MR BARFF'S ADDRESS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Kumara Times, Issue 839, 9 June 1879, Page 2

MR BARFF'S ADDRESS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.

A large number of people assembled in the Theatre Royal on Friday evening, to hear the political views of one of the members of this district, E. Barff, Esq., M.H.R. The chair was taken by Mr Dongan, who, in a few well-chosen words, briefly introduced the honorable memberMr Barff prefaced his reinarks on political matters by stating that he should have met his constituents at an earlier date, but through severe illness he was precluded from so doing. At the commencement of the last session of Parliament he considered the Grey Ministry were strong enough to carry any measures they brought down : but in his opinion the Ministry had only adopted half measures, and consequently they did not meet with success. The Government last session had introduced the Land Tax, Tax on Joint Stock Companies, Beer Duty, Customs Duty and ext-a Franchise Bills. These were some of the measures on which they were prepared to stand or fall, but they did not meet with his approval. The Land Tax Act he considered a half nvasare at the present time, as, in fact, those who are the largest and richest landowners contributed the smallest amount to the I'evenue; while tho small and poor ones suffered in exactly the opposite direction. He voted against the Beer Bill as it Was one of the chief articles of consumption, and by taking the duty off sugar, it meant adulterating the beer if a tax was imposed on it. With regard to the Customs duties, the Government would have his support in reducing the duties on the necessaries of life. The Electoral Bill, one of the leading features of the Government policy, had been withdrawn, its main defect being the giving to the Maoris two votes while

the Europeans would have one. In his opinion it was utterly absurd of the Government to say we will" give you an extensive franchise, and then act in the manner they had done in this district during the last two weeks. The Registration Officer, Dr. Giles, had thought fit to strike off the electoral roll 701 names with a stroke of his pen, and thus bring this district from a first to a third-rate power. In the redistribution of seats the Government would be guided by the electoral roll, and then this action of the Registration Officer would be severely felt in this district. He had protested very strongly on the matter to the Government. [The speaker here read the protest he had forwarded to the Government,] It was all very well for the Government to have a grand policy regarding the franchise, and then virtually take the votes away from them through the Registration Officer. He was prepared next session lo bring down a measure to amend the law in this respect. The day before the Revision Coiut was held in Hokitika the Registration Officer quietly left for the southern district, after actually making all the objections. He contended that it was not right such a state of affairs should be allowed to exist. Regarding the Education question, he was in favor of carrying through some such bill as that introduced by Mr Curtis. He considered that as all classes contributed to the Consolidated Fund, out of which the money was drawn to maintain the State schools, all classes should be equally entitled to the same benefits. No matter what idea the community held on the subjact of education, they were all agreed on the one point, that the main object was to give as good and useful education as possible to the rising generation. He thought the past cast-iron system might inflict a grievous wrong on many who did not attend these State schools. [The speaker here read a portion of Mr Gisborne’s remarks relative thereto, and also quoted J. Stuart Mill on Education.] He would even extend the same benefits to private schools, provided they came up to a certain Government standard by examination. He had arrived at the conclusion that nothing would be done by the Government in regard to the Education Reserve here until he went to Wellington, but he could assure them he would not rest day or night until he had remedied this grievance. He considered that a Goldfields Mining Department should be established, as, unfortunately, not one of the present Ministers in office knew anything about goldfi-hls. The case of Armstrong and party, a few weeks ago, afforded a good illustration of this, and would never have occurred had there been a Minister of Mines. Gold mining iu every oilier colony was lowered, but

