PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1898, 30 May 1889, Page 2

PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

MR A. E. G. RHODES AT TEMUKA. Mr A. E. G. Rhodes, M.H.R. for Gladstone, addressed his constituents in the Volunteer Hall, Te»uka, on Tuesday evening last. There was a very good attendance when tha meeting commenced at 8 o’clock, but liter on the hall was pretty wed filled. Mr K. F. Gray, Chairman of the Ternuka Town Board,|occupied the chair. Mr Gray said they had been asked to be present that evening for the purpose of meeting their representative, and giving him an opportunity of laying before (hem an account of bis stewardship during the last session. He did not think there was anything of importance to the colony calling for special reference, but they had the pleasure of meeting their representssire after the session, and having a friendly chat. He thought this was very proper, and after Mr Rhodes had addressed them they could ask any questions they might wish. Ha had much pleasure in introducing Mr? Rhodes. INTRODUCTOE'/, Mr Rhodos, who was greeted with applause, said ; Mr Chairman ami gentlemen—This is the second time u I ms been ray duty as your toe or bor to a/idvesc you before the meeting of Parliament, for the purpose of reviewing the conroe of vhe past session, and making some forecast as Jo the course of the next. As I have had the pleasure of meeting most of yon on various occasions of a social unci other character during ilia last year, and as the interest in political matters just now is not very great, 1 should not have asked you to attend here this evening were it not that I think it advisable that a member should meet his constituents during every recess, if possible, and have a friendly chat. Thors is nothing very novel in political affairs at present. What i have to say, however, is of a more pleasing character, as the prospects of the country are certainly much brighter, and the state of the colony’s finances are <

| certainly iu a much bettor condition than when I last spoke. I believe onr consols ! arc at. presents 10C, or ab’ont 10 per cem, better than when I last addressed you, and that is iimp'e evidence of our credit in England. 1 think (his will do much to bring about the cheap money you have heard so much about, as capitalists will doubtless come to the colony, and things will be better.

LOANS, I will in the first place give a short review of the last session. You will probably remember that the first important work of the session was the passing of the Loan Act, 1887, Repeal Bill, and the Loan Bill of 1888. These two Bills were rendered necessary (o -rectify the error in the now famous 19th section of the Loan Act 1887, which made it seem doubtful whether we could raise the loan authorised b'fore 1891. This was clearly a technical error. Luring my first session I refused to vote for the Loan Act, bat as Parliament had authorised the loan and the policy involved in the Act of 1887, and the Government had made their arrangements in anticipation of receiving this money, it was absolutely necessary to correct the error. The House recognised this, and passed the measure by an overwhelming majority. Soon after these Bills were disposed of, the Colonial Treasurer brought down his

FINANCIAL STATEMENT, which disclosed that there was a total deficiency of £528,623. You will remember that Parliament had made provision at last session for an estimated deficiency of £400,000, and this left £128,623 still to be provided for. The ( Government alio proposed for the current year to pay the erst of schools and certain other buildings, and p«rl of subsidies to local bodies, out of revenue instead of out of loan. This no doubt was a step in the right direction, as weall know whata terrible financial mess it was to pay for perishable buildings (such as schools) and other works out of loan without making any provision for their depreciation. The Government estimated that if no further reductions were made there would be a deficiency of £IBO,OOO. They would require £60,000 to provide for schools and other buildings and £64,000 for subsidies, and £56,060 to balance revenue and expenditure on the basis of taxation existing at that time. Therefore, we found a deficiency of £IBO,OOO for the then current year, and an old deficiency' of £128,623. The Government proposals were to pay off the old deficiency by the imposition of d, primage duty of 1 per cent on all goods, whether formerly admitted free or not. However objectionable the imposition of a primage duty may be there was this advantage : that it was only a temporary measure, and was being only put on for two years. It was better to pay off the deficit in this way than to fund it, as previous deficits had been treated. The estimated deficiency of £IBO,OOO they proposed ’) provide for by patting on additional customs duties, estimated to produce £207,000. These increased duties would give a surplus of £27,000, The proposed tariff was essentially a protective one, and immediately upon the Government making these proposals, I and other freetraders, who had previously given them a qualified support, informed them that we should oppose the proposed tariff in every possible way, You will remember what happened. Soon after, the Opposition gave the Government all their votes, and they were thus enabled to carry the Customs tariff substantially iu its entirety. I and other freetraders gave our votes against the Government whenever protective measures came up, but the Government were enabled to hold their seats by the aid of the Opposition. After the tariff had been disposed of we declined to join any political party, but took up an independent position, and voted according to the merits of each question. As Mr Lance said, the Opposition did not desire to take office. They believed that no other Government could carry on the work of the country in the position of parties. Still we were able to give a happy despatch to some of the measures brought forward, notably some of the Harbor Bit's. Practically now we have as heavy a tariff as Victoria, so the result must bs that the coat of living must be increased in New Zealand. However, we were defeated, so there was no good <a making any factious opposition. When speaking last recess I told you the Government intended to introduce a FAIR RENT BILL,

