PUBLIC MEETING.

Southland Times, Issue 1149, 18 October 1869, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

MR LUM3DEN'3 MEKTISG AT TEE ' THEATRE ROYAL. Mr G-. Lumsden, ia the capacity of a candidate for the representation of the town in the next Provincial Council, addressed the electors of Invercargill in the Theatre Royal on Fridiy evening, 15th inst., when there was a large attendance. Mr Robert Tapper, on the motion of Mr J. W. Mitchell, occupied the chair, and in introducing the speaker, hoped that both Mr Lumsden and others who might have remarks to make would be accorded a patient hearing. Mr Lumsden, on stepping forward, w.as received wich great warmth oi expression. Ele said his appearance there that evening had caused him much anxiety, the questions to be discussed were so momentous. At the time of his retirement he had not expected to appear before them in such a capacity for a much longer period. While at home, he had learned of such strange events occurring here, such a joining of friends with former foes, that he had hoped the olive branch was fairly in the ascendant, and that political animosities were for ever banished. On his arrival in the colony again, he was astounded at tho political revolutions which had taken place, and if Sasby's predictions were at fault with regard to the physical world, they might, with all propriety, be applied to the political disorganisations of Southland. He had found all the old provincial gods knocked off their pedestals, and their places usurped by strange deities. Parties had changed places completely ; the " News " was knocked into the " Times," and the " Times " was knocked into the " News — " in fact, parties were so thoroughly reversed, that he found himself at once in a position of antagonism to many of his old friends. The old staunch " News " he found straining itself within danger of suffocation to swallow the heterogeneous mess of pottage offered by Ofcago. Finding on his arrival in the province the cry of re-union rampant, he felt it to be incumbent on him to respond to the solicitation that he should again enter the political arena. To this cry he was thoroughly opposed, as being a step in the wrong directiou. and thoroughly subversive of tbe principles of local self-government. He considered it always better under any circumstances to have the governing powers within easy reach, and, therefore, under the control of the governed. In such a case, if abuses did creep in, there was always at hand the power to correct them. He had found half-a-dozen people in the Council Hall, which he considered dishonored in consequence, arranging the funeral obsequies of their adopted country. It was asserted by these individuals that the said couutry was dead, but he differed with them in toto on that point. The electors were now asked to perform the office of a jury, and siy what should be done with this dead body, but he should rather ask them to pass sentence .upon the commistdoners for conspiring to kill and slay their mother country. He was of opinion Southland had the power yet to |do quite as much for herself as ever Otago would do for her. There was altogether too much haste manifested to throw ourselves into Otago's hands without an effort. With regard to- the terms of union, he considered them altogether one-sided, the butter was all on the Southland side, everything being made to appear to her advantage, while nothing was said about what Otago would gain. For this vye ourselves were to blame. It had become the fashion to run down Southland, I to detract,, as 'much, as possible, its name, but he could inform them that on the other side of the border, Southland was praised and coveted. As an instance of the estimation in which we were held by Otago people, Mr Macandrew, in reply to the question put to hi n by a gentleman — whether, had he been in his place in the Assembly at the time it was brought forward, he would have supported the Bill for re-union with Southland, considering her impoverished state ? had replied that Southland was in a perfectly sound condition, having both plenty of assets and resources. He (Mr L.) was disposed to accept Otago'B verdict on this point, believing it to be perfectly honestly given. It was said, he believed truly, that Otago had lately been busy selling land on the East bank of the Mataura, evidently in anticipation of re-union, and if so, the only revenue from that district would be the Customs. The only thing he could see in the Commissioners' report substantially provided for was a change of government that was a matter about which we were busy ourselves, and his opinion was that we should seek a government outside of provinces altogether, but, until a change in the Constitution affecting the whole colony was carried, we were better to retain full control of our own affairs. Mr CalJer's address he characterised as a labored attempt to run down Southland. It was detractory all through, and aimed at convincing the people of the uselessness of trying to continue our political life. It reminded him of the story of the Highlander, who, having done something to incur the displeasure of his chief, and tor which he was to be hung on the nearest tree, was advised by his better half, " shuist tae gang awa' and pc hanged tae please tae laird." The whole gisfc of Mr Caider's speech was to the same effect — " come, get decently executed, and be done with it." When the idea of re-union had been mooted at a former session, over twelve months ago, it had been ignominiously defeated. He was surprised that since then it had spread so rapidly, and converted to its side so many of its former enemies. tie had, therefore, been at pains to read up the history of the movement, and had discovered that it was only when the dispute occurred between his Honor and the Executive that the re-union cry sprung up to important dimensions. That Executive was a strong one, having the full support of the Council aud people.

