Post-Sessional Address.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 58, 10 February 1885, Page 2

Post-Sessio nal Address.

MR MACARTHUR M.H.R.

Mr D. 11. Maearthur, the mem' er for Manawatu, addresed his constituents' . last evening at the Town Hall. The meetn'ig was moderately 'attendeJl at_ first, but the hall was comfortably filled later on. Mr Thomas' King, who was voted to the chair, saiil that he was sure that it would be quite superfluous for him to say anything in-introducing their member, Mr Maearthur, to the meeting, whose; Parliamentary career ho (Mr \ King) "believed all 1 had watched with m- I ; terest and who all would admit had redeemed tho pledges lie had made. He • now called on Mr Maearthur to address ! the meeting. Mr Maearthur said that although the ■ last time he had occupied that platform j there was a much larger audience, it was ; clear that the electors were satisfied iwith what he had done or there would •have been a good' many more present. 'That was. the first time he had had the pleasure of making a post-sessional address. He believed it was the first time that they had had, a representative t<) give an account of his stewardship, and .he hoped he should have the pleasure of xneetiug them on many, occasions to give an account of his Parliamentary labours. .With reference to what had -been dove during the past session, he could only j give them a cursory account. Through the reduction m the price of Hansard, that publication -had been brought more within the reach of everyone, and they all no doubt had read something of what he had done m 'Parliament He voted for the cheapening of Hansard. There were twenty copies allowed to each representative, and he had sent his twenty copies to electors m the district. They all remembered the history of the past session. At first it was m a state of chaos. It was not before three or four weeks that anything was done. All that time was consumed by a no-confidence vote and the debates upon it. It was difficult to say what was - coming next. 'Well, the Atkinson Ministry resigned. He thought that to somo extent a mistake. The Vbgol ' Ministry was composed of very incongruous elements. There was Yogel, tho apostle of borrowing, anil Mr Stout, the mau of advanced ideas, and Mr Macandrew. We then had a state of things which lasted some days. Sir George Grey's •small band of followers, some 5 or 6, thought they could turn the scale and turn any Ministry out by a shuffle of the cards. The Canterbury members formed a large majority of the House. It was quiet evident that the fate of the Ministry was foreseen. At this time.greafc efforts wore made to form a coahtion,which was within an aco of coming off. It only fell through, he believed, by some misunderstanding between those who had the management of it. He thought it was well it did. However, on the fall of the continuous Ministry, as it was called, Mr Stout formed a Government. He took m Mr Tole to propitiate Sir George Grey. Sir George Grey refused to join any Government m which Sir Julus Yogel was included. For a long time the Stout-Vogel Ministry stood on sufferance, but Sir Julius Vogel's Financial, Statement turned the scale. Though there was a great deal of padding; m the Financial Statement, there could be no doubt there was also a great deal of ability m it. With regard to the Sinkiug : Fund, Sir Julius Vogel's policy enabled the Colony to evade the financial pressure aiid relieved taxation. Sir Julius Yogel thinks the Property Tax frightens away capital. He (Mr Maearthur) would now refer to the Consolidated Stock Act. Sir Julius Yogel showed us that on many loans we were paying B£ -per cent; down to 7-J- per cent. Having stated this to the House, "Sir Julius Yogel thought that state of things ought to be clone away with by issuing short-elated debentures to anticipate the conversion of inscribed stock. The colonial debt has increased by this scheme. He (Mr Ma- . carthur) did not propose to go into the details of the Financial Statement, but he thought that Sir. Julius Yogel; was scarcely sincere it the matter of the £400,001) Deficiency T3ills. There was a general feeling that .any reduction m tho Education vote was unwise. 'E>ir Julius Yogel thinks we are spending too much for Education, -but he did upt propound a*ny cheaper schome* The five shillings capitation on children was remitted. [The remainder -. ; of^tho report of Mr. Macarthur's speech will appear to-mor-row. At the conclusion oi his address, and after ' a few question hail been put and answered, a hearty, and unanimous vote of confidence m Mr Maearthur was' carried with acclanmiatioix.