The Prettier before his Constituents.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 947, 28 May 1881, Page 3

The Prettier before his Constituents.

[By Telegraph.] Leeston, May 27. The Hon. the Premier, in addressing his constituents said that the- foremost of the measures to be introduced would be that relating to electoral reform, namely: Regulations of Elections Bill, Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill; Redistribution of Seats Bill. In the first it would be proposed to extend the hours of polling, and to liave all elections on the same day. An endeavor would also be made to satisfy voters that the system of ballot was really a sacred one. He believed there was very little bribery or other corruption at elections. It would be sought to make the law as effective as possible. One proposal would probably be to close the publichouses during the hours of polling. The Redistribution of Seats Bill will provide—1. That population should be primarily the basis of representation ; 2. That, speaking generally regard should nevertlieless be had to circumstances of different groups of populations. 3rd—That no important district should be left without 'representation. Rigid equality between population representation if attainable would in some cases involve greater evils than a trifling departure from such equality. He believed his proposition would be generally accepted, that relatively the actual number of voters in the country districts should have a somewhat larger representation than town districts. He believed the second Chamber was neceessary, and most useful in any form of national representative Government, for any Minister or body of men to be conscious of possessing absolute power without check or appeal, was dangerous, and likely to lead to despotism. The Legislative Council of New Zealand had greatly improved our Legislation. It had not resisted any important measure on which public opinion had been definitely expressed, but it had saved the Colony from the dangerous proposals such as those for wholesale provincial borrowing, and for giving Maoris greater electoral print jgesthan Europeans, but any present Ministry, and pliant Government might by increasing the number of Members of the Legislative Council destroy the moderating influence of that chamber, just at the time when the exercise of its influence would be most valuable to the country. Amongst many suggestions for improving the constitution of the Council his opinion most inclined to one similar to that discussed by the House in 1878 on the motion oi Mr Curtis. The plan was that the number of members of the Council should be one half the number of members of the House ; that whenever a vacancy occurred it should be filled by a vote of the House taken f by ballot, and if there were a prolonged difference of opinion, as to any measure it should be settled by the two Chambers sitting as one, and voting on the question. It was supposed that by such a plan elections to the Council would as far as possible be freed from party character, and that there would be more pro-

bability than at present of the members of the Council being chosen from those who had Tendered eminent services to the Colony, whether in House, upon Judge’s Bench, or in any other capacity, or from those who had become conspicuous by general ability and high character. The question would have to be very fully considered by Parliament and the country before any practical attempt was made to solve the grave constitutional problem of how to secure a satisfactory second Chamber in a new and progressive country. It would be sought to abolish the law of entail so as to prevent land being locked up except perhaps during minority. Proposals might be made outside Parliament for securing large expenditure of public money, and for the purchase of the principal lines of railway. The country should be on its guard against such proposals, which must necessarily be conceived in the interests of those concerned in its oporation. Government will oppose any scheme of this kind. There is, however, another mode of helping on railway construction. To it, public attention has already been directed, and that mode which involved the policy of granting land or subsidies towards making approved lines for which money was not available, would be favorably considered. Any proposal with this object, would have to be most carefully considered, so as to secure settlements along the lines. Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill will again be introduced ; and he felt confident it would be passed. The Licensing Bill of last Session will be resubmitted, and pressed. The opening of unlicensed drinking shops, under the guise of Working Men’s Clubs (the real owners in some cases being men to whom licenses had been refused) was threatening to become a serious evil, and it would be proposed to require that all Clubs of whatever class, should pay license and be under the control of thepol’"®A Bill prepared by the Queensland Government, and appro®?*! at thr recent Intercolonial Conference, trilh the object of limiting Chinese immigration would be introduced immediately after commencement of the Session. Measures prepared by the Statutes Consolidation commission, and which would free the Statute Book of about eighty Acts, would also be introduced. Mr. Vincent Pyke had commenced an agi tation in Otago, as to the made in which runs there were to be dealt with, when the leases fell thaough ; but the agitation was unnecessary, because before it began the Government had taken steps for the classification of land. That which was fit for agricultural purposes would be surveyed into three classes, namely, for village settlements ; for sale on deferred payments ; and for sale for cash. Settlers would need to employ labor, and those who bought on the deferred payment system would be greatly aided by having work at hand. Pastoral lands it was intended should be divided into two classes, the best to be disposed of upon the pastoral deferred payments system, and the less good cut up into small runs and leased by Auction. The plans of the Opposition platform are, Ist—Abolition of the Legislative Council, and the substitution of a single Chamber ; 2nd — Removal of a Queen appointed Governor and the substitution of an elected Governor ; 3rd—Taxation of English bondholders to supply necessities of the New Zealand Treasury ; 4th— Dismissal of Civil Servannts who are not political supporters of the Government of the day ; and this was called Liberalism ! Forsooth he called it despotism of the most oppressive kind. To this platform Macandrew proposed to add some planks, namely: 1st —Unlimited expenditure on Public Works ; 2nd—lssue of Government paper money. The Government of Russia had been described as despotism tempered by assassination. But the platform of the socalled Liberal party, with two added planks might fairly be described as a despotism tempered by bankruptcy. The party with which he (Mr. Hall,) acted, did not think it necessary to a new programme ; they did not base their claims to support upon ( platform oratory, or on platform promises ; they asked the people of New Zealand to judge them by their actions. During the eighteen months his Government held office, the Constitution had been amended by broadening and deepening the foundntion of political power. Some laws had been passed, and others had been prepared distributing this power on the fairest, practicable, basis, and guarding against abuse in its exercise. The condition of Colonial Finance (as alarming as could well be imagined) had been faced ; public expenditure had been reduced ; public revenues increased; and thus the credit of the Colony had been restored. An end had been put to the system of land purchase, by which, through squandering of money European settlers were being robbed, while Natives were being demoralised, threatening Native difficulties had been peaceably settled. Large facilities for enabling the people to settle themselves upon land had been provided ; all legitimate means had been employed to endeavor to stimulate such local industries as would afford employment to a laboring population. The Government left it to others to talk so-called Liberalism, but they claimed to have earned the name of “ Working Liberals.” As such they asked from the House and the Country a continuance of that confidence and support which they had hitherto enjoyed. Mr Hall resumed his seat amidst hearty applause. A number of questions having been replied to, a vote of thanks and confidence was passed by acclamation.