MR. EYES’ MEETING.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 160, 20 February 1869, Page 4

MR. EYES’ MEETING.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express, Sir, —Mr. Eyes’ attempt to state his reason for the postponement of the meeting, “due to them and to himself”—to himself more especially—without one word as to why the meeting had not been called sooner, was, I think, to speak most leniently, very unsatisfactory. His assumption that “little inconvenience had arisen to themselves by it, as he had given due notice, not only in private, but in the public press,” was simply gratuitous. It is all bosh. The main question about which Mr. Eyes’ constituents wished for information related to finance. Had Mr. Eyes done all that could fairly be expected from him to obtain for this province its fair share of revenue ? Mr. Eyes talks of how much he had done to obtain for us a “Roads Bill,” which means additional taxation. We are already taxed to the amount of £4 12a. a head, women and children, and other provinces receive our money. This is our position, for which we have to thank Mr. Eyes and the General Government. His boasted savings amount to little more than the preventing of expenditure in this province. Mr. Eyes refers to Mr. Hall’s financial statement, but he does not show that according to that statement this province lost last year upwards of £4735. That from the refusal of the Government which he supports to act up to the law this province has lost, for years past, thousands a year. Mr, Eyes, as Mr. Robinson well remarked, was active enough in preventing our getting into debt for a railway, and now he would saddle us with the debts of other provinces who have got their’s. The Government, aware of the injustice of its proposals, stated its readiness to give to Nelson first £90.000, and then £140,000; and to Wellington £15,000, but nothing to this province. Mr. Eyes did not show that by Mr. Fox’s scheme this province would have gained a year, which would have been increased as population increased. That Mr. Fox’s object was to devise a system by which taxation might be reduced, complication of accounts and endless disputes avoided—a system by which the provinces might know their means, and the falsification of accounts by the General Government, and the constant squabble arising therefrom be prevented. Let any one campare Mr. Curtis’ statement (see Nelson Examiner of Nov. 5.) with that made. by Mr. Eyes before concluding that Mr. Eyes was justified in taking the course he did. Mr. Curtis says—“ The next vote of want of confidence was that on the resolution, moved by Mr. Fox after Ministers had stated their financial policy, to the effect that the House had no confidence in the Government. For this motion he (Mr. Curtis) had voted, because he felt bound to do his best against any Government which sought to do what he considered the grossest injustice to the Province of Nelson, and to other provinces in a similar position. At the same time that Mr. Fox moved his vote of want of confidence he brought forward his own scheme of finance, which he (Mr. Curtis) supported as being far preferable for the whole Colony, and especially to this province, to that of the Government, Mr. Fox proposed that each province should continue to pay the interest on its own debt; and that the provincial revenues should be supplemented by a capitation rate of 30s. per head, which he considered to be far preferable to the proposals of the Government,” Why Mr. Eyes could not see this T am at a loss to say. 1 am, &c., Viator.