THE ELECTIONS.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2363, 29 October 1881, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS.

Major Atkinson speaks at Hawera on Friday next. Mr Justin MacSweency, carpenter, has announced his intention to contest the Napier sent on the working man’s ticket. HE HOLMES AT THE OPDFELLOWS’ HALL Mr Holmes addressed the electors of South Christchurch at the Oddfellows’ Hall last night. There was a crowded meeting, and the chair was taken by his "Worship the Mayor, Mr Holmes commenced his speech by replying to certain criticisms of his former address which apxieared in the Press and "Globe,” After referring to the letters of "Veritas” and Mr Gray en the licensing question, and the letter of " Householder,” ho continued as follows:—The next gentleman I have to deal with is the funny leader writer in the “Globe" newspaper. Yon know, gentlemen, that these newspaper proprietors, creditors, have always got what they call a funny man to write a fnnny article when necessary. When they cannot talk honestly or openly, they try to throw a certain slnr or to turn a person into ridicule. So the “funnyman” is brought into requisition. Ho is taken out of the dark recesses in which he usually bnri’ows, is well primed with four or five whiskey hots, receives his instructions, and writes his article. [Laughter and cheers.] Well, this tunny man started by sneering and deriding your humble servant, because ho professed to have political principles. I confess I did not know that in a country like this it was a very dishonorable thing for a man to have honest principles. But it seems that to have political principles in Christchurch is a dreadful crime in the eyes of the people who manage the destinies of the “ Globe ” newspaper. To back him up Mr Eadical writes an article in the Press newspaper, and according to him I have committed a great crime in professing to have certain political principles. He says everybody holds them, and that I have insulted your understaudirg by telling you Ipossess them. But it strikes mo as very extraordinary that if this gentleman _ did possess these principles he should turn them into ridicule; for I think that if a man held honest principles, and was bold enough to avow them it certainly was no dishonour to him. But it soems it is otherwise in the eyes of the Press and “ Globe” newspapers. Now gentlemen these two writers have thought to criticise my principles, I started by tolling you on the last occasion that I believed in the rule of majorities. Well, I repeat, I believe in the rule of majorities. Mr Eadical says he does so too, but immediately afterwards he informs you that ho is

iu favor of giving as many votes as he can to the holders of pocket handkerchief allotments. Now* if he is a man who believes in the rule of majorities, how can he bo in favor of a system which enables a minority to control a majority; for it is in the recollection of everyone of yon that at the last general election no in less than two constitnencies, not a hundred miles from Christchurch, the minonty carried the election against the majority with the assistance of the double voting power. ([Cheers. 1 And yet that is the gentleman who says he is in favor of rule by majorities. There is another axiom I advanced, and I don’t suppose any of yon will cavil at it. namely, the principle of the greatest good for the greatest number. This gentleman says, 44 You say the greatest good to the! greatest number ; has notthe late Government been doing that ?** and he quotes as an instance tho property tax. Now* gentlemen, how a man can call a property tax of nny sort a good to the community I certainly fail to see. If I were to put a burden upon your shoulders and tell yon that is good for you, I should think it would bo at all events a new principle in. mechanics. These are the sort of gentlemen and these are the sort of criticisms we have got. In point of fact it is simply this—that they are staggerered for want of some reasonable grounds tomate an attack, and are on’y desirous if possible tocast a slur, and they get Mr Houscboblcr to write a letter. When I say 44 they,” I mean the persons who are at the ba:k of the opposition candidate, because the opposition candidate is a gentleman for whom I have the greatest respect, and so far as ho is concerned no mnn shall hear me say one single word reflecting upon him. Everything I shall say about him will bo tho kindest and highest one man can say of another. [Cheers.] Bat, geutle“e,?» kp is hacked np by a party in the city of Curistehurch who are anxious to ha ve a representatl7« of what they call the wealth—the great wealth—and the high respectability of the city of Christchurch and its surroundings. A man of moderate means won’t suit them. Unless he rides in a carriage and wears a black frock coat and ct belltopper, and associates with the aristocracy, he is Dot ut to he a representative of the good citizens of Christchurch. In other words, he is not fit to be the representative of the Press newspaper, and carry at his tail the Christchurch South constituency. For it really comes to that, and the whole of the election, so far as I can see, will turn upon that. It will not turn upon men, and it will not turn upon principle. The whole of the election for Christchurch South will turn upon this : That the Press newspaper, having represented for some time the city of Christchurch, is anxious to continue the representation for a further term of three years. [Cheers.] Gentlemen, I never commence an attack, but I believe in the Scotch motto—--44 Nemo me impmie lace-sit.” It’s a Scotch thistle, gentlemen—y- u cannot sit upon it without feeling its pricks. [Laughter and cheers.] The speaker then proceeded to refer to the land question, advocating a special land tax, to be called national rent; also, the abolition of the law of entail, and the substitution of a plan under which a man could only will away certain proportions of his property according to the number of his children. These measures would have for their object the cutting up of large estates aud the occupaiion of the land by the people. He was in favor of doing away with, distress for rent, and of amending the law relating to bills of sale. He wonld make the giving of a. bill of sale an act of bankruptcy, to be followed by a distribution of the debtor’s estate amongst all his creditors. After the candidate had answered & great number of questions, a vote of thanks was moved by Mr Jacobsen, and carried unanimously.

