MR. SHEPHARD'S MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 16, 19 January 1871, Page 2

MR. SHEPHARD'S MEETING.

0 A well attended meeting took place at the Provincial Hall last night, in compliance with the invitation of Mr. Shephard, one of the candidates for the City. Dr. Irvine, having been voted to the chair, called upon Mr. Shehhard, who, having stated his reasons lor calling the meeting, said that he did not deem it desirable to travel over the old field of colonial polities, as at present there was but one point of paramount interest, namely, the Government policy as brought down last session. For some years past there had been a gradually increasing depression prevailing throughout the colony, a depression that was not confined to any one particular class, but extended to all alike, to the working man, tho trader, aud the owner of laud. It was felt that the colony had arrived at the lowest point at which it was possible for a country to exist, and therefore it appeared to the House of Representatives, and to the Government, that some change must take place, aud consequently the Government scheme was produced. -This was no party question, for all were agreed that some remedy must be applied, and that speedily, but, at the same time it was felt that if the scheme was rejected aud an appeal made to the country the result would be that it would be accepted in its entirety. This was not deemed desirable, and it was therefore thought best to partially accept it in order that it might be fully discussed, and such alterations made, as might appear to the new Parliament to be necessary. (Mr. Shephard then read the details of the scheme with the various sums proposed to be expended on the different works.) Among tha railways proposed to be constructed was that between Nelson and Cobden, and there was some hope at that time that we should reap some benefits ia . the construction of a railway from Nelson to Foxhill, but this was thrown out by the Upper House who would not agree to it, unless with the distinct understanding ' that it should be carried on to Cobden. It therefore happened that Nelson alone of all the provinces was deprived 1 of any immediate advantage from the txOvernmerit scheme. - The -beneficial effects of railways as a means of- opening up the j country were . undeniable. At present' the limits' b'f settlement had extended so ~ far !as ."-'produce could be rendered available, and the only ch,aric.e of extending. colonisatidii was j by a system of railways toi! be; ' c6ps&UQted;':by borrowed, money. Most of those present,, had roadman article from the Economist, which argued that railways must not be pushed ahead of population, but circurastauces were different with us to what

they were at home. The country was now occupied as far as it could pay to raise produce, and t could be settled no furl her without the assistance of railways. When the great line across the American continent was firsti spol^en of, 25 years ago, it was utaiQ&l&iffe Times that land made lives, and lines made land. And so it would bo here. The success that had attended the Pacific line, aud the results brought about by it should be au encouragement to us to do the same here. To leave the country . unopened would be to leave it a comparative wilderness, and. to confine our settlements to a" »arrow fringe round the coast. It- was a prospect before us that in such a country ■ns this the -settlers were already becoming inconveniently crowded, and fathers of families were looking gloomily forward to the future for their sons. It might be asked, how would railways pay, but he would ask iv reply, how do roads and bridges pay P.They certairjy returned no interest, but they were an absolute neces-, sity to civilised man, and yielded- 1 iucW* rectly a return for the original outlay. The question of the first importance was how to get the country peopled, and not whether railways would pay. But he believed, they would pay, and that in two ways ; they would pay the colony by the increased customs duties to be derived from the larger population they would create, and they would pay the provinces by tho increased capitation grant to which they would be entitled. The taxation at present was felt heavily by the people of the colony, but the cost of Government would not increase in proportion to the population, and consequently the burdens of each individual would be lightened by the taxation beiug spread over a larger surface. The mode by which settlers could acquire land was an importaut point, and in the Provincial Council, lie had brought forward certain resolutions providing that those who had not the means to pay at once should have their selections assessed, aud by paying interest for a certain number of years' on that assessment they should become entitled to have their Crown Grants. The province would thus be paid iv full for every acre, aud a large Dumber of settlers would be induced to take up laud. This, however, had been thrown out by the Upper House, but a similar measure would be necessary in connection witb the railroads, as it, was to our interest to tie immigrants down to the soil by making them owners of it. Our greet aim was to get the country settled, and a system of public works carried out judiciously and carefully would furnish the means for colonisation. We must open up the country by means of public works, aud to make these pay we must people it. No. doubt, efforts would be made at home to send out paupers and disabled persons, but this must be carefully guarded against as what we wanted was good, hardworking men who were able, and not ashamed, to turn their hand to auy honest labor. To induce such men to come out, we must first offer them employment, aud then provide them with land. Thus the colony would become far more prosperous, for when once the tide of immigration had fairly set iv, the Government immigrants would soon be followed by men of capital. Another feature in the Government scheme was the providing a water supply for the goldfields. Water was the life of success iv mining, ; aß.i without it no profit could be made. AY present what works were in existence were so insignificant and so scattered that they were of no use to small parties about the country. The Assembly had voted £300,000 for this purpose to .be.,'apportioned by the Superintendents of the Provinces. Nelson with her vast extent of auriferous lands would be entitled to a large portion, of this sum, which would prove a vast boon, and soon pay : for itself. At preseut, it was pitiful to see districts languishing for want of the water that. was running to waste in such abundance, but it was clear that to bring auriferous soil aud water together Government aid must be invoked. Of all the works, sanctioned during the- last session, noue would prove more beneficial than this. One subject in "which he had always taken special itfte'rest was that of native industry.' By means of railways a Targe and prosperous agricultural community might be formed here, but all people could not settle down to farming, which was a pursuit distasteful to many, who on tbe other. hand, might have, a taste for : mechanics. : To a{d such to follow their bent, both the General and Provincial Governments . -should : afford every assistance in their power. 'There was up reasou why we should not produce everything, we "required for f the 'wants of a peophVkfor wel had all ihe necessary mar terials, minerals:,, wool, ..ajicl.-.jSax, at hand in abundance, besides which, the country supplied" unlimited water power, as every gully provided the means for turning a .waterwb.ee). It was for the colonial

