MESSRS CURTIS AND SHARP'S MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIIL, Issue 270, 21 November 1878, Page 2

MESSRS CURTIS AND SHARP'S MEETING.

There was a good muster of the electors at the Provincial Hall last night to listen to Messrs Curtis and Sharp's account of the proceedings of the late session. The chair having been taken by His Worship the Mayor, Mr Cortis said: It is scarcely necessary to remind you of the state of political affairs at the Close of the session of 1877. Sir George Grey had then lately gained offlce, and there was a general -feeling that he should be allowed to retnain there undisturbed, and have Jin opportunity of bringing forward his various measures. There was another reason, too, why he should be permitted to remain in power, and this was, that he and his supporters had preferred against the Ministry which he had succeeded charges of the most serious nature, charge of corruption in the administration df affairs, of misapplying the public funds, and of administering the Crown lands to the advantage of their friends rather fl — * .... ,~«u ui tne public. In the House there had been no feeling that these charges could be substantiated, or that anything could be proved beyond errors of judgment, but it was not so throughout the colony, where those who did not know the character of those \Vho composed the Atkinson Ministry weire disposed, to give credence to the charges; find to believe that Sit; George must have had good grounds far making therii, or He would never have ventured to' do so. However, he has now been twelve months in I offlce, has bad all tbe papers before him, and every opportunity of making the most searching investigations and what has been the result? Not a woid has been heard of those charges that were so profusely made. (Cheers.) So far then as that reason was concerned, there can be no need to retain Sir George in office. But there were other reasons of a | different character. Both in the House ancl throughout the country Sir George had with great eloquence expressed his views. Here, in Nelson, I could uot help noticing that he was most enthusiastically applauded when giving expression in general terras to the wrongs tbat he said existed, and to his determination to make everything pleasant for everybody, but when heproceededlostate how the changes wereto be effected, I observed that the applause always slackened. Now when we look back and compare his actions with his promises we find that he has uot carried out tbe views he expressed in any shape whatever. The first aud most important of hi3 measures was the Electoral Bill, by which every mau resident two years in the colony and six months in a district was to be entitled to a vote. For my own part I did not attach much importance to the Bili, for I did not see that it was to give very much greater privileges thin now exist. It met with no opposition in the House, every member was prepared to give it his support, aud generally speaking it met with a favorable reception. One clause provided that Maoris, if ratepayers, should be entitled to vote. To this there wa3 no objection, but then the Government changed their minds and introduced an additional provision which did not find favor with the House. This was, whether he had either a legal or au equitable interest in land, the Maori should have a vote for it. Seeing that the Maoris were already specially represented by meu of their own race, a great objection was raised to this. additional privilege. But the Government got the clause passed through the House, partly by using the threat of a dissolution. The Legislative Council, however, refused to agree to it, and the Government rather than pass the Bill without this provision allowed it to drop: If Sir George hud been in earnest in the views he had so eloquently expressed upou the extension of the electoral privilege, would he not rather have dropped the Maori clause than have abandoned the Bill ? With regard to finauce. We had been told that measures affecting great chauges in the financial arrangements were to be brought down. The duty on tea and sugar was to be removed, and we were to have "a free breakfast table." But the merest trifles in this direction were proposed; a half-penny off sugar and twopence off tea. I cannot believe that reductions such as these can give substantial relief to the working classes. Moreover, looking to the larg6 liabilities of the colony I question whether it is advisable to reduce the taxation, The duty on flour and timber was also removed. These reductions made a considerable gap which was to be filled up by the Beer and Joint Stock Companies tax in addition to the Land tax. The two first did not find favor with the House. For my own part, I object to a beer tax, not from any special feeling for the brewers, who, I believe, are pretty well able to take care of themselves, and would see that they did not pay the tax out of their own pockets, but because I object to a system of excise as causing unnecessary annoyance and entailing needless expense. I have looked up the word in an old dictionary, an early edition of Johuson, and there I find it thus defined: — "Excise — A hateful tax levied upon commodities, and adjudged not by the common judges of property, but by wretches levied by those to whom excise is paid." (.Cheers and laughter.) In those words are expressed my views of excise. Then certain Joint Stock Companies were to be taxed. I say '* certain " Companies because it was the native ones, if I may so call them, which were to be overweighted in their competition with those having capital abroad. Why should, say, Gold Mining and Insurance Companies be taxed ? In the latter the shares are usually of a small amount and the shareholders very numerous, and in taxing these you are nofc touching the large capitalists but the small ones. Besides, I cannot see why we should tax associated enterprise, while we allow individual enterprise to escape. I can see no reason in it. However, the Government saw they could not pass the measure, so they dropped it after suffering a defeat on the beer tax. I now come to the new tax which is to fill up the gap occasioned by the reduction of the tea and sugar duties— the land tax. Excellent reasons were adduced why a tax should be put upon land, and it was a sound argument that, the railways having increased the value of the land, the owners thus benefitted should contribute to the cost of the lines. But while I approved of the principle of the Bill I objected to some of the details, as I thought the tax should be, extended to " all kinds of landed and house property; that the cultivated farm should pay more than the uncultivated, tbe acre with a £2000 house upon it more than that on which was a honse worth only £200. I should, however, have supported the Bill but for one thiug; that was the Public Works Statement which provided that moneys were to be borrowed to be expended in a manner grossly unfair to some parts of the colony. I objected to people here being asked to pay a now tax for railways to be constructed elsewhere. (Cheers.) I have now dealt with all the most important Government measures, and I come to private measures. First there was the Bill for Triennial Parliaments, Sir George Grey during the recess had expressed strong opinions in favor of this system, but he took no steps to inaugurate it. The House felt that it should have been introduced by the Government, and so the measure did nofc receive proper consideration. But I should have opposed it, as I do not think five years too long. Members require a session or two to get nsed to the ways of the House, and it must also be remembered thafc since abolition men have nofc had the political training they received in the days of Provincialism. The Councils were worked in much the same way pp the House, and, tbe education received in

