MAJOR ATKINSON’S ADDRESS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5277, 22 February 1878, Page 2

MAJOR ATKINSON’S ADDRESS TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.

. (per press agency.) New Plymouth, Thursday. Major Atkinson addressed a largely attended meeting last night in the Odd Fellows’ Hall, a number of his constituents coming in from the Egmont District to hear him, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather. The Mayor (Mr. A-. Standish) was in the chair. Major Atkinson spoke for about two hours, his remarks, consisting of a review of the late session and the part he took in it. At the beginning of the session, h* said, the Ministry had a majority. , .Through’ the'action of interested parties, who were' opposed to the abolition of the provinces; a determined opposition had been raised- against this Ministry, and although the . Financial Statement And other parts of their policy were introduced early in the session, yet no ‘work-was ’got' through, owing to the interminable discussions of the Opposition. To make matters still more difficult,'a large majority of the House utterly distru-ted Sir George Grey, and a Middle’Party was formed to oust the Ministry; but at the same time that party wished to keep out Sir ■ George Gray. The party, however, seemed to forget that there were only two lobbies, and consequently got into great difficulties ;. but with the assistance of Sir George Grey and his section of the House ' the’ Middle' Party succeeded in displacing the Ministry, and then, very much to their astonishment, they found Sir. George Grey master of the situation, and he formed a Government. ' The Middle Party’ then, broke up, some coming to the ranks of the Opposition, and some going with’ Sir George Grey. The Opposition numbered a majority of from tour to six, of which he was chosen as leader. That party had several meetings, and they decided to wait till the Financial Statement was' brought down before any attack was made.. They waited some time for that statement, but finding it was not made, a he moved a vote of want of confidence. That vote was discussed, the debate lasting over several days, and was at last lost on the casting vote of the Speaker, through two or three of the Opposition being absent. The Opposition were then determined to give the Ministry another chance ; but finding that they could get no satisfaction, he gave the second notice of want of confidence, which the Government treated with contempt. Major Atkinson said the new Government adopted the late Ministry’s Estimates, their Land Bill, the.lnscription of Stock Bill, and other measures. He said Sir George Grey had declared he could make deductions to the extent of £100,009, but he had failed to do so. He referred to the incidence of taxation, and showed that if a property tax was introduced the amount would not be large. In speakingof the new Land Bill, Major Atkinson said thepresentOolonialTreasurervoted against his own Government on that occasion, and what confidence, he asked, could they have in a Premier when he permitted his own Treasurer to walk into the Opposition lobby against him. That Bill, when the majority of members left Wellington, they considered was to become , Jaw, and little expected that the Government would recommend his Excellency to disallow it. He considered it was a most unconstitutional course tor a Minister to take, after a Bill had passed the House, to recommend the Governor to disallow such an important measure as that. Referring to the constitution of Waste Lands Boards, he said he was opposed to the members being elective, and considered that the duties could be better performed solely by a commissioner. With regard to the Native policy, he said the late Government were very much abused for what they had done, but Sir George Grey and Mr. Sheehan, he found, were doing exactly what Sir Donald McLean had previously dooe. He believed in the view Mr. Sheehau to ik nf Native matter-, and was glad to hear of the firm stand he had taken with regard to the confiscated lands, although he blamed him for stopping the surveys when he did. Major Atkinson then proceeded to speak of the Public Works scheme, giving a history of its development since 1870, and showing, in similar words to those reported in Hansard, his opinion of the financial position of the colony. He said that the statement laid on the table by Sir George Grey showed that he would have a deficiency on 30th June next of £138,000. After that the supplementary estimates for some £IIO,OOO were passed, but not. provided for; so that the deficiency was about a quarter of a million, for which the Government had made no provision. The abolition of the provinces, he said, had effected the objects which its promoters had in view. It had created a national finance, and entirely altered the position of the colony, for now the people, looked to the General Assembly with a greater interest. He referred to a table he had had prepared, showing the indebtedness of the colony, and its actual revenue and expenditure, and pointed out that under the provincial form of government they were spending far more than their income. With regard to what he had said about the deficiency there would be at the end of the financial year, he could not help thinking that additional taxation would be required ; and judging from past years, he felt certain the Government could not carry on as they were doing, and a property tax would be proposed in addition to the present taxation. He said the House had passed a resolution last session directing the Government to introduce a property tax next year. He thought it was a very reasonable tax, and it was desirable to have it. It would not bring in a very large amount, and would not relieve the Customs to any great extent. With regard to the electoral franchise, he said the present Government proposed to introduce next session a system of universal suffrage. He thought the present qualification quite liberal enough, and considered if there was a change it should be in the manner of registration. He thought that a twelve months’ residence in a place before being entitled to vote wss necessary, and that an: officer should be appointed who would havq the power at any time to register persons who had the: proper qualifications, and who should also have authority to strike names off the _ roll when necessary. The Government, he said, intended to disfranchise New Plymouth. They intended to abolish the Egmont District by throwing the Patea end of it into the Wanganui District, and, he supposed, this end into that of New Plymouth. They would thus take one member from Taranaki. Major Atkinson then referred to matters of local interest. With regard to the Mokau, he said the late Government were always most anxious to get it opened, but found that it could not be done except

■through the King country, and in that opinion Mr, Sheehau concurred. Major Atkinson said--but for his influence the Harbor Bill 1 would net have been passed, and he denied that his moving the vote of want of confidence in the Government in any way jeopardised it. He then referred to the railway, saying that he was always in favor of it going by the back of the mountain. He did not desire to push on the work by bringing contractors from other districts, but rather to let it be done by employing the surplus labor in the place. He concluded by thanking those present for their attention, and saying he believed in members meeting their constituents yearly, when they could discuss matters, and come to a better understanding with each other. Several questions were asked of Major Atkinson, and at the conclusion of the- meeting a vote of confidence was proposed and carried.