PRE-SESSAONAL ADDRESS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 460, 5 April 1890, Page 5

PRE-SESSAONAL ADDRESS.

MR HAMLIN AT PAPAKURA.

Auckland, April 1. Mr E. Hamlin met his constituents at the Orange Hall, Papakura, last night. There were about fifty persons present, and Mr Jas. Walker occupied the chair. Mr Hamlin, after expressing regret at the smallness of the attendance, referred briefly to the work of the last session. He said the work of the session commenced with the greatest rapidity, and on the third sitting the Financial Statement was presented, and two sittings afterwards the Estimates were introduced, but after that the House got into a state of eruption, and so they occupied the usual three months instead of finishing in six weeks and thus saved a large amount of expense. The Government introduced a Representation Bill somewhat on the principle of the Hare system, but finding it was not palatable, withdrew it, and introduced the second Representation Bill on the basis of a reduction of the number of members, and then the trouble commenced. Many of the members who had voted for the measure wanted it reversed. So far as he had heard, there was no complaint as to Franklin. The electorate .still remained, although Tuakau had been tacked on at the south, and another addition was made at the north. He did not approve of the amalgamation of the city electorates. As they were aware, he had always been in favour of single electorates, and he feared that the result of this amalgamation would be that one popular man in any of the centres would drag in two others, and so they would have only one living active member. Otherwise he supported the measure. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill was certainly crude, but he thought it could be made workable by amendments, but others thought differently, and were urged by their constituents to oppose it. The Opposition, instead of proposing a vote of no-confidence and shadowing some policy, only harassed the Government. There was, for instance, Mr Larnach’s noconfidence motion, which was settled in a few hours, and this was followed by Mr Moss’s motion in respect to the property tax. This was treated as a want-of-confidence motion. The resolution in favour of the Government was only carried by a majority of four, but several members only voted for Mr Moss’s resolution to show a kind of loyalty, and knowing that it would be defeated". That measure, having been disposed of, then came the Otago Central Railway Bill. Eighteen months ago he voted for this measure, but last session he voted against it, for he had concluded that there should be no further borrowing. The question which would engage the attention of the new Parliament was the question of local self-government. They need not have greater numbers than at present, when they had so many different local governing bodies, but one lot of men could do the work of many, and there would not be so many ways of communicating with the Government as at present. Speaking of the policy of the Railway Commissioners he said, knowing Chat the purpose for which the railways were inaugurated was the settlement of the country, he was now told that they must be worked strictly on commercial lines. He would not even object to that, but, instead of encouraging production, they were charged highest rates in order to stop them from producing, and from either utilising the railways or developing the country. A number of people feared that a new loan would be required, and he thought so. T herefore what was wanted was an intelligent feeling throughout the colony against further borrowing. So far as he was concerned, he should oppose ii, but they should not afterwards tell him that because he was beaten he deserved to be kicked from Dan to Beersheba. Mr Monk, in his speech to his constituents,: referred to the Young New Zealand national party as the hope of the colony; but he (Mr Hamlin) came to the conclusion that the New Zealand party i would require as much watching as any other members or party. Mr Ham- | lin also advocated reduction in the exl penditure on education, commencing at I the top of the tree. Speaking of the ! perty tax, he said that when it was introduced he opposed it, and he had not since seen any reason to alter his mind. He was not, however, going to vote against the property tax in order to have the whole burden of taxation thrown on land.

He pointed out that under the present Act the Parliament would die on the 29th of September, but he considered it would be a sham on the retrenchment scheme if the present Parliament could not carry on without a dissolution, and necessitate a second session, which would cost the country £60,000 or £70,000. It would be much better, he thought, that the present Parliament should be allowed to run its time, and that the new Parliament should not meet until 1891. The existing depression Mr Hamlin attributed to the failure of the Government to provide markets for the producer, which was the only inducement required for settlement. In reply to a question Mr Hamlin said he was not in favour of Henry George’s single tax duties. Mr McLennan proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Hamlin for his able and sensible address, and their continued confidence in him as their member. Mr Brydon seconded the motion, which was carried without dissent, and acknowledged by Mr Hamlip. Proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the chairman.