WAKANUI ELECTORATE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2484, 23 March 1882, Page 3

WAKANUI ELECTORATE.

MB SAUNDERS AT BAKAIA. On Wednesday evening Mr Alfred Saunders addressed about a hundred electors of the Wakanui constinuenoy in tho Town Hall, South Rakaia. One or two gentlemen present remarked that the number of the audienoe would probably have been larger had the faot of Mr Saunders' intention to speak received fuller publicity beforehand. Mr E. G. Wright, M.H.R., was present. On Mr Saunders' motion, Mr O. N. Maokie was voted to the chair. The Chairman briefly introduced the candidate, intimating his (Mr Mackie's) intention to support Mr Saunders. Mr Saunders, who was attentively listened to during his speech, which lasted from five minutes past eight o'clock until twenty minutes after nine, reminded his hearer, that, though residing so near Rakaia, he bad spoken there but twice—once a. candidate for a seat in the Canterbury Provincial Council, and again as proposer of Mr To.swill, when tho latter claimed the suffrages of the then constituency of Coleridge. What was at that time a small collection of houses had sinoe become the most important town in the newly-formed district of Wakanui. In the "Ashburton Guardian," the "Times," and the " Press " careful summaries had appeared of the candidate's speech at Ashburton, and he would not go over the same ground again. He felt himself that evening to be very much in the position of a swagger. [Laughter.] A vacancy was likely to take place in a situation at the constituents' disposal, and he offered his services, believing his past education qualified him, at least to some extent, to fill the post. Some newspaper notices had charged him with egotism and vainglory. In point of fact, he had opened that speech with an avowed intention to be in a measure egotistical, and it would have been foolish affectation on his part to suppose his hearers wished him to talk of anything and everything outside the business cf the meeting. It would have been a different matter had any newspaper—and all the papers were not disinterested—shown that he spoke untruthfully. As to being vainglorious, he saw no vainglory in an old politician referring to what had been done in the past in preference to making great promises as to what he was going to do in the future. [.Applause.] If it was sought to employ a man to do work in the New Zealand Parliament, it was advisable to get as far as possible to the bottom of a candidate's past life, and so arrive at an understanding as to whether or not he was trustworthy. Let the rule be applied which guided practical men in everyday life. Suppose a man wanted a fence put up, would he seleot a man who oould honestly say, " Well! I put up a capital fence for Mr Maokie," or a man who should say, " Well! I never h&ve put up a fence, but I am confident I oould do the job as well as any you ever saw done in your life ?" So with ploughing. Would one seleot the ploughman who had taken first prize at a ploughing match, or a man who oonfessed that he had sot hitherto done muoh in that direction, but intended to take a prize at the next mat oh P Thus he (Mr Saunders) did not think it vainglorious for a candidate for work to refer to what he had done, rather than to make promises. There was, however, a difference between the fencing and the Parliamentary candidate, in that the latter, if a competent man, should know better than did his constituents what work he would be called on to perform in the House. When he was a young man in politics ; in fact, until he had gained considerable experience in the House; he used to think that members fruitlessly spent a vast deal of talk and energy on the question of deciding what body of men should or should not occupy the Ministerial benches. But he had since seen that the matter of appointing the Government of the day was the most important business the members were called on to discuss. Last session, the Publio Works Estimate?, involving an expenditure of nearly two millions, had been run through the House in a single night, and not an objection was made to the form in which the estimates had been brought down. From this might be inferred the importance of Delecting the men whose duty it would be to prepare these estimates, and that, practically, the colony's welfare depended on the personnel of the men to whom the reins of power were to be entrusted. The greater number of candidates appeared before the electors in a position to say at once what Government they would support. He was not in that position. He knew the members of the Hall Government, and thought he was pretty well acquainted with their story and their weak points. In the choice of servants one did not expect perfection. Some were quick, but careless; others slow, but reliable Many candidates oharged the Government with being everything that was good, and the Opposition with being everything that was bod, or vice versa. But such a view was not true. There was some good in both parties, and it lay with the representatives of the various electorates to decide whioh party were likely to best serve the colony's interests. In a rapid sketoh of the leading members of the present Government, his old friend the Hon. John Hall deserved to be singled out to ocoupy premier place, and if the country were searched from one end to the other, it would be in vain to look for a more energetic or better informed politician, or a more active Government officer. At half-past ten in the morniog Mr Hall attended committee meetings, remaining until one o'olook. Before that hour he had already sot things to rights at his own office, and at half-past two o'clook in tho afternoon he was back from his dinner, remaining in the House until half-past two next morning, and then he often took a blue book to bed with him to send himself to sleep. But it was scarcely to be thought that a man slaving himself in that way was best adapted to regulate all the officers that would be undor his oontrol. There was another member of that Government Major Atkinson —who, with nothir t like Mr Hall's ability, power of work, or knowledge of the colony, yet it was to be feared frequently occupied the position of actual Premier of the country. A blunt and straightforward gentleman, Major Atkinson was generally reputed to bo a thoroughly reliable man; but there were grounds for believing that ho could make men believe as he desired in regard to finance, nor was it likely that he had negleoted to learn all the tricks of the trade from Sir Julius Vogel, whose publio scheme had been such a hollow farce. Major Atkinson appeared to think that the farmers, especially those of the Southern Island, wore very wealthy men, ond oould be taxed to any extent without a risk being run of their being driven to leave tho oolony. It was oertainly desirable that the Premier should take on himself a little more of the duties attaching to the Premiership. With the greatest difficulty Mr John Bryca had been prevailed en to join the present Ministry. Everyone knew how readily he gavo up his seat, and how reluotantly he had been prevailed on to resume it. Mr Bryce was weak in health, and was not a powerful orator ; but he had an exoellont judgment, he was an honest man, and he would, where necesia y, cut down expenses without asking whom he was likely to offend. The colony mr'ght be proud of, and thankful for, such a publio servant. [Cheers.] There was a great deal of good in William Rolleston. Better have the devil we knew than the devil we didn't. [LAughter], And we krew William Rolleston very well indeed. Unlike many of the Otago men, Mr Rolleston was never found taking up the position of hankering after an undue share of expenditure in his own provinoe. In f 'ct.Oanterbury, inMr Rolleston'skeep ng, was credited with being more zealously promoted than was really the case. Mr Saunders went on to say that Mr Diok—" Tommy " Dick es he was known in Dunedin —made no fuss in the House, but that no man led a more consistent life as a politician. As for Mr Johnston, he had no great ability Indeed his chief valuo to the Mini try appeared to be as an excellent enteitai er of company in his own house. [Laughter.] The present Opposition numbered but few able men. The six best men—and he might say that it did not often happen that the six best men of a party were available, more especially if three had to be taken from the North Island and three from tho South, as nowadays seemed indispensible in the formation cf a Ministry—comprised Messrs Montgomery, Barron and Thomson for the South ; and Messrs Hu'chinson, Tole and Moss for the North. He (Mr Saunders) did not know what new blood sat in the House, or how far it would afford materials for Ministers of the Crown, but it was generally admitted that men should have some experience in the rank and file before being assigned positions on the Government benches. Therefore, he thought it wrong on that platform to pledge himself to any particular of men. He had had the honor of successfully resisting the Ministry on teveral oooasioni, nor would he

