MESSRS, HISLOP AND SHRIMSKI, M.H.R.'s AT THE VOLUNTEER HALL.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1883, 9 May 1878, Page 2

MESSRS, HISLOP AND SHRIMSKI, M. H.R .'s AT THE VOLUNTEER HALL.

The members for the Waitaki district, in accordance with previous announcement, met their constituents lu>U evening nf (he Volunteer Hall, .which shortly nfter the proceedings conimeuccd wan well filled, thero boing ahout 500 persons present. Tlic chnir wiis occupied by Ins Worship the Major, who briefly opened the .proceedings, -anil h«Jkod (or btih gentlemen an attentive healing. Mr Hislop, wlio wub received with applause, commenced l)y -tftatlug that from remarks he had heard outiidehe presumed thnt an npology was considered due from their members for not having followed the customary course of addressing their constituents immediately after each session, but as be proceeded, he hoped to be able to show that it was not only prudent, but right, on the part of members of the late Opposition not to deliver themselves too hastily. When they were- olectod the country was agitated on the great question of tho Abolition of the Proviuces, and they camo forward in the interests of those Provincial institutions undor which they had progressed so much ; the views of the- constituency, as ascertained durinv their canvass, and as afterwards shown by their election, being in favor of tho retention of those institutions. When they wont up to th« session it was under the impression (hat tho Provincialists would be in a majority, but it turned out that they were in a minority, and the question of Abolition being carried, it was then f.>r them to consider whether or not they could support tho Government of the day. They had decided, as he thought for good and sufficient reasons, that they could not support tho Atkinson Ministry, and some, of those reasons ho would now alludo to. Tho Provinces having been abolished, it became tho duty of the Government to bring forward some system of local administration, and they had a right to expect that that system should secure to tho people of the Colony at least equal privileges as regards tho raising of taxation, and the expenditure of tho revenue so raised, as they formerly possotsod under the system of Government which had been done away with, but tho Government were not equal to tho task, and as it was impossible to bring back Provincialism, oithor under its old form, or in the shape of separation, parties became somewhat intermixed. During the recess which followoil the session of 1876, he carefully considered trhothor ho could givo tho Government any support during the next (last) session, but was unable- to do so, riny doubts he might have had being solved very shortly after the session commenced. Tho Government had been guilty of ono of Uio throat Ctt broachea.of constitutional government, for no soonor was tho session of 1870 closed than overtures were

tado to one of the leading memers of the Opposition to join them, nd in violation of the confidence and >yalty which had been repoied in im, and which was expected from him c seceded from the Opposition, and acepted office in the Government. This ras onp »f the things which brought them o their* defeat. Party government had •can B««»afrstly abused by th« then Ministry, Major Atkinson and Mr loorge MiLoan were both returned is opponents of Sir Julius Vogel,, md yat both became members if the late Government, and not only lid they act thus themselves, but they ilso gave offices to leading members of the Opposition for the purpose of weakening it. Not only wore there breaches of faith with party, but numerous breaches of faith with the people. They were told at the time of tho abolition of the provinces that Otago under Abolition would receive L 150,000 a year more than she had evor received before, and Canterbury L 200.000 more. In fact every Province was to receive more, and yet, strange to say, the taxation was not to be increased 5 tho burden falling on no one. No sooner was abolition effected than their land j fund which they were promised should be preserved intact, was taken ; and their education reserves, which they were assured would not be interfered with were also taken from the Provinces which set them aside, as would be found to bo the case by the Act of last session. Aftor enlarging upon this part of his subject, tho apoaker referred to the financial policy of the late Ministry, and said that though ho could not pretend to having gone through all its meshes, he should bo able to adduce facts which proved it to bo of a most unsatisfactory nature. It had been customary for tho last few years to issue Treasury Hills, similar to the Exchequer Bills mado use of at Homo, but with this important difference, that whereas tho lattor were merely raised in anticipation of revenue certainly accruing, here Treasury Bills were mado use of which it was known as certainly would in many cases not bo recouped by revenue. No one could deem this a sound system of finance, nor one which deserved support. Thoro were L 852,000 worth of these bills, guaranteed debentures to the amount of L 500,000, and outstanding Provincial liabilities of about LlOO,OOO, for which no provision was made, and when it vras seen that tho Government had not the boldness to face the needs of the exchequer either by reducing the expenditure, or increasing the taxation, it was clear that they did not merit the support of the House. A private member, Mr Woolcock, brought down a motion aimed at meeting the necessities of the position by a change in the incidence of taxation, and no sooner did the Government see that it win likely to be carried than they, although it was entirely at variance with their financial policy, expressed their willingness to proceed in the direction indicated, the Treasurer, Major Atkinson, by a very clever artifice, endorsing the motion, but at the same time postponing iti consideration