COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

Grey River Argus, Volume X, Issue 762, 6 December 1870, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS.

LAST NIGHT'S MEETING. A public meeting was held in the Town Hall last night for the purpose of giving the candidates for the Greymouth seats in the County Council an opportunity of explaining their political opinions. Notwithstanding the inclement state of the weather there was a large attendance, and much interest was taken in the proceedings. Mr E. B. Fox was called to the chair, and introduced the various candidates. Mr J. Kilgotjr was first called upon. He said, in addressing them he felt it necessary to ask for their lenient consideration, as this was his first occasion to address a political meeting. The position of any member would not be an enviable one. The County was largely in debt, and it would be the first duty of the new Council to make rigid retrenchments and take other measures as would tend to bring the County into a more flourishing condition. Last session the Council was in debt some LIO,OOO ; now it was said to be L 15 ,000. There was three months subsidy to the Grey Hospital, and about L3OO due to the Corporation of Greymouth for land fund. The County had gone on drifting into debt year by year, and if some strenuous effort was not made to put the finances upon a better footing, such a career could only end in disaster. For his part he would endeavor to effect such retrenchments as would not interfere with the proper discharge of the functions of Government. The great remedy that he recognised for the depression of Westland was a more liberal land system. It was true that a measure considerably in advance of the previons land laws had lately been passed, but it was not liberal enough (hear, hear.) He was in favour of giving the land away if it would secure permanent settlement. There was too much routine about the present system, and the miners — the population who had capital, and whom it was desirable to fix— did not comprehend it. He would desire to seethe acquisition of land as easy as the process of obtaining a mining claim. Let a miner make application for a certain area of land and let him be compelled, as in mining leases, to employ a certain number of men upon it. Such a ceurse would prevent monopolists taking advantage of the law in locking up the land for speculative purposes. A miner with— say LSOO or L6OO, would settle on his block of land, fall his timber, burn it off, and in a few years it would become his own property. He was in favor of giving grants or gratuities to miners who would bring in a sufficient water supply. Nothing could tend more to

extend the field of mining operations than abundant water supply. With regard to the question of Annexation to Nelson, he was in favor of any arrangement that would terminate the existing inconveniences; but wouldprefer the erection of the whole West Coast Gold Fields into a distinct County. He would advocate the employment of the prison labor of the County in completing the protective works at Greymouth. A stockade could be built, and the prisoners could quarry the stone at the gorge, which could be brought down by tramway, not only for the embankment of the river, but for a breakwater outside, which would m|ake the port accessible to large vessels for (the coal trade. With regard to Education he would support any liberal scheme that would bring education to the doors of jthe people. He was opposed to any honorarium to members, and if elected wcjuld serve without payment. : Mr Coates rose to ask a question, but lapsing into a speech, was called to order. He objected to Mr Kilgour's omissiori of the subject of roads. Mr Kilgour confessed that he had omitted that important subject. Of course he was in favor of roads and every means of opening up the country. But he held'the opinion that the settled districts should first be provided with means of communication, and that after that prospective roads might be made. Mr Simmons asked if Mr Kilgour favored a National or Denominational scheme of Education 1 In reply to this question, which was put also in a different form by another of the audience, Mr Kilgour said that at present he thought that under the circumstances of the County the aid of the .Government should be given to Denominational schools. . Mr Simmons : Are you in favor of making the wharves of the Grey a Colonial work ? : Mr Kilgour : If by that is meant the j employment of prison labor— Yes. | In further reply to Mr Simmons, Mr Kilgour stated that if he was returned, and Mr Hoos was a candidate for the Chairmanship he should support him. No further questions being put, the speaker thanked the audience for their attention, and sat down amidst considerable applause. Mr. Guinness was the next speaker. He said he believed that the present system of Government in the County might work well if properly administered, and was capable of doing much good to the several districts. Hitherto the system had not been properly administered, because the proper men had not been returned. It was possible so to reduce the departmental expenses as to leave a balance for the carrying on of urgently required public works, such