ELECTION MEETING AT WAIKIVI.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 69, 7 November 1864, Page 2

ELECTION MEETING AT WAIKIVI.

Mr. Stuart met the electors of the "Waikm , District on the evening of Friday last, at- the ** Waikivi Bush Hotel. There were present Messrs. Calder, Blacklock, W. Preston, IL'" Preston, Toshachj M'lvor, Moore; Bain, and a number of others. y Mr. R. Preston was called to the chair. ■ Mr. Stuaet said he had convened thi3 meeting , of the electors in consequence of his having heard that at last meeting Borae who had desired to be : . present had not been able tomake their appearance. He had at that time fully explained his political views, and would now be glad to answer any further questions which might be put to him. r \ Mr. Galder. — Would you support the continuance of the wooden railway beyond its present terminus — Winton ? --— i Mr. — No. - , i s Mr. Caldeb. — You are aware that a part of the line is laid with woo Jen rails, and the remainder is not yet finished. "Would you. lay down iron or wooden rails on the unfinished portion ? Mr. ISTUART. — I should wait * until we could i" have the rails wholly of iron. * »Mr. CALDRB. — Then^you would support iron in place of wooden rails ? v Mr., Stuart. — I never looked .upon the wooden .rails but as a temporary expedient to get over the winter. • * Mr. Caxdeb. — Would you endeavor to huro the price of land reduced? ' * - ' ' Mr. Stuart. — Most decidedly. Mr. Caldeb. — To what price ? Mr. Stuabt. — lam scarcely prepared at present to say to what price. Perhap3 30a. or 205. ; 30s. would be the maximum. Mr. Caldeb. — Would you support a system of auction sales or the same that exists at present — free selection ? Mr. Stuabt.: — I . think I should support the system as at present carried on • but lam not prepared to say which is the best. Mr. Caldeb.-— Are you aware how the auction system has worked elsewhere ? .-, - ; , ■ , „ .... ._ .;„ .... Mr. Stuart.-— lt would be almost impossible at - a distance to judge ' accurately of. the success of auctions, if we were not acquainted with other surrounding circumstances.;.., of the lesser of two evils I prefer the free selection system.- , ; ;" _ Mr'l Caldeb.— Would you propose to vote* money for the completion of the; BluffcHarbpr arid Invercargill Railway? '-■■■' "• ---^^ -•.,».-.* ;-::' IMr*. Stctar'*'. Before paying our debts?- - ' * * Mr. Cald eh..— Certainly not;.: . ■:■. ; . Mr. Stuart — After paying bur debts (hot in» eluding our debentures) I am scarcely prepared to say that I would. If more urgent calls wera made, of course I should vote the money in that way. . . • - • Mr. Caldeb. — Don't you think it would bo wise to prevent the los 3of such a large sum of money as has been sunk in that line ? Mr. Stuart.—^Decidedly so. Any measure tending to prevent such a loss would be decidedly right and necessary. : ; •;■ Mr. oalder.—ln0 alder.— ln the issue of further debentures, would you have long or short-dated " payments ? '...■>... Mr. Stuabt. — I would have short-dates. Mr. Calder. — For what reason ? Mr. Stuabt. — Because they only would be looked upon with favor by the General Government and the people likewise. . . . Mr. Caldbr. — Would you be in favor of re-' during the departmental expenditure to the lowest possible limits — to within the ordinary Customs Revenue? . ■ ; Mr. Stuart. — Certainly. The plan to be adopted should be to pay as little as possible - until we are free of debt. I would cut off useless departments, and amalgamate others ; but I am . not in favor of cutting down salaries too much. Mr. Calder. — From your own knowledge, do you think the affairs of the Province could bo managed at a less cost? Mr. Stuart.— Most decidedly. I could name several departments -which are not ■wanted. The Consulting Engineer's Department is one of them. • . , Mr. Cai/dier. — Would you propose any change in the reconstruction of the Executive ? Mr. Sttjabt. — I should certainly conjoin offices if it could be > one. For instance, the duties of 1 Secretary and Treasurer could very well be ; per-' formed by one person. The work of the' Treasurer at present is virtually performed by Capt. Elles, on behalf of the General Government: The sole duty of the' present Treasurer for weeks and months past has been to tell people that the Government could not pay them. , ', Mr. Caxdeb. — Do you think think there could be a reduction in the Police Department ? ; Mr. Stuart. — I would be cautious^ how I reduced such a department as that. Mr. CaIiDEK. — Do -you Know the present cost of that department ?■•;■■ « : Mr. Stuabt. — Not exactly. It iB almost impossible in the present state of affairs to ascertain 1 the amount. . , , : Mr. Calder — It is about 30s. per head for every man, woman, and child in the place. ' Mr. Stuart. — That is certainly enormous. I know the force is in a very.eifieient state ; but I ' would be in favor of a reduction only on principles consistent with true economy. 1 Mr.. Calder.;— But if wehave not the wherewithal to pay? : ; -s; Mr/S'UAR 1 '. — Then certainly dispense with it altogether. There is no use to have any departments if we cannot pay for their necessary expen- ■ diture. ' A government; like a person, must be "just before it is generous." In reply to another question from Mr. Calder, the candidate said if the Free Grant system were to be introdiiced-here, it would require to bedone ' on a very limited scale. He was not in favor of free grants; but Inasmuch -'as we cannot offei 1 ; inducements for settlement in any other way at present, he believed it would 'be advantageous ■to the Province to adopt such a plan. As this plan, * : however, as well as that of leasing lands, is ex- ' perimental, he would advocate "great care in the working of it . He was also of opinion that it is preferable to give grants of land to paying the passages of immigrants to this Province— said grants being of equal value — bnt only being made over to them on their accepting the conditions usually laid down as to bondjidr settlement, &c. Mr. CaIiDER.— Do j : ou approve of the' Annual system hi the present Roads', Ordinance. :•"■;,.. ,■ " . ' « , Nfr. SruAnT-^-Cerfainly not — nor do I approre of tha present Ed uration Ordinance. Mr. Calder. — Are you^-oipposjd to all educational rates ? Mr. Stuart. — T n the present circumstances of the Province, we should be -careful to impose rates as light as possible. - . - MY. ToaiiAOK. — What do you oay would be the maximum ? , . . • Mr. Stuart. : — It is chfß^ult to say. In a thinly populated province, it would almost be a hardship on the settlers to impose any tax at all. "; Mr. Oakder.— Yon do not forget that the Go* ; Tornmont pay co much ? ' V'Ti Mr. Stuaut.— l think I go further than most people do in rogftrd to education, I Jwty Ui^

