MR DE LAUTOUR, M.H.R., AT NASERY.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2241, 8 June 1881, Page 3

MR DE LAUTOUR, M.H.R., AT NASERY.

[PHBBS ADHOOIATICW TELE GUAM,]

NASEBT, June 6. Mr De Lautonr addressed a numerically large, though not demonstrative, meeting at the Town Hall to-night. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair.

_ Mr De Lautour reviewed the depressed condition of the colony during the past few years, attributing it to the combined influences of the depreesion in England and commercial distress in Now Zealand. The latter was the consequence of over speculation and the reaction when the public works stopped, which created a financial panic which was unnecessarily heightened by the preaching of the Colonial Treasurer. According to the “ Lyttelton Times,” the banks had withdrawn a million of money from the colony, and this affected all tradesmen, os they had to obtain money elsewhere to meet their necessities, and had to pay a high rate of interest for it. The revival of trade was a subject for congratulation. He was afraid that the virulence of party warfare was chargeable in a great measure with the late distress. Party Government was essential, but the Opposition could only claim support while truly representing the liberal opinion of the people. There was a division in thought of the people which was perhaps not yet clearly defined, but which would become so. This division would be more quickly brought about by greater frequency of elections. It was not on Sir Q. Grey or Mr Maoandrew that the safety of the people depended, but in the gradual development of Liberal thought in the people themselves. Where there was not an united opposition it _ was a deplorable thing, and such opposition might be essential to the success of a weak Government; but it was not necessary to be united to be a true reflex of the people’s opinion. The great plank of the Liberals was the right of the people to govern and educate themselves. It was an error of the Premier’s to strive to connect the Liberal opinion of the colony with the advanced utterances of Sir Q. Grey and Mr Macandraw, who spoke independently. The Opposition were strong enough to deliberately avoid any rigid party organisation. More was expected of the Premier, in whom the Opposition oven had a proprietary right, than the denunciation of political opponents. The same style of idle denunciation was followed by Sir W. Fox, who from his age, his services, and his Christian philosophy was safe from reply by the younger men of the party which was now growing up. Beferring to the colonial administration, he said that Ministers were burdened with work which they could not possibly undertake, and a great deal of it was left to irresponsible officers. The result was that mistakes occurred on every hand. Another point was the irresponsibility of local ratepayers, who all borrowed regardless of consequences. He feared that much of their indebtedness would ultimately have to oo paid by the general taxpayers. Then there was confusion in local administration, much of which was due to irresponsible Boards, Land Boards, Education Boards, and others. He hoped in the ensuing session that the Land Boards would be checked, not that the Boards in themselves wore bad, but they were often in want of information, and when they applied to the Government officers for it there was a stiffening of the backbone and a refusal to render the usual courtesy. What was wanted was the decentralisation of the administration, organisation, and the independence of local bodies, and direct election for all indispensable administrative boards, careful local administration, and encouragement of local industries, stopping short only of protection. The Government proposals wore criticised by the speaker. The. first was the reform of the Legislative Council, He feared that any reform of that kind was not a radical one. With such a leader they needed to look closely into the proposal. He thought he saw in this movement a search for a weapon to retard future liberal government. At present the Council exercised a personal check only ; if made elective it would have a party in the country to give it backbone. The Upper House usually represented property, and its members might be called Conservatives for want of a better word. The Upper House would always be in favor of a minority in the Lower House, and on the fusion of the two Houses in case of a deadlock, the minority would invariably be converted into the majority. A Bill in reference to the Chinese was introduced by Mr Hutchison last year, but it was resisted in every way by the Ministry. Ho hoped the Government would now see the necessity of some such measure. He considered that the local government proposals of the Ministry would sap the independence of members. They would always have to look to tbe Commission for money for works in their districts, and members would be forced to attach more importance to the smiles and frowns of the Minister who would be able to control the commission than was right. He hoped much from the Judicial Commission. At present, justice in the higher courts was too often defeated by the incapacity of legal practitioners and by technical difficulties. He regretted to know that justice often depended on the depth of a man's pooket, and many persons submitted to wrong rather than go to the expense of procuring justice. The revenue was said to be equalised, but this had been dona by the withdrawal of the subsidies and the imposition of taxation. Nine hundred thousand pounds was to have been expended in Native land purchases. This had not been done, though it should hove been, for an opportunity occurred of purchasing a large estate at a reasonable price which would receive the surplus population of large cities, but it will not again recur. This money was to bo frittered away on the eve of a general election in potty expenditure to the neglect of great works which would promote eottlemont, At the same time lands were withheld from the people in the North Island and reserved for speculators. The land fund should not be looked to as the source of direct revenue. Otago should understand that there was danger hero from those who would relieve property from taxation. Reverting to the proposals in regard to runs, ho thought that the Premier, Mr Oliver, and Mr Eollceton had overlooked the peculiar circumstances of the goldfields. Indiscriminate sale would effectually olose the goldfields. He believed that the time had come when sales, except upon portions of the plains, should be stopped on the goldfields. Other lands should be leased on a system something similar to the hundreds, there being no right to purchase. Leases should be for twenty-one years. He favored an idea entertained by Mr Stout and others that the State should not part with the freehold. He thought this matter of lands so important that party distinctions should be oast aside. He would be prepared to assist Mr Eolleston, or any one else, in any honest effort to solve the question. The Government, on careful consideration, could not overlook the importance of the Central railway in the interest of the colony. It seemed weak to throw such great interests on a private company. In the end Government would have to acquire them, and probably pay a heavy premium. The land given to the companies should be subject to the land laws from time to time in force. Ho bad to thank Mr Pyke for the interest he bad taken and the labor he had undergone in connection with these mutters. Anyone who worked in these movements was a true friend to the country. Beferring to a personal matter, he said that, though not living in the district, he thought he could still honestly represent them. If they were separated the severance would have to come from them. He should at the next elections ask them to again return him. He had endeavored to do his best in politics. He might say that he had th esteem of his friends and the respect of enemies.

A vote of thanks and confidence