THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 52, 29 September 1864, Page 2

THE GENERAL ELECTIONS.

JTEBTIN& OP ME. C. I. BTTTTOIf'S BTJPPORTEBS. A meeting of Mr. Button's committee -was held in Colyer's Princess Hotel, on Tuesday, evening. Mr. John Hare in the chair. :.■ \ : ■':■' Mr. Button, being present, rose and addressed the meeting at considerable length, giving an outline of his opinions on the most, important topics of the day in Southland. While giving these opinions, however, he -wished to be understood that circumstances might arise which might cause him to change them ; but he -would always be open to conviction. He attributed the depressed state of r the Province greatly to the incapacity of those in power, but he had nevertheless good cause to believe that a variety of other causes had also contributed to it. Mr. Button then stated his views with regard to the Superintendency. At present, - it was very difficult for him to say for whom, ho would vote, as only one candidate was in the field. The present Superintendent had no doubt committed very grave errors, and been guilty of great obstinacy, in not listening to the advice of his Council; but it was also known that -these advisers did not possess any great ability, and some allowance would require to be made on that account. IfabettermanthanDr. Menzies cameforward ' he should vote for him, butif he considered that no candidate appeared with greater claims, he would support Dr. Menzies/ Mr. Matthew Holmes had been mentioned as likely to stand, and he had no hesitatiqnln saying that he seems to be the man for the crisis. If the information which he (Mr. Button) had received was correct, he: should most certainly vote for him in preference to Dr. Menzies. (Applause). At the same time he wished it to be understood that he thought there was not . a man in the present Provincial Council for whom he would vote in preference to Dr. Menzies. (Applause). Mr. Button then proceeded to say that if the Council should be hampered as it had been with Dr. Menzies, the business of the country ! <vould never be gone on with. .The province must be got out of its present difficulties, and in order to do this they must all pull together. He, did riot think the province- in -a hopeless state.- "Her debt was comparatively Bmall,~and with increased pojDulation the burden will C- soon/ be. ■ lightened. A more liberal system.of land settlement and: purchase is wanted. ■■-.■ -The present fixed upset price, of -.■..- --land:(£2 per acre) is too high. He thought it more : advisable to have, the lands sold at; a moderate,- . price and settled down upon than have them.eri-; . gaged in the; form, of extensive runs. :,The system of immigration he considered .a dangerous one. It was apt to get us into. debt. The people from the Highlands of Scotland,, .or..- any other -place, are a11.,, wry, -welt,; -j Jtmt* ;what ;vare w& to do' v vrith pur large pbpulationrofthat^class'. ? Wa> would^have" to support them! ' He' (B|rl Button) ' ..then . Bsad~it would be far better to fur^h; induce-" inentsffbr to* come ; and/settle here. In: order to do thii-he' 1 would 'advocate a (moro liberal land policy;; /and do > what he -could to ob^ Itain a release from taxation: '•>•;, He- was' satisfied- -' that rT where i: tnere" was a demand .for labonr,'. »-'- --supply j: w6uld nbfci long b© : wanting; ••' He : then '; went on tc\.point out Tasmania as an example of; jthe unsatisfactory results of free^^ or aasisted-immt^-^ • gration.' Butfoji^next touched on' the Bubject of roads, and expressed; himself : in favor. pf^two-T kindsof Boad Acts,~r»Ve;,~~Mam.Koad~Ac^~and-™~ Cross or Bye Eoad Acts^r;irhe:pHly main road tobe considered .would .be the easternJ.or. Dunedin ;r^ad.'as the^ road;to:theilfortJtlwould be famished >.• ; i Tt)y the.jßailway, -which": must bo>i carried out:to J Wintbn. He was iaj;&vpr of£ declaring! jsertaux:;'. T£ districts into bodies,- which, should be invested with, power to impds'e^rates for i the^maintenance o€ bye-rpa^iir K if«Bn Koad Act -would '-.bb a. mo» iar

