PUBLIC MEETING AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Southland Times, Issue 614, 4 January 1867, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT THE THEATRE ROYAL.

Pursuant to announcement, Mr J. M. M'Clure met the electors of Invercargill at' the Theatre Eoyal on Wednesday eevening, 2nd January. Mr Peter Dalrymple took the chair shortly after 8 o'clock. About 150 persons were by this time assembled. The Chaibmajs", in opening the proceedings, said it gave him much pleasure to preside on that occasion. Mr M'Clure came before them as a free and independent elector to address them on the state of affaire. He (the Chairman) was not in possession of what might be called the programme, but he rather thought it would be to inform the public mind with respect to some of the blundering errors of an incompetent Provincial Council. Mr M'Clure would, however, speak for himself. To those gentlemen who were there for larking, he (the Chairman), might say that he liked a little of that sort of thing, but not too much. (Applause.) Mr M'Glttbe explained that he felt some diffidence in bringing forward a resolution relative to a dissolution of the Council. He had waited for other more able men to come forward ; they had nofc done so, and he felt the time had arrived when it was imperative that some action should be taken. In order to perfectly understand their position it was necessary clearly to define the relative positions of the people and the Government. Pree Government was but a compact between the people and those intrusted with executive powers according to principles laid down in the constitution, one of those involved being that what was done should be of the greatest benefit to all. As the people had to bear the expense of the machinery of Government, they had therefore a right to inquire from time to time how that compact had been fulfilled ; and, if they found it had not been faithf ully;carried out, to demand a return of the powers delegated by them to their representatives. The attempt to resist this right or not to comply with this demand by those in power was to subvert the foundations of Constitutional Government, and to convert it into that worst of all forms — an oligarchy. Let them then examine how the Government of Southland had observed this compact and carried out those principles. Was the result satisfactory to the people? The present Council had been more than two years in existence, what had been done in that time to retrieve the financial credit of the Province — to pay off debt or interest ? In its first session a series of grave mistakes were* made and much previous time lost, its members having been apparently under the impression that events could be postponed by postponing their consideration. (Api plause.) No scheme for the disposal of the land was prepared for submission to the General Government— party struggled against party, forgetful of the interests of the Province and of the principle that all legislation should be for the benefit of the many, not the selfish aggrandisement of a few " waiters on Provi-

_ _ __ dence." The General Government did at last take the matter into its own hands, and reduced the price of land to £1 per acre. It was even yet a question of importance to determine who raised it ; how, in fact, the price of land had been fixed at £2 per acre without the knowledge or consent of the people of the Province. If the General Government did so voluntarily it was a most ungracious and tyrannical act ; if suggested to it they had a right to by whom, and- for what reason — even if the reason were good its having been acted upon without the people haviDg boen first consulted, was a gratuitous tyranny. There was then the Bluff Eailway. When the grant of land was obtained for it, people naturally expected the line to be completed, and open for traffic as soon as possible, but so far from this having been the case it was found that a lien existed on part of the line. If the claim was just, the holders had a right to be paid and that without loss to them — but if it had been settled, as the public were led to believe, it should have been sternly resisted, and the line opened at once. The Government did repudiate the claim as unfounded, yet they had the humiliation of witnessing His Honor the Superintendent stopped on a trial trip by the bailiffs, and the still greater humiliation of seeing the removal of a raiKfrom the permanent way — the freehold of the Province. A distinct breach of law, and one which would have been in England visited by heavy punishment. The fact that any one thus dared to set the law at defiance, and with impunity alone was sufficient to forfeit the respect and confidence of an insulted people in a Government which tamely submitted to such treatment. A knowledge of the fact going abroad must damage the credit ot a province" in which eighteen miles of Government railway could not be opened without such a miserable exhibition. These vexatious occurrences, whether through oversight, neglect or whatever cause, must seriously injure the best interests of the Province, and most likely end in the usual way — by compensation having to be paid to some one or other. There was another thing that should not be lost sight of. An impression had prevailed that accounts in connection with the railways were not altogether straightforward. A sum was placed on the estimates for a Commission of Inquiry. That sum was afterwards withdrawn. A petition was thereafter drawn up, and numerously signed praying for a Commission of Inquiry. It was confided to one of the members of the House of Eepresentatives, but the matter was in some way shelved, and no further notice was taken of it. Still there existed a belief that something unexplained remained behind, and that something ought to be cleared up. An investigation was yet practicable if the right course was pursued. Let them appeal to the Governor — the representative of Her Majesty who would see that their just request should be granted. (Applause). Again, were the various constituences fairly represented one member (for Invercargill) having been returned contrary to constitutional principles, and that too to the exclusion of the late Mr Tarlton, who with all his faults was the ablest and most honest man that had sat in the Council (applause), and whose subsequent return for Longwood was strenuously opposed by cerfcain men well known for their peculiar views on what they called colonial politics, and for their impudent and illegal interference with the freedom of elections. The so-called member for Waianiwa has taken his seat in the Council not only contrary to every principle of Constitutional law, but in a way which was a burning shame to the electors of that district, who had never . once raised their voice in defence of their rights of which they had been robbed, nor against the two chief perpetrators of that foul wrong, who not only still disgraced the Council Chamber, but the very bench of Justice itself. It was a notorious fact that men entitled to the franchise did not register, well knowing the vile pressure to which they would be subjected, and to which, were they not to yield, every effort would be made to deprive them (& the opportunity of earning their daily bread. When Mr Tarlton was returned, the combination was foiled, but they ceased not to watch every opportunity. Of how little public feeling was cared for by some members of Council, was evidenced i by the deliberate expression of the memI ber for Oteramika, who had said in his place in the Council Chamber, " who cares for the Bmall settlers with their petty herds of cattle." Yet many of those small settlers were his superiors by birth and intelligence. And the speaker of the Provincial Council — a chief citizen — rebuked him not, a notable instance of truckling to Mammon. One more instance which occurred when through the absence of the Superintendent a deputy held office. That deputy when asked to explain his reason for a certain act done in his public capacity declined to reply, alleging it to be a matter between himself and his conscience — a reply the Emperor of Eusßia would have hardly dared to make. Such was the effect on some men of being clothed in a little brief authority. Then the giving over of the lands to the Eederal Govern, ment was a violation of trust by the members of Council who when in difficulties seemed to lobo heart as in prosperity they had lost their heads. Instead of manfully facing the difficulty of the position, they at " once succumbed and handed over the Provincial property, begging with tears in their eyes to be relieved from a burden too heavy for them to bear. They, whose duty it was to have guarded it to the last — it was a deliberate breach of faith on their part, and a betrayal of the trust of the people. They got rid of the Provincial property, but retained the Provincial Government, got rid of the means, but retainedtheexpenditure — a curious specimen of state**