for a year. The fact was the Home never knew where they had the] Government, which stated one policy one day, and another, another ; one day asserting that no increased taxation was required, and the next day endorsing a proposal in that very direction. Their policy was indeed as the mirage of the desert, the nearer you got to it the more indistinct it* became — the more it eluded your grasp. Another reason why he could not support tho late Ministry was their unfair preference of the capitalist class, in whom it was their policy to vest greater powers and greater priviliges than in ordinary citizens. It had boon urged upon them from year to year that as they were expending largo sums of money in works which had the effect of greatly enhancing the value of the properties of tho largo landholders, a tax should be imposed which would reach those whom thoso works enriched. That was the principle embodied in Mr Woolcock's motion, but which tho Government had from year to year postponed. Thn same unfair preference for tho capitalist pervaded their Bills, as was shown by tho " Counties Act" and the " Municipal Corporations Act," under the first of which it was possible for the wealthy man to exercise as many as 36 votes in one county, and under the latter as many as 4 or 5 in each ward. Ho strongly objected to this, and entered at some length into his reasons for opposing the principle that the number of votes should depend on the amounts contributed by various persons to tho revenue. This preference for the capitalist was tho reason why many seceded from tho late Government, and lie thought very properly too. (Applause ) Proceeding next to animadvert on the Native policy of tho Atkinson Ministry Mr Ilislop contended that that also operated sololy in favor 'of the large capitalists ; and roferring to the first Native Land Bill of last session quoted and endorsed tho opinion of Mr Ballance, that had it been allowed to pass the capitalists would have been lot looso all over tho North Island, the Native owners would have lost their property, and probably have been driven into rebellion. Ho congratulated tho meeting that tho action of tho present Government had saved tho Murimotu Block, which was stated by Mr Ballanco to be tho only tract fit for settlement in that particular part of tho Colony, from passing into the hands of large capitalists to the exclusion of the bona fide settlers, and proceeded to oxpress the hope that a system would bo devised, under which the Government would act, as a sort of Waste Lands Board, for the protection of the Natives, on tho one hand, and for the promotion of settlement on the other. After enlarging on this subject, lie proceeded to give, as an additional reason for a change of administration, the system which had obtained during a period of eight years, of one member leaving the Ministry and another joining, now Major Atkinson Premier, now Sir J. Vogel Premier, now Dr Pollen Premier, which had resulted in a state of things savoring of an oligarchy, the government of the country by a privileged few. It was high time that was. broken up, and that a new 'system prevailed, a system under which should be built up a constitutional and democratic Govornmont. Proceeding then to indicate the principles which would guide him in his future action in supporting or opposing the Government of the day, ho said ho hoped to so© the present Ministry carry out their intention of equalising tho revenue and expenditure by reducing the expenses of departments, whore practicable, by tho abolition of all sinecures, and by the imposition of taxation in a manner which would place tho burden on the shoulders of those who were best able to bear it. He advocated the reduction of thoso imposts which increased tho cost of living, and hold with Adam Smith that each man's contribution to the cost of Govornmont should bear a just proportion to his income. At present a large class of persons, whose holdings had been raised from a value of L 2 to that of L8 or L 9 per acre by tho expenditure on public works, contributed little or nothing in respect of tho bonofit they had derived, while tho absentee proprietors escaped without bearing any share at all. Tho present Ministry had promised to bring down a Bill to remedy this stato of things, ,ui<l any stop in that direction would li.ivo his most cordial support (applauso). Arguing in favor o* a Lmcl tax. ho urocoeJud to

show that it would have the effect of compelling large landowner* to utilise their lands and turnjhem to the best account, and have a tendency to secure the settlement on those lands of industrious tenant farmers (applause). He then alluded to the sale of large blocks of land, such ai the Tiako Swamp 80,000 acres, and the 'Ktjpara coalfield, 10,000 acres, to one company or to one .person, while other persons oouid only get 100 acres, as transnctions unfair to the Colony and unworthy of support. Referring next to the question of representation, he pointed out a number of disparities under the present system, as, for instance, Nelson city having two members as against two for the tvholc County of Waitaki, with double the population, and Taranaki, with three members, for a smaller population, He, however, did not agree with the proposal to adjust the representation solely on the basis of population, but rather upon that of a fair proportion for every interest and every industry. As to the question of the future form of local Government he Baid that the present County system was erroneous and clumsy, tho Councils dealing with the same matters as tho Road Boards, when one set of machinery would suffice. He pointed out that in Provincialism they 'had lost a really democratic form of Government, and that whereas tho Provincial Councils had powers of legislation on local subjects which could not be vetoed by tho Homo Government, any legislation of tho House of Representatives could be vetoed at