MR. O’RORKE AT ONEHUNGA.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4327, 1 February 1875, Page 3

MR. O’RORKE AT ONEHUNGA.

Wo extract the following from tho Herald’s report of Mr. O’Rorke’h speech at Onehungii, to which we referred in a leading article the other day : Tho matter which I have to explain to you is a matter which perhaps concerns myself more than anyone else, viz., why I thought fit to retire from the position which I hold in the Government of New Zealand, in consequence of the proposals that were made by the present Premier of the colony. . . J. . Gentlemen, tho reason that I have retired from the Ministry is this: That a proposal was made which I considered was derogatory to the position of tho province of • Auckland. Recently, tho gentleman who succeeded mo in office, has stated—(he used a very nice word)—that the abolition of provinces should be tentative. The abolition should not affect his own province.

as it must affect the province of Auckland; and the experiment is to be made on us, as to whether we are to sink under the system of a nomineeism or not. Gentlemen, X resist, I oppose that. It is said that the people of the North Island are not to be allowed the privilege of conducting the affairs of the province in the manner in which they have been conducted for the last twenty years; and that wo are not to be allowed to elect our own Government, our own Council to regulate affairs, but that some nominee is to be sent up here to do the business for us. Mr. Chairman, I say the proposal is that it should be made an experiment upon ns. And why ? It appears that we in the province are to be looked upon as a sick man—that we are to die. And I do not believe that the people of the province of Auckland are going to acquiesce in that. What does the proposal mean ? That the provincial form of government of the North Island should be abolished, and that it should be left in full swing throughout the length and breadth of the Middle Island. Then, again, and I regret to say, the representatives of the province go iu for this feature, that we should agree that for all time the city of Wellington should be the seat of Government. I do not stand here to say anything against the city of Wellington, but this I do say, that I do not think the people of this province should tamely acquiesce in the proposal that Wellington should be the seat of Government. I recollect, you recollect, how the seat of Government was taken away from this province. Then, there is another matter—there is the matter of the laud revenue. The proposal emanating, I regret to say, from a member of the largest constituency of the province of Auckland, to the effect that the land revenue for all time should be exempt from all charges for the sustenance of the colony. These are the three main features of the resolution I resist and oppose. It is true, I stand in a minority on the matter. I have looked over the list to-day, and I see that the majority of the Auckland members are in favor of that resolution ; but when that decision was arrived at, those with whom I acted were of opinion that the matter should be remitted to the people of the colony before the decision was come to. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) If the people of the colony say that is a right thing, then it is my duty to bow down to them; but I do think we are not going to allow that thing to pass without having the voice of the people heard in the matter. But as I said before, gentlemen, it appears I am in the minority as regards the members, but I do think —I am sure the people of Onehunga will bear with me when I oay, that it is a matter easily to be brought under the consideration of the people. And it is on that ground alone that I stand here to-night to say that whilst you have thanked me for having retired, I do expect your support whoever comes forward to represent this constituency, and that you will allow me to enlarge ray views and say to the people of the province of Auckland—7o,ooo people—that I believe they will not be trampled upon—by what ?—by the majority of little petty provinces. I do not expect that I carry all the sympathies of you with me ; but I do feel that if there are any people iu the colony of New Zealand who have a right to speak on behalf of the colony, they are those who have been selected by the people. And what do I see ? I find on this decision on which I was one of the Ministry, that we had the Superintendent of Otago, representing 81,000 people, voting against it; the Superintendent of Canterbury, representing 55,000 or 56,000, voting against it; the Superintendent of Wellington, 40,000 ; the Superintendent of Auckland, representing 70,000 people ; the Superintendent of Nelson, representing 24,000 people, and they all to one man voted against it. Who are the representatives of the people who voted for it ? , I find the Superintendent of Taranaki, representing 5000 people; theSuperintendentofHawke’sßay, representing 8000 people; and the Superintendent of Marlborough, representing 5000 or 6000 people. I say the representatives of 20,000 people come forward and say they will do away with the rights and liberties of more than 287,000 people. Gentlemen, I think it is a fair matter to he remitted to the opinions of the people, and if the people are going to be led away with the impression that they are going to provide for their own interest by submitting to that course, then I say I ought not to be a representative for any constituency in the colony of New Zealand. I look on the colony as provinces, and I find the province of Taranaki comes forward and says, abolish the provinces. Why do not they do it? Why does not the province of Hawke’s Bay, represented as it is by Mr. Ormond and Sir Donald McLean—why do not they come forward and say, we have voted for it—abolish us ? No ; they do not do any such thing. Gentlemen, these were the reasons which induced me to retire from the Government —to come back here, and, as my wish is, perhaps to live in seclusion. But there is another matter. It has been stated in the House of Representatives, and repeated again up here, that I did not disclose ray intention of retiring. Now, I tell yon distinctly that the moment that proposal was made I told the Government, if you bring that matter forward I cannot remain a member of the Government. And further than that, I went down with one of the members of the Government and discussed the matter for an hour, and he himself said to me that he also would 8 not consent to be a member of the Government if they pressed that forward ; but he did not keep his word. That very gentleman, on the occasion when it was re-discussed, instead of holding what I considered was his honor, did not only consent, but urged that this matter should be brought forward. And it has been brought forward. Gentlemen, these are the simple facts of the case. _ You will have an opportunity of saying—if not to-night, in the course of a year—whether I have been unfaithful to my stewardship. The question of provincialism has never been very strongly brought forward here ; but I have always held that faith. You have elected me, knowing my principles, and I say I should have reflected discredit upon you if I had not held to my word upon that matter. Gentlemen, I regret I have troubled you to come together here, but it was in consequence of the promise I made when you did me very high honor a short time ago, and I then said I would meet you aud explain the matter. I feel as though I have not, perhaps, done justice to the case, which is a big one. All I wantall that those that are going with me want—is to let the people be heard before these revolutionary changes are brought about. . It was proposed by a friend of mine—a gentleman who represents the district of Newton—that whatever scheme for the destruction of the provinces was propounded, it should be submitted to the people. The motion was rejected bj a tremendous majority ; in fact I do not know what the representatives in New Zealand would not do at the present moment. However, I have faith in the cause which I am advocating, namely, that wo should preserve to the people the privileges which they have enjoyed for the last twenty years. I need hardly remind you that it is not I that am speaking to you now. Wo have had a gentleman who laid the foundation of this settlement; we have had him come forward and advocate the retention for the people of their rights. I do not build my hopes or my position upon any man. When that proposal was made I felt it was wrong, and I did not go and nsk anyone to support my opinion, but expressed ray views as distinctly as . I could, that nothing could bo more insulting or derogatory to the dignity of the province of Auckland than the resolution of the Premier—l regret to say, a member for one of the constituencies of the province of Auckland. However, they have the majority, and I think a small one, I look at the names of those who support him, and find that they say we did not mean that the land revenue should bo delegated to the local districts. Then, again, I read a speech the other day that was. made by Sir Donald McLean down at Napier, and he says what we ryant is to localise the revenue. I say that is what we want, to localise the revenue. But are we, the people of Auckland, to sit tamely down whilst a quarter of a million of money is carried away to the South, and they say we will localise your revenue ? They take away the whole of the Customs revenue, but what do they leave us ? Well, you may sell a hun-

