PUBLIC MEETING.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 6, 19 August 1842, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A Public Meeting took place at Barrett’s Hotel on Monday evening last, convened for the purpose of receiving a report of a Committee nominated on a former occasion, to take into consideration the best measures to be adopted for furthering the interests of the working classes of Wellington, at the forthcoming election of Aldermen, in compliance with the provisions of the Municipal Corporation Bill. Mr. Scott having been voted into the chair, addressed the meeting as follows :

Gentlemen, —After having acted as chairman on a former occasion, and being one of the Committee which had been appointed four or live months ago, to carry out the objects of the working men, we commenced our labours from that time. We have been charged with keeping our meetings private, and every man who can discern, must see that we had reason to keep them private. The result of our labors will be submitted to the meeting this evening, and every man must see that now is the present time to discuss publicly the character of each individual on that list; there was every reason to know, that when the character of parties was to be discussed, and particularly as to making those parties public property, it was necessary our proceedings should be of a private nature. And that while I allow every freedom of language to be used, I trust that respect for the characters of those gentlemen who should come under the consideration of the meeting this evening, will be exercised; and, though the list may be considered imperfect, it behoves us to let no false delicacy swerve anyone from stating his opinions freely; the importance of the decisious of this evening to our welfare as a body you all must he aware of. If the list of names of the councilmen for this borough had been published, the interests of the community might have suffered ; our proceedings were private; the political character of every member on that list was to be discussed, and it was for the welfare of that class of which I am a member that those meetings should be kept strictly private. You are aware of the progress of universal suffrage at home in Engtand, It is what our forefathers have bled to obtain ; and it will be the incumbent duty of the working men of Wellington to show to the world an example of the right exercise of the power thus placed in their hands. This is the first boon of the Government, the proper use of which will test the independence of the working-men of Wellington, and prove that w r e have not forgotten our sacred character as Britons; that every one in England will see to what purpose w r e have put it, aad mark the result of such a privilege to so young a colony. The present time might be considered an unfortunate one. I .dare say it is to most the dullest season of the year, as the weather in a great measure prevents the performance of out-door work, so that it might be difficult for many to spare a pound for enrolment on the burgess list. The privilege is great, and it is now necessary to assist each other ; and as we use the boon, so we shall receive the praise or execration of our countrymen. Gentlemen, —I am afraid that private interest will bias many; but every individual should give his vote fearlessly. I will, for one; though I am aware that, taxation may be felt severely, which may cause greater oppression in a colony than in England. Every man who does not give his vote, without dread, as an independent man, wall be looked upon with disgust by his fellow colonists. If they do not, it will take centuries to repair the mischief resulting from it; and it would be well, carefully and anxiously to deliberate as to the best men who should be put into the council. I therefore urge all, on this important occasion, to make good use of the privilege given them ; and submit respectfully the following names, for the approval of this meeting, viz., Messrs. Hunter, sen., Waitt, Taylor, Wallace, Fitzlierbert, R. Davis, Hanson, Wade, Lyon, Molesworth, Dr. Dorset, Smith, Hort, Johnstone, Catchpool, Machattie, Revans, and Cooper.

Mr. Coovku rose and said, that even after the able statement; of the proceedings of the committee given by the worthy chairman ; it might be considered by many that an injudicious course pursued, in not making public the names of committee-men chosen. The population had been divided into three classes—viz. the landed, commercial, and working ; and clu'c care had been taken that no unecpial preponderance should be thrown into the hands of any one of the three. The influence of a too great power in favour of the Company’s views would at once place the council in a difficult position. Money would be required, and the New Zealand Company would be the source from which only it could be obtained, and that at a great sacrifice.' Bridges must be built; roads laid out; improvements made ; to which the sanction of the Town Council would be necessary. Was 'it not the duty of the New Zealand Company to look to these important objects? Are the roads and bridges already made, for the exclusive benefit of the Company’s adherents? How is this money to be repaid, and on what security is it to be borrowed ? By means’ of a rate to be levied on your townsmen, and apportioned accordingly ? Several generations may pass before this desirable object can be accomplished. Our harbour and sliipping interests deserve our closest attention. The mercantile interests are the first to be attended to. The erection of light-houses, wharfs, laying down of buoys, &c., will necessarily come within the jurisdiction of the Town Council, who will be able to see that the power with which they are invested, will afford much benefit not only to the trading classes, but the community at large. It is not, however, by vituperation and illiberality that we can induce the government to lend that assistance, which, as a yoimg settlement, we require. Our interests cannot be better represented than by the adoption of the present committee, who wish to . advance the working community. 'The committee have discharged their duty by the adoption of such names as are most conducive to the general welfare of the working men, and there could be little fear of the laboring classes obtaining a preponderating influence in the council. It would be to the interests of all, that the benefit of the working classes should be fairly represented; and that, though it might be questioned that so few names belonging to the working classes were on the list, confidence and satisfaction exist in the known honesty and integrity of our more fortunate neighbours, as we can safely place our affairs in their hands. One of the best and most liberal features in the act embodies the qualification clause. There, no matter how humble his station in life, if a man possess sufficient talent and integrity to obtain the good opinion of his neighbours, he will, in time, attain the highest honors in the' council; and it will afford a stimulant to many aspirants. The necessity of registration of votes on the burgess roll, was strongly to be impressed on the minds of the assembly; as without representation, how could anycomplaintbemaderegarding unequal pressure Of taxation ? Taxes must come under the primary consideration of the council. The taxgatherer is an inexorable individual, and will have his “ pound of flesh.” Mr. Cooper concluded his long and very able speech, which we are unable to give at full length, by moving that the present list of committee-men be adopted.