and there is no doubt aome measure was required to deal with the Crown tenants, but the Fair Rent Bill introduced by the Premier went far beyond anything the country expected, or, I believe, there was any need for. ' I found the public bodies had been enabled to reduce their rents under the powers vested in them by the Public Bodies Powers Act, 1887. The Bill Introduced not only applied to Crown and public lands but also to certain native reserves, The Waste Lands Committee altered the Bill to what I believe was really wanted at the present time, and m;de it a temporary measure for the revision of rents of Crown tenants. I supported the amendments against the Government, but it was carried in our House, but was thrown out np above. I am sure there was no necessity for such a measure as was introduced by Government. It meant that wo would have a triennial fixing of rents by a court, which would do away with all fixed tenure. The Act provided for the raising of rent in case of improvement, as well as to reduce them. I do not think the time baa come for such a measure in Now Zealand, The Minister of Lands, speaking at Wyndham recently, stated that owing to the introduction «f the Fair Rent and Price of Land Bill, and the Premier’s promise that extreme measures should not be taken until the Government had obtained an official revaluation, a large number of settlers have been trading on the position, and in many cases there has been a cessation of payments from the settlers, although the official revaluations show that the arrears are mostly among those who had their land at fair prices; How serious a matter this is the following figures will show On the 31st December, 1888, .1648 selectors owed arrears to the amount of £27,537, and 3 months later, on the 3Jst March, 1889, 3386 selectors owed arrears to the amount of £46,526, Anyone who knows anything of fanning in New ZiaUnd would know that if at any time tenants were able to pay thdr rants it was during the last three months. They were simply trying to back out of paying ibair rents, in the hope of getting this or a aimilur

measure passed. There was an amendment in Ihs LAND ACT passed during jhst session which made several liberal amendments, such as alowing deferred payment selectors to hold up to 640 acres, and dispensing with personal residence in swamp lands in certain cases. The latter chiefly affected the North island. But as far as Canterbury was concerned the most important amendment effected by the Act was the provisions for the classification of the pastoral lands, under which the runs will be dealt with, A meeting was held of the Canterbury members to consider these clauses,andafter thoroughly going into the question three or ■faiiif'Tjf us ware appointed to see the Minister of Lands, and he willingly accepted our suggestions, viz., that the country should be classified as follows, viz. ; (1) Pastoral lands, being lands suitable exclusively for pasturage, ».nd not capable of being used with profit in areas of less than 5000 acres. (2) Pastoral lands, as aforesaid, but suitable for subdivision ; - small runs into areas not exceeding 5000 aces. (3) Piatoral agricultural lands, being lands adapted in part for pasturage, and in part for agricultural purposes, bat suitable for subdivision in areas not exceeding 5000 acres.

