MR BALLANCE AT MARTON. (Per Press Agency.) Marton, May 13. MR BALLANCE AT MARTON. (Per Press Agency.) Marton, May 13.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1887, 14 May 1878, Page 2

MR BALLANCE AT MARTON. (Per Press Agency.) Marton, May 13.

meeting of his constituents here to-night. There wns a very large attendance. Mr Cash was in the chair. The Hon. Mr Ballance commenced his address by reading the Efuropean telegram received that day relating to the probable peaceful issue of the llusso- Turkish war tind European crisis, and commenting upon the bonoficial results thereof. Then hon. gentleman then referred to his desire tfl have addressed his constituents before, a.n.4 wa« sorry at having boon prevented by events to which he intended to refer at length, and by the pressure of business I ensuing therefrom. After referring tt I the order in which he intended te leal with the matters he had te ay before the meeting, the hon, gentleman commenced by speaking of th< Native Lands Bill introduced under the Atkinson Ministry. It had at first been regarded with pretty general favor; only two newspapers criticised it unfavorably. Major Atkinson personally condemned the course taken by Mr Ballanco against it. He (Mr Ballance) introduced an amendment, and urged that a colonisation clause should be introduced into the Bill to prevent it becoming merely food for land speculators. The idea was not well received by the Ministry, and cold water had been thrown upon it. The ■noil, caution""* H«w»» !»■»»•»*•'' r»nf on a map prepared for the purpoio the amount of land \inder Native tenure, and available for colonisation in the North Island. Ho then referred to the next important measure of last session, the Land Bill, and stated that the principles of which it i.jn n ; H ta<l had not mot his approval. In the Waste Lands Committee ho had drafted a clause which was subsequently embodied in the Bill, to rectify certain effects of the deferred payment principle, of which ho had not approved. Sir George Grey had been afraid of the effects of certain concessions made to the Canterbury Bottlers, and had determined to let the Bill drop. Mr Ballance had with Mr Stout gone to him. and represented that the Bill should be carried through. Sir George Grey had porsisted in his opinion that the Bill would give too much power to the Canterbury settlers, and it was that that had induced him to ask the Governor to veto it at the close of tho session. Mr Ballanco then spoke of the Education Aot, and in favor of secular education. He contended that tho effects of tho Act should be watched; and time given to prove its worth, and to remedy its defects, if any should become apparent. The Act should be received with gratitude, as providing adequate means for tho education of all classes. He believed that it was the intention of Government to place on tho estimates a sum of LlOO 000, for the erection of school buildings throughout the Colony. Mr Ballance then treated of the moans by which Sir George Grey and his party had been brought into power. Sir George Grey commanded the allegiance of the Auckland party, the largest section in the Houso at tho time of tho Mr Larnach'a vote of want of confidence. Ho (Mr Ballanco), at this time, had lost all faith in tho Government in consoquence of circumstances attendant on tho •'Woka Maori" debate. He had determined to see the chief of all the men available for the office of Premier fill that office, and he had found all he required in Sir George Grey. At the fall of the Atkinson Ministry, almost every meu»V>o* of tho Middle Party had been nominated. He (Kir i>ai\«..-.> v, nr \ -nrnpUsUirwn vl \x«tnj{G vjtioj, mm an aJJtgo was elected by a large majority, because ho commanded their respect, and becauso ho was generally recognised as the bost man. Shortly after, Major Atkinson proposed a vote of want or confidence, on which the House dividod, and which was decided in favor of the Government by the castingvotoof tho Speaker. Major Atkinson immediately moved another vote of want of confidence, a thing unprecedented in tho annals of British Parliamentary affairs. A vote of want of confidence on an abstract question immediately after a provious vote which had been lost was not to be entertained, and the Government would not put other measures aside to givo it precedence. Mr Ballance then stated that his principal grounds for supporting Sir George Grey were that the Premier was a man who was wedded to his principles, and which principles he mostly approved, and that Sir George Grey was a man of clean hands. Mr Ballance then referred to a belief which ho said appeared to exist to a certain extent that the present Government intended to revive Provincialism. To refute this charge, which ho declared to bo most unfounded, Mr Ballance quoted from tho speeches of Sir W. Fitzherbert, and the Hon. Mr Macandrew, andfrom Mr Larnachs Financial Statement. Mr Ballanco declared that the Government hnd no intention of going back to the old institutions or of separating the Islands. The Ministry wero ready to abide loyally by tho decision of the Legislature, to carry out tho measures they had adopted, and to strengthen them by tho true principle of centralisation, which means delegating to local bodies the powers previously held by the Government. With regard to manhood suffrage, the popular idea seemed to bo that the privilege of voting was to be extended to the lowest classes — to the skum of society, to loafers. This almost a mystical class, only the residue of a class ; and it was a question if the extension of tho franchise should bo denied on those grounds. He was sure that it was generally recognised that the present system Avas no.t working satisfactorily. Tho Bill under consideration at prosent containod three privileges existing in the present franchi<o, the principal features of the proposed franchise of. which he could speak authoritatively wore leasehold franchise, ratepayers' franchise, under which Maoris should be included, with only a right to vote as long as they retained their qualification, household franchiso, and residential franchise in which lodgers' franchise and miners' rights franchise should be included, a residence of three months in the Colony, ho would hold to qualify a person under the lastmentioned clause. He would wish farther to see the right of voting extended to women. Mr Ballanco then went on to speak of the incidence of taxation, and strongly condemned any proposition of a tax on improvements. He advocated the imposition of a class tax on land, and spoke of an improved system of valuation, which would render it practicable. If any alteration in tho incidonce of taxation should bo procured it should be a moro equal distribution of the burden — to put tho weight on tho nock most able to support it. He proposed to tax joint stock companies, but did not believe that an income tax would bo practicable. He firmly believed that tho prosperity of a country consisted in tho distribution of land, and instanced tho prosperity of Prussia as an examplo of tho benefits to bo derived from tho policy he advocated. Ho thought this should bo the principal policy of any Government to cut tho land up, and colonise, and cultivate it. In connection with the Naiive policy, Mr Ballance said that the effects of the recent meeting between one of tho most refractory and obstinate tribes, and the Premier would be very beneficial. It was evident that the Maoris wero being openly and honestly

