EAST COAST ELECTION.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1003, 24 November 1881, Page 2

EAST COAST ELECTION.

Mr. Locke at Ormond[commuficated] . Mr. Locke addressed a large number of electors at Bruce’s Hall, Ormond, on Monday evening last. Mr. P. Barrie was voted to the chair, and having asked a fair hearing for the candidate, introduced him to the meeting. The meeting was a very enthusiastic one. On rising, Mr. Locke was greeted with rounds of applause. He expressed great pleasure at meeting the electors with the view of addressing them on the different subjects of interest that were engaging their attention at the present time. He referred to his long connection with the district, both as a Government officer, and a settler. He stated that he was an independent supporter of the present Government, and compared the present hopeful state of affairs with the disordered state of things existing at the time they came into office. He considered the present Ministry was composed of practical men, and deserving of support. They had passed very useful measures, such as the Triennial Parliaments Bill, The Representation Bill, and others of a like useful nature. They also brought forward the Alienation of Lands Bill, which would do away with the law of entail. He referred to three matters of great importance to the welfare of this district, viz.: The settling of our titles; the opening up and settlement of the Crown lands ; and the construction of a Harbor of Refuge at Gisborne. He drew attention to the rich lands in the immediate vicinity of Gisborne, held under joint tenancy, and suggested that a meeting should be convened of all those interested, both Native and Europeans, with the view of coming to some arrangement by which the whole question of subdivision could be referred to the Supreme Court. By adopting such a course the whole question could be settled in six months, at a trifling cost of about £2OOO. Mr. Locke was in favor of the Crown lands being inspected, and divided into two classes—pastoral and agricultural. Portions of each to be sold on deferred payments, and the remainder to be leased in perpetuity. In connection with this scheme of settlement he advocated the laying out of large reserves, as commonages, for the use of the surrounding farmers. The Wairoa lands could be dealt with in the same way. He condemned Capt. Porter’s scheme of borrowing £3,000,000 to lend to small farmers, as being quite impracticable, and would place too much power in the hands of the Government of the day. He explained fully the object of the Road Constructions Bill, brought down by the Government last session, and showed how it would have benefitted this district. He would urge the opening up of the whole district by means of arterial roads ; and would be in favor of introducing into the Bill a clause to provide for the protection of lands from the destruction caused by the overflow of rivers. Mr. Locke referred to the Canterbury leases, and quoted from Hansard to show that the question had been considered by a special Committee of the House, last session; and in accordance with the report of that Committee, those lands were now being cut up for settlement. He explained his connection with the New Zealand Land Company, and condemned the lines upon which it was started. He would oppose a return to Provincialism, and approved of the County Council and Road Board system, with increased powers to the former. He did not agree with Sir George Grey’s Bill which would have the effect of cutting up New Zealand into a number of Petty States. He hoped to see New Zealand grow up into one great united nation. He considered the Crown and Native Lauds Rating Bill would have been a great boon to t he East Coast District. Had it passed into law, the Poverty Bay District would have derived an income from the rates of about £3,600, and Wairoa, £1,265. He supported the Property Tax as preferable to the Land and Income Taxes; the latter, he thought, would fall heavily on the lower and middle classes. He disapproved of the reduction of a half-penny in the Property Tax. It would have been better to have kept it at a penny, and to have reduced the Customs duties on the necessaries of life. The Act should be amended so as not to tax improvements on lauds and machinery. He would advocate making the breakwater and harbor of refuge at Gisborne. It was a Colonial undertaking, which, if properly brought before the House, there wonld be no objection to it. Southern members would assist in carrying it out. He pointed out that, with only one exception, all the Ministers for Public Works have been Southern men. He considered we had a right to have Supreme Court, and Registry Office in this district; and went into figures to show that about £lB,OOO per annum was being expended in law, half of which would be saved to the district, if we had a Registry Office, and the Supreme Court sitting here twice a year. He was in favor of encouraging Volunteers in every way, and would approve of liberal prizes for good shooting, (applause). The Waste Lands Board, Mr. Locke considered, should be elected by the ratepayers, and he could not understand how Captain Porter could have stated that the people of this district were not competent to deal with the subject. He would object to the separation of the North Island from the

South, and could not see how any adherent of the Grey-Macandrew party could oppose insular separation. He objected to an elected Governor, but would agree to the members of the Upper House being elected for a term of 5 or 7 years, underahigher franchise. He would support free, secular, and compulsory education. He was opposed to the reading of the Bible in schools. He had great respect for teachers, but did not think they were the right persons to impart religious instruction. That should be done by the ministers of the various denominations. (Applause). Mr. Locke advocated the establishment of Industrial Schools. Local Industries, Co-operative Factories, and such like should be encouraged. The export of frozen meat would be highly beneficial to this district. In connection with that, we should have direct steam communication with the old country.—-If we turned our attention to these useful objects, and leave off fighting over land titles, this would become a most flourishing district, and instead of having the finger of caution and suspicion pointed at us, we should become the envy of the colony—the garden of New Zealand.

Mr. Locke answered several questions to the entire satisfaction of those present, and, on the motion of Mr. Maynard, seconded by Mr. Bates, a Vote of Confidence was carried by acclamation. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting, which, on the whole was very orderly.