Mr Stevens at Foxton.

Manawatu Herald, 23 June 1898, Page 2

Mr Stevens at Foxton.

Last night Mr John Stevens, the representative for Manawatu, addressed his constituents at the Public Hall. Owing to the very short notice given of his intention to speak, the attendance was not large. Mr Fraser was voted to the chair. Mr Steven?, who was well received, said he thanked those present for attending, and would explain some matter? affecting local interests as well a? those of Colonial import, ance. He apologised for delay in speaking, but said he had been delayed by important private business. The question of local interest was the Wirokino Bridge. The position of affairs was no fault of the local body or of the Government. He gave a history of the first deputation when the Minister made a distinct promise to pay £ for £ for construction of the bridge, and the Minister was still willing. It was necessary that the consent of 3 local bodies should first be obtained. At fir3t the Manawatu Council declined, but with the energy shown always by the Mayor and members of the local body a large deputation waited on the Council and secured their consent. Then an engineer was employed to prepare plans and apeci ficationg. He took, in his opinion, an unnecessary length of time in doing so, and the application for a warrant to construct the bridge was not made in time required by law, the 81st March. The other portions of the money from which this sum would have been found had been dealt with in time. He (th? speaker) had seen the Minister and said he was very sorry, but he would have the sums placed on the estimates. He could have got this in writing, but he did not think it was necessary, as be had never known the Minister to go back on bis promises. Last night he brought the matter before the Premier at Levin and ha had given his assurance that this sum shall be placed on the estimates. He had not a shadow of doubt but that the subsidy would be paid for the Wiro kino Bridge. Mr Stevens then referred to. an article in the Manawatu Herald showing the necessity of the Govern ment supplying the flaxmillers with the prices ruling in the London market. After reading the article he had called on Mr Ritchie, head of the Agricultural Department, asking him to draw the Minister's attention and get instructions sent Home. He would put a question on the Order Paper what the Government intended to do on the question and would get the reply published in Hansard. He looked upon the flax industry as one of the most important in the Colony. On other public matters he said the Government had their duty, and the Opposition had their duty, and the duty of the Opposition was to turn out the Government. The Opposition had made charges without foundation against the Government. The Opposition had no policy and they say turn out the Government because they are corrupt. He would like the Oppopition to say where the corruption bad arisen. In his opinion the Government had carried out the government of the country in a satisfactory manner. He (the speaker) declared that Mr S. McKsnzie had said that he did not believe the Hon. Mr Ward had done anything improper with the Bank The Opposition were dtridiog their friends from doing justice to the Government. As to the acquisition of land, the Opposition made much capital against the Government. They had said capitalists would be driven out of the country. Ho would give figure? showing 4 different result : — Number of estates purchased, 50, containing 155,000 acres, cost £700,000 ; number of settlers taking up land, 1083 ; percentage of revenue actually re ceived on purchase money, 4^ per cent. If the Government can borrow at 3 per cant and git in return 4i per oent and develope the land, he hoped they would keep on borrowing. In the settlement of Crown Lands between 1891 97 there has been an increase of land occupied of 2,810,807 acres. There have been 18,218 selectors placed on the land. There have been 2693 miles of dray roads constructed, and 1928 miles of horse track?, and there have been 387 bridges of spans over 80 feet. The total expenditure on ibis head amounted to £1,058,000. That £1,058,000 had b?en satisfactorily expended and without it we would not have had these lands settled, and therefore it was better doing this than spending it in political rail ways. What is paid into the Post Office Savings Bank is a good index of the prosperity of the colony. Iv 1890 there were 162 938 depositors, and in 1897 there were 267.613 depositors. On deposit in 1890 there were £2,441.876 and in 1897 there were £4,744,924. Average amount deposited in 1890 was £10 83 6d and in 1897 it was £11 18< 2d. With regard to local bodies it was contemplated two or three years ago to make the very large alterations. Beore making any radical change would like many changes in the draft bill proposed by the Government. Now it was not intended to make such sweeping changes. Among those to be introduced was the franchise in boroughs and cities. In the past the Acts had been based on the London County 1