as the construction of roads and tracks to districts known to be auriferous, but which the miners could not now reach. The last . speaker had dwelt upon the i advisability of giving away the land to settlers, but he was inclined to ask, if that were done, where was the revenue to come from to make the roads ? If such a , revenue did not come from the purchase I of the lands, where were they to get it, and from what fund was the cost of survey and other attendant incidentals to come from ? No doubt, it was desirable to establish a permanent population on the land as soon as possible ; but there were considerable difficulties in the way, becauaeTlre land on the West Coast of the island was covered with dense forest, and required a large expenditure of capital upon it before it was made reproductive. He would endeavor first to offer inducements to settlers to come here, by showing them that they would receive something for the capital they expended upon the land. He fully believed, and he did so from practical experience, that it was possible to reduce the departmental expenses of the County Government. They would no doubt be surprised when he told them that during the past year these expenses exceeded the large sum of L 56,000; but that included education, hospitals, &c, while the total expenditure upon roads was only LSOOO. He was satisfied these departmental expenses could be reduced ; and, in order to make himself clearly understood, he asked the attention and patience of the meeting while he explained his views, and showed what he intended to press forward in the Council if he was returned. He then went over the Estimates of the last session of the County Council in detail, mentioning the various items which he considered might be struck out or reduced with satety. He agreed with the last speaker that there was no necessity for paying the members for attendance ab the Council, but he would not object to the travelling expenses of country members, non-resi-dent in Hokitika or its suburbs. To the very efficient police force we had in Westland the smallness of crime might be attributed, but still he thought that its constitution should be amended. There were too many officers to the men, but still he would not think of discharging them. He wasinfavorofbrihgiugthe whole of the police of the Colony under one central Government, and then there would be no difficulty in securing for efficient men good offices elsewhere. He believed a saving of LIOOO could be effected in this department, and also in the gaol at Hokitika. He pointed out, in detail, possible reductions in various other departments, but in no case would be recommend the reduction of a single salary. He would strike out the Engineer's Department entirely, as unnecessary, and reduce the Harbor Department to the two signalmen, leaving it to an officer of the Customs to say where the vessels should moor. The Inspec- ! torship of Weights and Measures ought to be performed by the members of the police force. He should like it to be explained why, in addition to the usual subsidies, the Hokitika Hospital should receive LSOO as the salary of a surgeon, and no corresponding amount be voted for Greymouth. As to education he believed that, in the present state of Westland, nothing but a denominational system would work satisfactorily ; indeed he believed it was the best system under all circumstances, and he meant to adhere to it, and would not ask a single vote from any person who disagreed with him on that question. After going over a number of items, he said he believed that at least LIO,OOO per annum could be saved off the departments to spend upon roads. In addition to this there were the General Government charges, which might be very considerably reduced. For the coming year he estimated the revenue of the County at L 52.000, with the capitation grant, and L 2760 which the General

Government proposed to give to the Road Boards, but this latter sum would only be distributed in accordance with a scheme to be proposed by the County Chairman— the County Council had no control whatever over it. Altogether he estimated the current year's revenue at L 62,700, and supposing the reductions he had suggested could be made, there would be a sum of L 20,000 available to be spent on roads, and he assured the "meeting that he would see that the Grey district received its full share of whatever amount was to be spent. He concluded by thanking, the meeting for the.patient hearing given him, and promised, if elected,, to forward their views to the utmost of his ability. Mr H. H. Lahman, who was received with applause, said the last speaker had told them something concerning the departments of the Government, but he wojld enlighten them a little more upon the same subject. The financial position of the County was simply this, that there was the large deficit of L 15,000 to begin witli. On the other hand they had a right to expect from the General Government about an equal sum, in the shape of accumulated sinking funds, so that taking the one side with the other the County might commence the year with a clear balance-sheet. Recently they had had a visit from the AuditorGeneral, and he had led them to believe that the