MR SEDDONS MEETING,

Kumara Times, Issue 1133, 17 May 1880, Page 2

MR SEDDONS MEETING,

The Adelphi Theatre was crowded on Saturday evening when Mr Seddon, M.H.R., gave an account of his stewardship as one of the members of this district in the House of Representatives. His Worship the Mayor, occupied the chair and briefly introduced the speaker. Mr R. J. Seddon, who was received with applause, said he did not appear before them that evening to make any explanation of broken vows or pledges, as no one could say he had changed sides since he addressed them on the hustings. When they did him the honor to elect him as one of their representatives, they probably did not expect very great things of him but at the same time he thought they would admit that he had not deviated from the straight line, but had done his duty conscientiously in the interests of the district. Shortly after he entered the House, Mr Andrews, one of the Christchurch members moved the Address in Reply, and in so doing exonerated the late Government from any blame. Mr Hurst seconded this address, and this he considered was one of the great mistakes of the Grey Government. Had Sir George Grey recoristructed his Ministry, and had a stronger team, he (the speaker) had no doubt that his party would have been in power at the present moment. Even had Sir George Grey taken the member for the Grey Valley, Mr Masters, _ whom every one knew was a little vain, to second the address the Grey Government would have retained office. The charges brought against the Grey Ministry wete of the most trivial nature, and when he was first asked by Sir George Grey to take part in the debate,- he demurred, being naturally of a bashful disposition—[Laughter], But when he heard the honorable member for the Grey Valley, Mr Mas tors, whom he knew had cajoled several votes in Kumara, was going to speak, he at once intimated to the Government whip that he would follow that honorable gentleman. This he did ; and after pointing out the benefits the people of this district had received from the Grey Government, he then gave Mr Masters a piece of his mind. The Grey Ministry were defeated by the small majority of two, and the Coast lost the best friend it ever had. As regarded the charges made against the Grey Government : firstly, as to the steamers.—The last Ministry only had the Hiuemoa in commission ; but the present Ministry were not content with that as they had commissioned the Stella also. Still he believed the Government should always have a vessel at command for the purpose of the conveyance of troops or stores to another part of the island, if required. He found that only lately the whole of the Atkinson family were transported by the Government steamer from Taranaki to Wellington, and yet this was one of the very things the late Government were charged with doing. Then as to Native affairs—which was the great shot that was to tell against the Grey Government—true, Mr Sheehan, the late Defence Minister, had been extravagant in cab hire; but Mr Bryce, the present Native Minister (a gentleman in whom he had great faith) had stated in the House that the late Government had done the very best they could with Native affairs, considering the great difficulties they bad to contend with: again, Mr Bryce had actually to ask more for the estimates of his department than the late Government, and this would prove that they could not have been lavish in their expenditure. He blamed the present Government for not endeavoring to float a far larger loan. The Grey Ministry intended asking for £BOO,OOO, but the then Opposition reduced this sum to £350,000. He contended that if the larger amount had been raised when the money market was easy, they would have had less interest to pay and the failures and depression of trade throughout the colony at the present moment would have been averted. Under tne present circumstances they were bound clown to three years before they could go into the market again. Bribing the Press had been another charge laid to the Grey Government, and, as far as he was personally concerned, he. might say the Press had very little liking, for him. But, as

