MR.HARRISON'S MEETING.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1518, 16 June 1873, Page 2

MR. HARRISON'S MEETING.

Mr Harrison, the member for the Grey Valley in the House of Representatives, met his constituents on Friday evening, at Gilmer's Hall. The Mayor took the chair, and the room was full. Mr Harrison apologised for his not having been able at an earlier period to address his constituents, and explained that at the end of the session he had made arrangements to visit Greymouth, but that, he was prevented by indisposition. He had aome claims however to

the lenient consideration of his constituents. He had, during the six years that he had represented the district in |the County Council and General Assembly, always been prompt in summoning his constituents for the purpose of obtaining from them a verdict upon the course he had pursued as their representative. After the session of 1871, he was, he believed, the first member of Parliament who addressed his constituents in public meeting. He was sure that all reasonable excuse would be accorded to him and that, late as it was, his explanation of' the course he pursued last session would be listened to and accepted in the same spirit as if he had addressed them immediately after the prorogation of the Assembly. He was not quite sure whether it was not more advantageous for a member to meet his constituents on the eve of the assembling of Parliament, than just after a session. All the explanations in the world could not alter a man's acts, but it was possible that previous consultation might lead to a better common understanding with regard to matters particularly affecting the district. He was not well enough to attempt anything in the shape of a set speech. He did not intend to give a circumstantial account of the last session, but he would endeavor to give the meeting a short, and, he hoped, an intelligible history of the proceedings of Parliament, so that they would be able to appreciate the course which he adopted. Before proceeding to notice the session of Parliament, he might be allowed to refer to some matters which occurred between the session of 1871 and the session of 1872. They would no doubt remember that in 1871 he succeeded in securing a sum of about L 24,000 to be expended upon the construction of roads on the Nelson South- West Gold Fields— the roads which now connect Greymouth with Reef ton. Jt was fortunate that he happened to be in Wellington when Mr Curtis was there consulting with the General Government as to the application of this money. Mr Curtis was not in favor of establishing permanent communication with the reefs. He (Mr Curtis) urged that a sum of about L6OOO should be diverted from the real purposes of the vote, and be applied to the improvement of communication between Nelson Proper and the Upper Buller He (Mr Harrison) entirely dissented from this proposal, and the result was that the Government applied the whole and more cf the available money to the roads in the Gold Fields. (Hear, hear.) Had he not been in Wellington at the time he believed that the Government, from want of special knowledge, would, have accepted Mr Curtis's suggestions, and the result would have been that the road to the Reefs would not have been completed. A month or two before Parliament met, it came to his knowledge that in the forthcoming session a strong effort would be made to give to the various Provincial Governments the control of the expenditure voted by Parliament for Public Works and Immigration. The conspiracy — for it was a conspiracy against Parliament — ran a near chance of succeeding. He had some share in exposing it before Parliament met, and in assistiug to defeat it. They would remember that Mr Curtis brought down a resolution affirming the desirability of. handing over the control and management of Public Works con? structed out of money voted by the Assembly to the Superintendents of the various Provinces. The Ministry very properly told Mr Curtis and the House that they should accept it as equivalent to a no-confidence motion. Mr l! itzherbert, the Superintendent of Wellington, and one of the most earnest supporters of the proposition, found that it was hopeless to expect that it would be carried, and was compelled to ask that it might be withdrawn. He would like to know how the people of the Grey Valley would have accepted the news that the money which had been voted by Parliament for roads in their district had been handed over to Mr Curtis to be expended ? There was a strong probability that the Superintendent of Nelson would have followed up his old policy, and either put the L 24,000 into an old stocking, or spent it in some manner for the special benefit of Nelson City. He believed that it would have been regarded as a public calamity, if the Superintendental conspiracy had succeeded — at any rate it would have been a calamity to the West Coast Gold Fields. (Hear, hear.) No doubt Mr Curtis's resolution had a deep political purpose ; it really asked the House to cast aside the principle embodied in the Immigration and Public Works Act of 1870, bui in spite of the very strong provincial element in the House the attempt was unavailing. But the Opposition were determined that they should resume the reins of power taken out of their hands in 1869, and it created no surprise when Mr Stafford tabled his resolutions, the carriage of any one of which would necessarily involve the resignation of the Government. The great cry of the Stafford party was that the administration of the immigration and public works policy had been bad and inefficient ; but there was also tacked on to this charge an accusation against the Ministers because they had departed from routine and had absented themselves from Wellington. The then Premier, Mr Fox, came in especially for abuse because of his visit to the West Coast. He was twitted with having simply indulged his love of the picturesque by visiting Mount Cook at the expense of the Colony. Now he would simply say this — that it is very necessary in a Colony like New Zealand that Ministers should have some knowledge of