Public Meeting at Te Aroha.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 477, 4 June 1890, Page 2

Public Meeting at Te Aroha.

ADDRESS BY MR W. A. MURRAY.

A public meeting, convened according to the advertisement which appeared ir. the Te Aroha And Ohinemuri News, signed by Mr W. A. Murray, Hon: Sec. pro. tern., ‘‘ to consider questions pertaining to the next general election and to . elect a Reform Committee,” was held in Te Aroha Public Hall on last Saturday (evening. There was a good attendance on the occasion ; amongst those present being settlers who l had come long distances, some upwards of fifteen miles to attend: ~ The chair was occupied by Mr E.‘ Gallagher, Mr Murray also: occupying a seat on the • platform. : ■ ' 1 • 1 • ; • il 5- f The Chairman opened the proceedings by stating he was not very well acquainted with tho nature of the Reform League, but Mr Murray during his address he had no doubt would explain matters, and with these few remarks ho would now cal)

upon Mr Murray to address the meeting. Mr Murray on corning forward sunt : He regretted the inclemency of the wea* flier, which no doubt had deterred some from being present, who would otherwise have attended. To come at once to the purpose for which they had been called together, he might explain that several were of opinion in view of the approaching parliamentary elections, that it was desirable some general system of organisation should take} place throughout the Colony, in order to secure the election of members pledged to introduce a more satisfactory condition of things in connection, with the administration of the public affairs -;of tho Colony.. LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM. One of the first resolutions lie had to propose was in connection witli the much needed reform of local government. A return some years ago showed there were then t,600 governing bodies, in New Zealand of one kind and another, requiring some 20,000 persons to rim them, and this in connection with the government of a total population less than that of ' either Liverpool or Glasgow. This was a I very unsatisfactory state of affairs, as with so many wheels it required too much power and too much grease to run the machinery. , - TAXATION. Now if local government were more simplified it would give the General Government much less to do ; and as a necessary result its cost would be greatly reduced ; and the Property-Tax could be done away with altogether. By means of that tax the Government now took away from the settlers moans they required for their own works, only a very small proportion of which was returned to the settlers for their benefit. They must strive to obtain more local power, nnd let local knowledge have the control of local affairs. There was a great difference between taxing improved values and unimproved values. The Property-Tax at Id in the £ on £111,000,000 upon improved and unimproved values would leave the towns to provide £145,000' and the country £317,000. The land tax to provide a similar amount would require a tax of l£d in the £, of which the towns would pay £116.000, the country £346,000; being L 30.000 less for the towns and L 30.000 more for the country than under the Pro-perty-Tax as nt present. RATING.