Council, and as they had found an alteration necessary it was but natural that our Acts should be amended. The voters in the London County Council c6uld not exercise more than one vote, in the colony some persons could exercise 5 votes ; no person could be nominated or vote for one ward, or one parish or ward in a parish. The qualification was practically a house- ' holder — a person paying for one room was entitled to kote. He believed it would be an improvement to alter in accordance with the London Council Act. The Opposition had objected to the Advances to Settlers. By the following figures it would be seen that the Government, instead of having done harm had done the settlers real substantial service, as in addition to lending to settlers he saw no reason why money should not be advanced to assist the dairying industry at 5 per cent, or lesser rate, and he believed the Government would be serving the country well. The number of applications received for advances were 765, and the amount applied tor £3,562,181. The number of applications up to 1898 were 59(15. the amount granted being £1,759---6y. The number of advances authorised but declined by the applicants up to May 1898 were 706, with £334,355. The amount authorised to 5265 applicants amounted to All the advances made to start the office had been paid with the exception of £22,---000. The account would be thus clear of any other account of the colony, so that no part of the colony has suffered by this Act, and the borrowers were paying for the expenses themselves. Observe the difference between 12 J per cent, in the old days and the sums now charged settlers. He thought the Government should continue to borrow sufficient to keep on helping the settlers. The Public Debt showed on the 3lst March, 1891, £38,830,350, and on 31st March, 1898, it was £44,963,427, being an increase of £6,133,074. This increase appears large, but the sums were made up in this way for the purchase of Native lands, £643,540, and trom his knowledge he knew the Government had a very good asset. Amongst other items the amounts for Advances to Settlers came to £1,500,---000, Loans to Local Bodies £840,600, and Lands for Settlement purposes £909,566 ; Bank of New Zealand preferred shares, £500,000 ; Increases by conversions, £607,000; and Sinking Fund accretions, £1,350,200. The Advances to Settlers and Loans to Local Bodies pay their own cost, though the colony is liable at large. These sums have been so invested as not to be a burden upon the colony. Some of the public works were remunerative. In his opinion we were trying to do too much 'with our limited resources, and posterity should be made to bear their fair share. It had been said it was a mistake of the Government to take, over the Bank of New Zealand. The financial journals had eulogised the Government for tak»> ing this action. It had been sard the Government had with the Parliamentary Building acted illegally. The AuditorGeneral would only authorise expenditure sanctioned by Parliament. He had always been anxious that an expenditure 'should be made to preserve the finest public library south of the line — .1 library valued at £100,000. The Government started to build a suitable place for the safety of the books, and the expenditure had been £7.968. the total amount of liabilities £4.269, and the gross total is £12,237. He agieed with this expenditure. The Government had been accused of manufacturing a bogus surplus. The Auditor-General declares the result, and he has declared the surplus. His duty is to see that the accounts are properly and accurately kept. The system of accounts is the same now as it was when other Governments were in office. He (the speaker) believed that the accounts might be set out in a simpler manner so that they ould be more easily understood.. The year's revenue shows a surplus of £521,000, and is made up of surplus of ordinary revenue £264,230, which was obtained from Customs £55,252, Stamps £59,232, Land and Income Tax £17,507, - Beer Tax £6,179, Railways £95.572. miscellaneous £17,194, Territorial Revenue £13,296, Sinking; Fund Debentures £69,600, and Ad- ,. vances to Settlers repaid £22,000. These figures show very conclusively that the finances to-day are as sound as they have ever been in the history of this country, and that was why He could hot see there was a need for ■alteration in the Government, He claimed that the finance was sound as it showed a larger surplus gained with* out increased taxation, in fact, indeed by many charges having been taken off many articles. In conclusion he. thanked the audience for their atten* tion, and was glad to see the interest they, took in politics. (Applause.) The Chairman intimated that Mr Stevens would be glad to answer any questions. After a pause Mr Thynne hoped that Mr Stevens would secure some of the surplus r«venue from the Foxton wharf for the improvement of the shallows in the river. He pointed out that the wharf originally belonged to the Harbour Board, out of which the wharf had. tq^ be kept in repair, and the pilot service' maintained. When the Board ceased, the Railway Department took over the management and revenue, and had since retained the profit for the railway. He (the speaker) contended that this should not be, but that the funds should be available for improvements, and he asked Mr Stevens to make enquiries and try and secure a sum of money for the purpose named. Mr Stevens said he would not only interview the Minister of Railways and the Minister of Marine but would in the Houae ask the question bo that the reply iball be recorded. He would do his very best to have what he believed to be a very great injustice, removed. The Marine Department ia entitled to a fair share towards improving the river in this direction. Mr Thynne next asked that Mr Htevtns would interview the Minister for Railways about a shed on the wharf at the deepwater berth. It had often been promised but never erected. It would be of very great advantage to the flaxmillers and the storekeepers.

Mr Stevenssaid he would get the Minister to sanction the expenditure. He suggested that resolutions on these subjects should emanate from the local body. Mr Westwood asked that the question of preservation of flax on the Motoa Estate Bhould bo again raised as it was a matter of much importance. The Borough Council had moved resolutions on the matter but the Government had declared the Estate belonged to the Assets Co. It was said that all the flax would soon be grubbed up. Mr Stevens replied that Mr McKerrow had visited the Motba Estate, and had reported adversely as to the purchase of it. Subsequent to that he had been asked to get the Government to purchase a portion of the estate to preserve the flax. The Minister had said he had no power and fresh legislation would be needed, arid he would suggest this might be added to the other two resolutions suggested asking that an Act should be amended and he would do his best to try and get it passed. It would not be for want of trying. ' Mr Mitchell proposed a vote of thank* find confidence to Mr Stevens and confidence ip the Government. Seconded by Mr Spelman.— Carried. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded a capital meeting.