MR HALCOMBE AT MARTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 28, 5 August 1871, Page 5

MR HALCOMBE AT MARTON.

(Pom Our Own Correspondent.) DISTRICT HIGHWAYS* ACT.

The adjourned meeting of ratepayers took place at Marton on "Friday, July 23, in the Town Hall. There was a good attendance, and Mr H. Lyon was called to the chair. Messrs Halcombe and Milne, the representatives of the Rangitikei district, were both present. It will only be possible for me to give you a bare outline of the speeches, as it would take up too much room if I reported them in full. The chairman, in opening the meeting, stated the object for which it was called ; he trusted good order would be preserved, and that all the speakers would have a fair hearing. He regretted the inclemency of the weather, which would doubtless keep a good many from attending. After some minor remarks from various speakers, Mr Halcombe, in rising, said it was expected of him to explain his reasons for his conduct during the last sitting of the provincial session. He had long wished to meet his constituents, and he felt perfectly confident that when he explained his actions they would be fully satisfied with him. He hoped those present would bear with him, as he had only just risen from a sick bed. He would endeavor to explain some of the features of the act. One of the speakers had stated the act was carried simply because the town members voted for it; that it would benefit them, while it would do much to injure the' country settlers. This was simply nonsense, as the towns were to a certain extent dependent upon the country, and what benefited the one would benefit the other; the town members had voted in an impartial manner, and he thought if those who objected to the act looked at it in all its bearings and as a whole, they would approve of it; they must not look at it as simply referring to their own district, but how it would also work in other places. The great objection, so far as he could make out, was that it was a tax on improvements. The previous act was on acreage, but this one legislated for the whole district. The acreage tax would be most unfair in a place like the Ilutt, where some of the land was not worth more than five or six shillings an acre. If we had an act which would exactly meet the requirements of the district, it very possibly would not suit other places at all. There were many disadvantages under the old system. Sometimes boards would work pretty well for twelve months or so, and then, from some local cause, would entirely cease working. In other cases they were split up into cliques, delays were caused, and the roads got out of repair. They had an instance of that in their own district, where they had two boards opposing each other. He thought the old adage, “ between two stools you are sure to come to the ground” would apply in that case. Mr Halcombe here gave a clear exposition of the District Highways Act. He said some of the people in the Wairarapa had tried the acreage rate, >and found it would not answer. The Greytown people especially had found this to be the case. Under the old act, too, the money was not all expended on public roads. The land which was of most value and which they proposed to

tax most was made of value simply in consequence of roads being made to it and townships formed round it. Under the old act a great deal of land escaped taxation, but under this one all land was taxed. Those who had made improvements would reap the benefit of this, as money so raised from land which was formerly untaxed would go towards improving the roads around their property, thus making it of much greater value. Under the old system road boards worked very unsatisfactorily, especially when the money began to get scarce. In some cases they had only made-one or two roads. Mr Halcombe agreed with them that money was exceedingly scarce, and the present a time of great depression; but he would point out to them that it was not a case of choice,l)ut a case of necessity, if they had not taxed their land they would not have had roads to come there to-day. After all, what they would have to pay was not so much. During the last six or eight years they had paid about 2s an acre, and the land had increased double or treble in value in consequence o ithat money being spent on the roads. I lthey looked carefully into this Act they would find it was a most just and fair one, as it touched all parties equitably. Was it right that those who had large flax mills, boiling down establishments, stores, &c., and were constantly bringing heavy loads upon them, should not pay a little more for the roads than the settler or farmer who only used them occasionally; certainly those who owned valuable property would have to pay a little more for it, but then, on the other hand, it was the maintenance of these roads which made their property valuable. He knew there was a cry (and it simply was a cry) that this tax was putting a burden on the hard working man. Any person with common sense could see that this was a mistake, as they only proposed to tax those who could best afford to pay for it, and reaped most benefit from it; the same thing was done at home, and the same thing carried out by the municipal corporations in the towns here. If a man owned an acre of .land in the city which, with the improvements upon it, was worth ten thousand pounds, and a man owned one next to it with nothing on it, they were taxed accordingly. He thought most of his hearers would prefer having the ten thousand pounds section even if he had to pay higher taxes for it than the productive one next to it ; the same rule would, to a certain extent, apply to country properties. Instead of being a tax which would take money out of, it rather put money into the pockets of the hard working man, as it made roads for him to take his produce to market. He would point out one of the advantages of the present act. Under the old one it was sometimes very difficult to get wardens to serve ; they had to be pitchforked almost into office, and very often they got most unsuitable men. He thought the present system would be beneficial in this particular respect. For instance, the Rangitikei district would have about eight wardens to send to the general board ; these wardens would be properly elected, and it would be considered an office of some distinction; the office would be sought after, and their fellowsettlers would generally elect one of their best men. By this means they would most likely get a oetter class of men in office than they had at present. It also provided for a more simple mode of collecting the rates. The speaker gave many more cogent reasons in favor of the act, such as its application to native lands, absentees, &c. He concluded a long and comprehensive speech by saying that he believed from the bottom of his heart that it was the best act for the purpose that had ever been framed. He hoped he had satisfied them all by his explanation. If the meeting wished it, he should be happy to give them his reasons for resigning from the Provincial Executive. (Cheers). It was then proposed by Dr Curl, and carried by the meeting generally, that he should give them the explanation referred to. Mr Halcombe, in again rising, said it was with the deepest regret that he had sent in his resignation as a member of the Provincial Executive, but as an honorable man, and a gentleman, he had no other course open to him. He had worked hard and worked conscientiously in endeavoring to frame acts that would benefit the province. He