With respect to rating he thought there should be no exemption. The following three resolutions, carried in the House in 1879 or 80 were moved by him :—(1) That all lands should be rated without exception ; (2) That the Government should pay the rates on Crown lands to provide access thereto ; (3) When expedient that Government should advance the rates on native lands with power to recoup such advances by taking Native lands ut fair values. He might state that another r solution moved by him in the House at the same time as the three already referred to, was to the effect that Government should have a Trust Commission appointed that would be empowered to advance money to local bodies for new works where so required by the ratepayers. These resolutions provided the neuclus of Ma ji r Atkinson’s locnl government proposals, such as the Crown and Native Lands Rating Act, Ronds and Bridges Construction Act, Local Powers nnd Finance Act, etc., which were passed in subsequent years. And in connection witli the advance of such monies, there need be no going to London to borrow at all, as such advances could be made by the issue of Government interest bearing currency notes of £5 and upwards. NATIVE LANDS. With regard to the Government buying Native lands, and- going to London to borrow money for that purpose, bethought a much better way would be for the GoI vernment to arrange with the Native owners to lease their lands on fixed perpetual leases at fair values, much after the Scottish system of feu’s. Had some such system been in operation from the first, instead of Government alternately swindling the Natives out of their lands or empowering private speculators to do so, the Native wars might have been averted and the Colony spared serious loss and disaster. By the adopI tion of some snch plan as he suggested j the interests of the Natives would have been identified with the progress of colonisation, and if adopted even now he believed it would lead to the early and successful settlement of all the Native lands between Waikato and Wanganui. The i«ason Palmerston North aid other places in that district were now so prosperous \vft-) because, of the settlement now progressing. How many there wore who would be glad to lease 1000 acres of land suitable for grazing purposes if they could j obtain same for say a rental of L 25 a | yeai for ever. There were hundreds and thousands of acres of such lands, which he had been told Would carry from two to three sheep per acre ; thus increasing the wealth producing power of the community in wool and frozen mutton, thereby increasing the number of tuxbearers and decreasing the individual incidence of taxation. He was distressed to hear, and hoped it was not true, that Government by their vacillation had allowed 400,000 acres in King Country pass into the hands of private speculators. RAILWAYS. Railway management was another question of very great importance to the well being of settlers and of the Colony as a whole. The Railways should not be run altogether without official control. Mr Vaile was certainly deserving of commendation for his zeal in the cause of railway reform, but he ought to agitate for the reduction of freights as well as of fares. With respect to railway construction he did not think it was advisable that Government should enter upon any* new works, but gaps in existing lines ought,to be completed, by a system of Government Treasury notes advanced to district Councils. Witli respect to the Canterbury and West Coast line of railway twelve hundred and fifty thousands pounds, worth of land had been given to the promoters by Government, tmd jf the land ,already given was not found sufficient to realise; the; promoters, were entitled to receive more lapd to bring the amount up to the sum named. | , H , < COAL FIELDS. ; y■ j Mr Murray next referred to the West Couet coal tieldß, und stated that when Chairman of the Colonial industries Committee he recommended the opening up I of these coul fields by means of the con- j

Rtiuction of railways and harbours. While he was pleased to nee that results had fully Justified the wisdom of that recommendation, and that Rie Westport railway had proved a great success and yielded about eighty ppr cent ot the gross working returns as profit, lie regretted that Government had neglected another recommendation made at the same time to prevent the coal fields becoming monopolies.

