MR. A. P. SEYMOUR.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 318, 30 November 1881, Page 2

MR. A. P. SEYMOUR.

A 1' (.{l.lO V E L’< )\Y N. Mu SKV.Moru addressed a weli-attended and orderly meeting of the electors in the Schoolhousc, Drovctown, on Monday evening, Mr N. T. Pritchard in tits chair. Mr .Seymour gave an able review of ilu: events of last Parliament, and dwelt at some length upon the groti;> of lib -rut electoral measures introduced and passed by the present .Ministry, pointing out that Hie former Ministry had talked a great deal about these measures, but had never introduced them although they hud held oliieo for two years. Speaking of the Rhialiiication of Electors Act ho heartily approved of the residential franchise, as lie considered it only right that every man who contributed to the revenue, through Ilia Customs or otherwise, ought to have a voice in the management of the country. He thought also that the provisions of the Corrupt Practices Prevention Act limiting the expenses of a candidate were right and proper, as anything which tended to increase expenses necessarily narrowed down the candidates to a few. He went over the same ground as before in alluding to the Ciimese Immigration, Licensing, and Darning and Lotteries Act. his remarks being loudly applauded. Upon tlio subjects of the Property Tax and Customs his views and actions were also approved. Speaking of the Dog Tax he said he had been able to get an amendment made, exempting dogs belonging to shepherds, farmers, & \ The

original amendment he bail drafted and handed to a 1" ricn* l to in l.j-od u*-o in Committee was a copy ;>f tin clausa in the Kngli.sli Act referring to tin matter. It was thought, however, tint.as the Road Hoads now derived the revenue from the I tog Tax, it would only he right that they sliouM have the power to say whetlier thve dogs shotilil 1)0 exempted or not, ami t!ie clause was accordingly altered to that effect. The Road Hoards had now the power to exempt dogs used by shepherds, rabbiters, &c., and from conversations he had held with various members of the Hoards, he believed the tax would not be levied on these dogs again. lie had objected to the Rabbit Act being made compulsory, as lie thought his district at least should have the right to say whether, it should bo brought into force within it or not, and in consequence of his representations it had been made optional, lie had also obtained an extension of the time when lines become leviable under the. Sheep Act. lie had also been able to pass the Awaterc Shearing Reserve Bill, to allow flic reserve to be .sold for the purpose of making the road through it. The reserve had become useless on account of the Sheep Act anti it was considered desirable to have a road nude through it. He bad obtained HIOOO to have the work commenced and had also arranged that the reserve should be cut up in small blocks for sale. lie had interviewed the Surreyor-deueral and had induced him to have the work lot in small contracts, and had also arranged that its Mismanagement should be left with the Awaterc Road Hoard. The work was now in process of construction and there was yet a balance of LI, 100 which would he expended in opening it further up. Jf returned ho would as soon as possible get ( lovernmont to complete the road right through. Produce from that portion of the dishiot would then be able to come to Blenheim, its natural outlet, and wo should also have coach communication through to Canterbury. Upon Local Clovermneut be expressed the same views as before, claiming that the country did not need more < lovernment machinery, but that extended powers should he given to the Road Boards. Mis opinionsupon|lsducation remaitied unaltered, and lie belieyed that the Catholics were fully entitled to consideration, as numbering one-sevcutli of the population and contributing largely to the revenue out of which tin Kduontion vote was paid, yet being die only body unable to avail themselves of our schools on account of their conscientious scruples. Ho admitted that the education Act was not perfect. There were sum?, matters in connection with the election of Hoards and also of Committees, for instance, which might he improved, but on the whole the system had worked well. He contrasted the present ollicient system with the state of educational facilities in the past, and pointed out that during the superiatendenoy of Mr Eyes flic province had been forced to abandon education altogether. ’When lie (Mr Seymour) was elected .Superintendent in ISO!) lie was assisted by Mr Uouolly in takingup the question of K location ami they imposed a Property Tax of .‘ld. in the i‘, handed over the publican’s fees to the schools, ami subsidised them with as much money as they could spare. They had thus succeeded in keeping the schools alive. 1)U t that was all, and those who remembered that time, and contrasted it with the present, would sec how greatly matters had improved, They ban now suitable buildings and most ciijeient teachers. It had been smd by some that the system was too costly, but we could not expect to have a good thing without paying for it. Lot us by all means educate our children well, and not say they should stop at the third standard, for instance. Make every lad's education as complete as possible, and we would tlnsn be giving him tin*: appliances