difficult question to. eettle/jasithe toTrnß as. veil as the districts ..thro'agh'Vhicli'"&o7''pai^arß.'beiiefitfod by them. VHe was in favor of a. proportionate amount of the revenue from the laad ; sold in the districts being set jiparfc. for the purpose of roads, or perhaps a system of subsidising by the Government might be^adopted,^whereby the sum raised in the district might be met with an equivak&t sum from the Government.; ; On < the -subject : of the Education Ordinance 1 Mr. ; Button expressed himself in favor of the .abolition of all'Btateraid to education. ' Tjie^The system wotlcs badly, jmdjie. instancedTasinania aa rasase .in/point. He would Tote for the repeal of the* present Ordinance, and wouhVhave fione as a substitute.! T I - J - Mr. Reese here asked Mr. "Button if he were aware of theJVictprian system _of assisting teachers in districts" c where private , -schools.; have, been established, and which, without some,' extraneous aid, "would 'scarcely support the teachers?- - : '-- ' Mr. Button said he might be inclined toaffbrda slight assistance in cases of the -kind referred to ; but.oh .. thejwholejie.was in. favor, of the abolitionof all State aid. -.- .. ..- : - ; ; , -.-■■: ; Mr. Button proceeded with his address, and next touched upon the subject of the Town Board, remarking that at present that body was in a-very anomalous position. 7 It was^difficult to define their powers, and,, so for as heat, present could make up his mind, he would be inclined to advocate , the abolition of- .the Town -Board altogether. The town surveys might be undertaken by the Government surveyor,, and the moneys expended under the supervision; of the Provincial Council, or certain specified sums might be voted for certain districts, and the work be watched by some one appointed for the purpose. On the whole, he thought this was a subject which required great consideration ; but it yras . T§ry. clear that the present "Town. Board worked, very unsatisfactorily. Mr. Ax.tbbi> Grmss mooted the subject of the courts of justice, but particularly referred to. the Police Court. He would _wish_jthe candidate to look into the matter.. It was one which was of very great importance to business men. In any case of interest, he thought it unsatisfactory that the decision should rest aolelv with the Resident Magistrate, who, although a man doubtless of the best intentions, was neither a lawyer nor a commercial man. Mr. Binvey, following up Mr. Gilles' question, would ask if Mr. Button is prepared to bring in a bill stipulating that the Resident Magistrate's powers of adjudication should be limited to cases of £20 and under, and that all cases above that sum should be decided by the assistance of aseessors, as in Melbourne. Mr. Button acknowledged the importance of the subject, but said the Provincial Council could not do more than make representations to the General Assembly, with- which the sole power of change rested. " The decision of the Resident Magistrate, at present, i 3 final, unless in cases where points of law warranted an appeal. He was also empowered to decide cases according to equity and good conscience without recognising the legal points raised. There is a provision in the Act, he might mention, which enables the litigant parties to apply for a jury' of four or five to decide on cases above £20. This, however, was seldom taken advantage of, and besides, it did not meet the case, because, in spite of the finding of this jury, the Magistrate could reject their finding, and give judgment aa he pleased. Mr. Button said he should do all in h\9 power to eEact a change in the matter, by representations to the General Assembly. In reply to a question by Mr. Bright, Mr. Button said he thought the Superintendent had no right to set himself against the wishes of the Council. In reference to the powers delegated to the Superintendent however, he thought they had no power to define, alter, limit, or control those powers. If the jurisdiction — as he might term it — was not what the electors desired, they should represent, the matter to the General Assembly. He thought the Superintendent, should be the organ for carrying into effect the resolutions of the Council. In* reply to another query, Mr. Button said the Council should not go beyond themselves to look for a Superintendent. Mr. Gilxes said a difficulty arose. He thought a Superintendent might be found outside the Council, but that prior to his election he should be compelled to seek the suffrages of some constituency. At present the Council can either elect «ne of themselves or an outsider. A Voice. — What if there is no vacancy ? Mr. Gn/G"ES thought some inferior member of Council should give way, in order that a suitable Superintendent might be elected. Mr. Bhtght asked Mr. Button if he considered any man eligible who declined to 6tand for a seat in the Council? Mr. Button replied in the negative, and thought it would be desirable that the Superintendent, when elected, should be sent to his constituency for an expression of their opinion. He also said that although he should not be the first man to retire from the Council after having been elected by his constituency, yet, at the request of say two-thirds of the electors, he should do so in order that an eligible candidate for the Superintendency might be elected. He also thought he should be tested by the electors of Invercargill, and not by any small outlying district ; he had some donUs, however, that the condi^ons sought to be imposed by Mr. Gilles might act as a clog on any one who might seek the post of Superintendent. In reply to another question, Mr. Button said he should vote for no man out of the Council as Superintendent. He would vote for neither Mr. Holmes nor Dr. Menzies unless they in the usual manner obtained a seat in the Council by the voice of the electors. Mr. Giii.es then said his difficulty was got ever. The reports of this meeting would reach those who aspired to the Superintendency, and their discussions will have accomplished all he desired, i.e., that the candidates for the Superintendency should first 3eek election to a scat in the Council at the hands of some constituency,previous to the election of Superintendent by the members of Council. Mr. Binney now moved a vote of confidence in Mr. Button. Mr. GiLi/E3 seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Button then thanked the meeting for the patient hearing they had given him, and withdrew. The meeting afterwards arranged to request Mr. Davies to come forward in a similar manner* to Mr. Button, and thereafter adjourned.