Captain Porter at Totoga Bay.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 999, 15 November 1881, Page 2

Captain Porter at Totoga Bay.

A numerously attended 'meeting was held on Thursday evening last for the purpose of affording those electors, who were desirous of so doing, an opportunity of asking Captain Porter questions with reference to his candidature.

Mr. R. O. Stewart occupied the chair ; and in the course of a few remarks introduced the candidate.

Captain Porter said that he did not on this occasion purpose entering on any lengthened exposition of his policy, or views for the future. The real opening of the electioneering campaign would be at Gisborne, where he intended to address the electors on Monday next. What he said at this meeting must not be deemed altogether an enunciation of his views, he would be glad of any suggestions or advice from the meeting. At the same time he would be happy to answer any questions to the .best of his ability. He intended returning to Uawa from Gisborne, after having visited Wairoa and other centres of the electorate. Mr. Matthews : Would you vote for a repeal of the Native Frauds Bill ? Captain Porter did not quite approve of the Native Frauds Court, as at present constituted ; but was of opinion that the questions which came before it could be much more satisfactorily dealt with by the establishment of an office in each district to be called a Native Lands Registration Office, whereat would attend a Registrar for the transaction of Native business. It would be the duty of the Registrar to satisfy himself of the honesty or otherwise of applicants, and in fact carry on the work now being performed by the Frauds Commissioner. In addition to which he would register the titles, and accomplish the work at once, thereby obviating the large expenditure now incurred by a double investigation, solicitors’ fees, and other expenses. Mr. Matthews : Do you approve of a Waste Land Board being established at Gisborne ?

Captain Porter did not approve of the purely local administration of Waste Land, but thought a General Land Board consisting of the two County Councils should be constituted. Furthermore he did not think it altogether right, or perhaps safe, for one County Council being a local body to deal with such large interests. There were considerably over balf-a-million acres of land to be dealt with in Cook County ; and he thought that localism might mean undue influence

in the disposal of it. He thought now that Cook and Wairoa Counties were united, that Wairoa people who have also some 222,400 acres, ought to have a voice in the matter. The two councils would exercise also a beneficial counteraction one on the other. The Chairman observed that it would be well if Captain Porter w'ould explain his views on the Native lands rating question, and as to how such rates could be collected from year to year, instead of being, possibly, al-, lowed to accumulate for a long period until the land itself might become absorbed, to discharge them. Captain Porter was distinctly in favor of rating Native lands. The time had come when it was necessary to carry out such rating, and he did not believe that, if properly carried out, it would meet with any opposition from the Maoris. The Bill as at present framed was no good. In lieu thereof, he would suggest that the total area of Native tribal lands be ascertained, also rental value (land to be assessed) say, for sake of example, at £lOOO per annum at 5 per cent, £5O. Let Natives endow, or set apart so many thousand acres—rent to go to recoup local bodies, and pay rates. Each tribe would have its productive area, and difficulty of paying rates would be obviated. With reference to the willingness of the Natives he (Captain Porter) was in a position to say they would willingly consent. They saw in it a source of revenue. Natives would derive benefit, as well as pay rates, and they knew it. At Tokomaru land could be rented under such an arrangement immediately. There will have to be improvement clauses of course. With regard to Government and Native lands, Europeans in present occupation pay 10 per cent to land revenue, but he (Captain Porter) would propose that they should pay 15 per cent through the Government —the 5 per cent, to be refunded to local bodies, and to be deducted from the annual rental payable by the lessee to the Native lessors. The Ridings of Counties should for purposes of the Act be deemed Hoad Boards.

Mr. W. W. Brown ■ Are you in favor of County Councils as at present constituted ?

Captain Porter was not, as constituted, and rather approved of a Central Council to be appointed as follows :—Each * Chairman of Road Boards to be a member of such Council —without election. The duties of the Council to allocate revenue for each separate Riding, assess property, strike rates, apportion expenditure. By this means each Riding would be duly represented, and less room left for the importation of what might be called local or special interest in any one direction. He did not by this arrangement indicate any return to Provincialism, as hinted by an elector. There was no election, the Council would not legislate. He thought it just the contrary. Mr. W. W. Brown : Would youadvocate a Bill for the sub-division of land ? Capt. Porter: He would repeal all superfluous Acts, and by every means endeavor to simplify the present intricate and unsatisfactory procedure with regard to the subdivision of lands. He would confer upon Judges full power to deal with joint or other tenancies, upbn the basis of equity and good conscience, once and for ever. At the present there is no end to the trouble and difficulty attending these matters. Solicitors represent various interests, and quote conflicting Acts, which much embarrassed proceedings. Mr. W. W. Brown: Do you support the present Government ? Captaiu Porter : “ Decidedly.” He said that although the present Government might not be termed a politic Government, it was emphatically an honest one. It had effected much good in the country, financially and otherwise. It might not be termed a brilliant Government, or one of display, but the advantages derived by the country during its administration were patent to all, and undisputable.