the various provinces. Westland had suffered very much from the ignorance of members of the Government and of the House, of its actual condition and necessities. Mr Fox came down here for a most unselfish and very laudable purpose — that of making himself acquainted with the actual circumstances of the West Coast Gold Fields. Knowing the deep interest which Mr Fox felt in this part of the Colony, he must say that he was much pained to find that both Mr John White, the member for Hokitika, and Mr O'Oonor, the member for the Buller, voted for the resolution which virtually censured Mr Fox for having visited the West Coast Gold Fields. It was the votes of these two gentlemen which turned out the Fox-Vogel Ministry — the Ministry which was the very first to take a lively interest in the affairs of this part of the Colony. He need not explain how unfounded the accusations of Mr Stafford's party were. No doubt the administration of the Public Works and Immigration had not been all that could have been desired. It was true that hasty

surveys and incorrect estimates had been made, but these blunders were inevitable in the commencement in a young Colony like New Zealand of' a large railway; 1 scheme. Each Province was clamoring for its particular railway. The Government had not a sufficient skilled staff, and of course dissatisfaction resulted. The Fox-Vogel Ministry'were turned out by a majority of three, and Mr Stafford formed a Cabinet which will ever be remembered as the Superintendental Ministry, consisting as it did of the Superintendents of Wellington, Auckland and Nelson, and one Provincial Secretary. When the new Cabinet had to face the House, it soon became evident that none of their charges against the Fox-Vogel Government could be sustained ; we had simply changed one set of men for another. No more was heard of the "gross corruption" of the FoxYogel Ministry, and many of the members who had voted to turn it out in the belief that the changes made were true saw how they had been misled. At length Mr Yogel, at the earnest request of the thirty-seven men who had stuck loyally together during the whole of the session brought down a direct vote of no confidence in the Stafford Government, which was carried without even a discussion, and although a new Ministry was formed it was guided by the same principle and was quite as much desirous of advancing the West Coast Gold Fields as the Fox-Vogel Government. (Cheers.) He believed that the present Government j was entitled to the fullest confidence of the people of the West Coast, and he should certainly do what he could to maintain that Ministry in power. (Hear, hear.) With regard to matters particularly affecting this part of the Colony he must refer first to the proposals made for the purpose of securing a better system of government on the West Coast Gold Fields. For years they had recognised the necessity of establishing a system of government which should secure direct local control of the local revenues, and by which the affairs of the West Coast Gold Fields could be administered upon some common basis. Before Parliament met in 1872 and after the return of the Hon. Mr Fox, he (Mr Harrison) submitted for the consideration of the Government a scheme which he ventured to say was the best of all the various measures proposed. He had long seen that the jealousies of the three port towns — Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika — were too strong to admit of their representatives working together, and his scheme was to form a separate County for each of these districts, with a sort of federation of interests by means of an annual Council, consisting of delegates from each County. This proposal was not received well on the Coast, and the cry was "Unification" — that is to say that the County of Westland and the Nelson South- West Gold Fields should be united and formed into one large Province. He was quite prepared to accept this plan, and did what he could to secure the end desired. But again, the West Coast members were found on opposite sides. They could not sink party questions and combine for a oommou obiect. But he believed that from the very'first Mr O'Conor had never been in earnest upon this question. Whilst professing to desu"e the separation of the South- West Gold Fields from Nelson, he was by his apts making the Unification impossible. He (M r EJarrison) had no hesitation in expressing the opinion that Mr O'Conor played into the hands of Mr Curtis all through the session. It was impossible for him (Mr Harrison) to think otherwise, for he gave Mr O'Conor credit for not being so great a fool as he certainly would have been if what he did was simple inadvertence. He (Mr O'Conor) knew that the Ministry were preparing a Bill for the unification of the West Coast Gold Fields ; he had met Ministers in company with other West Coast members, and at that time gave no indication that he would do anything but support the measure. Judge of his (Mr Harrison's) surprise when Mr O'Conor gave notice of a question asking the Government whether they intended to bring in the Bill, which he himself knew they did intend to bring iri? Of course the answer from the Premier in the House was "yes," and immediately, as if the whole thing had been cut and dried, Mr Curtis gave notice that he would move on the next day a resolution affirming the inexpediency and undesirability of making any constitutional changes except upon some scheme applicable to the whole Colony. This motion came on, and he (Mr Harrison) endeavored to have it shelved, because he saw clearly that if it was carried it wcild virtually commit the House against the unification measure. But he failed, and Mr Curtis's resolution was carried by a majority of eight, and from that moment any change of the system of administration on the West Coast became an impossibility for that session at least. The Government went out of office shortly afterwards; but in any case, the House would not have entertained the question of amalgamating the West Coast Gold Fields after Mr Curtis' resolution, and the Bill for that purpose was allowed to