thtetk Wds of great service to new members Of the Assembly. Besides, I look upon it that whether a Parliament lasts three, four or five years is a matter of detail rather than of principle. Another private measure wa9 the Education Bill introduced by myself, and by which I proposed to extend to the whole colony the benefits thai: we derived here from the Nelson Education Actj tinder which all religious bodies worked harmoniously,- and Nelson offered better educational advantages than any other part of the colony. Whatever our individual opinions riiay be,- there is the fact that the Roman Catholics, who form a large section or the community cannot avail themselves of the present system, and we must try to adopt one under which all can act. I did nofc expect to be successful, but I was only defeated by six votes, and I hope another year, if I am still 4 member of the llouar, to succeed In carrying tbe Bili. Another matter of leading importance iti \Vhiiih I moved was the constitution of the Legislative Council. The troubles iliafc have occurred in Victoria owiug to deadlocks ought to be a warning to us, for although there have not yet been any serious differences between the two Houses they are bound to come, and it is far better to effect a change when matters are working smoothly and no bitter feeliugs are arouaed. My proposal did not receive the attention I could have wished owing tti the pfesaufe of other business, aud the Government shelved it by moving the previous question. Now with regard to one or two measures the colony expected, but which did not make their ap"pearance. I never exactly understood what it was to be, bufc among other things we were promised a liberal land law. Attempts have been made in all the provinces, and especially in Nelson, to enable the people to settle on the land, but there were always found to be great difficulties in the way. Sir George Grey always spoke in the "most indefinite manner about this measure, and never introduced ifc into the House, so that it is left to the future. Another subject was Hospitals and Charitable Aid. With regard to the maintenance of these there has been no definite scheme since the abolition of the Provinces, and it is quite time something was

