THE ABOLITION QUESTION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4496, 17 August 1875, Page 2

THE ABOLITION QUESTION.

MEETING AT KAIWARRAWARRA.

A meeting of the electors of the country district 'of Wellington was held last evening in the Kaiwarrawarra schoolroom, to discuss the question of the proposed constitutional changes. There were twenty-nine person# present. Mr. Thompson was elected to the chair, and having read the advertisement convening the meeting, called upon any member that pleased to propose a resolution. Mr. W. Donald proposed the following resolution: —“ That this meeting cordially approves of the abolition of provinces throughout New Zealand, and heartily approves of the Bill introduced by the Government for that purpose, and believes that it will not conduce to the welfare of the colony if there is any delay in passing the Act during the present session of the Assembly.” Mr. Gilford seconded the resolution. Mr. Jeffs proposed an amendment to the following effect: —“ Admitting even that the abolition of the provinces may be expedient, it is highly improper that the Bills now before Parliament for effecting it and the proposed local boards should be passed this session, and before the country has had an opportunity of expressing its feeling on the matter.” He thought the question was one upon which every man in the country had a right to express an opinion. Mr. Jeffs was objected to, not being an elector of the district. The Chairman ruled that Mr. Jeffs could not take part in the meeting. Mr. Chew considered the ruling arbitrary, as every Englishman ought to have a right to speak on the present question. The meeting upheld the Chairman’s ruling, and Mr. Kells begged to move the amendment read by Mr. Jeffs. Seconded by Mr. Bidmead. Mr. Brandon was of opinion that the proposer and seconder of the original resolution should have given some reasons for holding opinions favorable to abolition. Mr. J. H. Wallace spoke in favor of abolition. It had come to be recognised that the provinces should be abolished. He did not desire to reflect upon provincial officers anywhere in the colony, but the circumstances of the colony were such that the generality of people had arrived at the conclusion that the form of government must be changed. He then referred to a time, when communication was very limited, at which provincial institutions were useful, but now the condition of things had changed. It had been, moreover, distinctly understood when the Constitution was framed, that Provincial Councils would in time become of the character of municipal bodies. The present Bill provided liberally for local boards, and those parts in it which might be looked upon as defective would be amended. As to the stock argument, bring the Bills before the people, he contended that they had already been received favorably by the majority. It was desirable to pass the Bills for the financial safety of the colony. He then proceeded to show that the work of Provincial Governments had been for some time practically dying out. What good would they do by waiting ? Were their representatives in the General Assembly not competent to look after their interests ? (No, no.) Their present prosperity, after a period of extreme depression, was entirely owing to the public works policy inaugurated by the General Government. This district would be benefited by large amounts, which at the present time they could not get. It was well known that certain districts were left destitute while Provincial Governments had not the funds to manipulate, and thanks were due to the General • Government for making provision for such districts. The time had come when they should have a central form of government, large boards and representatives, when each district, however small, would receive an equitable share of the general revenue. Mr. Gillon said Mr. Wallace had come out in an entirely new character. Some years ago he had been an ardent provincialist ; since then, having been rejected by a large number of constituents when seeking provincial honors, he had suddenly turned round Mr. Wallace rose to order. He had not introduced personalities while he was addressing the meeting. Mr. Gillon : While Mr. Wallace had so altered in his opinions, he (Mr. Gillon) had not changed as to his in the slightest degree, holding still the same opinions as he had held when he addressed a meeting in that district five years ago. (Mr. Gillon then read a copy of the address delivered by him at the period mentioned.) He still held to the opinions expressed then—that the provinces might be abolished with benefit to the country—and it was because he held to those opinions that he was opposed to the resolutions now before the General Assembly of New Zealand, and asked them to pause before they adopted the scheme submitted therein. It was because he was convinced that abolition of provincial institutions would be for the welfare of the colony—and he had been for many years a journalist, and taking an active part in public matters both in Otago and Wellington—that he thought the Bills now before the House ought not to bepassed. They were a mere mockery. They did not abolish the provinces, but certain alterations had been made by which all the objectional features of provincialism were to be retained, with a confused medley of laws. Could any man in his senses see the difference between a province and a provincial district ? (Hear.) Certainly, Superintendendents and their Executives were done away with; but the whole powers previously held by them would be placed in the hands of whoever the General Government might choose to appoint. And that he maintained would not be a proper system of government. He believed if the Bills were passed in the manner proposed such a complete reaction would set in that the next Parliament would be returned to rearrange the Constitution, and that provincialism would get a new lease of life. (Oh no.) After referring to the Province of Westland to strengthen his argument, he proceeded to show that the highway districts would not be benefited by the proposed change. The Bills did not contain any provision for such districts as Kaiwarrawara. They would merely be a road board, and thrown in with the other Welington highway districts, and would receive £1 for £1 raised for rates. The rates raised in Wellington highway districts last year had amounted to £1957 14s. 6d.; the General Government grant, out of the £50,000 voted for road boards, amounted to £1094 14s. 7cL As opposed to this, the provincial grant was £1533 Is.; there -was also an expenditure of about £7849 13s. 6d., expended by the Provincial Government in the Wellington highway districts ; making a total of £10,477 Is. Those three amounts represented £5 7s. for every £1 collected from rates in the district, so that they would lose 4s. 7d. on every £1 collected. (Mr. Wallace ; “What nonsense !”) These were figures, and he challenged anyone to show that they were wrong. He went on to say that the Government by forcing these measures would be committing a tyrannical act. Such a thing as an expiring Parliament making an entire change in the Constitution had never before been heard of, and he referred them to the proceedings of the Imperial Parliament when treating such subjects as the repeal of the Corn Laws and Catholic emancipation. He would ask them to pause before committing themselves to an Ac* of which they knew but little, and the more they understood it the less they would like it. Mi - . Kells spoke in support of the amendment proposed by him. He thought that there was something behind those resolutions in the Assembly, of which they would do well to be cautious, some members of the Ministry having been strong provincialists. He thought it eminently probable that Mr. Vogel was working to get his paw on the land fund of the colony. Mr. Brandon, M.H.R., next addressed the meeting, and spoke strongly in favor of the amendment. If the General Government succeeded in carrying out this centralising policy, they would have their fingers in every petty work that was to be performed, and the local

governing bodies would have no control, but would have to seek for permission to execute eo all occasions. The people would be sacrificed in order that they might benefit themselves. Mr. Brandon then went on to say that the majority of the people were not, as had been alleged, in favor of immediate abolition. Mr. Bxdiiead, who seconded the amendment, addressed a few words to the meeting, and Mr. Gilford, seconder of the original resolution, followed. , The Chairman then put the amendment and resolution in the usual form, the result being a majority of 13 in favor of the amendment, 3 only voting for the original resolution.