drop. If the West Coast members had pulled all together, there was no doubt that unification would now be an accomplished fact. With respect to the reduction of the duty upon gold, he had not voted for the proposal, although he did not vote against it. He was of opinion that, although the reduction could be very well afforded in Otago, it was a great mistake to bring it into operation here. The sixpence per ounce benefitted nobody — at least, no one felt it, whilst at the same time it had swept away L3OOO from the revenue of the County, and as much from that of the Province of Nelson, thus reducing by that extent the power of the local Governments to carry out those functions which they are expected to perform. He regarded the gold duty as a fair and equitable tax, and the only tax which could be levied upon the mining community on the West Coast. The demand for reduction was simply one of those acts of clap- trap which some men think will secure them a little temporary popularity. . The Bill introduced and carried by Mr O'Conor for making a miner's right available for the whole Colony was a useful measare, and he had supported it, although he doubted if it would have as much effect as was expected. There had been very few measures specially affecting the interests of the mining community ; a new Gold Fields Act was submitted to the Gold Fields Committee, but it did not advance beyond a first reading. Another Bill had been prepared for Bimplyfiing and consolidating the mining laws, a copy of which he had seen, but he

was not very hopeful ot its being carried. He would lnwever give it his most earnest consideration. With respect to the future, he might say that the railway which they had the other day inaugurated would be quite incomplete without the construction of considerable works for the purpose of improving the port, and rendering it accessible to ships of large tonnage. He believed that the Public Works Department recognised this fact, and that the Government would not oppose a vote of a considerable sum of money for the purpose of continuing the stone protection bank down the river. " At any rate, if the Government did not propose a vote for this purpose he would certainly do so. This port could be made accessible to large ships. In the home country harbors capable of holding ships of a thousand tons had been made under far less favorable conditions than exist here. Mr Brogden had shown him the plan of a large shipping port which his tirtn had made on the Welsh coast, as an outlet for their coal and iron mines. He forgot what was the cost, but the mouth of a small river less than the Grey— fully exposed to the full swell of the Atlantic, was within a few years, and at a comparatively inconsiderable expense converted into a firstclass port. The same could be done here, and he should not rest until it was done. It was probable that next session the Government would introduce a Bill or Bills for amending the electoral laws. But for the change of Government they would have been carried last session. It was very desirable that the franchise should be extended to lodgers, and that the miner's right should only be exercised as a voting power after it had been registered by the owner. There was also great room for improvement in the system of registration and revision. The law required simplifying in these matters, aud he trusted it would be done. The question of extending railway communication from the West Coast so as to connect it with the grand arterial system was one of great importance. Without venturing to express an opinion as to which was the best route, he should certainly assist in the effort to secure railway communication between the East and West Coasts. He was in favor of the proposed line from Nelson to Brunnerton now that it was to be constructed by the Government. He should have opposed any attempt to place this line and the land grant of 10 ; 000 acres per mile in the hands of a private company, but now 'that th land was to be taken by the General Government, he should support the proposal, and he had no doubt it would meet with the consent of the House. There was a personal matter, with regard to which an explanation would, no doubt, be expected from him. He referred to what was commonly known as the . " Harrison-Holt scandal." His explanation was very simple. He had been on intimate terms with Captain Holt before that gentleman became Mr Biogden's Private Secretary. After Captain Holt had become connected with Brogden's firm a conversation took place, at which was discussed the question of ventilating certain projects in the newspapers. He (Mr Harrison) quite approved of the proposals, and expressed his willingness to assist in them, at the same time stating that he would prefer that the matter should stand over until after the session. Subsequently Captain Holtvery strongly urged him (Mr Harrison) to do what he could to prevent Mr Yogel bringing down a motion of nq-confidenpe in the Stafford Government, and he (Mr Harrison) formed the opinion that Captain Holt was acting at the behest of Mr Brogden to endeavor to influence his vote. Other circumstances strengthened that opinion — for instance, the payment of LIOO to Mr Tribe for certain services rendered by him to Messrs Brogden and Sons, in connection with the Mikonui Water-race, and he mentioned the matter to Mr Yogel. Ultimately it was communicated to the Speaker, and by him brought before the House. A Select Committee was appointed to examin c into the affair, but party feeling ran so strong at the time that an impartial investigation was an impossibility. The verdict of that Committee was, he thought unfair to him, for, admitting that the charge of improper influence had not been proved, the Committee should have admitted that, holding the opinion he had- held at the time he mentioned the subject to the Speaker, he was perfectly justi6ed in bringing it under his notice. He would take this opportunity of stating that after hearing the evidence of Mr Brogden and Capt. Holt he was convinced that he had misunderstood Captain Holt — that whereas he (Mr Harrison) had