craft, but little to the credit, and not at all to the advantage of the Province. Its present state was not due to the Provincial system, but to the men who undertook to carry out its provisions — had such men had the decalogue to enforce they would have produced a like confusion. (Applause.). Theirs having been the failure on them Tested the responsibility. In the face of all those blunders I—for1 — for which they appeared to have an uncommon talent—could it be expected that aid would be given by the General Government, even out of the property so shamefully alienated from the province. When the people proved themselves willing to assist themselves, aid could not be refusedsuch a refusal would be an insult to the whole body-politic of New Zealand, which they dare not make. Mr M'Clure closed his address by saying "as one generation takes its impress from the preceding would the next generation be should these things pass unchanged. If you have no regard for your character as responsible men to whom great and noble rights are entrusted for safe keeping, at least have some regard for your material prosperity, and believe me when I do affirm that one is the inevitable result of the other — by so much as you suffer those rights and duties to be tampered with and neglected, by so much will you suffer in material things. It is late in the day to ask you to bestir yourselves as men and prove yourselves worthy of your inheritance, that even now at the eleventh hour you may successfully act. Those in power will hold on until you demand a return of the trust confided to them. Perhaps it is fortunate for you that you have no roads — no means of inter-commuhication, or you might have sapinely let things take their course. (Applause.) Be no longer led hopelessly in a path that points only to ruin and disgrace. Mr Chairman I now have the pleasure to propose — " That the present Council and Government having forfeited the respect and confidence of the people of Southland, a memorial to be presented to his Honor the Superintendent, praying him to dissolve the same." If the object therein expressed be not carried out it is of no use to constantly camplain of government officials and of better men cannot be found it will be time the system was swept away altogether. Mr M'Clure resumed his seat amid continuous aplause. A slight delay occurred at this pomt — no one appeared prepared to second the resolution. Mr Cbottch came forward and remarked that the manly way in which Mr M'Clure had come forward deserved , some recompense at the hands of the meeting. Eor his own part he (Mr C.) had not expected to take any part in the proceedings, he had come late and had not heard the whole of Mr M'Clure's address. He might say that all he knew ofthe resolution was what he had seen of its purport in the public papers. He had indeed thought there were other more able men public spirited enough ta take a prominent part. Mir M'Clure was right when he said they had only themselves to blame, he (Mr C.) remembered when the electors for the Council were pending that questions asked respecting a candidate were not regarding his general fitness but. who he would vote for as superintendent ?' Every thing else was considered of minor importance. Apart from that he believed a ' main reason for dissolving the Council was to be found in the fact stated by Mr Cuthbertson when taking office, that there were not five ' members of the Council fitted to form an executive. That being the case an ' opposition became impossible and it was time fresh men were returned, and if with no better result, that the Council be done away with altogether. He thought Mr Cuthbertson would have done better, instead of forming a eolation Ministry and resigning shortly after, to have said, "I declare to accept the failing honor of forming an Executive." Another thing pointing to the necessity for a change was the mysterious way in which affairs had been managed. When the lien was known to exist, ( the Executive should have come to the Council and said "we are in a difficulty, shall we pay this claim, or run through the line." But they kept everything dark. He had much pleasure . in supporting the resolution, and begged to thank those present for the patience with which they had listened to his remarks. (Applause.) Captain Thomson said that from what he had seen he thought that by a change they would just put out 20, and put in a score. What had their representatives in the Assembly done? they had cansented to increased Customs duties, to a stamp tax, and a bush tax. He thought Government should not be secret. He had seen at Wallaeetown a lately elected member of Council propose a tax of one penny per acre on all lands, to make roads, and the motion was carried because the road would lead to the doors of thoße present at the meeting, but people on the other road said no. People were all for themselves, and it was the same thing in Duned in. He did not want a tax on his land, he paid enough when paying £30 per centage from the the Makarewa to his place. As to a bush tax, he thought it tax enough to have to cart timber two miles, an education tax he opposed because it was sought to be imposed on unimproved land. (A voice, " ready about.") Heinvited the person who interrupted to come on to the platform. (Laughter and applause.) He (Capt. T) had seen a letter signed " Gamecock" the other day in a paper, let the writer of it come up there and say out what he had to say about the "Artful Dodger" and "Plausible." (Eoars of laughter). Then in tho other paper they appeared to have found that Mr Eonross had once applied for a good appointment. If the Government could communicate that piece of information, how was it they did not publish certain i other papers connected with the Eail-

ways. (Applause.) On a show of hands being called for the resolution was declared carried, Only three hands were held up in opposition. The meeting then broke up in a most orderly manner.