MU PUENELL AT EAKAIA. Sir C. W. Purnell addressed over 100 electors in the Town Hall, South Eakaia, on Thursday evening. Mr G. N. Mackie, who was voted to the chair, briefly introduced the candidate.

Mr Purnell, who was received with applause, commented on the cordial relations which existed between him and the residents of the district. He did not feel that confidence in the Hall Government which he should like to feel in the Government of the country. The present Ministry were devoid of back-bone, having 1 no distinct policy of their own, but were given to adopting the measures of their opponents. The Ministry lacked inventive genius, especially in regard to finance. On entering office the Ministry said there would be a deficiency of £900,C00 at the end of the financial year. The deficiency actually proved greater, and the Ministry revealed their lack of financial ability by proposing to meet the deficiency by adding a million to the country’s indebtedness, involving an additional annual payment of £50,000 in the form of interest. Next year a deficiency of £600,000 had to be supplied. It was admitted that the departments of government had greatly overgrown, and that the General Government had been extravagant. On the one side there was an enormous deficiency, and on the other a vastly overgrown Civil Service. Retrenchment was necessary, but did not commend itself to Major Atkinson’s mind. Postponing the deficiencj', and. a resort to crushing taxation, were talked of. Eventually, the House reduced Civil servants* salaries by 10 per cent., effecting a saving of nearly £300,000. On the contrary, had Major Atkinson been allowed his own way, additional taxation to the extent of a quarter of a million would have been imposed. Two years ago, the present Government had produced in regard to local government such a wretchedly abortive scheme that the House would not look at it. Of the Ministry’s next scheme, one of the main features was that the local bodies, in place of receiving subsidies from Government, were to look to a Board located in Wellington and this was to dole out money to the various bodies. Recourse was also to be had to rates on Crown and Native lands. Assuming that Major Atkinson’s scheme passed, and that the South Rakaia Roal Board, for example, desired to borrow £KO, an application would in the first place, have had to be made to Wellington to men who probably had never seen the Rakaia district, and knew n- thing of its requirements. Had the Roads Construction Board granted the request, an affirmative vote of ratepayers would have been requisite, and then it would have been necessary to levy a rate to produce £llos per half-year. Had he (Mr Purnell), been a member of the Honso now expiring, he should probably have supported the Ministry from lack of a better. The only choice lay between supporting the present Government and Sir George Grey in opposing the abolition of the provinces and in his exposure of such transactions as the Piako Swamp job. But of late Sir George had clearly demonstrated that he was utterly incompetent to load, and to think of following an avowedly incompetent leader would be absurd. Had the Opposition been under a different leadership from that of Sir George Grey the Hall Government

migh long” since have been ousted. When the next Parliament met a new party was not unlikely to be formed in opposition to the present Government. His (Mr Purnell’s) support of that party would depend on the class of men of whom it might consist. He was ready to support a party competent to take the place of the Hall Government, hut he could not undertake to support an effort to reinstate Sir G. Grey in power. Finance and local government would largely engage the attention of the House when next it should meet. The ordinary revenne, though assisted by heavy taxation, did not meet the ordinary expenditure, and had to be aided from the land fund. The country had been demoralised by a series of loans, upon which it had lived during the last eleven or twelve years. Rigid economy was the only and simple course. He was not prepared to say he was absolutely opposed to farther borrowing. This would depend on the purpose to which it was proposed to devote such loan. On the abolition of the provinces it was admitted that the County Councils were to he but a temporary system. In that district they had worked well. The Ashburton County Council had initiated an irrigation scheme and other useful works, but elsewhere they had not done so well. Too much parish work now devolved on the General Assembly, and the local bodies had been deprived of their doe share in the government of the country. In many parts it was thought to he the first duty of a member to get as much money as possible voted for his particular