Parliament to devise means, either by Inau or bonus, whereby those who had ihe skill to produce such articles as were requisite, should be enabled to do so. Instead" ol imporiing wollen goods, they should all be manufactured here, but such undertakings must be fostered by the Government and by the people. Mr. Shephard concluded by inviting those present to put any questions they might think fit to him. Mr. Lightband, in an excellent and effective speech, for which we regret we cannot -find space, asked Mr. Shephard what were his views on Central and Provincial Governments ; how he would propose to get at the absentees, who shduid be made to pay their share towards the government of the country, the more so, as a great deal of settlement which would otherwise have taken place, had been prevented by absentee proprietorship, as the owners demanded such exorbitant prices for their land ; and also, would he endeavor bring about some change in the Licensing Amendment Act, as nothing could be more iniquitous or degrading than Ihe number of public-houses now kept on the Wesfc^ Coast Goldfields by unmarried women, 'as one of the results of which, Mr. LightbancNnstnnced the late murder near Greymoulh. He then made reference to the late unjustifiable appointment pf a District Land Registrar, and hoped our Representatives would look to tbis, aud indeed, that they would do all iv their power to prevent the Government multiplying officers at the rate they were now doing, and which, if they coutinued to do, would render them most uupopular throughout the countr}*. Mr. Shephard had frequently expressed himself strongly in favor of Provincial institutions, and saw no reason now to alter his views. He believed that the country could be opened up much more cheaply by local bodies like Provincial Governments thau by a Central Government. With regard to absentees, aud the way by wh'^ch they could be made to contribute their fair share towards the government'of the country, he was prepared to advocate _a Property and lucorne Tax, which would thus enable us to reduce many of the burdens that now press so heavily on us and principally on the working classes. The lower rate of Customs duties that . would follow would be productive of beneficial results to the country. With refeveuce to the.appointment of Registrar referred to by Mr. Lightband he would say that no one could deprecate such things more strongly than himself.- Mr. Sharp had proved a most able and efficient offiper, and he considered, had been exceedingly ill treated, in addition to which the country was called upon to pay an additional £400 a year. As to the Licensing Amendment Act, that was a question for the Provincial Council. Mr. Webb. Do you consider that money borrowed for immigration purposes should be spent in introducing persons of . foreign nations? Mr. Shephard. I confess that I would not spend one shilling of this money but of the British Islands. ' •' : ■ •-' -Mr. Witney made some rather confused remarks having reference to the Bartley Pension Bill, the taxation of brewers, and the almighty dollar, but the links that were necessary to connect his subjects were wanting, and consequently our reporter was-unable to follow him. ; "Mr. Haddow. Do you intend to resign the Provincial Treasurership? Mr. Sheppaed. No. . I shall pay T a clerk to do the work out of my own pocket, and he will be responsible to me, and I to the. public. "- r . Mr. Haddow. Will you endeavor to abolish the Pension Act? Mr. Shephard. Decidedly not. I look upon it as but fair to the officers of the Government' that, as they receive far smaller salaries than are: paid by banks and mercantile houses, some provision should be made for them when they are past work. . If the Act were aholished the salaries should be raised, but I think that ; , itjsfar better to provide for pensions. -..!jMi\ Haddow. Will you endeavor to get the Bankruptcy Act amended. Mr. Shephard. I know Very little of the practical vyoi'king of ihe Act, but if it were pointed out that improvements could be made I would render every assistance in my power to effect them. No more' questious being put, Mr. Levestam proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Shephard which was carried, and the meeting broke up.