not in this. It appeared to him that.writing to the Minister of Lands ahoutNl mining was similar to whistling jigs to it millstone j there was little chance of of a reply, as these questions were not understood by the members of the Cabinet. Regarding the Gold Duty* he thought that it was a special tax oil the produce of the soil, and it had no more right to be taxed than the wool on the sheep’s back. The reason was simply that the squatting interest was represented in the House by Government, but the gold-mining interest was not. He had proposed last session that the gold duty should be expended in the district in which it was obtained, on the same principle as ' tates. How*, ever, the Government, by adopting some of the rules of the House, frustrated his intention in regard thereto. He believed he had incurred some odium in obtaining the sale of Crown lands on the wset side of Main street, but he Wished it to be distinctly under* stood that he considered : the Bo* rough should have received the moneyderived therefrom, andhe was prepared to ask the Government «s a favor’ to refund that amount to the Borough Council, although they could not‘ le-> gaily claim the proceeds; derived from the sale of this “l and. He strongly ad*, vocated the establishment of a School of Mines, and he might say he had obtained money for schools both in Dunedin and Christchurch; but he wanted one the same, as in Victoria, which would be a benefit and credit td. the colony, Speaking in regard to ~ Railways, he found himself in a dis* agreeable position on his arrival, in Wellington at .the commencement of last session, as a deputation. of members bad waited ion the Government in regard to connecting the two. sides of the island about an hour before :he arrived, and he. was surprised at the action of his colleague. Hokitika people naturally thought it should, start from there, and the Greymo.nth resh dents held similar views as to their town. He took it for granted that the line connecting Canterbury with the West Coast would be constructed, and when he heard about the deputation, he convened a larger meeting, and waited on the Government requesting them to ; connect Hokitika and Greymouth by railway. He had. been told that the beach line did not embrace the centres of population, but the Government bad been guided in this route by the advice of-their engineers. He considered any line was better than none at all, and on that ground supported' the line as now laid out. He had heard of an offer made to the Government, when he was in Wellington, to connect Grey* mouth with Hokitika;' via Kumara, under the District Railways Act. He was in favor of a main road being inadd from here to the Taipo, as the goldfield there had been proved to be of a : highly auriferous nature. He strongly advocated a larger supply of water being brought on to this goldfield by the Government, as when the tail-races now in' course of construction were finished a far larger quantity would be required. There was no difficulty in this matter, as he knew where thirty heads could be procured, at a cost of about £20,000, having taken the levels himself some two or three years ago. He also favored the construction of a main tunnel tail-race at Dillsmau's Town. With regard to the licensing laws, he c msidered they required extensive alteration, as at present framed they were neither just to the public nor publican. If the publicans would take his advice, they would form a Licensed Victuallers Association, and point out • to the Government what they thought ' as desirable in the interests of the trade. He thought that a State Bank ' should be established in the colony, as the profits of the Banks at the present day amounted to a large sum, and if, that revenue were paid into the Treasury it would partly reduce taxation. It would be better for the Government to take" this matter boldly in hand, for if such a bank was in existence the miners would get a fair price for their gold. He intended moving in this matter next session if it was not taken up by the Government. Relative to the Jackson’s Bay Commission, he had been held up to ridicule by the Press, but He only asked the public to wait until the report of the Commission appeared, and then if his action was not justifiable necessary in this matter. He had suggested to the Government that it would be desirable that the Post Office here should be open during the evening for the delivery of letters at the same hour as it was opened for the despatch or recipt of telegrams, as be considered this would be beneficial to the miners generally. To this he had received one of their usual nncourteous answers requesting him to slate why the recent changes in the Post and Telegraphic Department were prejudicial to the

interest,. He thought it was that the public should be confined to the small space of lOfeet l>v 5 feet in whidh to transact all thenpostal or telegraph business, while the recent improvements on the building cost .£l4O. The programme of the Government at the forthcoming session embraced tbe following measurers : An Income Tax, Revision ol the Tariff. Doubling the Land Tax, Extension of Franchie ahd a Three Million Loan. He might say he was disgusted with the present Government for Several of its actions, but he ShoUld be sorrv to throw them out df office until lie saw how they acted in future. If he oonsidered the measures they introduced he should support these ; but the position he should take they could rest assured would be an iudependunt One.—[Applause]; In reply to questions, Mr Birff said he thought it would be far bettor to spend the money on the immigrants that were out here than in hriugin outg & fresh supply. He was not in favor of a duty being levied oti timber, as he was a free trader, and he considered that are exported to Victoria ten tons of timber, td every one of foreign timber imported into this colony. He held tvith residential i}nalificatiot.g ] any persona being in a district six months should lie entitled to vote. Mr Cuming in moving a vote of confidence and thank in Mr Barff as Ohe of their represeuta'ives referred at length to the honorable member’s past services on behalf of this district, and expressed the utmost confidence in him as a politician. The motion was seconded by Mr MONOHAN, and, on h-dng put by the Chairman was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks td the Chairman teminatd I the meeting which throughout was of an nni sually orderly nature* For remainder of news see last page.