doalt with, and that the Government were plainly tolling them what they required. The Natives required protection, and by dealing fairly and openly with thorn this end would also be served. The Native Land Bill promised for next soshon would contain a colonising policy, to.enablo the poorer inhabitants of this Colony to acquire small areas of land, and to provide homesteads for themselves and thoir children, and to prevent the success of the land speculations, which are so prevalent. Mr Ballance went on to speak of Government charitable aid, and expressed it as his opinion thrt every community should have ij in their power to distribute charitable aid through some benevolent societies. With regard to triennial parliaments Mr Ballance said it was a system in which ho believed, and which ho would advocate, at bringing a representative into closer sympathy with the wishes of his constituents. With regard to payment of members ho advocated the contimmnco of tno present system of honorariums. Mombers ought to receive a fair allowance for their services to enable them without any hamper to carry out thoir duties to winch they had been elected. There would b© a Licensing Bill introduced next session into which he hoped a compensation clause would be introduced. He considered that the principle of compensation should be held to. Ho advocated temporance reform, but was convinced that it would bo a work of time, and not to be brought about by Act of Parliament ; in connection with the Civil Service he considered me t*«u r»»«'noiplo to be in a careful supervision. The Civil e.rvio« i s the backbone of the Government, and should not be swept away. He, after careful study, did not believe that any reduction could bo made; the only manner to ease the working and dispense with a number of the staff would be in centralisation, and the imposition of more work on the recently instituted local bodies. As to public works, ho would not advocate too much borrowing, and would suggest that all borrowed money should be spent on main lines of railway. He wont on to speak of the advantages of the Government undertaking the responsibility of railway construction where railways could be proved to be likely to advantageous. He would advocate direct responsibility of Government in railway matters. The animal revenue had oxceedod all expectations, the deficit being about a quarter of a million of money. The annual income bringing the deficit down to L 100,000, which has been made up by retrenchment andothermoans, so that at the noxt session the Government would be fortunate enough to bo able to announce a surplus. A part of the polioy of the Government must bo t,o preparo to forego a large proportion of land revenue in order to further tljo interests of settlement on deferred payments, and promoting railway extension. Mr Ballanco then summed up the principles of the policy of the Government, and called his constituents to approve them. He then, having dealt with matters of Colonial interest, made reference to local questions, commencing with the matter of the Rangitoiki County boundrios pointing out that it would have boon better to have let them alono. He promised, howovor, to undertake to do his best in tho fuithorance of their wishes in tho matter. Mr Ballanco concluded his address by exprossing his willingnoss to resign his position if upon the wish of a majority of liis constituents ; but in the absenco of such requisition ho would continue to represent the electors of Itangiteiki, and to do his best in their interest. After a number of questions relating tv rxniiiw liown/Winn and other local matters, a voto ot connueuco wu»mo\v,.i and carried almost unanimously, a few hands being held in opposition, the mooting terminated with throe hearty cheers for tho member for Rangitoiki.