General Government would see that the County Government was carried on. The new capitation allowance gave the County L 30,375 per annum,, and L 2700 for distribution among the Road Boards, making a total revenue from that source of, say L 33,000 for the year. The departmental expenses amounted ta L 15.000 or L 16,000 a year, and LJ3,000 for interest and sinking funds on the old Canterbury loans, so that, practically, in the year the County would only receive from the General Goy^rnmejit .X4OOO. The revenue he estimated 'as folldwa : — Balance from General Government, 14000 ; gold duty, L15j000 ; mirie'rt' rights, L 10,000; spirit licenses, &c, Lll,000; tolls, ferries, &c, L 2500;, rents, fines in Wardens' Courts, &c, LISOO ; mining surveys, LIOOO ; incidental receipts, L 300 0; land revenue, L 300 0; making a total of L 52.000. The expenditure would be about L40,TL42 ; but he believed that out of the departmental expenses asaving of L2OOO could be effected by reducing salaries ; for it ought to be borne in mind that these salaries were still very high, and times were not what they were five years ago. The police were receiving the highest salaries of any similar body in New Zealand, and he .believed the members of that force knew it> and were prepared to accept a reduction of 10 per cent He would reduce all salaries, commencing with the County Chairman, and would also reduce the number, of officers ib some of the departments. If returned to the Council he would take care that Greymouth received its fair share of any available revenue for public works, and he would endeavor to prove in the Council that Greymouth had a right to expect that any surplus revenue should be sent in it, in proportion to the revenue it contributed. He would try to have a gang of hard-labor prisoners here employed in making the streets, as had been done in Hokitika; and he would go in for having a road made to the Coal Mines "by hook or by crook." That road had been,iwice voted by the Council, and the Hokitika members could not help assisting the Greymouth members in obtaining their just rights. He was in favor of an alteration in. ike ' boundary-line, the 'extension of the County north, so as to make Greymouth the centre and capital ; the construction of the railway line on the south side of the Grey ; a national system of education, but the continuance of the system of subsid: o3 to existing 'schools until a national Bystem could be developed ; members of the Council paid only their travelling expenses; the Chairman's delegated] powers to be divided between that offiti^r and the Council ; the General., Government to assume the direct control of the whole of the gold fields in the Colony; and one central Government, with; Munipalities and Road Boards for each Island. He concluded by saying; that in view of the ballot he had asked no man for his vote. Ho left it to them to say By their votes whether in the past he had served them faithfully or not ; and should he be returned he would do his utmost to advance the interests both of the town and district. Mr I. PAYJTB,after a few introductory remarks, in the course of which he referred to his practical experience and training for the office to which he now aspired, said he had been strongly interested in the question of Annexation, he was the first to move in that subject in the old Improvement Committee, and he had never swerved from hi 3 belief in the abolition of the Grey as a boundaiy-lihel ' During the late movement, he kept-' a narrow watch upon the current of events. At first, when the whisper of a black cloud upon the horizon was indicated, he assured them that he was not made more easy in his mind when it was learned from Mr Harrison that this little cloud was one that was likely to.be subversive . to their interests. He believed it had that effect, and he could assure them that one of his principal reasons for going down to the County Council was to protect their interests in that matter. It was a most valuable asset, as much so as the Brunner mine was to the Nelson Government ; and why should ib be set aside when they might, as Nelson did, be compelled to place it before English capitalists as an asset With regard to the road to the Greenstone from Greymouth, it was without exception a disgrace to the County that it had not been made. This town was the natural supply depot for the district, and ought by right to have the control of its trade. If elected, he pledged himself to support that road being made, even if he had to come to the Grey to ask for a subsidy. With regard to education, Mr Payne said he was entirely in favor a national system, but aa no bill would be likely to be brought forward by Westland, all he could promise would be to give his support, as a member of the County Council, to any favorable measure introduced by the General Government. He had experience here and in England in the working of the system, and the result of that experience was strongly, in favor of the scheme about to be introduced during the next session of the Assembly. With respect to the existing mining laws, he was altogether in favor of a conference of delegates and wardens for the revision of (For contimiation of JVews see Aih Fage.)