district, and, under the existing state of things, he should certainly, if elected, endeavor to see that the district be had the honor of representing received a fair share of public expenditure. Yet the system placed the Government, the Assembly, and the constituencies in a false position. The entire management of public works should devolve on local bodies, and the Assembly should bo simply a legislative body. As Government was now constituted, it would be impossible to continue paying subsidies to local bodies. Farmers could not bear up against two-fold rating by Road Boards and County Councils. The General Government must be re-constructed on a strictly legislative basis, and funds set free for the local bodies. The General Government, under the present system, apart from railway expenditure, the Insurance Department, and the Public Trust Office, cost £T,400,003 annually, au abnormally heavy tax on the resources of the country. There was also the expense of County Councils, Road Boards and Borough Councils. Railway management was a question which vitally concerned the farmers. The tariff was generally too high, and abounded in anomalies. The North Island system of railways and the Middle Island system should be administered under separate departments. The North Island had a number of detached lines, several of them expensive to work and traversing mountainous country, and paying but a third of the amount paid by the Middle Island lines. The latter consisted mainly of the great trunk railway from Huruuni to the Bluff, having various feeders. It paid well, and the traffic was chiefly made up of grain, wool, and timber. The fact was, that the Middle Island lines were made to pay for the deficiency of the North Island, and this would be so as long as both sets of lines were administered by the same Government and under one head. Each set should bo controlled by a separate Board of Works, which might be substituted for the County Councils. The aim should be to develop the country’s industries rather than to get as much immediate profit as possible ont of the railways. When the public works scheme was first started it was not presumed that the railways would pay fully for some time. The provisions of the land laws were tinged with a liberal complexion, being couched in an Act which was the fruit of many years’ agitation. Formerly they had to fight for land, but nowadays nearly everyone had come to acknowledge that a laud monopoly was injudicious. A large and thriving population must be settled on the land, and it was wise to provide that the poorer classes should not be crowded in cities. He was always opposed to violent measures, such as the bursting up ” process, nor could he admit the justice of the Legislature’s first allowing a man to buy as much land (as he pleased, and then turning round to tax him. He concurred with the policy which the Government had pursued for two years in regard to the West Coast difficulty, which policy was commenced by Sir George Grey. The reason forso sudden a change from that policy was not apparent. War with the Maoris was to be deprecated, and would be followed by a serious depression in business. Farming interests generally had been neglected, and a Minister of Agriculture should be appointed. The folly of saying that it was imperative for the Wakanui member to live in that particular district would be apparent when they reflected that electors in other parts of the district by following a similar lino of argument, might overrule the wishes of that particular part and practically disfranchise it. It elected, he would do his best to satisfactorily fill the duties of so honorable an office as that of their representative. [Cheers.] In reply to questions, Mr Purnell said he was not at present in favor of a repeal of the Education Act, 1879, nor of the West Coast Railway being constructed at Government expense. He thought that the presence of lawyers in the House was desirable from their knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence. With more lawyers to make onr laws, they would have been less crude. The last House of Commons had more than half its members lawyers. He certainly should not like to act under the guidance of Sir Julius Vogel. Here a gentlemen who had ultimately to be quietly ejected from the hall, rose to ask a question about the Education Act, and a round of what may bo .termed human dog-barking and other discordant noises ensued, lasting for a considerable time, and making the meeting very uproarious, although good humoredly so. When the disturbance had subsided, MrPurneli commented on the pernicious tendency of Sir Geo. Grey’s Legal Practitioners Bill, which had be«n thrown out by the Upper House. A direct line of steauiera -with Great Britain would be too expensive.