had in a great measure assisted in getting the District Highways Act, the Education Act,and the Immigration Actpassed, and at the risk of being thought anxious to speak in too high terms of himself, he believed, at this particular juncture, his retirement would be of some little injury to the province. He did feel most bitterly the necessity of having to resign, but he had no option irnthe matter. Mr Halcome then explained his reasons in detail, and gave portions of conversations with regard to a late appointment. He said he would never again, as long as he lived, join any Executive with Messrs Fitzherbert and Bunny. (Loud applause). His great aim had been the colonisation of the country between here and Wellington, and the consequent development of its resources. The Manawatuin itself would well repay the outlay they intended to expend upon it. He had been all over the Manawatu as well as into it (laughter), and he believed there was not a finer district in New Zealand. There were large and immense tracts of bush there, containing totara (which was almost entirely run out in this district), and other timber suitable for building purposes. By laying down tramways they would utilise all this timber instead of having to send to other places for it. They would also put a population on this land, which would cause a market to be found for the produce of the surrounding agricultural districts. The speaker then gave an explanation of the principles of the Immigration Act, and pointed out its many advantages. He confidently predicted that if these acts were carried out in their integrity there would be between two or three thousand colonists on the Manawatu block within the next two or three years; but he would point out to them that without roads they could do nothing, and also that good roads would be required to act as feeders to the proposed lines of railways which the General Government were about to form. Mr Halcombe con eluded a speech of about two hours by saying he hoped his acts entitled him to the confidence and support of his constituents. (Applause.) Mr Milne, M.P.C., said he agreed with the act generally ; taking it as a whole he thought it was one of the best acts ever framed. It . had many good points in it. It brought in all the runs which had hitherto escaped. Another good thing in it was, all the money raised would be spent on the roads alone. In fact he considered the act perfectinall respects, excepting that particular clause relative to taxation on value, which he considered unjust. It touched the absentee very lightly, and in a new country like this, where there was only a small portion of the country improved, it was not a fair one. An acreage rate was looked upon as not suitable; he thought a uniform one was the best. No man could object to a rate which was laid on the natural character of the country. The particular clause in the act referred to ought to he put off for at least ten years ;it was too premature. The reason the first government put on an acreage rale was to put an end to land speculation. Mr Milne concluded by saying if they wanted to put an end to such tilings, they should bring in an act specially adapted for the purpose. Captain Jordan made a few remarks. He did not agree with that clause of the act relative to taxation on value, although he fully recognised the usefulness of the roads. He thought an acreage rate was the best. He would move as an amendment, “ That this meeting objects to the principles of assessment rating being applied to country districts, as provided in the District Highway Act of 1871.” Seconded by Mr Bryce, and carried.

Dr Curl said that there had been no equivalent to the boards, and the Go vernment had to borrow to pay their liabilities. The act as it stood at present was faulty. He objected to it as a whole, as he thought that when they had got good roads the Government would take them over and put on toll bars. He approved of Captain Jordan’s amendment, and was glad it had been carried in its integrity. Mr Hunt then proposed “ That this meeting approves of Mr Halcombe’s conduct in resigning bis seat in the Executive under the circumstances which had been explained to them seconded by Mr Coleman, and carried unanimously. This, with a vote of thanks to the chairman, closed the proceedings.

The meeting was largely and influentially attended, and Mr Halcombe was listened to with great attention. In that portion of his speech in which he referred to conversations with Messrs Fitzherbert and Bunny, in reference to a late appointment, and his determination not to remain a member of a Government which could so tamper with the privilege of voting, he received loud applause. In conversation after the meeting, it was very generally admitted that he had acted in an honorable and dignified manner. Whatever Mr Halcombe may have lost in a pecuniary point of view, it may be a satisfaction to him to know that he has raised himself considerably, not only in the eyes of his constituents, but in the eyes of all those who are opposed to corruption in a Government.