hesitate to assist in turning them out, if better men were to the fore. But the reflection that suoh better men might not be to the fore made him hesitate before he should pledge himself to attempt anything of the kind. In speaking of the Opposition he had not mentioned Sir Georgo G-rey, Mr Maoandrew or Mr Sheehan, simply because ihsto men—associates of a reckless anl extravagant polioy—were utterly unfit to hold the position of Ministers or to be trusted with the expenditure of a £lO note of tho publio money. [Cheers.] It was the presence in the House of such members as these that rendered the question of the propriety or otherwise of turning out the present Government a matter of the greatest difficulty. He (Mr Saunders) was not generally considered a middle party man ; but, when he considered the circumstances, he thought it better to support the best they could get in the absence of being able to support all that oould be desired. He did not pledge himself to support the Government or not to do so. This would depend altogether on the result that might seem likely to accrue from the removal of tho Ministry from office. Mr Saunders repeated his assertion that a reform of the Legislative Council was needed, the seats in whioh should no longer be conferred as rewards for obsequious political support. The question of a change in the Council by resort to election by large constituencies had been referred to by the Premier in his epeeoh at Leeston, as had been that of obstruction. Last session individual members had day after day, and night after night, for weeks obstructed important business, Messrs Sheehan, Reeves and Seddon, talking incessantly. Reverting to the education question, Mr Saunders admitted that he was prepared to see an alteration touohing the large publio reserves dedicated for tho purpose of supporting the High SohoolfJ. While the State might fairly vote money for the bare necessities of education up to a certain point, she should not be called on to provide funds to give children what might be termed a " distinguished" education. TApplause.] The man who wished to confer such privileges on his children Bhould pay for them out of his own pocket. Mr Saunders urged that a prt"«3otive| polioy had done much in England in keeping men degraded, making them work from six in the morning till six m the ovening for the price of a bushel of wheat per week. [A Voice: "Like the 10 per cent.") He would come to the 10 per cent, presently. On soap a duty of 3s 6J per cwt. was imposed, and on oandles 14s, in New Zealand. Yet we imported neither article, and both had duties levied on them just to aggrandise a few manufacturers at the expense of the great bulk of the community. And, again, unless agriculturists oould grow wheat at prices that would command the English market, they would be obliged to leave off growing except for looal requirements. Touching tho "10 per cent.," he had found that Government were using borrowed money in employing 11,000 Civil Servants at higher wages than were given in other walks of life. The result waa that agriculturists and others had paid taxes to support those servants. [A Voice—" Why did you not strike at the head ?*'] The gentleman could not have read the report, for this was exaotly what was done, the two Commissioners having been dismissed at the outset. [Cheers.] Mr Saunders next alluded to the Electoral Bill brought down by Mr Stout, whioh sought to provide that the residential vote should involve residence) for two years in the colony. He (Mr Saunders) believed this restriction should have applied to the property holders also, and the Bill would then have had a fair ohance of passing. He had made many enemies of all classes, and as a rigid eoonomist was likely to make many, but he challenged anyone to put a finger on a single vote or speech of his by which ho had not endeavored to serve the working mon. [Applause.] He would ask them not to listen to the clap-trap of men interested in misleading. Let the working men appoint one or two intelligent persons to find out his aotions during forty years' political service, and avoid paying heed to interested statements that might be published against him. The squatters and lawyers of Nelson had put him in gaol, and the working men and farmers had taken him out to put him in the House of Representatives instead. [Cheers. | Was it likely, then, that he should become the enemy of working men t At tho same time, he was not their flatterer, affeoting to represent every other class as having some selfish and diabolical object in view ; and he trusted he would always endeavor to serve the working men without doing injustice to any other closs of the community. [Loud applause.] They might depend upon it that the working