MR. SHARP'S MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 326, 7 December 1875, Page 2

MR. SHARP'S MEETING.

Mr John Sharp addresied a somewhat thinly attended meeting of the electors at the Provincial Hall last night. Mr Everett, who wai voted to the chair, sail that he regretted that the Mayor, who. was to have o cupied that position, was p cVented by ill-health' fom attending. A numerously signed requisition hai beeu presented to Mr Sharp, asking him to come forward, nnd he had agreed to do so, an 1 if lie c rried out the programme he had aha 'owed forth in his published adlress he wai sue that he would meet with the support of a large number of electors. Although Mr Sh *rp lia 1 not been born in Nelson, he might be called Nelson bred. All he pose sed ha J been made by hrn in Nelson, an! was owing to his energy, perseverance, and business habits, ami such a man was well suited to repres* nt Nelsou in the Assembly. He had re igncd bis position as R sident Magistrate to enter into commercial pursuits, and he was now asked to enter into the hotbe i of politi* s. He (the Chairman; hoped that if they thought him a fit and proper person to represent them, they would unmistakoably pronounce their opinion. Mr Sharp said that before proceeding to other bußlaesj he would state how it was he had come forwnr J as a candidate. At the last election he had been asked to contest the se«t with Mr Luckie, but at that time he had just embarked in bnsiness, and it would have been unfair to himself and the electors to have undertaken duties to which he could not give his full attention, but he promised that if he were again asked he would agree to come forward. That invitation had been given to hiu), and he felt bound to red«e n his pledge. He had askei them to meet him that night, as it was only fair to thetu to give them an opportunity of h* Bring the candi lates' views be r ore the nomination day, co that if they did not approve of ihem they might look out f«r someone ehe The first question upen which he would touch was the abo'irion of provinces. He was not going to quote Hansard, ot which they must a I be we try, but would endeavor to trivel over new ground. They would no doubt remember that although the Abolition Bii' had parsed, ifc was with the proviso that it should not come in o operation until after the next session of Parliament. The opposition to the Bill had been of a twofold character and from two classes of persons. There were those who opposed it as depriving the people of their privilege?, and those who desired that it ehou d first be submitted to the people. With reference to th's latter class, their future opposition was done away with by the proviso, of which he had spoken. With re- . gard to the other kind of opposition he must any that he had read all the speeches carefully, but was utterly unable to discover what privilege? wouid be lost iv losing Provincialism. The only privilege, if privilege it were, was the right of passing huadreds of Provincial Acts, msny of which were disallowed, many ultra vires, and others of doubtful value. The va'ue even ot the Appropriation Act was questionable, ai the expenditure was in reility handed over to a kind of despotism by the Councils voting far larger sums than they had at their disposal. He would now give a short history of the rise and fall of Provincialism. When the Constitution Act was first brought into operati n by Sir George Grey, it was, to use the words of the Speaker of the Legislative Council, launched stem foremost. The meaning of these words was that instead of calling the House of Representatives together first and letting them decide up in the powers of the respective go- ■ vernments. Sir George Grey, being afraid to meet them, allowed the Provincial Councils to meet and commence legislation. Tho result waa that the Supe intendents thought themselves little kings and the Councils began to fancy that they were not fir below the Imperial Parliament, «nd assumed powers which certainly wore never intended for them. When the House of Representatives met at last it was full of those who pos-esse.l exag gerai el notions of tho functions of Provincial Governments. The first session proved almost harmless, bnt in 1856 the Provincial party mustered all its strength, and passed resolutions giving them the control over the waste lands of the colony. This wai known as the celebrated " Compact of 1856." In the same session (he believed) they pissed an Act empowering the raising of half a million, which waa guaranteed by th • Imperial Government out of which £200,000 was devoted to liquidating the Ntw Zealand Company's claims, £180,000 to the purcha?e of land in the No th Island, and the remainder was spent in various wajs. The land fund of the S mth was then handed over to the Superintendents aud Provincial Councils, and c >ni tet-ng ; the insufficient means of communication, and the geographical position of the various centres, it waa decided that immigration aud public works should be carded out by the local governments out of the proceeds of the land. The first blow struck at Provincialism was the passing of the Consoli Jation of Loans Act in 1867, by which the provinces were deprived of the powe- of borrowing, but it received its re*l death blow ia 1870, when the Immigration and Public Works Act became law. From that (Jay he had regarded Provincialism as a thing of the past. Now what weie the benefits they would derive from the Abolition Act ? First ttiere would be one legisla'urc instead of teu making laws; secondly there would be greater simplicity in tbe finance of the colony, whereas at preseut he would defy any one to understand the real position of the colony with reaard to its revenue, debts and loans ; j thirdly, it would have the etTect f raising the { colony in the outside opinion, and thus I affording greater facilities for raiding new j loans when required. He trusted that when abo'ilion had become an accomplished fact and the fight was over, those members now in opposition would give their test abi.iths and endeavors to framing and passing a really good local Government Bill. There would be great difficulties in the way of ..-aming a measure that would prove satla'actbry to all, and probibly it could not be accomplished in one session, but would reg lire a uendment-i and additions, but patience, perseverance, and iuduatry would be sure to command success in the end. His own id?a was that the measure should be one of a general character applicable to the whole colony, but that the details should bo left to the locsl B-ards. From the first he had felt that the great fault In Provincia' institutions had beeu that i ■ stead of leaving tiie legislative iunotions to the General Assembly and the administration to the provinces, the Utter had bean allowed to legislate equally with the Assembly. Had it not been for this Provincialism would have lasted much longer, and thin was the great principle to be k-^pt in view in framing the new coustitution. He would now refer to the immigration and public works policy. There was an old but a perfectly true maxim to the effect thafc to stand still was to i retrograde, and to some extent that had been experienced here. He believed it would be found necessary to borrow money for the completion of works already commenced, and to carry out those that were proposed. He had no fear of the colony being unable to pay the interest on the loans, but the extravagance that had hitherto prevailed must be checked. In the last ] session but one Sir Julius Yogel had stated that a million and a. half had beea spent ia buying the auppotfc of

the provinces. That was not the way to appropriate the money, but if it was judiciously laid out there would be nothing to fear for the future. In the construction of railways it was generally allowed that until they were completed the interest on the money rer quired should be added to the capital. Now the so-called Nelson and Foxhill Railway had, as promised, been carried out leisurely, four yeara having been devoted to its construction, but if it really was a necessary line, it should have been pushed through speedily, so that the receipts might have been available towards paying the interest (For continuation of News see Jourth page.)

3*125 SHABP & PICKERING ,

which had been accumulating owing to the dilatoriness exhibited in its completion. He would now touch upon the administration of the waste lands of the Crown. By the Compact of 1856 the provinces were bound to carry out immigration aud public works, but when the colony adopted the policy of 1870 it practically put an end to that Compact, and it thus took upon itself the duties in this respect that had formerly devolved upon the Provincial Governments. The General Assembly in sanctioning this had actually broken that Compact, and there must be an fend to it, and he did not believe that Otago and Canterbury would be allowed to monopolise the land fund, while other provinces were starving for want of assistance. When the Compact was entered into, communication between the provinces was so unfrequent that something of the kind was almost necessary, but since then circumstances had entirely changed. It had been said that one code of land laws applicable to the whole colony was impossible, but he did not believe this, although quite willing to admit that there were many difficulties in the way. Still he thought the lands might be classified as was done in Nelson, and regulations made accordingly. The leasing instead of. selling of Crown lands might perhaps be excellent in theory, but he knew of no instance of its having been reduced to practice, and he thought it would be dangerous to begin to administer the lands merely upon a theory which waa not justified by previous experience. We were looking forward to immigration on a large scale, and one of the .principal inducements to immigrants was the facilities afforded them of acquiring a freehold property. This was one difficulty that had to be met, and another was providing due security to the tenant for compensation for improvements. He should have no objection co the lands being classified and dealt with thus : — Town lands to be sofa, agricultural lands to be sold, but pastoral and mineral lands to be leased. With regard to education, he thought that any measure bearing upon it must be one of a general character, and he hoped that in dealing with it the characteristic features of our local Act, with the framing and amending of which he had had much to do both as a member of the Provincial Council and of the Executive, would be kept in view. It was a thoroughly practical Act, and bad been found to work well, and its mains provisions might be unhesitatingly adopted by the colony. [Regarding the constitution of the Lower House he would like to see it elected triennially instead of every five years. Let them look forward and say whether it' was desirable that during the next ten years the electors should have only one opportunity of giying practical expression to their views on all important questions. He had not fixed upon three years as the proper term of existence of a Parliament without consideration, and c thought that any lesser time would not give a Government a fair chance of carrying out and developing their policy, while any longer period would Dot be fair to the electors. If no other member brought the matter forward, he would if elected. He should like to see some stricter Act regarding members of the Assembly receiving offices of remuneration from the Government such as would prevent them from accepting such offices not ojly during their term of membership but for some considerable time afterwards. It might be said that this might prevent men of ability from being appointed to positions for which they were eminently adapted, but he thought such cases might be met by special resolutions of the House. The Upper House, he thought, should be an elective one, instead of members being pitchforked into it for no other reason than that thejr had money, while older and more experienced colonists who had borne tbe heat and burden of the day were entirely overlooked. The term of years for which members of the Upper House Bhould be elected ought to be longer than that of the Lower House, as it was undesirable that when any party question was agitating the public miud both Houses should be elected together. He thought that too much of the time of the session was occupied in talking and party fighting, and that Acta aod the Estimates were hurried through at the end, thereby authorising far larger sums for carrying out the Civil Service than were actually necessary. Io this particular item he fait sure that large reductions might be made. With reference to the incidence of taxation he might at once say that he would not support a wool tax", as he if as not i a favor of any tax calculated to fetter the commerce of the country, and it must be remembered tbat such an impost wouid not only affect the large ruoholder but the small flockowners, and those to a more appreciable extent. A property and income tax would meet with his support, and he believed tbat most of the large property holders were quite ready and willing to bear their fair share of the burdens of the colony.* A consolidation of Provincial . Acts was absolutely necessary, and one feature of the measures of last session was that Provincial boundaries were still to remain as before. This was required, because until something had been substituted for it a Provincial legislation must remain in force, as otherwise there could be no laws upon local matters. It therefore behoved the electors to see that their representatives were men "well acquainted with the Provincial Acts ana their working. With reference to natters ol a more locai nature

be might say that no effort should be wanting on his part to promote the Nelson and West Coast railway, At the present moment he believed, though he was not quite certain, that a gentleman was on his way out with Sir Julius Yogel to take up the negotiations that had previously fallen through. He himself had been in active correspondence with persons in England on this subject, and he was by no means without hope that this one thing; needful for the prosperity of the Province would be carried out. The Chairman had alluded to the large stake he held in tho Province, aod he thought it a fair argument to use, that where his own interests were so greatly concerned he was likely, in studying them, to promote those of bis constituents. He i addressed them tbat evening with a full sense of the responsibilities he was desirous of undertaking, not only in representing them fairly and honestly, bnt in endeavoring to advance the interests of the colony at large. There was one personal matter to which he felt bound to allude. He had been told that it was said that be was only trying to get into the House io order to secure a Government billet He felt inclined to laugh at such a statement, but perhaps it was necessary to contradict it ; aod he would remind tbem that be had been in the Government service, and, had he thought fit to do so, might have retained his oflice. He thanked those present for the attention with which tbey had listened to him, aod would now be prepared to answer any questions that might be put to him. Mr. W. Harley had a question or two to ask, and if tbe meeting did not approve of tbem he hoped tbey would hiss' him off the platform. After expending some time and a good many words in coming to the point, he expressed a wish to know whether Mr. Sharp approved of an elected or nominated Upper House, aod, if the former, for how many years he would have them elected ? Mr. Sharp repeated the opinion he had formerly expressed. Mr W. Habley : What would you do for the benefit of the community at large ? How would you improve the education question ? Mr Sh&kp tbouht the former a somewhat wide question to reply to. The latter he had already referred to. Mr Blanch: Would you support a continuation of free immigration ? Mr Sharp would support both free and nominated immigration to a certain extent, but thought that care should be taken not to go beyond the actual requirements of the colony, which, to be prosperous, must increase its population at all events within reasonable Hmitß. Mr Blanch said that there was a depression generally felt throughout the colot)y jußt now. In Dunedin, trade bad stagnated, mechanics were walking about with nothing to do, and wages were coming down hand over fiat. Mr Akersten: Would you assist to remove the existing tax on tea, coffee, and sugar, on tbe latter of which it is unreasonably high? If you will agree to this you will find favor with numbers of the working classes. Mr Shabp was not disposed to pander to aoy popular cry in order to secure his election, but he believed it was quite possible by the exercise of greater economy ia the expenditure to save those duties, whiob were the first in which any relaxation should be made. If by the removal of these duties the Government would not suffer to any greater amount than might be got back in the shape of an igcouie and property tax, such as he had pointed out, then he might support it. Mr Aorsten : Would you as a brewer support an increased tax upon mait and spirits ? Mr Sharp : The question you have put is partly personal and partly political. Id its former aspect, I reply to it that I should have not the slightest objection. Viewed politically, and regarding spirits, I answer that I would go as far as possible without imposing such a duty as would tend to encourage smuggling. Mr Augarde then made a speech somewhat more lengthy than tbe occasion required, and concluded by omitting to ask any question. Mr Acton Adams wished to know whether Mr Sharp would be in favor oi an intercolonial treaty which wouid admit Australian wines free of duty, and establish uniform postal aod telegraph rates. Mr Sharp would reply to the latter part of the question first to the effect that he thought it would be to the benefit of all that such charges should be uniform. The other was a large question on which he hesitated to express an opinion without some data to go upon. Before agreeing to a treaty of that kind he should require some information as to the effect it would bave upon exports from this colony to Australia as compared with the .imports. We must not prejudice our own interests, but must make sure of securing a quid pro quo. Mr Akersten : If you are elected, and before your term has expired yoa should leave us for another provinoe, would you resign your seat ? Mr Sharp : Certainly, as I consider that you would always be better represented by one who resided amongst you. Mr Acton Adams wished to know whether Mr Sharp was in favor of tbe General Government taking upon itself the maintenance of the main trunk lines of roads, so as to ensure tbeir being kept in order whore (hey passed

through districts in which tbe rates raised were insufficient for the purpose. , Mr Siutti* thought that the districts should be large, and that the rates together with the Government subsidy should be divided into two portions, one to he haoded over to the distriot hoards and the other to the Shire Councils for the express purpose of keeping up the trunk lines. No more questions being asked, Mr Akersten said that he considered that Mr Sharp had replied to all the questions put to him fairly, aod to his (Mr Akersten's) mind, satisfactorily, and he had great pleasure in proposing a resolution to the effect that Mr Sharp was a fit and proper person to represent the city of Nelson in tho General Assembly. This was seconded by Mr Augardb, and carried unanimously. Mr Sharp thanked those present for such a mark of their confidence, aad proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, which terminated the prccaedioga.