regarded the late Government, it had beeii conclusively proved that the papers at that time had received the majority of the Government printing and advertising. Then again, a great cry was made about the late Government usinw the Telegraph department to further their own views and elections ; and he was .sorry to say that, through the action of the Hall Ministry, the privacy of this department had been interfered with—for which they had been generally condemned throughout the colony. [The speaker here related the old telegraphic story about “Fanny being all right.”] Ho considered the charges made against the late Government in this respect were simply Pharisaical, and without foundation. Sir George Grey had been charged by some people with influencing his elec; tion for Christchurch by making the municipal body of that city a present of a clock ; whereas the facts were simply that an old clock that had been lying resting there for throe years was applied for by the Borough Council during Sir George Grey’s visit, and which, after consultation with his colleagues, lie gave that body. He believed the only charge proved was in respect to the financial position of the colony ; but even in this case there were extenuating circumstances, as the resignation of Messrs Ballane© and Stout caused Sir Georg© Grey to be very heavily handicapped in undertaking the Treasurer's duties, as at the same time lie had a great many measures to prepare before the assembling of the House. The consequence was that the state of the colony’s finances became disorganised, and gave the opponents OI the Grey Ministry an opportunity of winch they quickly availed themselves. When the Hall Ministry obtained power, they retained it, firstly, by adopting the policy of their predecessors, which they introduced with very slight amendments \ secondly, they promised the abolition of tne laud tax, which secured them the support 6f the squattocracy ; and, thirdly, by the introduction of the-District Railways Bill they secured the Otago vote; He had no hesitation in saying that the Railways Bill was one of the greatest “ jobs ” ever perpetrated in the colony ; and one Mr Slacandrew supported the Government in. The last means'by which tM present Ministry retained office was the Celebrated Auckland compact. This compact was neither more nor less than a bargain made between four Auckland members of their ; party and the Government for a certain consideration. The reason of the arch-plotter, Mr Reader Wood, acting as he did was he (the speaker) believed iii the hopes he would be invested with the Agent-Generalship. Mr W. H. Hurst another of the party, was one never tired of extolling the virtues of Sir QeofgO Grey, and yet he proposed that Sir Georgd Grey should leave the leadership, so that they might gain over Messrs Stewart and M'Gaughan to their party. He did not like to say anything about private affairs outside the House, blit of orle of these gentlemen it was currently rumored that “he insured a ship that went down.’ 1 Captain Colbeck had boasted he wanted 65,000 acres of land, and that he had got it; but it was something like tile Hokitika and Greymouth railway, he only had it “ steadily in view.” This gentleman wad a Tory at home, and yet he professed Liberal principles here. Of Mr Swanson, he could say he was a canny Scotchman, who liked a “ sma bit of writing,” which he had obtained frOni the Government relative to the compact between them. As a man of honor, although he had seen the writing, he could hot state what it contained ; but he thought some day that Mr Swanson would give it to the Auckland Museum, and it would serve as an example to the rising generation as to how thebe' forefathers got into and retained power. He had been carefully watohiiig, knowing what the compact was, if the Government would carry it out; but he must say they were shewing no preference for Auckland in particular, and were dealing fairly with all the other districts. The Trienial Parliaments Bill introduced last session, was not so Liberal a measure as people thought, as there was another bill, the Payment of Members Bill, which should have been passed first, The present Gov; ernment he must Say Voted for this bill, and it was not their fault it was thrown out ; but it was the side of the House to which he belonged that had unfortunately caused it to be rejected. In the Qualification of Electors Bill, introduced by the Grey Government, it only provided for* manhood suffrage ; but the bill of the present Government had a property clause inserted by which the owner of £250 worth of property in various places could claim ten votes under the £25 qualification. He thought this was showing the cloven foot, and he strongly objected to it, and hoped yet that clause would be expunged. The Redistribution of Seats Bill the Go; vermnent promised to introduce last sessiou ; but as they were Hot ready with it, they would probably bring it forward this session, and if it became law, there would be a general election about January next. The basis of the bill was fixed, he believed, on population and area. If it was fixed on population alone, lie should Support the bill; but he should vote against fixing it on area. On the question of an Elective Council, he did not feel very warm, nor could he coincide with Sir George Grey’s ideas in this respect, which had been tried in Victoria, and had not succeeded. • He strongly opposed the Property Assessment Tax Bill, as, under this, mining property and machinery were heavily taxed, although even the claims were not paying expenses. This measure was carried in the House bv one vote, and that vote was the same 2nat put the Grey Ministry out of power—Mr Masters’. He contended that if they overtaxed local industries, the colony in the long run was the loser. He had tried hard to get the

