POLITICAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1170, 26 April 1884, Page 4

POLITICAL.

Mr Thomas Brackvn, M.H. LI. for Dunedin Central, addressed a meeting of bis constituents last Wednesday night. The hall was crowded. The Mayor was in the chair. Mr Bracken dealt principally with decentralisation, strongly favoring Mr Macandrew and Mr Montgomery’s platform. Ho was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence. The Hon. Major Atkinson addressed a crowded meeting at Dunedin on Thursday night. The Mayor was in the chair. The Hon. Mr Rolleston was among those on the platform. There were cnany interruptions during the Major’s speech, which caused a good deal of amusement. After a few introductory remarks, Major Atkin son said since 1870 the sum borrowed had been L19,250,C00. Cp to March 31st, 1883, they had spent two millions on immigration, and, in his opinion, if they had spent more in that way they would not now have to complain of so much depression. They had spent about seventeen millions on public works generally, and of the total sum they had spirit L 6,900,000 in the North Island, and L 10,350,000 m the South. Now taking the mean population in both Islands, the proportion should have been L 6,550,000,550,000 in the North, and L 10,703,000 in the South. This omitted all consideration of the Maori population, so that on a population, basis the North had got about L 300,000 more than its fair share. How could expenditure be more evenly distributed? He had calculated the whole thing carefully, and he found that the total amount spent on what could in any way be called political railways was between three and four per cent of the total sum expended. Last year on the railways of the colony they had carried 40,500,000 tons of goods a distance of one mile, Tiie cheapest possible cost of moving those goods by cart would have been Jj2, 250,000. The actual erst by rail was a little over half a million. In such indirect advantages alone, the whole of the interest paid on the public debt of the colony was more than covered. They had carried on the railways of the colony last year forty-two millions of passengers the same distance, whose carriage if mov' d by coach would have been well over two millions, whereas by rail it was a little over had a million. He defended the expenditure upon the erection of a t ew asylum, foi the asylums of the colony at present were disgracefully overcrowded, and it was a sad fact tlmt the Inna'ics of the colony were increasing at tho rale of one hundred a year. lie had been accused of saying at Hawera that there was no depression. This was a mistake which arose through an unfortunate condensate m of his remaiks. He had said there was no depression in the colony which should make ns doubt the financial soundness of the colony, or that affected the spending powers of the people to any appreciable extent, and he was prepared to maintain his opinions against all comers. He then gave an account of what he deemed the reasons for the present depression, and quoted figures to show that the country, with all the cry about taxation, was not so heavily taxed as it hud been some years ago. For instance, in 1870, the people were taxed at ine rate of LB 4s 6d per head, while now, deducting the tax for education, they were only taxed at the rate of L 3 Is 8d per head, and they were in a much better position now for producing revenue and wealth than they were limn. As a 'natter of fact their wealth was annually increasing, and the wages of almost all classes had also increased. The Government had done all tb«y could to settle the land iu sm d blocks, and had succeeded io a wonderful extent, while they had also done a great deal to place the taxation evenly on the people, Befoto concluding, he would admit that the Government were guilty of one fault. They had dared to live to a good old age. They had declined to be kicked out of their position, and they were now at a green old age. It was very likely that next session they would be very apt to commit the same L.ult.—A large number of questions were asked, the meeting lasting nil 11.40 p.m. Mr R Wilson moved that Major Atkinson he granted a vote of for his address. Mr Rossbotham moved, as an amendment, ‘That the speaker lie thanked fur headdress, but that ties meei’ng has no confidence in the administration of the Government of New Zealand,’ Only half the people present voted, and it was im possible to s y which received the most sunport. The Mayor, amid confusion, declared t ! e motion carried. The Hon, Mr Conolly, addressed his constituents at Picton on Tuesday night. He reviewed the work of the session, and justified 1 he action of the Government in raising ihe railway tariff, alleging tho 1 pieviously giaiu was curried at a loss. The depression in the South Island cities was that which had existed in Wellington five years ago, It invaiinhly succeeded overtrading, and no Government could cure such a state of things. The dra n from the colony by interest on the publi' debt was no i ,ni. m .ho Government, and boir.iwing had been done with, the consent of all parties. They might have been too extravagant and borrowed too much, but the fault lay with the Members of both Houses during the h st thirteen or fourteen years, aid it was absurd to chaige it on the leads of the present Government. Mr Montgomery was right in saying that the dopai tmenlal expenses were excessive, hut that was a favoiiucry with the Uppnsition. Ho agreed there was room for icducth ns but it was much more easy for the Opposition to clamor for it. than for tho Go ven ment to carry it out. Only let the Government try to eff ct a suing in any place, and they would have all the inhabitants of that district crying out against it. • Save (. h cwhere ; but dcn’i touch us, ’ w as the cry. He (ontend&h that the colony was paying a very small insurance premium by keeping up tin Aimed C'lnstaoul oy. Mr Montgomery said the South island was going to the had because huge Pacts of freehold land were lying waste, but the <_vil was curing itself eii ry day, and the owners were urn JiKely to he so h icd to their own interests as to let their land remain idle. The fad of absentee proprietors drawing rents and spending them in Ragland was no doulu a great evil ; but how could it he helped ! Mr Conol'y tin n strongly opposed >h separation of the two i.-,, amts, and sail that Marlborough, YVLstland ami Nelson would bitterly rue the day it took plac-. for for those districts the North Islam had far more friendly f. dings than were entertained by the southern portion o: the Middle Island. The policy of the ,

latter was to keep what they got and let oilier districts go. Mr Montgomery had said that whatever happened, the Ministry’s days were numbered, and they most go. This was because they had probably made a miscalculation in reference to the Customs and had dared to attempt to make the railways pay. It might be next session that the Opposition would take advantage of the discontent among Canterbury members, ai d with their aid put the present Government in a minority, and compel them either to resign or to apply for a dissolution of Parliament. On the other hand the session might run its course ; but in any case, there must bo a general election before the end of the year. Three questions at least would be fought on the hustings. The first was separation, or provincialism. The second was a land lax as against tiie property tax. He had always advocated the latter, viewing land as a species of property, but not the only property. To tax land and leave other property untaxed was class legislation of the worst possible description. He condemned a progressive land tax, which was based upon utter fallacy, and nothing could be fairer than a property tax. He would gladly see an increase in the property tax coupled with a diminution in the numerous articles which at present weiv the subject of Customs duly. The third question would be that of education, and he at least would not support any material alteration in the system. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed.