MR SHARP'S MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 21, 24 January 1878, Page 2

MR SHARP'S MEETING.

There was a good attendance at the Provincial Hall last night on the occasion of Mr Sharp's address to the electors. The chair was taken by Mr Everett, who said he hoped there would be no interruptions duriug the address, as after it was over those present would have au opportunity of asking what questions they pleased. Mr Sharp said that to those who carefully read Hansard what he had to say might prove a tiresome repetition, but to those who did not he hoped to make his address interesting. He would first ask them to beariu mind that when he addressed them prior to his election, he said that he would be iv favor of au Education Act somewhat similar to that in vogue in Nelson, of the abolition of the provinces, of the unity of the colony, and of the colonialisatibn of the land fund. He would now touch upon the principal topics that came under debate, and he could not do better than begin with the Governor's speech. This, he thought, ought to be one of two thitig : it should either be confined to a review of the past, or should be a declaration of the policy of the Government for the future ; he would prefer the latter. But on this occasion it was neither the one nor the other, and the consequence was. that, instead of there beiug a debate on the Government policy at once, the early part of the session was occupied in useless altercations between the Ministry and the Opposition. One of the first subjects to give rise to debate was the Charitable Institutions Bill, which, in his opinion, would have operated very unfairly upon the less wealthy districts. This was rejected. The next was the Education Bill. The whole of the Nelsou members were unanimous in trying to obtain provisions simslar to those contained iv the Nelson Act, but their endeavors produced little result. He was sorry to find that the present Government had repudiated the promises made by their predecessors with regard to the aided schools, as in reply to a question from Mr Gisborne, when the Estimates were under consideration, the Treasurer had pledged himself that the promises of the late Government should be carried out, and he (Mr Sharp) could not but believe that this would yet be done. Over the Financial Statement of the late Government he would pass lightly, as most of its figures and facts had been adopted by the present Treasurer. There was one fallacy, however, which underlay the whole of that statement, namely, that a sum of £250,000 raised by Treasury Bills had heen treated as part of the consolidated revenue, the result of which was that a surplus of .£148,000 was shown, whereas it ought to have been a deficit of £102,000. It might be interesting to those present to know whafc the debt of the colony was at the present time. This, after deducting £1,400,000, the amount accrued as sinking fund, was £19,200,000, and of this £17 J- millions had been expeuded upon public works, so that there was something very considerable to represent the outlay. Mr Sharp then referred at considerable length to the Native Land Courts Bill. His own idea was that we should go to the natives and say that the native lands should be dealt with in something the same way as we dea,lt with our own. If the title is clear there is no trouble, if no. we take it into Courts presided over by judges thoroughly conversant with the laws of the land, by whom and a jury, instructed by these judges, the matter is settled. So with the native lands; judges of their own race, who thoroughly understood the native titles, should be appointed, with English Registrars, and these having seen that the titles were marketable, the natives should be afc liberty to go and dispose of their lands to whom they pleased. One proposal was made to the effect that the Government shouid obtain enough money to get the

whole of the surveys of the native landa completed, and then to have them dealt with by a "Waste Lands Board, but this was not approved of. The next matter to give rise to debate wag the Local Option BUI. This passed the Becoad reading by ft large majerity, but ultimately broke down because M* Fox attempted to make it so arbitrary in its provisions that. ihe House could not possibly agree to it. If he had had the common sense to work with thoea members who were willing (o assist him, a very: beneficial measure might have been agreed to. The Settlements Works Advances Bill was very specious in theory, but when it was found that it was only proposed to set apart £50,000 (o aid the Settlements all over' the colony, it appeared to the House to be a grant farce, and was dropped. The Waka Maori debate was the first direct attack upon the Government. Upon this, however, he had not voted against them, but it was about this time that he and others felt that they could no longer give them their support, and it was clear that (hey could not carry any of their moasures, or command the eonfUence of the House. Shortly afterwards it was proposed to himself and the others who were not satisfied with the then slat^ of affairs, that they should join the Middle Party, This they agreed to ; but before doing so, he asked those with whom he was in communication, whom they proposed as a leader, whom as members of the Government, and what was to be their policy. In dealing with questions of tbis kind it was usual to discuss them with the principals, but with go-betweens, and with them be had a direct understanding that his support would only be given on the condition that neither Sir George Grey nor Mr Macandrew was to be in the new Ministry. Hib reason for objecting to these two was that Sir Grey was an avowed Sepnrationisf, and that Mr Macandrew might reasonably be expected to stand up for the compact of 1856, which was in direct opposition to his (Mr Sharp's) views on the land fund. It was then promised, not by Sir George nor by Mr Macandrew, but by the two intermediate parties that these two should uot be in the Ministry, but that Sir William Fitzherbert was to be the leader. It was then agreed that Mr Larnach was to bring forward the No-confidence motion, and that upon its being carrieJ, Sir William Fitzherbert was to be offered, and. it was understood, to accept the leadership, and to be unfettered in his selection of colleagues with the exception of Sir George and Mr. Mr Macandrew. The motion was carried, and the Atkiuson Ministry were ejected. Nothing was done for some days, and ultimately Sir George was sent for, upon Mr. Larnach's recommendation. Those who joined the Opposition upon the conditions referred to then considered themselves independent, as the Middle Party had broken faith with them. Some days elapsed, the Financial Statement was promised but not made, and he was then asked if he would support Major Atkinson in a noconfidence motion. Considering that it would be most dangerous to support a Ministry containing men who held such views aa Sir George and Mr Macandrew, he agreed to this. The motion was discussed, and the division upon it resulted in a tie, but as they considered that the question had been burked, they agreed (o bring it on again. But in the meantime Sir George had made up his raind to adopt the unity of the colony, and the colonization of the land fund, two principles to which they had never anticipated that he would give his support. However, as.he made these proposals, he (Mr Sharp) pledged himself to support him for the remainder of the session, and did so (cheers). He was sorry to hear tha; mistaken statement of Mr Larnach's. about the daily deficit, and also that the statement with regard to the deficiency stated to have been discovered in the previous Government's accounts, which was disseminated by the wires, was allowed to pass uncontraiictod by the Treasurer, who knew that it ditl not actually exiat, but was merely a difference in tlie method of stating the liabilities. In connection with tbe Land Bill, he might say the although he regarded the minimum rate of £ 1 per acre as objectionable in this provinoe, he looked upon it as a compromise, aud if they had not given way on this point they woull have run the risk of the proposal to colonialize the land fund being defeated, aud this he was particularly anxious lo ccc on iha Statute Book. With reference to tbe future it was impossible to aay what measures would ba brought forward by Sir George Grey, but in tboss ho bad already propounded he should support him. He believed in triennial Parliaments, aud did uot attach any importance to the ohj-ction that members would not have sufficient lima to le^ru the forma of tbe House. Ttiis would be easily overcome if members ivouli talk less and devote more attention to making themselves acquiuiel with Parliamentary usages. Ii a uew country like this the policy was of necessity constantly changing, aud the electors, he thought, should have more frequent opportunities of giving practical expression to their opinions. Tha representation of the colony was likely to be altered, and uuleas Nelson progressed much faster, than she had done of late he feared (hit she would be deprived of oue of her members. With regard to iocal matters, ail he had to gay was (hat he hoped the promises of

the Governmet with reference to the railway would be carried out. He should like to Bee it gradually extended at the other en.?, for he felt sure that if it was carried into the Buller it would very beneficially feff^ct Nelson. He had done what he conscientiously be* lieved to be the bBSt, and if he had not succeeded in retaining their confidenoe it was not from. any want of endeavor on his part. He would now be glud to answer any questions. ; Mr Graham would !ika to ask whether Mr Sharp thought that (he no confidence motion was th.e means of coercing Sir George Grey into bringing forward the measures to which he had alluded. Mr Sharp could not say positively, but be thought it had a good deal to do with it. Mr Graham: Do you blame Sir George for taking office because the gobetweens had promised that ho should not? Mr, Sharp : I don't blame Sir George but we were certainly promised it by persons who are now hia colleagues in the Ministry. Mr Graham : What is your view with regard to the redistribution of Beats ? Mr Sharp : I cannot pledge myself as to details until! know what is proposed, but I am decidedly of opinion thai a redistribution is necessary. Mr Leveetara : What is your opinion of the incidence of taxation ? Mr Sharp . I nm in favor of an income and property tax, whereby I think that the Customs dutiss upon the necessaries of iife might be relieved to the extent, the first year, of perhaps £100,000. In reply to questions from Mr Leveetam Mr Sharp said tint though Sir George Grey had pledged himself to the eolonialisalioo of the land fund, there were those in (ha Ministry who were bitterly opposed to it, and therefore it was not safe to trust to its bein^ brought forward until the finnnoial statement was actually made. He had supported the Laud Bill with the exception of the ten years leasfs to the Canterbury runholders | he had voted for five instead. Mr Piper asked if Mr Sharp diJ no think it time to put a stop to immigra* lion ? There were numerous com. plaints of want of work that had come to his knowledge. Mr Sharp : So far as Nelson is concerned, I think there is no need for immigration ; but in other parts of the colony there is still room for it lo a certain extent, and therefore it should be carried on, as 6aoh immigrant becomes a proJucer and contributor to (he revenue. Mr Piper : You would he doing a benefit to the working men here if you would tell them where those places are How can a man become a taxpayer if he can't get work ? Mr Sharp had it on good authority that more labor was required in the South. Mr Robertson : la it just or fair that taxes taken from the working mm should go towards bringing out Tabor to compete against him ? Mr Sharp said that immigration was not paid for by taxes, bat by loan. Mr Nia9 considered that Mr Sharp had given utterence to a great fallacy as taxes had to be levied to pay interest on the loaus. Mr F. Atkinson though-i, that Nelson did not not get a fair share of public works. The Government found employment here for about six meu, and yet they imported them nt the rate of 200 a year, when there was nothing to feed them on. No one being desirous of aoking questions, Mr Lgvesfam proposed a vote of thauks to Mr Sharp, and at the same time would like to remedy an omission that had been mads at the last meeting, when Mr Carlis wag allowed to leave without being thanked. Ha woul.l therefore propose a vote of thanks to both the City members for their addresses, Mr Graham would like to see the motions put separately, as it would be more satisfactory to Mr Cartis and to Mr Sharp. Mr Robinson proposed, and Mr Graham seconded, a vote of confidence iu Mr Sharp. This was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to Mr Curtis was then carried, Mr Levostam saying that Mr Curtis had always been opposed to votes of confidence being proposed at his meetings. Mr Curtis said that he had never ha 1 a vote of confidence since he had been their representative. Whenever ha hail been oskoci about it he ha-i always objected to its- being put to the maetiog. He felt sure that the omission ihe other night was a mistake and was unintentional. A voia of thanka to the chairman cloeel the proeeediuge.