Mr HURSTHOUSE at MOTUEKA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIV, Issue 161, 8 July 1879, Page 2

Mr HURSTHOUSE at MOTUEKA

[By Telegraph.] (From our own Correspondent.) Motueka, Tuesday. At Mr Hursthouse's meeting last night thera was poor a attendance in consequence of the north east gale that waa blowing. The chair was taken by Mr Tarrant. Mr Hursthouse, who spoke for about an hour, said he had called the meeting for the purpose of throwing light on matters likely to be brought forward next session. The Government had shown no sign of what they intended to do and had pursued a silent poiicy, known only to individuals. The first question was of great moment, namely, the Native difficulty, which had cropped up when peace waa supposed to be established with the Ngatimaniapotcs and other tribes. Many thought the status of the colony was lowered by murderers being harbored by Tawhiao, the so-calle 1 King. He thought Tawhiao should be made to eat humble pie for there must be a limit to the outrages by the Natives. During the last session a man was murdered at Waitotara and Te Whiti protected him at Parihaka. He thought Te Whiti should have 48 hours notice to give up Hiroki and, if he did not, should have his land confiscated and himself be brought before a tribunal as a malefactor. To show that the Natives were beginning to look down upon us, a Native at Te Kopua had called Sir George Grey a blood-eating hound, the most insulting thing that a Maori could possibly say. He did not think the disturbance would extend to the king country it would be most unfortunate if it did — but the Natives should be made amenable to the law. With regard to charitable institutions, Hospitals, Old Men's Homes &c, they should be charged to the consolidated revenue and be made available, not for loafers, but for the unfortunate. Voluntary contributions resulted in the willing horse being ridden to death, whereas by this means everyone would contribute. Electoral reform was needed, and Registration officers should be multiplied, and postmasters and schoolmasters be appointed to act in that capacity so that registration might be done iv every district. The present franchise ha considered sufficiently liberal. The redistribution of seats should not be on a population basis only, as the large towns would have overwhelming influence, but the couutry should reckon with the town as two to three. The licensing laws should be the same throughout the country, instead of there being as at present some eight or nine relics of provincialism. He thought that no license should be granted unless the applicant declared himself free from the brewers. At present the publican paid £1 per hogshead more than other people, and the beer was not what it was in our forefathers' days when beer was the national beverage. The duty should be taken off English beer, as the colonial article was often not fit to be drunk. He did not at all believe in Mr Fox's sweeping condemnation of all publicans as murderers and rascals. The financial position of the colony was not satisfactory. There was a large deficit, and the land fund had realised £300,000 less than was estimated. The ordinary expenditure should be met by ordinary revenue, and the land fund should not be depended on to meet it. Speculation in land had ceased because of the general depression of trade all over the world. The incidence of taxation should >a changed. The Land Tax ha eon. aidered unfair, and a general property and income tax, wh«4h«r on land or invested money, preferable. The railway extension had not been carried on as promised in Nelson, while other lines, both North and South had been greatly extended, it beiug alleged was a reason that surveyors could not be obtained. For the line from the Thames to the Waikato, £170,000 had been voted for a railway alongside a navigable river and through a Native population only. For this Sir G. Grey was responsible and they should not submit to such unfair conduct on his part. The minimum price of land had been set down at £1 per acre, while in their own district there were thousands of acres not worth 2s 6d. Mr Stout's opinion was, that land should be kept until it was worth it. Having to make roads through unsold land was a great dragon the ratepayers, and It should be classified accordin g to quality. Land on deferred payments was a mistake, the occupier having to pay £3 instead of £2. Again, he should not be compelled to reside on the land as long as the necessary improvements were made. Mr Curtis' Education Bill was unanimously supported by the Nelson members last session, himself included, but the fight bad resolved itself into one between Catholics and Protestants. Who was Bishop Moran, he should like to know, tbat he should dictate to the colony ? The Catholics elsewhere Bhould have been more qniet, as iv Nelson, where it not so bad, being mostly French Catholics. In Auckland it was worse, the Irish Catholics being a more bigoted sect. On Chinese immigration a member had said that he was altogether for free trade, but must stop [the Chinese. It is a matter of impossibility to stop them: it had been tried in Queensland but disallowed by the Home Government as by the Treaty ef Pekm, they had the right to travel through the British dominions in return for the British trade being allowed in China. We had not so much to complain of iv tbis Colony, but as a rule it waa the worst class of Chinese who emigrated to New Zealand, and having made a competency, honestly or otherwise, returned to the Flowery Land. He had no wish to see the country overrun by Celestials. A telegraph line to Collingwood would have been granted last session had it not been for our friend Mr Saunders who was not likely to be in the House again and so there waa more likelihood of getting it. The fencing and Impounding Bills had always been shelved although very necessary. The dog tax was too high, and one dog should be allowed free to each couutry settler, and the tax should, at any rate, be equalised throughout the colony. Should two distinct policies be brought forward he should think a dissolution advisable, but it would be better to avoid it if possible on account of the expense. He was willing again to represent them, and hoped tbat his previous cocduct had been approved of. No question being put, a vote of confidence was proposed by Mr W. W. Coppins, seconded by Mr S. Saxon, and unanimously carried. Mr Hursthouse returned thanks, and said he was pleased to find that his most inveterate opponent formerly waa the man to propose it.