wherewith lie would lie enabled to tight ins way through the world. (Applause.) ! Touching the matter of Pensions he was of opinion tljcy should cease, ami that instead of the pension system, every Civil servant should be compelled to insure bis life in the Government department. Speaking of local matters he said in had, at the request of the Jockey (.’lull, got- the race course handed over to trustees who would lie now justified in putting up permanent improvements. With reference to the Awatere Extension, in a few days it Mould he known ; who was the successful tenderer for the i

work. 'Pile tenders were received the other day, but had lirst to go to Dunedin for inspection by tiie bead engineer, and then to Wellington. Government do intend to push on this railway and recognise it as the I min trunk line through the island, The sum of LI 1,000 was not a large one. hut as ne had explained the funds were limited, and those available had to be spread over til roe years, as New Zealand could not go in to the loan market till 18S2. The! extension only readied to ths foot of the hills at Vernon, but no doubt by the end of 1332 the colony would bs able to raise another loan. He believed it would do so. lmt hoped that before it was raised it would hs arranged how and where it should be spent, and thus Hie unseemly .scrambles for public money would be avoided. He then referred to the improvement in railway management which had taken place since the Hall Ministy cams into olliee. When the y took oliieo the expense of

management was as high ns 7b per cent, of the receipts, hut now it was reduced to about 57 per cent. The loo.il line had enormously improved. Its expense was then 05 to !l!i per cent, but now in some months it was as low as GO. The whole result was that the railways had lately been paying 3.1 per cent., ami during the current year they were doing much better. On all hands there was a cry for more jtrueks. which was a healthy sign. Ho reminded them that when tlio railways paid live per cent they would cost the Colony nothing as that was about the ” infcurcefc upon their cost. He next referred to tlio money voted for the Clarence Bridge and to the LTV) and site for drill shed in Bienlieiin. Altogether about L20,0!)0 was in course of expenditure in this district and lie had also assist'd in getting about L2f),000 more for the adjoining part* of the district, which he thought was u fair share of expenditure up to the present. Though he had supported the liall Ministry h<- reminded them that a dissolution swept away all former lies. It might be that nther combinations would be formed, but he did not think so, and if the Hall Ministry came hack with a majority he would eontiiius to give them his support so long as they continued their policy as in the past:. 11 hud born the best Ministry we bad ever had. (Hear, hoar.) It had not overlooked the claims of outlying districts nor eoutinsd expenditure out of loans to railways as former Doverninent.s had. Jt had also opened up largo tracts of land for sale on deferred jiavineiifs. Three millions of acres formerly held under pastoral leases

in Otago were shortly to be offered on deferred payments and the same course would he pursued in Canterbury. In dealing with immigration it had also acted wisely. Immigrants had been pouring in at too great a. rate ; p<npl.-; could not get employment, and it hud been found necessary to vote large sums on public work a for the benefit of the unemployed. The present Government In l stopped thi-, and placed

the mutter under wise restiierions. Government deserved thanks for this, as not only did Hi-! practice of former Government? cause distress, but the colony lost the Dost of the tabor which left for other colonies so soon as it could save money enough to do so. H: then .spoke of the Reproseiitatioii Bill and exn'.uiiird his action in regard to the stonewall-;-.!, pointing out that he had a precedent in the action of the Speaker of the House of ('ominous who had stopped all discussion upon a certain measure. He (.'.lr 8 -ymour). however, had not .acted so arbitrarily, as he had not put a stop to the debate hut obliged them to return !•> it and avoid a useless waste of time and money. Alluding to hie, position asDhairnitn of ('omniittee.s ho held that it was a useful olliee in connection with his district. it j gave him a certain amount of authority and power and brought him in coiitu-t with other member.?. Through il lie got support from hi- friends.; lie had never failed to pass any Bill and lie had passed a good many. Private requests also lm lull never omitted to attend to. As it was possible he would ho asked to take the saint) position again if returned, he would now simply state that he would take it, as he believed he could then do butter for his district than if lie were simuiv a private member. (Applause), Ho reminded

