Mr J. G. Wilson's Meeting

Manawatu Herald, 10 June 1893, Page 2

Mr J. G. Wilson's Meeting

On Thursday evening, Mr J. G. Wilson met his constituents at the Public Hall. There was a fair attendance, and a few ladies honodre. the meeting with their presence. The Mayor, (G. Ny^) was voted to the chair. The Mayor said he was glad to have the opportunity to take the chair at Mr Wilson's meeting, and he need hardly ask tor a patient hearing for the speaker.

Mi' J. G. Wilson said he would like to express his regret at Mr Balance's death. It was. in expressably aad the manner he died. Mr Ballance had occupied many positions and in all he always showed that he was earnest in his desires to serve his fellow colonists and to do good to his fellow creatures. He had a very large following or a very large majority and was thus able to give effect to his views upon which he must bo congratulated. In regard to the Native leases up the ooast he had done excellent work and would he remembered with thankfulness. He had always a sincere respect for him He referred also to the deaths of Sir Harry, Atkinson und Mr Macnrthuv. These doaths point to a neoessity for an alteration in the conduct of tho business of the House. Last session every Minister was laid up one time or another, except Mr Seddon. He approved of Mr Seddon taking the office of Premier and thought he was fully justified in taking it. First, the Ministry were to be congratulated on their surplus. The Treasurer was to be congratulated on his calculations coming out right. The surplus was chiefly obtained by. the increased exports. His feeling had since Sir H. Atkinson had passed the protective policy changed very much and he was not very particular' what government was in power. He desired to say he was not turning. We ought to have a good head to the Government with a strong following, and also a good opposition for obtaining good, government. Though opposed to the. present principle of taxation he " was not' in favour of its being altered, as. constant changes in taxation were harmful, and the trade of the colony disorganised. He believed the criticisims of the opposition had materially assisted in improving the present taxation. There are anomalies which needed alteration. Towns people got off cheape** than the country people, he quoted the following figures: -£IOOO placed on deposit, was taxed nil ; £1000 invested in land, £2 Is 8d; £2000 placed on deposit, nil ; £2000 interested in land, £7 5s lOd ; £3000 placed on deposit, nil ; £3000 invested in land, £12 103 ; £5000 placed on deposit, nil ; £5000 invested in land, £25 8s 9d ; £7000 placed on deposit, 7s 9d ; £7000 invested in land, £32 16s 3d.

If that is the case people who own land are paying too much, and those who have money in banks too little. The question of Freetrade and Protection is out of the way. The trend of legislation is more towards labour measures. These broad questions removed left very little for strong differences of opinion. The system of Government borrowing money by Treasury bills instead of by loans, needed some remarks. The Treasury