thought thai Captain Holt was acting under instructions from his employers, he was simply expressing his own views and opinions. At the same time, he was quite clear in his own mind that he acted properly in bringing the matter forward as he did. He denied emphatically that there was any "conspiracy" between him and Mr Yogel on this subject. The fact that it came before the House just prior to a party fight was a mere accident, for when he mentioned his suspicions to Mr Yogel it had not been determined by his party to make any attempt to turn out Mr Stafford's Ministry. He might not have acted wisely in this matter, but he had certainly acted honestly. His Worship the Mayor said after hearing Mr Harrison expressing his opinion as to the general desirability of having a railway to connect the East with the West Coast of the Middle Island, he would like to hear Mr Harrison's opinion as to the best route. Every one knew that a railway was required, but he wanted to know what Mr Harrison's opinion was as to the best route. Mr Harrison : There were no facts or figures to guide him. It would be entirely an open question as to which would be the best route to be chosen. In answer to the Mayor, Mr Harrison said that he intended by every means in his power to support the proposed railway from Nelson to Cobden, as the scheme was at present put before the public. Mr Graham would like to know if the Government had done . anything towards making the Nelson Creek aud Lake Hochstetter Water-race, and the Gold Fields Water Supply generally. Mr Harrison said the working plans were received by the Government, and as soon as they were checked, the work would be gone on with. He might remark that there had nof been any undue delay in making the Wairaea water-race, the ironwork for the large syphon had been already ordered from England. The Kanieri water-race would be commenced if those who were likely to be benefited I

by it contributed a proportionate share of o the cost of its construction. _ a Mr Woolcock would like to know if s ' the question of the unification of the n West Coast was likely to be re-introduced and carried. * Mr Harrison said, as far as he was c aware, the question of unification remained in the old position, and he did r not think there was the slightest proba- , bility of. any alteration being made until * the West Coast members could effect some sort of unification among themselves. If the West Coast members had, been unani- j mous, the question of unification would have been settled long ago. a Mr Woolcock would like, to suggest i whether a memorial from, the West Coast, i if got up unanimously, would not have some effect. Mr Harrison : Could hardly say. One of the most numerously influentially ] signed petitions ever presented to the Parliament was sent from the Grey Valley with respect to the Separation question, and it was rendered useless by the action of the members from the West Coast. Mr Kennedy would request Mr Harrison to explain, as far as he could, what was the cause of the failure of the application made by the leaseholders of the Maori Reserve portion of the township to have the land sold. Mr Harrison said he wa3 one of the first to bring the matter before the General Assembly. Mr Kennedy and others seemed to forget that before the Maori reserve could be sold it was necessary to get the consent of the Maori proprietors, and it was more than once stated that until the Maoris could get a better interest for their money they would not give up their title to the land from which they now received an income. Mr Kennedy said he did not ask the question in an hostile spirit, but it was the opinion of a great many of the electors that Mr Harrison should have taken up the cause of the leaseholders on the Maori land, when the question was brought before the General Assembly. Mr Harrison said he was not present at the sitting of the Assembly when the question was discussed, but he had always been of opinion that a more equitable arrangement should be made between the leaseholders and the Maori proprietors of the land. The Mayor, Mr Simmonds, and Mr F. Hamilton made further inquiries about the Maori land, and Mr Harrison answered the question generally by reminding the meeting that before any amendment could be made in the mode of dealing with the Maori land, the written consent of the Maoris would have to be obtained before any alteration could be made. The land held by the Natives in Greymouth had never been alienated by them, although they had brought it under the operation of the Native Reserves Act. It would, therefore, be necessary to get the consent of the Maori owners in writing before any alteration would be made. The land could, of course, be taken from the Natives by Act of Parliament, liament, but he was not going to advocate repudiation of any sort. Mr Kilgour thought it was unfair that the proposed loan of the Borough Council should be expended in increasing the value of the Maori land if the present lessees could not get a renewal of their leases on equitable terms. Mr Harrison said that the best course the leaseholders could pursue would be to hold a meeting and discuss the subject. His business would be to give expression in the pyoper quarter to the ponclusions arrived at by his constituents. He would remark that the money coming from rents of the land at Greymouth did not go to individual natives ; it went to a general fund for the benefit of the Maori landowners. Mr F. Hamilton asked a question about Major Heaphy's report with respect to his inspection of i the Maori land, and asked Mr Harrison if he would support a proposition, should it be brought forward, . to extend the leases for a further period of twenty-one years. Mr Harrison : He certainly would. After several other questions had been replied to Mr Woolcock moved — "That this meeting accords its thanks'to Mr Harrison for his address and expresses its confidence in him for the future as the representative of the district." ■...-.- Mr M'Gregor seconded the motion, which was put by the Mayor and parried. A vote of thanka to the Mayor closed the proceedings.