KUMARA ELECTION.

Kumara Times, Issue 2511, 8 July 1884, Page 2

KUMARA ELECTION.

MR. R. J. SEDDON TO TRE ELECTORS AT DILLMAN’S. The following is the conclusion of our report of Mr R. J. Seddon's address to the electors at Dillman’g Town last Thursday night, following that which, we published yesterday:— Mr Seddon, in dealing with the Land Laws, and the ' Administration of Waste Lands Boards, said—The land laws of the colony are defective. There is first the purchasing for cash outright of lands declared open for sale; then there-is-the system of deferred payment; then there is the leasing and the homestead system. The evil of rashly parting with. the best lands of the colony at a mere trifle is now being severely felt, and the evil will be more and more intensified as the population increases; ; The deferred payment system has not worked satisfactorily ; there is now a large amount due for rents. This, in many instances, has been capitalised, and interest is paid thereon. Many of the evils in. connection with the deferred payment system have been caused by the settlers paying too much for the land in the first instance. The law, the Government, and Waste Lands Boards are to blame for this. The sales by auction should be abolished; many men do not really know the value of land • they desire to settle, but only a limited amount of land is in the market. In this the Governments and Land Boards are to blame, the Government for not employing more surveyors, and the Waste Lands Boards for not representing their requirements to the Government and to Parliament, and also for patting up indifferent lands under the deferred payment system. The unfortunate settler is victimised, and, instead of becoming a prosperous and happy man, he either becomes a State pauper, or else he gets into the hands of some money-lending shylock, ejection puts an end to his troubles, and the toil of years is lost. As regards the leasing system there was a great injustice done. Elsewhere, except upon the goldfields and in mining districts, leaseholders were entitled within a certain number of years to acquire the freehold of their land. The leasing system would only be a success when no lands could be bought and when leasing was the only system that obtained. The homestead system was the most liberal all land laws, and specially adapted to Westland. Under it any man who settled upon the laud and improved a certain amount each year, at the end of the term he was entitled to the freehold free of cost. The Waste Lands'Boards had made the part of the land laws inoperative by only setting apart lands under the homestead system in out-of-the-way places where there were neither roads, population, nor market.—[Hear, hear.] The sooner there were elective Laud Boards so much sooner would the people get their just rights and heritage. [Applause.] The Legislative Council of late years had proved altogether effete. Many of its members were politically fossilised, and in the discharge of their duties, instead of being t a check against hasty legislation, they had positively proved a hindrance to legislation! of a most advanced, practical and necessary nature. They had also twice refused relief to the miners and mining industry by on two occasions throwing out the Gold Duty Abolition Bill. As the law now stood, once nominated to the Council the appointment was for life. This shouldhe altered, and the Legislative Councillors should be elected for say a term of seven years on a ratepayers’ franchise. The Property vote should be altogether abolished. Property had always its power and influence, without in itself being entitled to distinct' voting power. With £IOO a person could, by buying, £25 worth of land in four electorates, purchase as it were four votes. Manhood suffrage, pure and simple, was the only fair and proper basis of representation. If freehold properties were entitled to representation, why disfranchise leasehold ?—the whole thing was reprehensible and unsound. Manhood sufirage and triennial parliaments, and the people of New Zealand would get justice.—[Applause.] With regard to the important subjects of goldfields and goldfie’ds’ members, Mr Seddon said—• Since Mr Rolleston had assumed the position of Minister of Mines there had been a falling off in the gold export of over £250,000- Last year the falling off was £35,000, and over 2000 miners had during the year left the goldfield?, and either left the colon}' or gone to other occupations. This was a deplorstate of affairs, and matters were netting worse every year. In the Goldfields Report for the year the Secretary for Goldfields calls Mention to -the change in the mode of workings and