but I also belieye Ihatjiii pvn. JPje sent" 9tate"we" oughJ^to go Tery carefaily^abMt imposing rates for "^cationarpurposesupon the settlers; Mr: CAtDER— Do you approve of, the Superirtendent'having a seat in the Provincial Council? Mr Sttjabt— l have no particular objection to that If h©.did x not,»it.m; Council,, he would alwayi be able to./ communicate by .messages'; although verbal messages are sometimes' more satisfactory. The right system, of course, is to have ■ome one in the Couucil who would be responsible for the government; of the Province. ; Mr. Calbeb — Do you think the, principles of representative government are at present carried out in Southland ?/ Mr. Stuart— -It is the only place where I know it has i not been, where representative institutions exist. From my own experience during the last three years, I, know it lias not been by any means the case in this Province. '■■■■'-' - Mr. M'lyor— Are you in favor of the separation ©f this island from the North ?: , ' Mr. Stitabt— rMost undoubtedly. Ido not see why we should be paying suck immense sums of money- to carry on aw with which We hare got nothing to do. . -.-.-... Mi\ • M'ltor— What planlwould you, propose to extricate the Province from its present difficulties?: ■ ■.?■ : Mr. STUABT-r-This. will depend Tery much on the action of the General Government. In fact, vre are at the mercy of the General Assembly. Mr. M'ltor — What do you think of the disagreements between Dr. Menzies and the ProTincial Council ? Mr. Stuart — I think, he acted very wrongly. In reply to another query put by Mr. M'lvor, the candidate .said he would not object to the placing of a toll on the main North Road, if the settlers did not object. ' He was also in favor of reducing publicans' licenses from £10 to £20, and granting licenses to wholesale dealers, and bottle licenses. He would be happy to jlace a sum on the Estimates as xevratda for the discovery of payable copper, gold, coal, or other mines in the Province. . . . Mr. Toshach: — What would you advise the Government to do with the wooden railway? Would you advise its being worked by horses ? Mr. Stoabt — Yes, if they would manage it better than engines. Mr. M'ltor — Would you extend it beyond the Makarewa ? Mr. Stuart — Not the Wooden Railway. Mr. M'ltor — What would you do with all the timber which is already there ? Mr. Stuart — I have not seen if there is much Of «• ■ , , . Mr. Caideb— Could you not lay the iron rails on the wooden ones ? Mr. Sttiaet.— Yes, and in that case there ■would not be such a great loss. The only question is whetherit would suit to place the iron rails on longitudinal as well as on transverse sleepers. Mr. M'ltor. — Were you iv favor of the sale of the steam tug ? Mr. Stuart. — No ; decidedly not. That was » great mistake. Mr. W. Preston now moved that Mr. Stuart was a fit and proper person to represent the District in the Provincial Council. Mr. C. Freeman seconded the motion. Mr. C ALDER said that though not a settler in the district, he was an elector, and had great pleasure in being present at the meeting. He B aid that although the candidate was not gifted with an abundant flow of words, he had gifts of far higher moment. His (Mr. Calder's) own testimony was that Mr. Stuart would make a most valuable member of Council. He had had great experience in the affairs of the Province, and of the Colony, and he was likewise equally useful in matters of general business. To him belongs the credit of the present electoral system, which" enables the Province to return twenty inotead of fourteen members of Council as formerly. This Bill he had framed and carried through the Houae in the face of no ordinary difficulties. He (Mr. Caldev) had had great, pleasure in working together with Mr. Stuart, and he would be happy to° support his election, as he was certain he ■would make a very useful member. (Cheers.) Mr. M'ltob then said he hal another man to brins; forward, and that was Mr. Andrew Toshach. Th \ " o b. not so well known in public life as the other Candidate, he (Mr. M'lvor) had reason to believe that Mr. Toshach would make a capital member. Mr. Bain thought Mr. M'lvor s course was rather an unusual one. Mr. TosHion now said Mr. M'lvor' s motion had not been seconded. Mr. Caxdeb said all the meeting required to do so was either to pass a vote of confidence in Mr. Stuart as a fit and proper person &c, or the opposite. Mr. Al'ltor then said he would move as an amendment that Mr. Stuart was not a fit and proper person, &c. Mr. Bain seconded the motion. The amendment was lost by a majority of three. A vote of thanks to tho chairman terminated the proceedings.