Ik thought itself quito capable of carrying on the province, and extricating it from' its difficulties. He did not doubt but it could have done so, and thought it a thousand pities they were not allowed to carry on ; at thesa ne tinae it was difficult to conceive how their being out of office shouli have so completely changed their opinions on this poiat If a strong government was competent to retrieve the province then, why could-'not a strong government do it now ? Our position was not altered since then, the condition of things was much the same. It was an almost; universal law that when anything was forced upon the people, or when the public ran mad for awhile on unj subject, a reactionary feeling was sure to be engendered. He was astonished that this feeling had not yet been aroused on this question, and could only account for it on the supposition that the inhabitants were spell-bound, that they believed it when told they were dead . Mr Fox's message to Mr Taylor — regarding his resignation — " hold on, we are just introducing a bill for re-union," simply meant, " hold on, we ara just going to execute Southland, and hand the body over to Otago for dissection." Mr Taylor seemed aroused by this, and withdrew his resignation. It was the same with the province as with a man being told he was dead who yet had life and strength in him, he would wake up uuder reviving influences, and desire to live a little longer. So with Southland; she had plenty of vigor yet, had no need to commit political suicide, or rush into the arms of Otigo. He agreed with the re-unionists that the provincial system was a failure. It had served its purpose, and should be supercaded, but union with Otago was not a step in that direction. He would like to see one national government for New Zealand. Provincial squabbles in the Assembly spoilt great colonial schemes, and the sooner the provinces were abolished the better. In the meantime, instead of stepping over to Otago, we would be wiser to wait until the G-eneral Assembly provided new shoes for us to step into. It was premature to deprive ourselves of the functions of self-government. We ought to wait till the G-eneral Government provided the necessary alterations in the constitution, when we would co:ne in for our legitimate share of privileges divided amongst the people. The alternative held out was, "join Otasco or sell your land ;" but; he did not believe the necessity of either. He thought the statement a very impolitic one for the Colonial Treasurer to have made, as it could not but have a most damaging effect on the prospects of the province. It would induce capitalists contemplating the purchase of land to hold off in hopes of its reduction, and therefore militated severely against any local effort to improve our condition in that way. It was a most imprudent statement for a Minister to mike. At the same time he (Mr L ) had no fear of the land being thrown away ; land sold and settled could not be considered thrown away, although sold cheap. The main cause of our depression was, however, beyond the power of any government to rectify, and our recovery would be only that slow and gradual one coutingent on the increase of a settled population, whether we were annexed to Otago or not. We were suffering now from the gradual eflux of the mining population. It had gone to other fields, and the fixed industries, and commerce, consequently suffered. He could remember when Geelong, from the same cause, was a perfect illustration of Goldsmith's deserted village. The Wakatip rush was not permanent. It attracted an immense population, which called into existence corresponding mercantile and industrial undertakings, but soon the West Coast, and latterly the Thames, had drawn it nearly all off again, and the fixed industries of course suffered. Otago herself suffered heavily from the same cause, though not perhaps to the same appreciable extent as Southland. Her gold export now was some 600,000 ozs. per annum, only about a quarter of what it formerly was. Our improvement, therefore, would depend, not upon a rapid increase of a temporary population, but on the slow process of the settlement of people to fixed pursuits, a process which might be accelerated by publishing at home the advantages we had to offer, were this done properly he was sure plenty of the very class we wanted, farmers with small capital, would soon find their way here. As for labor, whenever we had money to spare to send for it it could always be got cheap. As showing that Otago really had little good agricultural land within easy reach, and that she consequently looked with longing eyes on ours, he would quote from Mr Gillies' report on the state of the goldfields of Otago with a view to discover the best method of inducing the diggers to become afixed population. MrLumsden then read the extracts referred to, from which it appeared that in or about the 22 districts embraced in the report, there was, in Mr Gillies' own words " really very little land to be had." With regard to our great hopes of what Otago would do for us in the way of public works, he (Mr L.) believed they would be all disappointed. Quoting from the local journals of several of Otago's present outlying districts, he showed that complaints of neglect and injury in that matter were both numerous and wellfounded, and, however fair the promises now, once reunited, we could not reasonably expect to fare better. Mr Calder had said the provinces would not be unequally yoked, but if it ever came to a tug, Southland, being the weaker, must inevitably go to the wall. One of the moat captivating baits Otago held out, was the promise that every third immigrant ship should make the Bluff a port of call. This appeared, no doubt, very nice and desirable, but the commissioners knew very well it was only talk. The shipbrokers and insurance agents at home would require to be consulted on that point, and would not allow vessels to call