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<3one. Tho Government seem disposed fo throw the liability on ihe local bodies, fcot fhe lccal bodi'B sre not anxious to assume thero. My own opinion is that euch institutions should not be dealt with locally, but should be maintained out of the consolidated revenue, otherwise wo thrill have nil lho difficulties as to the district from which the patient or the recipient of aid comes from which liave occurred and are occurring so frequently in England. I now come to the' Public Works scheme. Mr Macacdrew made his statement early in the aeesnon, and it was with no little surprise that we found thnt Nekon and Marlborough had been Forgotten altogether. Abundnut provision wbb made for railways elsewhere, especially in Otago aod Canterbury, fchere there were to be nutserouß bYanch lines, while Nelson ap.d Marlborough were completely ignored. We were very glad of the immediate and vigorous action token hy our constituents. I have heard it said tbat such action was necessary to stimulate Ihe members in Wellington, but I can assure you that we were fully alive to the gravity of the occasion. The action taken here, fiowever, showed ue how thoroughly in earnest were the people of Nelson* land it tifforded us great support and encouragement, lhe able letter of the Bishop of Neleon, in which he expressed in strong and eloquent terms the grievance to whicli the people of this part were fo be subjected, and the fact that he had felt it incumbent on him to leave for a time his other duties in order to endeavor to obtain redrees, had considerable weighty and another letter from Mr Actoo Adams aided largely in strengthening our hands. It must not be supposed ih'ai because we made, no gteat Bhow we were idle or neglectful. We were working quietly fend steadily organising our resist«pce, and we took good care to let (be Government know it. I need not state what negotiations were carried on, but I think I can point to the result »b being satisfactory. (Loud cheers.) We were backed up by the Marlborough members, and I am very sorry that aome manner of justice was not done to 6hem. There is, I bßlieve, a feeling among them that we ought not to have accepted the Government proposals because Marlborough was not included, hut we were not prepared lb go so far. I had toid them from the first that we would accept terms from the Government if favorable to Nelson, so they had ample notice, and the course we took wag tho only reasonable one open to us. If we had held out we should bave got nothing at all lor either place. We did al! we could to get for them a railway from Blenheim to Awatere, but could obtain nothing more (ban a promiee that it ehould be considered. I hope tbat something may be done for Marlborough next year. Tbe Nelsou members worked harmoniously as I havo never koown , them do before. I have had colleagues opposed to the railway extension. Mr Luckie had written much against it. Mr Lightband opposed the line to Foxhill. Tbe West Coast members, too, had heen against hb before, and Mr O'Conor was the strongest opponent of she Foxhill line. Now a different state of things exists, and tbe members werß ae one man in their determination to obtain justice. Messrs Woolcock, Henry, and Reeves, too, joined with us so far as they could without risking the interests of their constituents, so tbat we possessed such power as we never had before. Now the question arises, Will this extension be carried out? We have the vote agreed to, and we have the most distinct promise from tbe Government, and ray own individual opinion is that they will redeem it. Three members of the Government and eight Nelson members were present when Ministers assured us that they were acting in good faith and sincerity, and it would be nnjust to doubt thero. Bat we know that a Government always requires spurring on, and all I urge is tbat we wait patiently for a reasonable time, and if we see no signs of action that we take care to remind them of their pledge. For information regarding the Harbor Bill I refer you to Mr Sharp. The Nelson City Nuisances Bill, introduced by Mr Riobmond, was not in accordance with the forms of the Houee, and consequently could not be proceeded witb. It contained some usefal provisions, but it went too far in giving power to the City Council to compbl property holders to fill op their low sections to the level of the street. Similar powers were proposed in the Municipal Corporations Bill in the Legislative Council, but it was considered that such powers were too extensive, and they were not allowed. I bave now hastily glanced over tbe leading measures of the session and have expressed my views, and I sball be prepared to answer any questions put to me.

Mr. Shabp said that his colleague had hardly treated him fairly. He had promised to leave bim something to say, but, as a matter of fact, he bad spoken on all tho principal measures brought before the Parliament. Those present would remember bow eloquently Sir George Grey had nddreesed them, and how be had promised to make provisions for a complete change in the incidence of taxation, aud in (heae he •was prepared Jo give him his support, but the session passed without the promised measures being introduced. Mr Curtis had explained to tbem his action witb referenoe to the principal events of the session, and he might say tbat they bad worked harmoniously •Jpgether, and iu their opposition to the

Land Tax Bill the same motives had actuated both of them. Reference had been mnde to the charges made by Sir George Grey against the late Government. He wished to remibd them that very gravis feb&rgfes had also been brotighi against the Civil Service, but after a year's experience, the Government had tbe manliness tocomo forward and eay that nc colony was better served by its officers than New Zealand. With reference to tbe franchise he would like to call th'etr Vttehurtn to the fact that th'e Electoral jsiil wasreturnfd to the HotJse by the Legislative Council in precisely the same form, as re-arded its principal provisions, in whieh it was introduced by the foiulimy, and" he certainly k\\ Vexed that in a moment of pique the Government should have thrown it over. He need not tell them (hat he differed from Mr Curtis in his opinion on triennial Parliaments as he had fully expressed bis views on the question before. He hoped that toeXt session, after a recess lb which they would havo had Ume to consult ahd work together* the Government would bring down their; measures in a more matured form. - In cocbection with the railway question hb wouiti ettongly urge that there should be no public discussion as lo the route, es that mi*ht give the Government a loophole through which to escape from tbeir pledges. Let them send their own surveyors and let them decide upon the route to be adopted. He debited to acknowledge the warm co-operation of the West Coast and Nelson couhtry members io the mattei* of the railway. He and Mr Curtis had felt that tbey were strongly backed by the public) aDd that tbey would have received their hearty support eVen U tbey had been compelled io reEort to extreme measures. Fortunately, however, they had not been called upon to do this, and it was most gratifying to think tbat the transaction bad been carried out with credit to the Government and to the Nelson members. He wished alao to thank tbe Press for the manner in which it had taken tbe matter up, The members irom other districts read the papers from all parta of the colony, and wben tbey saw the earnest persistence with which the Nelson journals advocated the completion of the main trunk line they could not fail to be impressed with the strong feeling and unanimity tbat prevailed here ob the subject. He might state that in reply to Captain Kenny, tho member for Pieton, Mr Macandrew had said that the line was to be extended from Foxhill and by way of the Buller and Grey, tbus fixing the route. Tbe Harbor Board Bill as passed was different to that whioh he had introduced as the details were provided in an Act applicable to all Boards throughout the colony. Mr Sharp then referred to the constitution of the Board and said that he had had a provision introduced enabling tbe Board to borrow £5000, if necessary, also for its endowment with all lands between high and low water maik from the Arrow Roek round to the lighthouse. The revenue was estimated at £1300, and the liabilities at £1150. A sum of £300 had been voied for removing tLe tock at Jbe south side of the Government wharf. Ha had opposed the City Nuisances as under its provisions tbe ratepayers might have found themselves rendered liable for a very large sum of money without having been in any way consulted about its expenditure. He thought Ihe time was at hand when the subsidies to local bodies would cease and then he thought the duties on tea and sugar should be removed altogether so tbat the ratepayers might be in a position to afford a heavier direct taxation, over the expenditure of which they could have local control. Mr Sharp concluded by saying tbat next year he was about to leave the colony for some monihs, and would not be back in time for the next session, so that he intended fo place his resignation in the hands ot the. Speaker. He felt eure that the electors had plenty of able men from whom to choose a representative, but none would be more desirous to advance their interests thao he had been and would always continue to be.