Home. It was, however, no use mourning over the loss of Provincialism ; butthey should seek to assimilate the County Councils in some degree to what the Provincial Councils used to be. They could give tho Councils larger powors, and, by including the Boroughs within the Counties put an end to the present altogether indefensible divorce of the town from tho country, and by enabling thorn to deal with many matters formerly dealt with by tho Provincial Councils, and which now only encumbered the General Assombly they would obtain something like a decent substitute for what they had lost. After alluding to the obloquy which had been thrown xipon tho party which he had supported, and summing up the arguments which had induced him to give that party his aid Mr Hislop concluded by saying, that if assured of the support ot their constituents in the views they hold, and the action they had taken, they would bo amply rewarded for any little obloquy they had been subjected to, and any little self-denial on their part. (Applause.) Mr Shrimski, who was also well rocoivod, though not a fluent speaker, could lay claim to an earnest desire to serre thorn in office or out of office, and after referring to the time of his election on what was termed the "Provincial ticket" (laughter), commenced by detailing the proceedings of the session of 1876, in connection with tho Piako Swamp transaction, showing that although in 1875 the House disapproved of the proposal to soil to a company 86,000 acres of land at Piako, and the then Government agroed to postpone the transaction until the House had an opportunity of expressing its opinion next session, the transaction was completed three days before the sitting of Parliament, and afterwards only implemented by the House under the threat of Sir Julius Vogol to resign, which had the effect of bringing over a good many members, who saw that in that event Abolition would never be carried. Thus 86,000 acres were virtually given away ; the land which would have been the homo of many hundreds being parted with at 2s 6d per acre, with another 2s Od for making roads through it. After this came the Abolition question, which the Hon. Mr Stafford, for tho good and the love of the Colony, supported, and immediately after that cleared out of the country (laughter). And what had that abolition effected I It had robbed them of their land fund, their educational institutions, and their liberties. It was quite true that there was a timo when this part of tho Province considered itself ill-treated ; and he romembered when, at an election for Superintendent, a public protest was entered by not a single vote being recorded in this district ; but that showed that they had power ovor those gentlemen, and after that time they had nothing to complain of. But how was Abolition carried 1 By those who had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. There was Marlborough, with an empty exchoquer ; Hawke's Bay, whose lands had been sold at 4d an acre in a like position ; Taranaki the same, Wostland the same, and tho sister Province of Canterbury, tho whole of whose members, excopt two, voted*for tho Bill. Mr Rolloston voted for tho Provinces, whether sincerely or not he did not know, and Mr Fisher, whom ho was glad to see in the present Ministry ; but all the rest were in favor of' Abolition, and he would tell them why — Because they wantod a renewal of their lioensos. A compact was entered into, and to use tho words of Sir W. Fiteherbort, "Tlio conspiracy first emanated from Canterbury." In Provincial Institutions they had the substance, now they had tho shadow. In the Provincial Council they had a fair share of representation, but now they had only two members in a House of 88, and two members could do very little. Tho Government was not directly re* sponsible to thorn, and tho most they got now was a flying visit from Ministers, who came here in the evening and wont away in the morning. Last session great things were promised, but those promises were not fulfilled, though had tho Government brought down measures which satisfied him ho should haro boen prepared to support them. Referring to the alleged waste of time in* the House he said, that there was a good deal of actual work gone through, no le3S .than 142 Bills having boen passed, besides a number dropped, and a host of petitions dealt with. Animadverting on the " Waka Maori" affair, ho described that publication as one edited by the Government at tho country's expense, comprising anecdotes similar to those distributed in tracts for children, and used to inform tho Natives of all the good acts of the Government ; and for the purposo of libelling their opponents. (Laughter.) They (tho Government) wrote a libel in that publication on the Hon Mr Russell which cost the Colony L6OOO, and he would ask them would they have had their members support a Government of that sort ? He went on to say that when Abolition was proposed thoy wore promised that Parliament would be relieved of such matters as providing for roads and bridges, but in 1877 tho Government came down with a vote for L 50,000 for interior roads and bridges, thus breaking their own law thomiolves. They might rost assured that none of that money would have come this way, and he had not a doubt that it was intended for the benefit of the large landholders. Referring to the Charitable Institutions Bill, he stated that while it proposed a subsidy of £ for £ Ao Hospitals and Benevolent Institutions, he had opposed it because it was stipulated that tho cost of each patient should in all cases not exseed a certain sum per daj*. Ho found that tho cost pov p.vtiont in Dunedin per day was 2s 5Jd, in Oam.am, 7s, and in somo of tho upemuilry hospitals ,v« high us 14s per da} ; .mil tho result would havo been th.it ll they hid all bev^n cut down to tho one sum O.unaru wliould have had to shut im