what were felt to be prejudicial, because, the first had a thorough practical Jcribwledge of their wants, while the second knew from their official experience as magistrates, not only tho practical but] theoretical. Mr Hods 'had treated the last conference most cavalierly^ and had shelved their, report, shielding- himself under the powers of his delegateshiß. If, however, he (Mr Payne) was elected he would endeavor to give full effect to the expressed wishes o£ the miners, He would further advocate that wherever a boria fide settlor opened up hew country for agricultural purposes, provided he spent a stated amount of labor upon it within a given time, it : - fchould be given to him free, ivnd not only that, but with survey free inciuder); This heavily timbered land cost from LBO to LIOO per acre to clear, and it was not : too much to give when the land was all that was rendered as an equivalent for such labor* Every settler was valuable in his consumption of dutiable goodsj and as such ought to be encouraged. ;Wich regard to the reduction of the staff, the cheese-paring advocacy of Mr Guinness was simply ridiculous. A slight saving cor.ld be made, but in the Provincial Department it was very little. In the General Government staff a : good deal could be saved, and to do that he would lend his aid. He would also advocate ".;. the removal of telegraph office, post office, ; and General Government offices tb a more central part of the town. We had a market reserve in Boundary street, and if these were erected there the municipality would be compelled to make good the present ey»B're in Boundary street.. The reserve above could be let and a large revenue derived from it, which was : at present lost to both Comity and Municipality. With regard to the road up to the Coal Pits he stated that it was a ■ public necessity, and despite all clashing :•; .interests he would endeavor to have a dray road constructed to join, with that of the Arnold. He further stated that if the ,wxb Council determined upon making roads upon deferred payments and voted sums for that purpose, he "Would also endeavor to get a share for his district, although he was opposed tb the . principle. Mr Payne abo stabed that the large and important district of Paroa demanded another member, and he would ,:;>. support any effort made to obtain a second one. With regard to hospitals, • y ■>: fire brigades, &c, he advocated thejpayment of these votes as a first charge ijpon the revenue, as these were claims not only tif humanity but of public safety. ;.-::•-:; ("With regard to the claims of thosejnow prominently put fox-ward for the office of County Chairman he certainly would not : ■ / support the candidature of Mr Bonar, as he always persistently had opposed, the .. . interests of this district when brought ' into competition with those of Hokitika. He further stated that at that late hour hour he did not intend to enter into a : ;i financial statement, and burden them with figures ; but upon examination into JasT session's expended votes he found only about L6OO as spent in the Grey proper, ,wbilo there was also charged L 750 lor the extension of the- Hokitika niainBtay—rthe Greenstone road by the Terehiakau to the township. The Cotinty system Mr Payne stated had been abused; it was agood system, andhad it been worked" properly would have led fco greab results. ",, . , Its tendency was to confer great. powers J upon -Road Boards;- and Municipalities, endowing them with the Expenditure of the public, funds, as the bodies best ajvare how these funds should be expended. - 'Under the hpn.. John Hall ike system worked well, but under his successor it ■was thoroughly abused. . The Cotinty — Council arrogated to itself powers it was never intended to possess, and ended by ; •, ; ]i3,nrping powers that did not belong- toit. With good men during the next ses•ion in the Connci}, part of tlie evil might be lessened,; but it would require intelliI geut men to be their representatives. The candidate concluded a lengthy and lucid explanation of his views with answering of questions. ■•;;:? '- - - -TnVprcceedings w ere brought to rather " : Tfjan abrupt close by a vote of thanks to! the chair.