bills are nothing more than promissory notes. The Treasurer finding taxes not coming in so quickly as desired goes to the bank and borrows on these bills. The Aot permits them to be used up to £900,000. He did not approve of this, as it was a wrong principle to borrow in this way for public works. There were certain .works which Avere proposed to float money for, which were useful works. "The Government proposed to get £50, 000 for roading settlements. He thought they should have taken more. They also proposed £50,000 for purchase of Native lands, and this amount should be increased. The difficulty in dealing with Native lands was the need of a good Native Land Act. The present Native laws are said to be in a thorough muddle. The deyelopement 'of Native land would be very advisable. In the South Island there was scarce an. acre of land worth settling on Which- was not settled. He supported the L^nd for Settlement Bill, which imight be improved, but still the principle was good. It was quite fair for the Government to buy. land in either island. H e thought these amounts should be obtained by loan, boing perfectly legitinmte for these objectsThe Government had been accused of socialism. There were two kinds, one the Continental which might be termed Anarchism, and that culled Socialism in England who considered Government should do more for the people and see . to the Sanitary condition. He quoted Arnold Toynb'ey on "these questions. The Bills already passed have not been Socialistic in their effect. Workmen's Lien Act gives ithe workman the first claim on moriey coming to his employer. The Employer's Liability Act is also a fair one. If injured an employee can secure compensation from the employer. There is another important Bill, " The Concialia.tion and .Arbitration Bill," which the working classes consider a most important Bill** to them. The purpose of the Bill was tp do away with the strikes by setting up some Courts to bring the disputants together. In England they have a" number of Trades' Boards which are very similar. He .thought the Bill might set up the Trades' Boards instead of setting up separate boards. This Bill set up an Arbitration Court which prompted the opposition. The difficulty was how to get such a satisfactory Court. We believe that >\n • bW* Buptefiie Courts we shall get'-JusWe.- ■ ---There, fore the need in the Arbitration Court was get '■ 'an 1 impartial Arbitrator. The solution was that a Judge of the Supreme Court shonld be put at the head;' 'but^ the judges stated they had more Work tlmn they could get through.' ' He thought an extra judge should be appointed to take up the idn'ty.M tAU the industrial . classes. shou^-haye^-tiie advantage of these- Courta a Anar not only the Trade Unions as proposed in the Bill. The. advantages of the Courts would, be, that £h i ey.f;j£ould enforce their decisions.,, He.jtn^u./hfe if we got such a Bill and jsu. corded, in getting strikes done aw'ay^yhh, .much good \yould bej,d j pne.;!j,9 the | Oo'ouy. He had/ al>vay|j'|uppJ3^ted i the Special Settlement svstgin.^ ; By this system any qn?e ha^djng^jn'lljißir names to the secretary mage scfre^of getting apiece^land. The wwplft owed to; the Up^orQW^^B|Jure they hold their land, he had himself moved that the settlei'3 veoeived the freehold tenure, but Mr' Smitfl succeeded in getting Miqisijers to agree to the " eternal lease " of 999 years. The Government, had also reduced the interest chargable on the land from 5 percent to 4 •peY.GenfcaiJtJßne Government -needed to show more energy' in- the' surveyirig^trbeHand. Mr Richardson was much to blame for having first cufejtbe»>ybieiidbf n. He thought" Mr- McK«n#e sjtojild get more ' money 'for.; thisjipurpage. There is so mu^h^dissa&kf&ctioaLat ' the delay in the surveys of these settlements. '''Last. 1 session iin*iJßltctoral Bill was introduced it was chiefly consolidating uieusui'e^ijtopt in the vote for women. MrJßallance was in favour of it,, but when he fell ill, the-JActing PVemfer KaAl'antt£g| of the disputes with the Upper Hojse. Seamen had been given the right, years before, to vote *by£ sending in their papers.) Conimerpiajvtravellers and shearers -were also given the the privilege; - .The ; f Uppei* : .House desired to give wontaii 'tne'jH^ght to vote elsewhere than %7JJi<Ts6flfng booth.: . MrTanneivaisme^fie^fjpm the South had always .objected to this as he thought it •wbuWde'p^ve the secrecy of the balidtr'an'd when this last proposal : ' cam c ; '"* he objected strongly and '''Mr* 'SMUfoh supported him.. 7He referreq Jfe'; the dispute between Mr Sed<J;on r an||, "the Upper House, pointing ou[t,^.hat 'M f Seddon had the power in his hftnds by the addition of the' :Tiew J Councillors who were howeYe).', iiot pointed until Parliament clp§ed f;j .Mr Seddon has however now promised to see that it is carried. He had always been in fayou? of/rwoman's franchise. The same reasons which entitled men tp a yote ; can.ibe urgedtfpr the .same privilege being 5 -giveii ; to wpmen; Antherpqf nt, ii} %e,slec~toral Bill be objected tq.ahep^TJmiltigg of townspeqple. being, slowe<T to'- vote >. for / thr,ee meters; . wlferjeas " the country people can only vote for one.

In towns by plumping, a minority i could succeed in. putting in a member. In conclusion he pointed out that the Opposition had been condemned because they had no policy. 'i he Opposition had no right to be asked for a policy. The Government are to blame for making ineaeares a party question. It appeared the Government had not much of a policy, and repeated now, what other governments have often ■said after a little turn of power, that ■they wanted rest, and he was inclined to' agree with them. He mentioned it wag Hhi? intention to stand for .the Ofcaki constituency at the next election. ' His connection with politics liad been entirely with this district, and he thought he ought to. stand for this district. He hoped he might secure as good a support at Foxton as he obtained at the last election. Mr Williams asked Mr Wilson to get the .Goyersnment to let the people have laws passed: which they could understand. In reply, Mr Wilson said copies t>f the Act were sent to the papers and libraries and elsewhere, so that .they could be seen. To laymen sometimes reading an Act of Parlia•meht was like- reading : Greek. i He should like ' a suggestion how it : might be done. iy 4 "/ Mi 4 Williarhs suggested that some simple digests might be prepared. He said the Municipal authorities here had been breaking the law to their, danger. far Wiison admitted that in Land .something 'of that sort had been *done,arid when any important alterations in the law was made a similar plan might be adopted. He be glad to draw the attention of the Government to the. question. * Mr- McClos,ky .wanted to, know whether .Mr Wilson would, be in favour of the Licensing Act being amended so as to do away with Licensing Committees and place it again in the hands of the Bench of Justices. Mr Wilson said be thought it would be better and that Magistrates were more likely to give an unprejudiced decision. ; Mr T. P. Williams proposed and Mr, Hqwa,n seconded, A vote,. pi ihanks and confidence to Sly Wilson- . Mr McClosky desired to move as an amendment a vote of thanks to Mr -Wilson and confidence in the 'prese'iit' Government. Mr; P. .Hennessey seconded. ; The amendment had .4 hands helc| vp 1 for it and * the reflation 'Wits' carried almost unanimously. A vote of thanks* to' the chair concluded the me^Cingv .