that science must come to the rescue. But the Government are not rendering any assistance. There is no provision for State aid to teaching technical knowledge in connection with raining or minerals in New Zealand. New Zealand has exported £40,000,000 worth of gold; and yet, go from one goldfield to another, and there is no map, no information of any kind to aid the gold-seeker. The whole of the discovered auriferous alluvial deposits in the colony thould have been surveyed ; and the magnetic bearing and depth of the various leads should have been shown. The same applies to our quartz reefs. The Victorian Government have for years been carrying out this system, and on arrival at Ballarat in less than one hour plans of the ■whole of the workings can be seen by a visitor, Here we have a Government with the Premier instead of giving credit to the good people of Dunedin for their enterprise and pluck in investing their money on the goldfields; “ The cause of your depression,” says he, “is caused by your having thrown away £250,000 on the goldfields! and serve yon right!” The most inexplicable part of the affair is how in the face of this statement, and with a Minister for Mines, or Against Mines, it should be, who hates the diggers, and wishes the goldfields somewhere else—a Government who have three times killed the Gold Duty Abolition Bill. Members representing goldfields constituencies are to be found voting for and supporting them. I hope the day is not far distant when we shall see a Government in New Zealand that will do justice to the goldfields.— I hope also to see a united West Coast representation, and men who will stand shoulder to shoulder together and support no Ministry or party unless proper attention is paid to our goldfields. [Hear, hear.] One half of the gold exported from the colony last year came from the West Coast. With relief from taxation, encouragement to prospecting, and the judicious expenditure of public moneys, on necessary works and roads, the West Coast goldfield would double their returns in less than three years.—[Applause.] In conclusion, I desire to thank you for the confidence you have honoured me with in the past, I fear no frowns, nor court any favours. I have done my duty faithfully and to the best of my ability. If you again honour me by electing me your member, rest assured your confidence will not be misplaced. [Applause.] It has bean rumoured that I should have a walk over. I don’t think so myself. I have political enemies who are most active ; a politician without enemies is not worth his salt. Humour had it some weeks ago that the Hon. W. Gisborne was to contest the seat with mo. That I never believed. But to me it does not matter one jot; if they brought Gladstone, I should fight him.—[Laughter.] It often falls to the lot of public men to be beaten. So long as I am beaten by a better man than myself, I don’t care. My opponents must not think they will have it all their own way. I have always endeavoured not to provoke hostility, but if I have to /ace an opponent, they may vest assured I shall neither give nor ask for quarter, besides they will find there is plenty of fight left in the old boy yet.—[Laughter and applause.] The Chairman remarked that be had listened with pleasure to Mr Seddon’s exhaustive speech ; but whilst speechmaking was very well in its way, he himself always judged men by their works: and, judged by that test, Mr Seddon bad proved a faithful working man’s representative. The present struggle was one between wealth and the working men : wealth wished to have a predominating power. The working classes should stand true to each other, and not de led away by false issues put before them. If they were true to themselves, they had the voting power and were bound to carrv the day. [Applause.] Candidate’s were always brim full of promises. Mr Seddon had generally carried out the pledges made by him.' If, however, there were any shortcomings, now was the time to question the candidate for he (the chairman) was of the; impression that Mr Seddon would have a walk over, Mr Morris would like to know why certain orders in Council were not published in the Government (irzet' •.' ■ ' Mr Seddon explained that- in n m i cases the law empowering e.'vPuii orders to be passed a iso made it i/.lucrative that they should be gazetted. In other cases the law was silent - ths Government in such cases exorcised their discretion. No other questions being asked, •V Mr E. Thorne moved “That a vole of thanks for his address bo tendered to Mr Seddon, also a vote of confidence in him as being a fit and proper poi son

to represent this constituency in the New Zealand Parliament.” Mr John M'Auley seconded the motion, whicn was then put to the meeting, and carried unanimously. Mr Seddon thanked those present for the reception given him, and the vote of confidence passed. Dillman’s Town was always his stronghold, and he hoped to head the poll there on election day. A hearty vote of thanks to the chair terminated the meeting.