would be downright folly, and madness to construct. The latter were stopped, the result being serious hubbub and consternation among certain members, which was regarded as a sure sign that the commission had done its duty, and put a stop to the prosecution of bogus lines. In one instance Government yielded. The Otago influence was apparently too great for them, and they placed on the estimates a vote for the Otago Central line, which had been reported against by the commission, but the vote was refused by the House, and though the Government voted with the minority ha imagined that they were pleased rather than otherwise at their defeat. This big work was stopped, and smaller ones followed suit. As for the Civil Service Commission, it only dealt thoroughly with the railway department, bnt made a number of startling recommendations. The Commissioners recommended that the services of Messrs Conyers and Dawson should be dispensed with immediately, that large salaries should be out down, and that the department should be generally overhauled. After duly considering the report, members felt that the only course to adopt was to begin at the top of the tree, and cut downwards. Government bad to deal with personal considerations, for Mr Conyers had many Otago friends, and required delicate handling. Rut no sooner was the session over than Messrs Conyers and Dawson were dismissed, and reductions in various shapes and forms made, so that the railways, from being a dead loss, were now paying as much as 9 per cent, on the outlay in Canterbury. As one of the fruits of the labors of the Native Industries Commission, of which he was chairman, tenders were invited for 100 tons of cement, to be made in the colony, and be was in a position to say that the article would be supplied, and that an incentive would be given to an industry which once properly established would keep .£200,000 now annually leaving the colony within it, and give employment to scores of men. The Government had issued bonuses for starch, linseed and products, sulphuric acid, and other articles. He believed that if proper attention were now devoted to the development of the resources of the country they would never again hear the cry of unemDloyed. If the Commissioners were political lacks they had done good work, and in future they would probably receive the thanks of the country instead of blame. Speaking of the legislation attempted, he was driven to the conclusion that the Government had tried to do too much. They had brought down a grand scheme of local government, which inspection proved was a bad scheme indeed. They then introduced a Dioensiug Bill and several other important measures, but the result was weeks and weeks of barren effort. Not a single Bill of any consequence passed, and it became a standing joke that the Ministry could not pass a Bill. They began the session ■by passing the Pharmacy Bill and Hog Bill, and these were about the only measures passed ; in fact, it was a regular farce. He felt bound to give the Government steady and enthusiastic support, because he believed them to be honest men, Mr Hall and Mr Bolleston were thoroughly honest. Their objects were straightforward and good, and they could always in any difficulty count on the vote of the member for Geraldine. But he did not agree with Ministers in everything. He differed, for instance, with the views of Major Atkinson, whose sole remedy for the principle embarrasments of the country was the reduction of expenditure and what he called increased energy. Major Atkinson thought that increased energy signified increased taxation, while he (Mr Wakefield) considered that the taxpayers were already excessively burdened, and that additional taxation would binder energy rather than develop it. Next year, if the Government brought down any more taxing Bills, they need not count on his support. He considered that the members of the Ministry represented localities far too much. The Representation Bill which had been prepared by the Government proposed that representation should be on the basis of population, every 4000 in the country and 5000 in towns receiving a member. He held that the town and country should be served alike, but would support the Bill, as it would give Canterbury four or five additional representatives. The Bill, after having been presented for the perusal of members, was very properly withdrawn, with a view of being reintroduced and passed next session, when it must be passed, seeing that the session will be followed by a general election. He would now exjlain why his name so rarely figured in the ast session's debates. After the first few weeks, seeing how time and money were wasted, he and certain other members made up their minds to get all the reductions possible made in the estimates , and save “ Hansard ”as much as they could. He was not silent, as they were aware, because he was unable or afraid to speak, but because he thought that exercising so much control over himself was the best means of serving the interests of the country. Mr Wakefield was frequently applauded during the course of his address, and at its conclusion a vote of thanks and confidence was passed almost unanimously.