Mr. Gbaham bad come prepared to aek a few questions, bufc after the clear and lucid epitome of the events of the session to wbioh tbey had just listened be felt he bad but little to say. He was afraid that a great number of thoie who had attended the agitation meetings during the Beseion believed that tbeir work with reference to the railway waa done, but this far from being the case, ns they had got a vote and nothing more. Tbe question of connecting Nelson with tbe rest of the colony was to the people of Neleon of far greater importance tban the Land Tax, the Joint Stock Companies' Tax, or tbe Be?r Tux, aud ihey must continue to agitate for it. The Nelson members deserved the warme6t thanks of the people for the way in which they had worked, and the success

which they had achieved, but it must be remembered that there were but 7\ months of the financial year left, and if tbe vote was not operated upon hy tbe 30th June it would lapse. What we wanted was the work to be taken in hand, and next year to go to the Government for another extension, and tha followiog [year for a third, end by the time that was expended it would be self-evident that the completion of the line was nu absolute necessity. Wh6n once connection by railway was completed, Nelson would be one of tbe most prosperous places in tbe colony, and to eifect tbii was the great object at which they should all aim. He like to aek what intjerpreta-

tion Mr Curtio put upon the promise given that the work should be entered ! upon "as speedily as possible," aleo j what he considered " a readable time " fo be allowed lo elapse before bringing pressure to bsar upon the ■orowrnuienf. Mk Curtis said the Government had promised that tho work should be put in hand this financial year, and without such a pledge he should bftve considerd the mere vote rs worthless. The promise to this eflect waß most distinct. Aa to the question, What would be considered a reasonable time, he ehould say a very short one, Mk HuflTEfe Bito^N had much | pleasure in moviDg a vote of thanks to { Mtssrs Curtis and Sharp for their addreesee, and a vote of confidence in ibem especially in regard io the action t-kon by ibem in regard lo the railway queetloth Mft (xBAIjaM seconded the resolution! and said he should like the meeting to pass n resolution asking tbe Railway Committee to continue to ret, and (o urge thc Government to action. The Bishop of Nelson (who was received with loud cheers) cordially supported the resolution. He felt sure that the result obtained by onr members could uot have beeo secured without the greatest vigilance, nod tact, etid discretion. They were placed in a most awkward position. To resort to extreme measures would, he felt sure, have been most distastelui to them, and to liaVs gained their point without it Bbowed bow great was tbe ability that mhst have been exercised t They had performed a most difficult and delicate task with credit to themselves and their constituents, whose earnest thanks were due to them. He would suggest that the meetiog invite Messrs. Curtis and Sharp to join the Committee, and to urge a speedy execution of the promises made by the Government. He would avail himself of tbe present opportunity of thanking Mr Curtis for introducing his Education Bill; which he hoped would ete long become law. Mn S&EPHAED, as a member of the Railway Committee, said that they had decided to hold a meeting in a few days, and tbey bad already asked Messrs. Curtis and Sharp to give tbem the benefit of their aivice and experience. Tbey had never intended to lose aoy time, but, as one of tbe Committee, he heartily tbauked the meeting for strengthening tbeir hands in carrying out the wotk tbey desired to have accomplished. Mr Hunter Brown's resolution was then put aod carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to tbe chairman brought the proceedings to a close. #■— a— — ■— — pe—^^— w— lap