a luxury for4ha colony, andthe effect of the Gaming Bill would not, he feared, be of any avail to restrain gambling. The principle in the Licensing Act, which rendered the licensing Benches elective, v. as of dubious tendency, for elected commissioners might prove strong partisans, eager to carry out the views of particular parties. The Act was, however, passed after cirefnl deliberation, And should not be disturbed without a trial. On Mr R. Davies’ motion, seconded by Mr L. Oxley, a toto of thanks was unanimously passed to tte candidate, and the j»roceediugs terminated by voting the customary compliment to the cbair.

MR IVESS AT ASHBURTON. On Thursday evening Mr Joseph Ivoss, one of the candidates for Wakanui constituency, addressed the electors in tho Town Hull, Ashburton, which -was densely crowded. Mr Hugo Fricdlander (tho Mayor) occupied the chair, and briefly introduced the candidate.

Mr Ivoss, who was heartily received, said lie thought political opponents should point out the diil'vreuco that existed between them. Ho deprecated the adoption of class legislation, and said the State would receive as much cou.-idor.vtiou at his bands as would* a party. Ho might say that he was not a novice in politics, having sat in the Nelson Provincial 0 lincil for five years, np to the abolition of the provinces, having represented a large goldmining district on tho West Coast, and having been twice returned for the inangahm. An alteration in the cou tmotion of the Upper House was necessary, as it S 3 ft*--red from the defects of nomination, duration of oliico for life, and from an extremely Conservative character. The nominee system was no longer excusable now that the colony had entered on a progressive democracy. It was a most obstructive House. Last ses ion Sir JShrimski introduced a useful measure to prevent wholesale granting of pensions to members of the Civil Service without the sanction of the Legislature, but the Council threw it out. Would Mr Wason uphold •‘his pensioners” in their action on that Bill? Could the colony, already overtaxed, boar a strain of £20,000 a year in the shape of pensions ? Mr Ivess condemned the Government for nominating the Hon. Mr Whitaker, a candidate ignomiuionsly defeated at the hands of Mr Tole for Eden. The electors had decided that they did not desire Mr Whitaker to vote for them, but the Government vetoed the popular verdict by placing him where he can exercise an immense influence in tho affairs of the colony. If a second Chamber must ho maintained, let it ho an elective one. He (Mr Ivess) would support a property and professional franchise, and would allow the members to sit for ten years. The number of tho Council should bo limited to thirty members. Ho would not bo in favor of allowing members compensation for loss of their life pensions. [Applause.] He was not a supporter of the present Government, and could see nothing to admire in their p»olicy. While not a follower of Sir George Grey, he (Mr Ivoss) was in favor of most of Sir George’s measures. Even the Government had swallowed his measures wholesale. It was Sir George Grey, and not tho Hall Ministry, that the colony had to thank for the reforms effected during the late Parliament. Major Atkinson Rad become an ardent Liberal, but at one time he was opposed to manhood suffrage, t rieuuial Parliaments, increased representation and other liberal measures. Ho (Mr Ivess).in seeking to displace tho present Government would not support Sir George Grey’s return to power. The new Parliament would no doubt contain men capable of administering tho functions of a Government. The present Government had gained office by bribery and corruption, and now advocated the Gaming and Lotteries Bill. For the discouraging out-look of Native Affairs on tho West Const, the present Government were wholly responsible. The sugar and blanket policy, in which his opponent believed, Rad demoralised the Native race. Now that tho colony had to provide a million and a half of interest annually on heavy loans, and to maintain a heavy defence force, they could not afford tho march of civilisation to he obstructed by a handful of fanatics. When 400 of Te Whiti’s misguided followers were incarcerated in the Lyttelton, Dunedin and Hokitika gaoln, then was the timo to assert our rights for a settlement of the plains. Tho Government should bring tho Native difficulty to a speedy issue, to permit the settlement of a fertile country. The land laws of New Zealand Rad not been framed with a view to encouraging settlement, thanks to the squatting element, which until lately ruled the government of the colouy. The extension of the franchise held out a prospect of a liberal laud law. Largo tracts of fertile land were virtually locked np, instead of employing a largo number of laborers. The people who should he employed on land were forced into towns. In Now Zealand there wore 259 people owning more than 10,000 acres of land, 118 people owning 50,000 acres, and seven people owning over 100,000 acres. The system of pre-emptive rights had assisted monopolists to enrich their estates. If New Zealand was to prosper and increase in population theic estates must be “ burst up.