her institutions. Next referring to th« Native Land Bills of the Into Government, ho described their tendency as all in one direction — that of favoring moneyed men and largo speculators, ana said that no loonor wai tho Government defeated on the " Native Land Bill," which ostensibly proposed to throw open tho Native lands for purchase, than they brought in the Native Land Sales Suspension Bill, for the purpose of preventing the Natives from selling tho land at all. Down went one Bill, and up came another, like a Jack in the Box (laughter). Tho lat© Government had boon charged with corruption and assisting their friends, and as often as these charges wore made, Major Atkinson taunted members with making thorn under privilege of the House, and darod them to say the same things outside. But when Mr Stout met this by roplying, " It you think 1 am afraid to nay it outside, cotno outside and I'll say it," they very carefully did'nt come out. A Government that could not face ohargos like these was not worthy of support. Referring to the Education Bill, he oxprosacd his satisfaction at the excision of the religious clauses, holding the opinion that when the State paid for education it should be secular and compulsory. It might require a few amendment!, but the Education Bill of last session was yet, he believed, one of tho best Bills that over came from the Parliament of Now Zealand. H« regrotted that the Roman Catholics did not at present avail themselves of it, but he believed they would yet recognise it as the best system to bo adopted, and he hoped yet to live to sco tho day when all would attend the same schools, recoivo the aame instruction, and grow up in the bond of brotherly love and affection. Wore that the case there wouldnot be such scones of bloodshed and misery as were now witnessed inßoumaniaandTurkoy. Referring to Major Atkinson's statement that what was wanted was political quiet and political rest, he interpreted it to moan that the Government had made a mess of their policy of abolition, and wanted a respite to get out of their difficulties. When the late Ministry wero challenged with having no policy they replied, "Look at the Public Works and Immigration Policy of 1870 ;" thus appropriating to themselves all the credit that belonged to Sir J. Vogel. But when they were found fault with, they were equally ready to throw all tho blame upon Sir Julius, and to say " that it wasn't thorn at all." After referring to Mr Larnach'o and Major Atkinson's no confidence motions, and to the broach of privilege case in connection with the Governor's notion re the calling of Mr Wilson to the Upper House, Mr Shrimski wont on to treat of a personal question — Mr Ourtia* statement that he (Mr Shrimski), in hii action with regard to tho Ministers' Salaries Bill had voted to order ; stating that if there was ono member more independent than another it was himself, and that Mr Curti* must have been thinking of himself, as whenever Mr Manders wont into a lobby, Mr Ourtis was sure to follow. With regard to the redistribution of seats, ho pointod out that Timaru, Geraldine, and Gladstone had one mombor oach, and ho thought they ought to got ono for Oamaru, one for the northern and one for the southern part of the district, and would do his best to secure this. Ho was totally opposed to manhood suffrage, as tho present franchise was liberal enough, indeed if a man would not take the trouble to register his vote, he did not desovve ono. He was, however, open to conviction, if it could bo dearly shown if tho extension proposed would bo beneficial to the oountry. He declared himself a supporter of tho proposed land and "property tax, and thought it quite time the large landowners should contribute something towards the revenue of the Colony, and that it was necessary that something should be done to remedy a state of things, such as obtained in this district, where, on one rim of 45,000 acres there were only 'hrcc men, and on another of 65,000 acre', only two. After an eulogium upon Sir George Grey, who, he considered, had proved himself a noble man in placing himself, at a groat deal of inconvenience, at the service of the Colony, Mr Shrimski concluded by expressing his i faith in the future of New Zealand under wise administration, and the hope that the Government now in power would retain office, and carry out the measures which they hail promised to bringdown. Having thanked the meeting for the patient hearing they had accorded him, Mr Shrimski resumed his seat amid applause. In answer to questions, Mr Shvimski stated that ho brought in a Bill last session to altor tho constitution of tho Harbor Board, but which was thrown out in the Legislative Council. Ho did nob know that he should caro to take the trouble again, unless it was the desire of the people ; but if it was wished that a Bill should be brought in to make the Board an elective body, ho was quite willing again to make the attompfc. As regarded the Oamaru Waterworks, if further money w*s required •to complete the worlcs, it would have to be obtamod. Mr Hislop, in answer to questions, expressed himself in favor of manhood suffrage with residence qualification and registration, but considered that every claimant should be required to be able to sign his own name to his application. As regards the lodger franohiso he thought that it was necessary that tho claimant should have oooupied the same lodgings for twelve months. The Land Aot of last session had not altered the provision with reference to the pre-emptive rights of runholdors. No further questions being asked, the Chairman asked if any person present desired to move any resolution, and Mr John Thomson moved, and Mr Buick seconded, " That this meeting desires to express its confidence in tho members for the Waitaki district." Tho motion was then put and oarried, and after a vote of thanks to the Mayor for his conduct in tho chair, moved by Mi* Ilislop, and seconded by Mr Shrimski, tho meeting broko up.