Mr. Seed rose and said—We want men of business habits, and honest men: many little odd matters will have to be arranged and managed at first, and we must not be too loud in our demands. Economy must be the order of the day, and I think that the list I have the pleasure of seconding, and which we have chosen, will meet with approval from this meeting. Mr. M‘Kenzie addressed the chairman, and requested to be informed under what authority a committee could discard any one of its members —and why he could not live so comfortably under government control, as when under the management of the company. He was laughed at, and dismissed without reply. He again attempted to speak, but was stopped by the < enquiry, as to whether “ his mama knew he was out, or whether he had been smothered in a band-box.” The gentleman evaporated immediately, being summoned by one of his brethren, a “ printer’s devil.” Mr. Davis rose and said—l did not intend to occupy the time of the meeting, but my name having been mentioned, in justice to myself, I can explain; on the occasion referred to, Mr. Muir, who sat on the committee with us;we had gone through and canvassed four names, and the next two to be discussed, were his employer, the proprietor and editor of the Gazette, and Mr. Wickstecd; their names were certainly well canvassed. The next day, to our surprise, we saw that all our proceeding were published, and when we met again, we looked upon each other with distrust; we had been informed who was the party, and we challenged him; he said, he had done so, and lie would persist in publishing the proceedings. We had no alternative, the fact is, wc would not act with him.

Mr. Vincent rose and said—l thought it was not our business to speak as to private character (uproar) but he could do so (uproar.) Mr. Davis requested us to come, the more that did the better, and after meeting at G. Young's, and at a public meeting, Mr. Muir was appointed; Mr. Davis had preached enough about speaking fearlessly and openly, but he was the last one to allow his name to be mentioned; in canvassing the names of other parties, down on that list —this was not open—it was not fair—and he was positive that this meeting will agree with him, that nothing ought to be private, that would not bear public scrutiny. I say again, Mr. Muir had not been fairly treated, and they should not have turned him out. (Great uproar, and down! down!) Mr. Roots —l can reply to the last speaker; and I deny in to to, that Mr. Muir was turned out for expressing his determination to publish the proceedings of the committee; but he was turned out by the niajority of the committee, and they had a right so to do. What is the use of a committee? Each must bow to a majority. Mr. Scott —I hope I have not overstepped my duty, in allowing this discussion. These lads wish to make us believe that, in affairs of this kind, it ought to be in open committee. How could this be; the parties names in that list are public property; and that, in discussing their character, it was but delicacy and respect to those parties, that it should be carried on in private. Mr. Muir —I deny it; it was not an open committee. I considered it in the light of a public committee; and any one at the meeting at Mr. Young’s would have considered so; and when I found I could not act with them I retired; and it was only when the name of my employer and Mr. Wicksteed, came to be discussed, that I naturally felt the observations then made by Mr. Davis, and others, uncalled for. Mr. Vincent —l beg to propose a vote of censure on the committee, for turning out a member, without taking the sense of a public meeting. Seconded by Mr. M‘Kenzic. Great uproar. A shew of hands was then had, and a majority in favour of the committee was given. A desultory conversation then ensued. Mr. Annier. —He begged that the list of eighteen individuals, and that, if necessary, another list could be prepared; and he begged the Chairman to read each, name over, for the consideration of the meeting.

After rending this list, Dr. Taylor's liitme being mentioned, Mr. Hair said that Mr. Wait! and Dr. Taylor were connected in business, and lie thought, that Iris name should not be placed on the list. Mr. Taylor’s mune was, however, retained.

On Mr. Hanson’s name being called, Mr. Vincent said, Mr. Hanson is not a fit party to represent them — he was a lawyer-—and to talk about printers or printer’s devils—as Mr. Davis calls them. Besides Mr. Hanson is a government man, he is a paid servant of the government ; he is editor of a paper (no! no !) while Mr. Hanson was with the New Zealand Company, his connexion with that company was only sought for private ends, now, since he is a government man, he has done his utmost to thwart the interests of the settlement, (no ! no !) lie was the largest proprietor, and agent for the greatest number of absentees. Mr. Hanson is the sheetanchor of the government here, and I therefore propose and prefer an honest working man on the committee, in preference to Mr. Hanson, a lawyer, and one that was so slippery. I beg to propose Mr. Scott instead of Mr. Hanson. , Mr. Annieu rose and said—l think this is too much of the shop, and it seems to me that the burden of the song of these lads is the Colonist paper and Mr. Hanson ; in tact it smells too much of the shop. After some further discussion a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the meeting separated.