them that lie was only one member, though ! its had received great assistance from the i member for Pieton. With reference to the ! salary lie received, in was undoubtedly very ; good, though lie would remark that this ' year lie had received less than the otlnr ; inimbers, because two sessions had sat and ; they ha l drawn their honorariums twice, I while his salary was an annual o io, and the ! number of sessions did not alter it. He : had never been grasping for money, \ although a letter had appeared in a paper! asking how many thousands of public i money he hud received. No doubt in j in apolitical life extending over twenty-one I years he had received a good deal, hut lie I had also spent a good deal and obtained a \ good deal for his district (Applause). ! When Superintendent of the province he j had been contented to receive bare travel- j ling expenses, and though the Provincial | Council had voted him extra money he had j refined to take it. lie did not think it i

J could Ijß justly -siisl tint lie h;ul l>.eo:i | | grasping. What In wanted the electors to ! I do was to remombr.r what ho h.i-l said. j ! Fro;ii the expressions of opinion he had 1 | given they would he able to ascertain his 1 j vie wk, and ho trusted they would vote

either for or against him 011 pcliticil grounds aloim. As an illustration of the other tiling ho hail been told that a person was going about—ail ex-constable—canvas-sing for iris opponent on the ground that ho had refused to present a petition from him to the Minister of Defence. ilc did not object to anyone canvassing for his opponent if they thought him a hotter man. But this man Ind never had the honesty to ask him whether In had presented the petition. As a matter of fact he did present it, and had accompanied it with a request for favorable consideration. On fake grounds, such as these, he trusted no one would vote. Mr Dodson had not yet seen lit to say anything to the electors, lie did not know why !m had assumed the rola of the dark horse. He (Mr .Seymour) had, however, expressed his views pietty \ fully upon the principal questions of the 1 day. They would doubtless soon have an i opportunity of hearing Mr Dodson, audit; they judged between them politically lie i would he quits satisfied. He concluded by I thanking his audience fer the attentive j hearing he had received, The Chairman having inquired whether ! any elector wished to ask the candidate j any questions, Mr William I'itz-W illi iui Terry said “You mentioned an amendment in the i Dog Tax which you gave to a friend to in- j troduee. Have you any objection to stating j the name of that friend '! Mr ,Seymour—“ Mr Arthur ('oliitis. “ Mr Terry—“ Did he vote against it Mr Seymour— “ f believe 'so, but he introducsd the amendment I gave Him.” Mr Terry—“ls this in Hanmnt V Mr Seymour—“ Xo : the matter was dis- j cussed in Committee, and Committee dis-; missions arc not reported in Hau ntri(. The clause I drafted was with Irawn and one moved by Mr Shanks .substituted, which secured the same end." Mr Terry sit down (a voice: got no asnie, that man.'')

Mr Howler proposed a rote of thanks to Mr Seymour for his able addrosv In doing so he remembered tint th? giv it question was whether tin country should turn out the Hill Ministry or not. Mr Seymour, it was well-know:!, was a staunch | supporter of the present Ministry, while Mr | Dodson was a strong opp moot of it. in | regard to the genera! feeling of fin district > hr might say that nine nut of every ten | persons ho "had converse;! with were in

favor of the Hail Ministry, an 1 if they were not canvassed at all ho was certain nine-tenths woiiid votcjfor Mr •Seymour. Mr Dodson would perhaps toil th*m wii.it faults he found in tire Hall Ministry, hut they had been distinct!)’ informed that lie would try to oust them. Ths colony had never had a bettor Ministry. What did Grey do, with ali li : s promises? it was ths present Ministry which had passed nil the liberal measures, and passed them iii spite of Grey’s opposition. The men w’no now came forward to oppose the Mali Ministry wore the very men who had brought Grey forward and even now tried to pudi him down their throats.

Mr T. 'l'. Cheese,man seconded the motion. ila bad heard Mr Seymour’s political views and had certainly soon no reason why they should have a clung?. Ho did not know wlmt Mr Dodson intended to do, but if lie could bring forward hotter views he would support him. The resolution was put and carried unanimously, and flic proceedings terminated with tits usual vote of thanks to the chairman.