*’ This was not to he achieved by returning to the Honso men whose sympathies were with the land monopolists. A large number of pastoral leases would expire in 1681, and tho squatters were making preat efforts to secure the return of their friends. America was a striking example of tho good resulting from a liberal land law. Ho would be in favor of a x>rogre ssivo laud tax, and would exempt all holdings under 500 acres. He pledged himself to support the Education Act in its present shape. He would Re in favor of giving local committees the power of saying whether the Bible should he read in schools, bub would adopt the conscience clause, which was found to work so well in Nelson—viz., to permit children to withdraw, and that the reading of the Bible should take place only- at tho close of each day’s instruction. Tho Government, under pressure of their supporters, hxd brought down the Crown and Native Lands Rating Act, and the Road Construction Bill, both most objectionable measures. Mr Ormond moved that the Government proxmsals were not satisfactory. This fact -was admitted on all sides, and, iu order to secure tho passing of tho Representation Act, members were reluctantly compelled to vote against Mr Ormond. Tho Government, seeing they were fairly beaten, deserted their measures. The administration of tho waste lands of tho Crown should devolve on local bodies. At present such functions were being performed by a few creatures of the Government. Many matters could well be withdrawn from the great centralising power iu Wellington, and vested in local governing bodies. The work of Parliament would thus be considerably lightened, and the necessity of a second Chamber obviated. If elected, Re would support a liberal Local Government Bill. Xast session the Government bad introduced a Bill providing that a poll tax of £lO should bo paid on each Chinaman arriving iu the colouy. This would probably limit their number, but, if it should he found that tho Chinese were likely to come here in large numbers, the sum could easily be augmented. With regard to the proposal to give committees power to refuse renewal of existing licenses without compensation, it would find no support from him, unless the holder conducted his house improperly. 'I ho club jjrivilege should he placed under police supervision. His sympathies were with the cause tho Good Templars were associated together for—namely, the suppression of drunkenness and tho reformation of drunkards. He should, indeed, bo glad to see it made a law that all tho revenue arising from duty on liquor should be exclusively applied to the maintenance of lauatic asylums, industrial schools, and benevolent institut ions. The State would then have a direct interest in encouraging industry and reducing distress. The ten per cent, reductions had been oppressively carried out, and the restoration should have applied only to salaries under £2OO. Sir Julius Vogel had acted nobly iu paying the officials employed in tho Agent-General’s department iu London tho 10 per cent, withheld by the New Zealand Government from their salaries. These servants were obliged to contribute an income tax of 10 per cent, to tho English Government, and it was therefore unfair to apply the 10 per cent, reductions to. them. The proceedings iu the Supremo Court shoold be simplified, and tho Legislature should he careful about permitting men to practise at tho law. He would sooner place his life in the hands of an able advocate, who could pass his examination at law, than entrust it to a lawyer whose only qualification was that ho had spent five years in an office. The Bankruptcy and Bills of Sale Acts needed amendment, Ho would, iu conjunction with tho member for Ashburton, push on important local works for tho district. If the West Coast railway was to be reproductive, lie should have preferred that it should he undertaken by tho State. [Applause.] In reply to qu stions, Mr Ivess said he would leave the reading of the Bible in schools as one of tho schoolmaster’s duties in the hands of the committees, and would not make tho reading of the Bible a compulsory duty. He considered protection necessary in some instances in a young colony, and was in favor of an income tax on incomes of £2OO per annum. The railway tariff was oppressive and discouraging to farmers. Ho would support a reinstatement of tho capitation grant to volunteers. On Mr St. Hill’s motion, seconded by Mr Crook, votes of thanks and confidence were passed to Mr Ivess for his address, tho meeting pledging itself to do its utmost to secure his return for the Wakanni constituency. The proceedings terminated by tho candidates proposing a vote of thanks to tho chair, which was carried by acclamation.