THE HON. B. RICHARDSON AT RANGIORA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1466, 11 February 1886, Page 3

THE HON. B. RICHARDSON AT RANGIORA.

The Hon. B. Richardson addressed the electors of the Kaiapoi district in the Mechanics’ Institute, Rangiora, on Tuesday night. There was a large attendance. Speaking on the subject of the tariff proposals of the Government last session, he paid, as the Colonial Treasurer had stated, it was necessary on account of the falling off of revenue to increase the duty on certain articles. He thought that if the House bad only calmly considered the proposals the incidence of taxation would have been much clearer, and the colony would have been in a better condition. Speaking for himself, he would only put on Customs duties for revenue purposes, and also for giving a moderate amount of protection to local manufactures. The object of the Government last session in asking the House for *2,600,000 was to enable them to provide work, by means of contracts, for the population of the country, so that the labor market wonld not be disturbed. The consequences of Captain Russell’s motion was that £500,000 was taken off the Estimates, and consequently the Government had no power to let large contracts, and a large number of men wonld be thrown out of employment, A large number of railways would have to remain uncompleted till further votes were taken, and their remaining uncomplete would mean a loss to the colony of the interest on the cost of construction. Regarding the Bast and West Coast Railway, he said it i would accomodate a population closely approaching oue-tbird of the population of the colony. Bren the first of the districts proposed to be benefited—the Nelson and Hokitika region—had a population of 167 to each mile of the railway. At the present rate of chargee coal could be caroled on the railways, and compete with the coal from any other part of the world, from Waiptra to Ashburton. The lino would run through some of the finest timber country in New Zealand, There was one block of 65,000 acres full of timber, equal to anything except the kauri forests of the North Island. Timber was at present brought over the line from Inverosrgijl to Canterbury, a distance of over 30Q miles, so that there was little doubt but that the far finer timber of the West Coast could be brought over the line and be made to pay, The line wouldbe easily constructed, and have far less steep inclines and short curves than some of the North Island lines* He bad estimated that there would be a two per cent profit on that line from the moment it was opened. The Charitable Aid measure passed lest session ws* by no means a perfect one, but it could be amended, and the way in which money voted for hospitals and charitable aid had been previously distributed showed bow great need there was for the measure. He justified the repeal of the Roids and Bridges Act by stating that buying the past five years *1,2i0,0p0 had been spent on roads and bridges, apd the

colony could not go on at that rats. The applications from local bodies before the Government at the beginning of the year amounted to over half a million of money. Speaking his own opinion, and not that of the Government, he thought that if a system was adopted in future of continuing subsidies to local bodies out of general revenue, and if those bodies were allowed to borrow money from Government at a low rate of interest, it would tend to prevent squandering and extravagance, for ratepayers would be earefnl about borrowing money which they would have to repay. He stated that he still adhered to the opinion that Non-political Boards were the best for the management of the railways, and had prepared a Bill to deal with the subject. Still be thought the railways were doing very well at present. Tn spite of the depression last year, they had given a return of 3,01 per cent, on the open lines. He referred to the Victorian linn, with the management and returns of which ho thought the N.Z. lines compared favorably. Ho wished to draw special attention to the fact (hat the the present Government had practically stopped the importation of such locomotives, bridge material, and every thing connected with the, railways which it was possible to produce in the colony. With regard to immigration, the Government thought that the only class of immigrants needed at present were those who had a small sum of money and could settle on the land. For his own part he thought it necessary to go a little farther. It was nsoessary to provide fairly good laud for settlement, and in order to do that it might be necessary to resume possession, under fair terms, of blocks of land either along lines of railway already open or these to be constructed. It wjuld b» advisable perhaps to borrow money under snob restrictions as would ensurt its payable investment in order to obtain this land, which could be disposed of to farmers on reasonable terms, so that they would not be compelled to use up all their capital in its acquisition. While not prepared to say what Government proposed to do in the way of borrowing, he would say that New Zealand could not allow other colonies to go ahead and leave her standing still. We must push forward our railways, but in such a manner as would not cripple the country. A large proportion of the money borrowed must be borrowed for constructing railways which should be made without the delays, which had impeded the profitableness of other lines. The colony would also be justified in borrowing to lend on easy terms to local bodies, and for irrigation, All money borrowed must be allocated to certain works which must be proved to be reproductive, and net, as hitherto, thrown into one common pot. The present depression ho considered, oonld not b# remedied without a large amount of application and self-denial. It was the wish of the Government to administer the affairs of the colony with prndecee and discretion, and the icheme they would shortly bring down would have the effect of opening up the Crown lauds of the eolony and attracting to it that population without which it could not progress. The speaker was frequently applauded, and a vote of thanks and confidence carried unanimously.