there except at an advance on promiura or freight. He had found that obstacle in < his own case when coming out. In fact, they would just add the extra cost of transhipping from Dunedin, and secure to the captains the privilege of electing that course. Besides, if Otago did agree to pay the forwarding of immigrants from. Dunedin to the Bluff, she Would La»e to do the same for Oamara aud elsewhere, which she did not do now. It was mere bosh to offer this apparent boon, we would never get it until sufficiently prosperous to gst ships laid on for our own port alone. This could not be expected for long. Otago's great commercial power would secure to Dunedin her position of mercantile supremacy for many years. She was most energetic and successful in operating in all the markets in New Zealand, and her merchants would never consent to encourage the Bluff as a port in competition. It was said there were several Ordinances in beneficial opsration in Otago which would come into force here upon re-union being consummated. Well, that was no great object, an we might introduce these measures ourselves whenever the Council choae. We bad been twitted about our educational condition, and deservedly so, for it had been shamefully treated. The schoolmaster, who should be placed on about the same equality with the clergyman, was, in reality, placed below unskilled labor, as far as remuneration was concerned. Our action in that matter was a scandal to the Province, but the people were themselves to blame, they were indifferent, besides actually refusing to submit to any taxation for the purpose. This, of caurse, it was also within our own power to remedy. He condemned the attitude of those j candidates who were returned pledged to j re-union, and had threatened that unless j that measure were carried, they would not do anything else. It was wrong for men to act a 9 obstructives because they could not get their own crotchets carried out, and such had no business in the Council. When he first saw the madness which had seized the people about annexation, he concluded it was because of the removal of the lunatic asylum to Dunedin, and fhe latter evidences of the malady had almost decided him to retire from the field, and leave the re-unionists full sway to accomplish their nefarious design. He might tell them, however, that their names would remain on the page of their country's history as those who had sold their country's liberties ; names written in letters of such blackness that all the tears of repentance would never wipe out. (Cheers.) The only hope he now had was that the Assembly would take the matter up as a colonial question, and refuse to augment the power of Otago, a power already excercising q. pernicious influence in the Colonial Parliament. Mr Vogel's statement about selling land or re-uniting, was no doubt quite in accordance with that gentleman's feelings as an Otago man, and Mr Fox, being obliged to Otago for place and power, would, no doubt, sanction it ; this was one of the evils of Provincialism. Ministers were thus obliged to pander to the provinces supporting them. He had often looked upon it as humiliating that we should have had to accept benefits from the Stafford Ministry, for the sake of the few votes we had to give it. Mr Calde;' had made a strong point of our gaining more from th* General Assembly by being united with powerful Otago, but if that more was more than wbat legitimately belonged to us, he for one did not want it. He had been warned that his plain-speaking might lose him a few votes, but he thought it best he should state his views and submit to the usual heckling in the orthodox manner. If the electors desired him to stand, he was willing ; if they preferred him to retire, he would do so. Whichever way it was, he would stick to his colors while a rag remained, when that was blown away he would stick to the bare pole (great cheering). Mr Lumsden resumed his seat, but presently rose again, and said there was one point which he had entirely forgotten, and that was how to meet our present difficulties ? (cheers). Otago had recently raised a considerable revenue by the disposal of unsold inferior land, the leavings he might say, in the hundreds, at a reduced price. He thought we might profitably follow her example in this matter. He then adverted to the injurious operation of the present system of free selection, and the fencing Ordinance. With these modified so as to induce settlement beyond the limits of hundreds, he thought we might soon see prosperity begin. The squatters, he was aware, were mostly .also large freeholders, but they still held privileges which obstructed settlement in their vicinity, and a3 the principle of all progress was that squatting must give place to agricultural interests, the relations affecting the two demanded reform ; no class had a right to hold land in a manner inimical to the public interest. Mr Lumsden again resumed his seat amidst applause. Mr Osborne had been asked to inquire whether Otago owed her last year's revenue to the sale of lands at 10s per acre? Mr Lumsden did sot know. Mr Millar — Will you support Dr Menzies for the Buperintende&cy ? Mr Lumsden — I would rather not. I would prefer some others to him, and him to others. Mr Millar — I would prefer a direct answer.Mr Lumßden — Let me put it then. If Dr Meuzies is nominated, will I support him? Yes. Mr Osborne then proposed the customary vote of confidence in Mr Lumsden, a* a fit candidate. Mr A. J. Smyth seconded the motion, which was put and carried by acclamation. A vote of thanks to the chairman tenniaated the proceedings.