INTEREST ON BORROWED MONEY. Some of our political loaders inform us that over L4,oOf\ooC per annum is being sent out of the Colony as interest |on borrowed capital ; this no doubt had much to do with causing the Colonial depression. li-wss useless, however, to cry over spilt milk, the que-tum was now how to devise a remedy. If Mr Goschen, (Chancellor of the Exchequer at Home), | who had so successfully consolidated the i Imperial debt, thereby reducing the rate ,of interest to two and a half per cent, i would extend Ins operations to New Zea- ' land this Colony would virtually hecoine a land of Goshen. As Sir Julius Vogels Ancestors hnd sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites, so he had virtually sold the people of New Zealand to his countrymen in London, with the result that many settlers in New Zealand were suffering worse than Egyptian bondage with the difference that Ihe Jews were now the slave drivers and we were virtually paying tribute to Jerusalem. FIVE PER CENT ENOUGH. Mr Murray here asked his audience did they not consider five per cent would he a fair rate of interest on mortgages? The sug- : gestion appeared to meet with the approval of manv of those present. Mr Murray then said : Suppose some independant member of the House were to introduce a short Act to the following effect: u Notwithstanding any custom or contract to the contrary, it shall not be lawful for any mortgagee to call up or fore close on any mortgage, without the consent of the mortgagor, so long as the said mortgagor shall punctually pay interest half-yearly at the rate of five per cent per annum.-” EDUCATION. With respect to Fdocation there was no resolution to come before the meeting ; but he might say he thought it was a mistake to starve prin>a v y education by the multiplication of high schools and universities. In outlying country districts lie considered there should be no limit as to school age, or anything to place the families of pioneer settlers under educational disadvantages as compared with town children. If we are to be governed by the people it must be by an educated democracy. REDUCTION OF POSTAL RATES. With respect to the proposed reduction in postal rates from Europe to 2sd, he thought the present rate of fid per was a very fair charge for the service rendered, but in the Colony he thought the weight allowed to pass for 2d might bo increased from to loz ; thin would not materially interfere with the revenue, whilst it would prove a great public convenience. FEDERATION. . Federation was. a question which could not he ignored, for New Zealand could neithei afford to play a lone hand nor yet become the fag of the Australian Colonies. If New Zealand now held aloof until the other Colonies hud handed together she would have to come in by and-bye'on their terms, but now she could combine with them in preserving the utmost freedom of internal autonomy. Freedom of Trade, Uniformity of Statutes, nnd National Defence, were the most important considerations. TE AROHA S. AND G. MINING CO. Mr Murray, next referred to a letter from him which recently appeared in the Te Aboha & Ohihkmdbi News, urging upon Government the favourable consideration of the Te Aroha S. and G. Mining Go’s proposal, that Government advance a proportion of the estimated cost of thoroughly testing the value of the mineral deposits of the Te Aroha Goldfield by means of a large low level tunnel; and stated that he had also written to the Minister of Mines enclosing a copy of the letter referred to. In reply he had received the following communication : “ Mines Department, Wellington, N,Z., 14th May, 1890. Sir,—ln reply to your letter of the sth inst., with reference to the proposals of the Te Aroha Silver and Gold Mining Company to the Government, for assistance to extent of £IO,OOO, towards cost of construction of a low level adit on ,the Te Aroha Goldfield, I have the honour by direction of the Honourable Minister of Mines, to inform you that he regrets that there are no funds available which will permit of the required assistance being granted,—l have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, H. J; H. Elliott, Under Secretary.” W. A. Murray, Esq., Mount Pleasant, Piako. Mr Murray said lie thought although the Government had not money how at their disposal for granting assistance in the direction indicated, very probably a sum would be placed on the Estimates next Session for the purpose of having this most important work curried out. RESOLUTIONS. Mr Murray said he regretted to see that some who took a great inteiest in the establishment of a Reform League, and who wonld no doubt have been present but for the inclemency of the weather, were not at the meeting. Had they attended as he anticipated, they would have drawn up a series of resolutions to be submitted to the meeting. In the absence of those lie referred to he had drawn up a few resolutions himself, which he would now read over, and it would be for the ineeting to say wliethor they approved of them or not: — 1. That Local Government should be reformed so that all local affairs may be managed by one local body having local knowledge, and be under the direct and effective control of the taxpayers. 2. T iat such local bodies should not be hampered by needless restrictions and parliamentary interference, ( but have the utfiaoßt internal freedom consistent with individual rights, and the rights of other districts,'' 11 ‘ in ' ' !

3. That such local bodies should have every freedom and facility to co-operate and con;bine with qne another for purposes of common benefit and the public good, and to form District Councils.

4. That the General Government thus freed from local concerns, should greatly reduee its establishments. 5. That the General Government should repeal the Property Tax, and remit power

to the local bodies in combination in Dfe triot Councils to tax real estate, either rn the natural or improved value, as they prefer, and to remit or retain the .gold duty.