dred pounds’ worth of land ; that is what they call localising the revenue. Gentlemen, as I said before, I came here simply in fulfilment of a promise X made, that X would be here in reference to this matter. lam not going, and do not think it is necessary that I should do so, to reveal any Cabinet secrets. I said to the Premier—lndeed, I put it in writing—saying, “When I retire I do not want it to be any break in private friendship, 11 but I think he has not extended to me the same courtesy which I extended to him, inasmuch as he came up to Auckland and said I had never given him notice of my intention to retire. Now, I say that I told him, “If you bring forward that matter I must leave,” and he said, “ It is very chivalrous for you to go in for what is a sinking cause.” lam not afraid to in for a sinking cause because a majority is against it. I told you that when the proposal was brought forward I said that in duty to myself and to you I must retire from the Government. If, which Ido not believe is the case, there is a feeling of disapprobation against me, I wish to hear it now. If anyone here thinks I have done wrong in the course I pursued, I hope they will come forward and express it. I did what I thought was right. What I did was due to myself and was due to the electors of Onehunga, that there should not be a stain upon them. Gentlemen, I stated simply and ns plainly and honestly as I could, why I pursued the course that I have pursued, and believe you are not dissatisfied with me—(A Voice : “No !no !”) — and if there is no dissatisfaction, for that I am thankful.

No questions being asked, Mr. Armstrong moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Otßorke for his kindness in coming ■ forward, and also that the electors of Onehunga have full confidence in him as their representative. This motion was seconded by. Mr. Clarke, and carried unanimously. . . ■