MR HALCOMBE'S SPEECH

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 99, 19 August 1879, Page 2

MR HALCOMBE'S SPEECH

The following paraphrase upon Mr Hal* combe's speech was recently picked up in the streets of Fox ton, and will doubtless be acceptable as affording an insight into his political antecedents and recently-formed opinions on matters of interest to Manawatu Aa an interpretation of his speech it is extremely appropriate. Gentlemen — Befo-e you answer the question just put by Mr Snelson as to whether I shall be opposed, I trust you will listen to what I have to say, as I come prepared to prove to you, that it would ue to the advantage of the district that Mr Bnalaon should retire, as I am sure

Hint, if the contest is left to Mr Johnston and myself, nothing personal is likely to bo said. As the present dissolution is not on a question of policy, but upon maladministration, I cliink I am enable.l to thoroughly understand the question from my Provincial experience, but as Sir George Grey has suggested universal suffrage, triennial Parliaments, and a representation upon «a population basis, I have thought it wise to adopt this policy, though I am a near relative of the leader of the Opposition, and his supporter. I have hitherto objected to these Utopian schemes, as, when Major Atkinson brought in the County system, he was of opinion the country wanted rest, but I was Htill ready for my own purposes to try the advantage of making small road boards into Counties, especially as it would he for the benefit of t'eildiuy if I was uncontrolled. Though before I Rained some little experience by mixing with practical men, I obtained tho credit from the late Dr Featherston, of having carried a ineafr.vo hv ft b? v e of on?, against ll'.c !,1 O M<' v-v. -.",-". .■>!-.„''.(>■ ••r-:iVj£» •=. I/,.;. 1,., v:-,. ! £fo.iii e.iOdj-i- t" (Vfiiit '- v 't!i In;.-.' Ihimuj t.li- , pvincipie of •'• a genciii Lanii Tai," ' 1 iiud now that as tho present Government have done the same thin?, it is not wiss, but is a most iniquitous mpasurp, and I shall therefore get it repealed. I remember a very amusing speech of Sir Dillon Sell in the Legislative Council last session, in which he played upon the curi osities of the reduction of the import duty, and I will, though poorly, endeavour to imitate him, and it seeirs difficult to reconcile the connection between artisans, tools and a free breakfast table, but for fear I should weary you I will hasten to touch upon the rascality of the remission of the timber duty, as I have always held that it was no business of the Government to attempt to obtain timber at a reasonable figure, but always urged and assisted the local mills to raise the price of the staple product of the County beyond even the price at which it could be imported from other places within the Colony, and have held that the laborers should, owing to their position in the electoral scale, be the ones jvhose income could be more properly reduced than tho men who had spent such large sums iv ihe purchase of machinery. Therefore though the farniiug interest may have reaped an advantage by getting fenc ing wire cheaper, what does it matter to my constituents, who only represent the timber iudufltry f I would rather see the duty placed on tea, sugar, and fencing wire, if I can get the duty "placed on imported timber again. In my many capacities, besides the position I hold as agent for the Feilding Corporation, I am a laud agent and valuator, and judging from myself, I feel convinced that if it was required of me, I would when employed by the Government value at fictitious values, in order to please roy employers and make the tax as large as possible, and I say distinctly this i 3 what I believe the Land Tax valuers Lave done. Dealing with taxation, I am of opinion that rigid economy should have been exercised, and that it is only owing to the incompetency and extravagance of administration, that extra taxation is necessary, as I remember that the late Dr Featherston was delayed in starting on his mission to the home country when I was Provincial Secretary, as it was made conditional that the Province should first be relieved " from the financial embarrassments, anil other difficulties in which it has been for some time involved " bofore he could leave . I hold to its bei ig good polic} to borrow all you can for public works, for though I only know that the rest of the county has a magnificent climate, yet I know Feilding has timber, and that mi^ht then find a market. Touching native matters, I know very little about it, but the Opposition has this session declared that the Native Department should be swept away, so that I shall also say the same. I now come to the West Coast Railway. I and you all recollect having an influential m eeting here to ask the Government to have a line surveyed to Palmerstou as well as Foxton, and though we at that time accused the people of Foxton with having shuffled th-j matter somehow down in Wellington, we afterwards found we were incorrect, and that they held a meeting at which they only asked the Government to Jet tho diection be settled on a fair report of Eugineers, but I think the time has now arrived, when the numerical majority that we can poll can fairly allow us to set that understanding aside, and to say most distinctly that whether the Palmeiston is the best route for the Colony at large or not, it should be the one your member should advocate, and I promise most distinctly, if Mr Snelson will retire, so that I may obtain the up-country votes — otherwise, if pushed down south I may have to waver— that I will, both in my place in Parliament, by any side-wind or backstairs influence, get the line commenced simultaneously at Wellington and Palmerstou ends. Again I impress upon you to give me your support, as I am prepared to forego any of my free-trade principles, — I was going to say any principles — to get into the House, and to obtain the ro-im >osition of the duty on timber, which so strongly af fectß the only place in my mind of any consequence in (he County. As the majority of you have only been a short time in tho Country, you only know the energy I have displayed as agent of the Feilding Corporation, which as you are aware'has been only a success owing to my ever-watchful care — an anxiety which would havo been greatly relieved had the Directors or my subordinates rendered me proper assistance, but to me it is a great regret that my past Provincial career is not brought home to you. For many yearn I was the lute Dr Featherston's right hand man. This magnificent Province is the result of my fostering care, though Mr Bunny pretends most of the development is due to him. but from your knowledge of me, you will believe me, when I tell you, that as Mr Bunny obtained my appointments from me. he is quite as likely to seize any credit due to me ; why, only fancy, when the late Dr Featherston went home, I monaged the Province, though there were some who ivere supposed to assist me, and during that time, I rescued the General Government, when in cabinet meeting, from great consternation, and settled some Scandinavians in thnt locality near Palraerston, where they were so nearly drowned out, that I had to give them the option to choose elsewhere. I am aware that in some men's minds there is a suspicion against me, but which IJ}cannot understand ; I certainly only held a seat in the Provincial Council, whilst I held office, but I did not leave that till I received my appointment from the Corporation, and you can understand 1 only accepted that because I had been longing for so many years to get into the Manawatu 1 have always studiously kept in view the necessity for urging registration on the part of electors amongst whom I resided from purely unselfish motives, as I had found it unwise to go again into public life, until I was independent, and it is only now that 1 can say I am. Taipo.

Why is a ship the politest thing in the world P Because she always advances with a-bow.