PRE-SESSIONAL ADRESS.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 482, 21 June 1890, Page 5

PRE-SESSIONAL ADRESS.

SIR MAURICE O’RORKE AT ONEHUNGA.

Auckland, June 16. Sir Maurice O’Rorke, M.H.R. for Manukau, addressed the electors of that district at the Public Hall on Saturday evening last. There was a large audience, the hall being nearly filled. Captain Yates, Mayor of the borough, occupied the chair. In a few pertinent remarks lie referred to the length of time during which Sir Maurice had represented the district, and said that during the whole of that period there had been nothing required for the welfare of the district but their member had always been on the spot. If it had not been for Sir Maurice, he believed they would not have got rid of the objectionable by-laws imposed on the Onehunga Wharf by the Railway Commissioners, and for the energy which he displayed in this matter they owed him a debt of gratitude. (Applause.) Sir Maurice O’Rorke, on rising to speak, was received with hearty applause. He said that, in accordance with his usual custom, before proceeding to the seat of Government he had had an interview with the Mayor and Borough Councillors to know if there was anything in the way of legislation that they might desire him to promote in the coming session. On this occasion, he understood it was not the intention of the Borough Council to ask the Assembly to pass any measures in the interests of the town, and, seeing how certain measures promoted by the town had been treated, he approved of the course adopted by tbe Mayor and Council in not asking the present Parliament to pass any measures in their interests. He approved of their postponing all action until there was a reformed Parliament in New Zealand. (Applause.) Onehunga required very little assistance from the Legislature, but when the people were good enough to re-elect him three years ago to Parliament, there were

TWO MATTERS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE to the borough—the introduction of a water supply into the town, and the making of suitable provision for interment of the dead. No two measures could have been passed with greater ease, had it not been for the obstruction of the representatives of a certain city not far distant. The representatives of that city, when even the interests of Onehunga wereatstake, instead of lending their aid to pass measures for its benefit, banded themselves together to l’esist the passing of such measures. Sir Maurice went into the history of the water supply question at some length, speaking very bitterly of the conduct ot certain Auckland city members in thwarting the scheme by the introduction of objectionable amendments, and went on to show that there had been a repetition of these tactics in reference to the cemetery question which came before the House. Parliament was asked for a sum not exceeding £I,OOO, in order that a burial ground should be purchased outside of the town for the benefit of the whole country and the whole world outside. As soon as the Cemetery Bill was submitted last session, instead of a deliberate hearing being given to it, stonewalling tactics were resorted to until other business had to be taken up. He thought it a duty to the Council and people of Onehunga to let them know what factious opposition these two measures encountered. (Applause.) THE REPRESENTATION ACT. Sir Maurice next dealt with the Representation Act, and the stonewalling tactics adopted by the city members in connection with that measure. The matter, he said, did not concern Onehunga much, being a contest between the town and country in which they were little concerned, and it was finally settled by an arrangement under which certain allowances were made to the country districts. How that measure affected the people ot that district it would be time enough for him to explain when the Act came into force by which the Manukau became virtually a new district under tbe Act. Under the divisions made by the Boundary Commission, Onehunga became, after a separation of thirty years, re-united to Otahuhu, Panmure and Howick ; Mangere also was joined, and all the country nearly up to Papakura. It would be food for reflection to himself and to his friends, in the face of this new district, to consider the course they should take, but when the dissolution of Parliament took place would be a more convenient time for discussing that matter. (Applause.) THE WHARF TROUBLE.

The Mayor had alluded very kindly to the action he had taken in the matter of theobiectionable wharf regulations. Ho was about to leave the town to attend the University Senate at Dunedin, when it was reported to him that the ordinary traffic on the wharf was stopped, He thought it a most unwarrantable piece of tyranny on the part ofanirresponsiblebody tosuddenly,and without notice, interfere with the vested rights of the town. (Applause.) He recognised the desirabilty of prompt action, and pressed on to Wellington to place the matter before the Government personally. He waited upon the Minister of Public Works, who seemed astonished at what had taken place. He did not wait upon the Commissioners who were then in Wellington, because from the senior of those two gentlemen he expected neither justice nor the semblance of justice. He had known that gentleman long enough to know that matters connected with Onehunga would nob meet with any favour in his eyes. He (Sir Maurice) was, however, very pleased to hear they were fortunate enough to meet the Chief Commissioner in Auckland, and that they had an opportunity of waiting upon him by a deputation from Onehunga. He knew the Chief Commissioner, and as regarded his management of the railways, only wished he were in better company than he is with Mr Maxwell and his other colleague. (Applause.) He watched the wharf matter with a great deal of interest, and was roused to enthusiasm at Dunedin when he read in the papers that Mr Nelson, of Onehunga, offered to head a procession to the Onehunga Wharf in vindication of the rights of the town. (Applause.) He was glad that the matter was settled peaceably, however, because at one time there appeared to be a deliberate attempt on the part of some 01 the Commissioners to provoke a breach ot the piece. Now that it was past and gone, he was glad that the more temperate course was adopted of waiting for a reversion of the Commissioners’ decision, but he be lieved, had he been present, he should have been disposed to support Mr Nelson in t.hcourse ho proposed to take, (Laughter and applause.)