6. That there should be no exemptions in rntingof lands.

7. That Government should pay the rates on rnral Crown Lands, to provide access thereto.

8. That if required the Government should advance the ratesfoi native owners, and exempting native homesteads and lands in cultivation by natives, the :Government may take repayment for such advances in land at fair value. Lands so taken to he offered for settlement under perpetual fixed leases. 9. That a Government Trust Fund be created for advances within fixed limits of amount at fair interest to Local Bodies for new works (excep.K%3rhours), upon reqnfei. tion signed bv n majority in number and value of the ratepayers. 10. That such advances may he made in Government Currency Notes from L 5 upwards. Such notes to hear interest, payable by Government in gold or its cqiuvn lent, and bo legal tenders except for Customs duties. 11. That the railways should he worked in the interests of national and industrial development and progresa, and that railway management, ns such, should not be suffered to dominate or supersede political sesponsibilitv. 12. That tlie Government should try to get the consent of the native land owners to let on perpetual lease at fair fixed rents, the lands which they are not personally using. IS HE A CANDIDATE. Mr C. A. Cornes said he wished to ask before any resolutions were put to the meeting, was Mr Murray a candidate for the Te Aroha Electorate. Mr Mu rray : I have not decided to. stand for any electorate as yet. lam here to-night as a New Zealand colonist, interested in the welfure of the Colony and its better government, to discuss with the other electors present matters of interest to us all. I may say Mr W. S. Allen some time back spoke to me and ashed me if I purposed standing for Parliament, stating at the same time that when he was at Tauranga heliafl heard my name frequently mentioned as a probable candidate ; and I was rather surprised'to hear when recently down south that Mr Allen had announced himself as u candidate for the Te Aroha electorate. Mr Cornes : I think it is too early to form resolutions, there are I understand several candidates for Te ArohaElectorate, and we want to hear what each of them has to say before we proceed to frame resolutions. Mr F. Pavitt : I think Mr Murray is going a little too fast. If it is desired that u Reform League he appointed he should move to that effect, I have listened with pleasure to Mr Murray’s address, he has told us some tilings we did not know before, but if be or any oilier gentleman comes here and thinks lie can cram tilings down .our throat, until they have satisfied us as these things are for our good, they will find they , have made a mistake. (Hear, hear). Mr Murray should move that a Reform League be appointed, if lie so wishes, and then leave it to them to frame resolutions.

Air Murray: lam quite willingto do as Mr Pavitt suggests, and I now beg to move : That a Reform League. be appointed, to take into consideration questions of importance, in view of the next general election. The motion was seconded by Air J. Bew.

On being put by the Chairman, six voted in favour of it, none against, and the resolution was declared carried unanimously. Mr Murray said it would-now be necessary to elect members. Several persons were then proposed, but each declined to accept the position, and it was quite evident the majority of those present differed from Mr Murray with respect to the need for the immediate appointing of a Reform League. Mr Murray : I regret to see you are not prepared to take action in this matter to-night. Parliament will he very much what the electors make it. In my opinion there is no time to be lost in discussing matters of vast importance to us all, and in taking some practical steps in the direction of bringing about much needed reforms. However, as the meeting appears to be of a different opinion, I suppose nothing more can be dona to night, and I beg to move a vote of thanks to the Chair. Mr Cornes: I think before that is carried a hearty vote of thanks is due to Mr Murray for coming here and addressing us to-night; and I now beg to move the same. As a gentleman who has been returned ten times to the New Zealand parliament, we Know he must be well up in electioneering matters, but I think we should wait and hear what all the candidates had to say before we, as electors, pledge ourselves to any man or line of action.

Mr P. Horrell: I have much pleasure in seconding Mr Cornea’ proposion that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded Mr Murray for his interestingaddress. There is one matter with respect to which I think Mr Murray is not consistent, however. In his address he laid great stress on more, control being given to local bodies, and yet in his letter which appeared in the Te Aroha and OniEmubi News, with referenco to the Government assisting the Te Aroha S. and G. Mining Company, he stated he would be in favour of the money being granted if expended by Government, but not if it was to be expended by the County Council. I think Mr Murray was very hard on our County Council in that letter. : . ;

Mr Payitt spoke in support of the vote of thanks which had been moved and seconded, which was then potto the meeting and carried unanimously. Mr Murray said in reply to Mr Horrell’s remarks, it was not to County Councils as now constituted, but to reformed local bodies he wished to see extension of powers granted. On fhe motion of Mr Murray a vote of thanks was accorded to the Chair, and the proceedings ternrnated.