MR. HUTCHISON AT THORNDON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4989, 20 March 1877, Page 2

MR. HUTCHISON AT THORNDON.

Mr. Hutchison met a large gathering of ratepayers at the Royal Hotel last evening. Mr. G. Anderson was called to the chair, and introduced the candidate. Mr. Hutchison said : It is almost an inevitable concomitant of free parliamentary institutions that political proposals should be more or less disjointed ; but it does not follow that the politician should fail to know his own mind, or have any doubt as to what he wants now and, wants in the long run. He (the speaker) had no doubt of what he wanted, and if he had the honor of being returned as their representative, he should steadily seek to attain it. He might not get what he wanted all at once, but he would take an instalment of his claim, and continue to seek for more, until the whole had been obtained. In this way he believed all political reforms had been fully won. He was a strong advocate for the prosecution of all public works necessary either for opening up valuable tracts of country or likely to be reproductive in their character. As an instance of what he meant he might mention the necessity for carrying the Wellington - Masterton railway to completion as speedily as possible. It was a work whose completion would be alike beneficial to town and country, and unnecessary delay simply meant loss to all parties. He believed the Government fully realised the fact that it was so—they were even now taking steps to have the survey completed to Masterton, and otherwise urging on the work. Tenders, he understood, would be at once called for plate-laying on the Mangaroa section, just finished by Mr. McKirdy; and shortly for lining the Rimutaka tunnel, which had been so successfully pierced by Messrs. Wilkinson and Scott. It was this desire of the Government to accede to any reasonable proposal, placed fairly before them, which constituted their strong claim to public support. He had no hesitation in saying, if he had a seat in the House, that he should give them a loyal support, so long as they continued their present course of action. He believed the country would search long before they were likely to find a more capable or a more honest administration than the present. He wa< in favor of such a revision of the land laws of the colony as would make settlement easy to the industrious colonist, either by letting him have land on deferred payments or 'on lease. He conceived the great point was to ihave the country settled with a numerous yeomanry, who would be buyers and sellers, and in both capacities add to the material wealth and social stability of our ‘ political structure. He observed that' Mr. Travers was for reducing the land transfer charges. It was quite a proper thing to do ; but looking at it on a colonial scale it reminded him of the offer of the bushel of potatoes to the man who had not got the means of lighting a fire, as told Us in “ Oliver Twist.” “ What am I to do with these potatoes?” asked the man. “ What does a reduction in land transfer charges concern us?” ask the bulk of the people, seeing they have got no land to transfer. He would suggest to Mr. Travers a reform that would be eminently useful, namely, a sweeping reduction in lawyers’ charges, and fortunately it did not need any Act of Parliament to accomplish that reform. He highly approved of the legislation of last session, which culminated in the abolition of provincial institutions and the setting up of local self-government. The machinery had been sdt up in the midst of much factious opposition, send was far from perfect; butTt was "entirely in the right direction, and after being amended in the coming session, he believed there would be little more to seek in the way of constitutional change. If returned to Parliament he should devote his energies to this amendment, and he believed, from the knowledge he possessed, which had been acquired’ not only as member of a municipal council, but of a road board for a number of years, that he could be useful in this work. On the question of education he had more than once spoken at length. His views were quite clear and decided. He was in favor of a free colonial unsectarian system of education. The State should have nothing to do with religious teaching in its schools ; not because it did not attach a high value to religion; quite the contrary, but because it was impossible to do so without-inflicting injustice on one or more classes in; the community, and thus, in fact, outraging some of the fundamental principles of the very thing, it professed to teach. There were wide differences of opinion on this subject, and. he highly respected many of. those who differed from him, but it was far better to be quite explicit than to attempt sailing under false colors. This root principle of non-interference with religion once conceded for the system, he contended that the management ‘ of details should be left ; largely in the hands of the different localities —one principle, thoroughly decentralised management. He need hardly say to them that any measures affecting the interests of Wellington would be narrowly watched by him, so that no injustice should be done to a city of which they were all justly proud. Nature had marked it out as the capital of the country, and they must take care to sustain this claim by keeping in the van, of progress and improvement. He regarded this as sound policy on the broadest colonial grounds—a united colony, with one recognised, capital, not in hostility to other towns or cities, but simply as a necessity of their position. And this once agreed to, every new road, every addition to railway communication, was just another contribution to the fuller union of the whole country—a union which more than anything else of a political character would make New Zealand prosperous and happy. He wished to contest the election fairly and in all good humor. He had strong influences against him, bait he kept up a stout heart. He was prepared to say with an old -Marquis of Montrose— He either fears his fate too much, Or his deserts are small. That dares not put it to the touch To gain or lose it all. Let him point out how the matter stood.. Iu the first place he had an opponent—a gentle-, man for whom it became him to have the highest respect—who announced that he had more knowledge on every subject than your humble servant. He knows about everything from the hyssop that grows on the wall to the cedars of Lebanon. He (Mr. Hutchison) did not believe very much in people blowing .their own trumpet ; but what could that avail him while he was obliged to confess that he only knew a thing or two. That was one serious

item gainst him. Then he had both the evening papers against bim, and as they are cheap, and published at a convenient hour, they are largely read. He did not undervalue the mischief they ware capable of doing him, although he believed it was not so much as those unfriendly to him supposed. Those who wrote in these newspapers and those who pulled the strings were known, and this knowledge to a certain extent neutralised the mischief. Still it was a great disadvantage during an election to have a lot of mean insinuations, either in the shape suppressio vtri or suggestio falsi, scattered broadcast among the homes of the people. And again there was the fact that from his position he had to take a part in nearly every public movement in the city, and it was impossible to do so without treading here 'and there and almost everywhere on corny toes. People get angry when their corns are trod upon ; and it is of small use to assure them that you did not know they had corns, or even that you were not conscious of treading upon them at all, but that without thinking of individuals you were only trying to discharge your duty in a straightforward manner. They are angry, and not so reasonable as you would expect. It was the shrewd saying of a celebrated Frenchman, that it is a terrible advantage to have done nothing; but one should not abuse it. Mr. Travers was not called upon to do anything just now, and therefore he could stand by and criticise ; the Mayor must keep in the thick of it. These were serious disadvantages, and he mentioned them in order to ask his friends to receive what appeared in the evening newspapers with a very large allowance of salt, and to bespeak from them some kindly indulgence if he did ■ot always have all his wits about him.

In answer to a written question as to what he thought of the Friendly Societies’ Bill,

Mr. Hutchison said he had not alluded to the question before, because he had not given the matter much attention. He thought, however, that friendly societies should be encouraged by the Legislature, and he considered that this could best be done by leaving the societies as much as possible to manage their own affairs. The Legislature should see that the contribution tables were on • such a scale that the revenue would be sufficient to place the societies on a perfectly safe basis, and to ensure that all just claims should be met." This secured, the Legislature should; not igterK' fere further. He understood the Government having withdrawn the Bill last session because of the objections made would submit another Bill next session, with such improvements as the discussions of last year led them to think necessary. . Should the subject crop up he should give it his best attention. In reply to a written question handed in as to whether he thought annual elections of city councillors desirable, Mr. Hutchison said he did not think a change in that direction desirable, because ift was necessary to have some old councillors to connect the present with the future, and to ensure a certain amount of continuity of action.

Mr. Parsonage then moved the ordinary vote of confidence, which was seconded by Mrl Turner, and unanimously agreed to. The.proceedings, which had been of an enthusiastic character, closed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.