men had really no greater enemy than mon who sought their support and approbation by railing against every other olass of the community. In reply to questions, Mr Saunders said, inter alia, that the railways might have been built better and cheaper had resort been had to the land fund instead of to money borrowed reoklessly from abroad. It was a result of Sir Julius Vogel's system of publio works that £1.500,000 had to be annually sent out of the country as interest on tho £30,000,000 borrowed, and of whioh £20,000,000 had been frittered away, leaving the result considerably loss than £10,000,000 to show in the shape of profitable and unprofitable publio works. He (Mr Saunders) had always voted for a reduotion of the members' honorarium generally, by one-half. On one occasion—that of an unusually short session—he had supported a motion that the sum of £SO should have been substituted for £2lO He had uniformly opposed the principle of granting any honorarium to the nominee members of the Upper House. He could not advooate a decrease in the price of hotel licenses, believing, as he did, that the hotels throughout the colony should be raised in quality and diminished in quantity. Undoubtedly he was in favor of a reduotion in the rates of freight for grain traffic for long distances. In Canterbury, something like four times the amount was paid for carriage of grain as compared with what was paid in America, with whioh country New Zealand had to compete. As to a finanoial separation of the two islands, this would certainly not tend to the disadvantage of the Southern Island; yet it might be difficult just now to equitably adjust tho debts of both islands. Tho South had certainly never been benefited by tho finanoial union. When the population of the country demanded the cutting up of large runs, then it would be advisable to have rooourse to this step. As a member of the Nelson Provincial Council, he had been the first to bring about the system of selling land on deferred payments to bona fide settlers. It was more advantageous for the Government and for the country to fix a population on the land at a reasonable rate than to obtain a high price for it from persons who would use it merely for purposes of speculation. It was not just to grant subsidies to County Councils and Road Boards. Let them raise their funds locally, and expect no more borrowed money. At present those bodies which could command the largest number of votes in the House secured the lion's share of the money. He thought tobacco and spirits were already taxed about as high as they could safely be in a country where smuggling was at all possible. He believed the removal of Mr Bowen from the Bench of Resident Magistrates had been a severe loss, nor were the class of magistrates that were left his equals. Thero were too many men on tho Bench who reflected little credit upon it. The law gave laborers a preferential claim for two months for wages. That term might fairly be extended. He (Mr Saunders) was not able to say whether or not any Resident Magistrates, by refusing to givo laborers judgment for wages where judgment was deserved, or by other alleged disreputable oonducthad aoted in a manner that required the direct and immediate intervention of Government. As to Government taking over the Rnkaia and Ashburton-Forks railway, he thought Government had qu'te enough on its hands without taking over other people's liabilities. At *hesame time—[This in reply to a questionJfrom Mr Wason]—circumstances might of oourse possibly arise that would alter his opinion in this respeot if it were sVown that the taking over of the railway vould conduoe to tho inferos'B of the oolony, and not merely of the company. He had no doubt it would be advontageons for the projected railway fron Tinwald to Mount Somers to be finished, but he scarcely thought Government were likely to be in funds for the purpose, and he would oertoinly be against fresh borrowing. As to whether he would favor the construction of a bridge over the Rakaia about opposite Southbridge, he must reply in the Hon. John Hall's language on the same question—that he would be exceedingly pleasod to see such a bridge, but had very muoh doubt if the resources of the oolony would he available for the purpose. [Laughter.] If olected he hoped to re-intro-J duce a Bui to deal with rabbits and small birds.

On Mr J. C. Weson's motion, seoonded by Mr Lyttelton, a resolution was unanimously carried—" That in the opinion of this meeting', in the event of the seat for Wakanui being declared vacant, Mr Saunders would be a most desirable representative for this oonstituenoy."

Mr Saunders having briefly replied, the meeting, a very orderly one, ooncluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.