Captain Russell at Hastings.

Hastings Standard, Issue 187, 3 December 1896, Page 2

Captain Russell at Hastings.

A LARGE MEETING. Captain Eussell met with a warm reception from an enthusiastic audience in the Princess Theatre last night. Mr W. Beilby occupied the chair. Captain Russell commenced by saying he did not complain of Mr Fraser himself but of his supporters, who were grossly personal in their attacks upon him, and of one of the Napier papers, whose writings were a disgrace to journalism. He would have liked to address -Ijjjffm the nig! t previous to the election but he could not do so owing to his opponent, being supplied with information from the Government with reference to the date of the elections before that information was made public, was in a position to engage the hall before lie (the speaker) knewjwhut day was appointed for polling. This was unfair and 011 a par with the tactics in appointing pronounced Liberals and men working against his candidature like Messrs Green, Popplewell and Ebbett to canvass the district under Government pay on the pretence of getting all the electors names on the roll. The Government were to have sent Ministers to the electorate to speak in support of his opponent, but tliev found that it was necessary to remain "in their own closely-con-tested constitutiencies to fight men like Mr Fitzrov, and they had to depend on the philosophic Radicalism of Mr Coruford who delivered a lecture on the evils existing 300 years ago.

BANKING LEGISLATION

It was said that he was obliged to support the Government aid to the Hank of New Zealand because his own account ill that institution was in an embarrassed condition, and that he was in communication with the Union Hank authorities to take over his account if the Hank of New Zealand went smash. Hoth statements were utterly false. The only account he ever had in the Hank of New Zealand was a small one for his training expenses, and at the time of the Hank of New Zealand crisis lie consulted with all the financial authoiities in New Zealand, including the Union Hank with a view to obtain information which he used in the interest of the colony. His consultations with those gentlemen might be published from end to end of the.land for all he cared. When the Government asked the Opposition to co-operate in the assistance to the Hank they said that no call would be made on the colony, but in the following year it was proved that they had not mastered the details of the Hank's business, and that it was consequently necessary to come once more to the rescue of the Hank. The Opposition met the Government, though they might have embarrassed them by throwing the responsibility of the national disaster which would ensue on their shoulders, but recognizing that the colony would lose the two millions already pledged, they (the Opposition) sank party feeling and voted for the Hank's assistance, and for this he was accused of having a personal interest in voting on that occasion. Such calumnies prevented honorable men from entering public life. With a pretended view of inquiring into the cause of the difficulties of the Hank, a Select Committee was appointed consisting of seven Government nominees, who would vote just as- they were told, and only four of the Opposition. Mr Duthie, a man whose instincts and association rendered him competent to give important help on the Committee, was barred—why? Because the inquiry was intended to be merely bogus. (A voice: "No.") It was proposed by the Opposition to institute a Royal Commission consisting of two competent business men not connected with the banking legislation, with a Judge of the Supreme Court to act as President, but the Government would not hear of it, with the result that the Committee originally proposed sat, and its deliberations were farcical. The report was not properly considered in the House, and the Bill introduced took all the control from the shareholders and placed it in the hands of the Government. Thus a private bank was turned into a political shuttlecock, which was antagonistic to the interests of the colony. The AtkinsonRussell Government had been accused of passing a Hill authorising the directors of the Bank of New Zealand to pay dividends which the business did not warrant. He-was flattered by being coupled with Sir Harry Atkinson, but lie Mas not a member of the Government in 1889, nor was the Hill introduced by the Atkinson Government at all. It was introduced by .lames Lane, who was opposed to that Government.

THK UIVOKCK HILL. The Evening News imputed immorality to him because of his vote on the Divorce Bill. Such a statement was a disgrace to journalism. lie had lived 34 years amongst them, olid no one could say one word against his character. He held strong opinions on divorce, and hg attributed the purity of English morals f ) the influence of family ties, which ma le children proud of their parentage, and thought it would be a misfortune for women if divorce were more easily obtain able than at present. He would not like to see the colony under the same divorce laws as America, and this was why ho spoke as he did on the subject in the House. It was a delicate subject to speak on to a mixed assembly, but, in Parliament it was necessary to go into details, and because he spoke his mind upon the subject his opponents had circulated his remarks on the subject throughout the electorate. THK PUBLIC DEBT was increased by six millions yet the revenue remainedat a stand still. In 1898 the railway showed .£-50.000 more than in 1895, and 'though, by manipulating the public accounts, the Government made it appear that the returns were £1,164,613, they were still less than they were in 189 i! by '.£16,909, though there were 128 miles of railway more in 1895. lie considered ilr Cadnmn the best administrator in the present Government, but did not think the change (was beneficial to the colon,}'. CUSTOM*REVENUE for 1893 was £1.665,68 a and in 1895 £1,569,000, or a difference of £'96,000, and consequently taxation had to be increased last year by £102,000. . The people should rise against the increase of the customs duties, as no Government should increase the taxation and debt of the country. THE I'OMOIIAKA PURCHASE. The purchase of the Poniahaka Block was monstrous, and would «' ject any other Government in the world from power. A gentleman in the South Island in embarrassed circumstances had borrowed £BOOO from the bank, who served him with fourteen days' notice for the repayment of the money. He searched New Zealand in vain to raise the required sum until at last, through the instrumentality of a nephew of his who was connected with the department of the Minister for Lands, the Government, •which loves the people so much, gave £IB,OOO for a property ou which the owner could not raise £BOOO in the colony,

swii.% r > vi Again. a man why withdrew from a Parliamentary contest to oblige t hi' Government w.i- rewarded by .111 appointment for lifi- as the Serjeant-at-Arms to the House of Representatives. Politics in New Zealand were rapidly coming down to the Am- tr.tn leve!, ami it was time the people a wok- to ttie venality stud corruption of the present administration. Again, in the celebrated i n.se of l'ophum v.Taylor. the l.»o»« nunent supplied -£*»-*> of Taylor's costs. He did not know if the Government were right or wr<>n.; in doing so, but why d-d the Premier admit doing this on one platform, and. when he thought the admission would not suit, deny it THK AHV.IXCE.- To did not "jollier- the ratrs of interest in the colony, as money wr>; advnnn d by private companies at tin' time at J'. IJ, and 5 per cent., and the claim of the Government that this Act sawd the settlers millions was absurd. as the toral amount they advanced was only one million. Tiiey based their calculation-. 011 false.' premise*. THK :» PER < KM. t.o.\N. With reference to the million and a half loan at 3 per rent., all th.c arrangements wereiri favor of the English lenders, as, though the money was paid to the colonv in three instalments extending over eight months, interest 011 tlx full amount «ns paid by the colony on receiving the first instalment, and the ex penses in connection with raising the loan amounted to £IOO,OOO. conclcsion. In an eloquent peroration. Captain Russell claimed that the present Government were corrupt, and that an administration by pure, honorable, trie.l men was iKtemmry for the welfare of fincolony. yrnsTtoxs. He would not reduce the land and income tax. The defence policy was bad and should be remedied. He would use every endeavor to encourage and protect patentees. He would enforce the present lienor laws strictly. He supported a general principle whereby a man with a small capital would he settled on the land near larger farmers, so that they might get employment from the larger holders and thus be assisted in their hist efforts to settle. He would -npport any scheme to prevent the youth of the colony from If any body of men applied to him to establish a farm settlement in the district he would do so. Mr Cross moved a vote of think ti Captain Russell, and hoped the tl t 1 - would show their confidence in him n ''it 4th. Seconded bv Mr Murdoch ami carried. The nsual vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.