THREATENED RAILWAY STRIKE,

In referring to this matter, Sir Maurice said he did not think ib would be right that any member of the Assembly should le’ fall any words that might be construed into a design to precipitate any collision between the railway employees and the Railway Commissioners. He had read of thest strikes that were taking place all over the world wit 1 , great pain, because they always were asso fated in his mind with terrible want and suffering, falling mostly, not

upon the men themselves, but upon their wives and families. But, whilst he said that he read of these strikes with aching heart, he was far from denying that the necessity did nob arise when these combinations should bako place. (Applause.) Man’s own dignity and respect, for his manhood must make him for a time risk the temporary impoverishment of his family in the hope of future good. (Applause.) At a time like the present it was very gratifying to see statesmen and churchmen all the world over, endeavouring to devise means for the amelioration of the working classes. (Applause.) The welfare of the great mass of the people, in a great measure, depeuded upon this question, and it would, he thought, be a good day for the world when the representatives of labour and capital would meet together to fix the time and the berms of labour. (Applause.) PROTECTION OF INDUSTRIES. ’ Passing on to matters of general import, Sir Maurice said that three years ago the important question agitated in the community, and in which he took part, was the question of protection to the young industries of this colony. (Applause.) He felt then as now, that the very utmost protection should be given for the encouragement of local industries. (Applause.) It was true that, immediately upon the new Parliament assembling, protection was in a very large measure carried, and it might be said lie had hardly any right to complain. Although the free trade party had declined in numbers, he believed they did not despair of throwing our ports open for the reception of imported Eroods, although at the sacrifice of the industries both of the wool and iron branches. These gentlemen had studied the question solely in the light of two renowned Englishmen, in the works of Bright and Cobden. They would not look to the sixty millions of people in the United States who had established a system of protection that had brought into existence all the industries of the world, where they raised men of talent and men of ability, which would not be cajoled out of that system which had called into existence all the industries they required.. (Applause.) Even those gentlemen who favoured free trade in New Zealand would not carry their eyes to Victoria, where a million of people had established a similar system of protection. (Applause.) It was true that, for 45 years, England had been a free trade country, but what, he asked, was England four centuries before that? The most stern and rigid protectionist country in the world. It was by the aid of protection that she built up her great industries, and it was nob until they had been fully established that she invited other nations to enter into competition with her products. If it took England that long to establish her industries, New Zealand might hesitate many a long day yet before it threw open its ports to place the products of foreign labour into competition with the local industries of this country. (Applause.) He had heard it said that protection gave a monopoly to the colonial manufacturer, bub he was convinced that it protected them against a monopoly of the foreign free trade, and gave protection to the working men of the colony. (Applause.) While he spoke thus in favour of protection, there was a free trade lie would be a party to--a free trade between this colony and the neighbouring colonics. (Applause.) COLONIAL FEDERATION.

They knew what discussion was taking place on the subject of the federation of these great colonies for purposes of common interest. (Applause.) He hoped and believed this country would nob withhold its hand from grasping the hands stretched out from the three or four millions in Australia ; but would feel that they are of the one race, that their interests are largely in common, and that they ought nob bo accept any situation of standing aloof from what was necessary to consolidate a great empire in these seas. (Applause.) Mr J. D. Jackson moved a hearty vote of thanks and confidence in Sir Maurice O’Rorke, and hoped that he, having faithfully and energetically served them for the last thirty years, would continue to represent them for tbe best part of another thirty years. Mr James Shaldrick seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously and duly acknowledged. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the meeting.