Mr. Mathews : In transactions with Maoris would you vote for payment being made them otherwise than cash? Capt. Porter would certainly oppose any payments being made in the shape of spirits, powder, arms, or anything of that kind. He thought that equitable payments as among ourselves should prevail. He deprecated such payments being made to Natives, as they could make away with—that they could easily dissipate. In reply to further questions, Capt. Porter said : I do not consider mining scrip as value for land. lam opposed to scrip being so considered. Mr. Matthews : Would you support a breakwater at Napier, and a railway thence to Gisborne ? Captain Porter: I would certainly not. There had been a great deal of money spent unavailingly in attempts to form a harbor at Napier, and he considered that Gisborne was in every respect better suited to be the harbor of refuge for the East Coast. With regard to the railway, the topographical, and other difficulties in the way were all but insuperable, and the cost of such aline would suffice for the formation of three or four breakwaters such as would render Gisborne a superb harbor of refuge. Mr. W. W. Brown: Will you try to get a cemetery reserve set apart at Tologa Bay ?

Captain Porter had himself caused a portion of land for a cemetery to be withdrawn frdm Government sale of L T awa, last November. The Chairman here observed that

Mr. MacDonald had asked in the House during last Session for a cemetery reserve. The Hon. the Minister for Crown Lands had replied that instructions would be issued to reserve a cemetery site; but Mr. Featon in the Land Office, at Gisborne, had, about a month ago, stated that no such reserve had been made ; but that a tracing would be forwarded when it was made. Thus it appeared that there was some confusion on the subject, and it was necessary to take further steps.

Resuming, Captain Porter said that there was a strip of land lying between town allotments, and the outer beach called Tatarahaki, from which a cemetery site might be selected.

Mr. Niccol and Mr. McClutchy both observed that care would have to be exercised in such selection, as in many parts of the site proposed there was a layer of rock two or three feet below' the surface.

Mr.’ Pelham Richardson here interpolated, that there was another reason why care ought to be exercised in choosing a suitable burial ground. He referred to the drainage question. People at Uawa ought to be relieved of the risk which citizens of Auckland, Nelson, and Christchurch ran ; who in many parts of those cities could not drink from their wells without imbibing a more or less “ concentrated essence of ancestors.” The general feeling of the meeting was, however, that the subject was much too grave for joking, and Mr. Richardson’s suggestion was received as it deserved. Mr. W. W. Brown : Do you advocate bringing Arakihi Block under the Homestead System ? Captain Porter said it had already been done, and will be opened up shortly. He thought the County Council had carried out this matter. The Board was rather long in adjustMr. Brown (who said he spoke feelingly, as a bachelor, on the subject) : Will you do your best to establish a European School here ? Captain Porter had never given the matter any thought. He should think there would be no difficulty in obtaining a school on application to the Education Department at Napier ; less populous places (instancing Patutahi) had schools. The question was one that rested entirely with the local settlers. Mr. Cannon : What is your opinion of the Licensing laws, and the Sunday tradiug question ? Captain Porter said he had not mastered the Act relating to Licenses, and Sunday trading, but from what he knew of it, it was cumbrous and illadvised. No doubt the gentleman who, as the recognised head of the teetotal interest, had, probably, largely to do with the construction of the Act, thought with some others that it was a good thing; but he (the speaker) did not believe people could be made sober by Act of Parliament. From what he knew’, aud had read, he believed that the Licensed Victuallers’ interest was under more restrictions in New Zealand, than any other country and he thought somt of them were vexatious. With regard to Sunday trading, it had been said in Parliament that the working man could get his beer for his Sunday dinner on Saturday night (a voice “ it would be dead before the morning ”) but for his own part, though not a heavy drinker, he liked a glass of ale for dinner on Sunday, and usually had one.

On the question of the local bodies having control of the police, Captain Porter said he was opposed to the police being influenced in any way. He considered that they, having their specific duties to perform, should carry them out irrespective of anyone. They had the law' to guide them, and it was sufficient without local control. Mr. W. W. Brown : Are we to understand that you positively go to the Poll ?

Captain Porter W'ould certainly go to the poll. There had been an electioneering canard in circulation that he w'ould not. There were three candidates at a former election, two local and one Tauranga candidate, Messrs. Johnson, McDonald and himself, and Captain Morris. The two former declined to risk a plebiscite as to which should remain in the field to oppose Captain JMorris, and he (Captain Porter) therefore in the interest of his constituents withdrew from the contest, at the same time remarking that when the division of the electorate should be an accomplished fact he would again appear as a candidate’ He did so now, and certainly would go to the poll and do his utmost to secure being returned. It was then proposed by Mr. W. W. Brown, seconded by Mr. Matthewsj and carried by acclamation—“ That the thanks of this meeting be awarded to Captain Porter for the straightforward and able manner in which he had answered questions submitted to him.” Captain Porter in returning thanks observed that he did not profess to be faultless, but he would do his best for his constituents if returned. Captain Porter then proposed a vote of thanks to to the Chairman and the meeting separated.