Miners’ claims and machinery exempted, : apl at the same time Mr M‘Lean, who was a friend of the Government's, wanted shipping exempted. Well, Mr M‘Lean ;got his clause introduced, but he (the speaker) did not. He did not believe in imy increased Customs dues, but was in favor of repealing the property tax, reintroducing the land tax, and also an income tax. He would go even further, at the expense of making a few friends 'amongst the Good Templars and offending many others, and vote for a tax on beer. He did not believe in Royal Conimis•sions being appointed, if the one that -lately visited here was a specimen of the rest. He had done all he could to get ’the Kumara Education Reserve Act passed, in which he was assisted both by ."the present and hate Governments, and if "it was not in force shortly, they could depend it would be soon after his arrival in Wellington. In regard to the reduction of miners’ rights, he might say he introduced a bill; it was his first little bill ; ■and he lost his little bill—[Laughter]. The action of the Westland County Council in this matter at that time had completely neutralised all nis efforts in attempting to get the miners’ rights reduced, ■'and yet only a few days ago this very ‘Council almost unanimously coincided with his opinion. He contended that the •miners had no right to make all the roads in Westland, and thought the Borough ‘Councils should be taxed for that purpose. Tracks were made in other districts Where there were no miners, and he considered they were a class who should not be specially taxed, which at present they were heavily, in the shape of gold duty. 'The amounts placed on the Estimates for this district he claimed a fair share of 'credit for, but the main thing when the vote was on the Estimates w r as to see that you got it expended, ami in this matter he also took credit to himself. They must not, however, always judge him by the •amount placed on the Estimates for this district, as lie might differ with the Government on some occasion, and they might punish him by placing very little on the Estimates for liis district. Relative to the finances of the colony, he said they were anything but cheering, and he was afraid that Major Atkinson's gloomy forebodings as to the deficit had been "fully realised, although when the honorable gentleman made the statement to the jHouse he did not expect that such would be the case. The position, so far as he (Mr Seddon) could ascertain, stood thus : £BOO,OOO was the estimated deficiency. There had also been a considerable falling ■off in the estimated receipts, which swelled ’the amount up now to nearly £1,000,000. As against this there were bogus votes of £230,000 bn the Estimates, and the Gov'eminent claimed to have reduced public ex‘expenditureby £IOO,OOO which would bring the actual deficit to £670,000. This was far from satisfactory, and they would ■agree with him that the most rigid economy must be practised, otherwise the public confidence in the colony’s resources must be necessarily shaken. He was of ‘opinion that the railways were not worked l as remuneratively as they might be, and he considered that the Government should increase the freights, as also the fares for passengers, as the railways were constructed for their benefit and convenience, and not as a losing speculation for the ’colony. Ono of his own party, Mr Ballance {the ex-Colonial Treasurer), he was Surprised to find, had been lately speaking against tbe water-races constructed by the Government. Where, he would ask, would this district have been without the Waimea water-race ? This race, in connection with one in the Grey Valley district had yielded the Government nearly 5 per cent, on their outlay. He could assure Mr Ballance it would be a long time before he again became Colonial Treasurer if he held such ideas as these the water-races on the West Coast. He should support the Government in doing away with local subsidies, and help them to introduce a system of good local government. In Westland at present the. amount for subsidies was only ■about £ISOO per annum, with her large .population ; and he should like to see the system of a capitation basis introduced, and he should also strongly support centralisation. He might say that if at the present time the Hall Ministry were ousted from office, the Opposition could not form a Ministry or carry on the legislation of the country. After the way Mr Macaudrew had acted in the District Railway Bill he could not follow him as a leader of the House. He admitted the Opposition were at present disorganised and without a head, although the young New Zealand party, -of which he was a member, and Mr Do Lautour, the leader, would eventually be heard in the House. In the interests of the colony he considered it not advisable that Sir George Grey should lead the Opposition, but at the same time if no one else was found, he should be prepared to again give him Ins support. However, he went to the House on this occasion as their representative intending to follow ho leader blindly, but, as an independent member, prepared to support or vote against the Government in the interests of the district and tile colony. He would say that neither lie nor the people of ild, district had any cause of coir.pla.int against the present Government as in carrying out the details they were even superior to their predecessors. [Hear hear] ; although in the larger questions affecting the coldly, he could not agree with them. If he found it necessary to make any material alterations in Ida. course of procedure, Ids constituents could depend on nt once being consulted, and he trusted that his anions had been such as. would merit a renewal of their confidence, should bo again have occasion to appeal to their Suffrages—[Applause].

The Mayor stated that Mr Seddon would be happy to answer any questions

on any topic he might not have mentioned in his address. As after a brief interval there were no questions put, Mr E. Blake proposed a vote of confidence in Mr R. J. Seddon, as one of their representatives in Parliament, and at the same time said that lie was gratified to hear that Mr Seddon did not intend to follow in the footsteps of Mr Macandrew ; and, although one of the opposition in the late struggle for power Mr Seddon fairly admitted that the Hall Ministry had already done as much for his district as the late Government. Mr Seddon had been returned on the Grey ticket, and he had honestly stuck to his colors so long as Sir George Grey was leader ; but now that he was released from that bond, he had not the least doubt Mr Seddon would support any Government that by their actions proved they performed their promises in regard to this district. He had previously stated that ho considered Mr Seddon the best man to represent the district, and in that opinion he still concurred and had great pleasure in proposing a vote or confidence in his favor.

Mr \7. Morris second the motion most heartily, as he considered the remarks of Sir Blake were a reflex of his own opinions.

The motion was put by the Chairman and carried unanimously, not a single hand in the crowded Theatre being held up in opposition.

The meeting then terminated.

For remainder of news see last page.