The clauses really amount to this—that three commissioners should be appointed to classify the runs, reserving for settlement all country that eonld bo profitably worked in smaller blocks, than 5000 acres. As you know the commissioners, Messrs Baker, Poster, and McMillan, have classified the country, and have I believe on the whole done their work in a fairly satisfactory manner. The only drawback ’’a that there is very little Grown land iu Canterbury fit for settlement in small areas. The freeholds on many properties extend up the hills to a much altitude than most people imagine. Yon see, therefore, that the treatment of this question of the Canterbury runs was the result of the recommendations made to the Government by the Canterbury members as a body, and I thought it beat to sink any differences of opinion on minor points, so that the decisions of the Canterbury members should be practically unanimous, In other parts of the colony the increase in settlement during the pas year on the waste lands of the Crown hag been very large. The following table will show the increased area of land taken up under the different systems for the last year over the previous year :

During the first session I brought up the question of the orders given noder the Forest Trees Plantation Act, which had been rendered void by all land being with* drawn from sile, and that these might be made good The New Zealand Forest Act of last session enacted that ali orders sent in by June 30th would be available up to the end of December next year. Whilst speaking of land saUloniflnt, there were several very important Wile passed during the cession dea’ing witVi NATIVE MAHERS, which I believe will have a most beneficial effect in promoting a“ttlemenfc in the North Island. I believe in leaving sufficient reserves to prevent the Maoris becoming paupers, but it seems ridiculous to block up and prevent settlement on the enormous extent of territory at present in the hands of the natives in the North Island. The Native members were principally in favor of the Bill, tbs chief exception being Sydney Taiwhanga, who stonewalled it for some considerable time. No one knew why he did so, and I believe he did not know himself. A measure affecting a considerable area of the waste lands of the Crown was Mr Pyke’s OTAGO CENTRAL RAILWAY BILL,

which after a somewhat stormy career failed to pass through the Lower House. The evidence taken before the Waste Lands Committee conclusively proved that it would be utter madness. to make a railway to Lake Hawea for many years to come. Provision is at present made out of appropriations from loans to carry the line up to Middletcaroh, and I believe the line will have to be eventually extended to Taieri Lake, This can be done for about £170,000,. in addition to what is at present provided for. The benefit to be derived by the colony |by construction of some twenty-sovea miles of railway which will only cost aome £170,001, and n number of miles which are not required, do»s not seem sufficient to compensate as for handing the Otago Central Railway over to a syndi-

cate. I objected to the clauses providing tor the sale of the present work to the company, as 1 am certain the constructed portion would bo sacrificed, and the?(£ seemed to be ample proof that the gold mining industry of Central Otago would be injured by the Bill. Whether railways are made by the Government or by private companies it seems inevitable that the taxpayers of the colony will have in pay for them in the end, as instanced by the district railways and the various concessions asked for by the private companies. 1 see the Wellington and Manawatu with to be exempted from the property tax now, and it seems difficult to imagine what limit there is to the concessions these syndicates will demand. If Ibis Bill passes (and I presume from the accounts we received of the triumphal tour of Ibe Ministerial party through the Centra] Otago district lately that another attempt will be made, to pass the Bill next session) this syndicate will become the owners of

something like lialf-a-rnillion acres of country, and ws had in evidence before the Waste Lands Committee that the rent roll of the pastoral country (here waa £48,000 a year. 1 must say th<\t it seems extraordinary to me that many of our politicians who are ao averse to a private individual owning any large extent of land that they would not show a deferred payment selector to take up more than 320 acres, are quite willing to hand over to a company of foreign capitalists millions of acres of land. Leaving the important questions of finance and find I come to some other matters. There was another long fight last session over various j HOSPITAL BILLS. 'Hpv About half-a-doz;n district wished to separate from their present, hospital and charitable aid districts. In most of these

cases, including the County of Waimate, it was principally a question of trying to get off paying a fair share of the rates. Waimate County is an exceedingly wealthy county ; it has double the rateable value of property per bead of its population compared with tho remainder of South Canterbury hospital district, and I can see no hardship in tho fact that thoy will have to pay their proportionate share According to rateable valns of property ■ towards hospital and charitable aid for another year. (Applause.) If the hospitals are cot kept up chiefly at the expense of the General Government, the . districts should be large ones, thus dis- . tributing tho rate fairly among the population according to their wealth, tnd ' enabling thoroughly efficient, central /hospitals to bo maintained, and, if necessary, smaller hospitals in outlying districts should be worked in connection with the central ones. There seems to be : widespread dissatisfaction throughout the colony about the coat of our present charitable aid system, and 1 understand that the Government are preparing a Bill to deal with the subject. It is a very difficult question, and I am sure will cause a very acrimonious discussion next cession. The House very properly refused to sanction tho Government entering into any arrangements during the recess for the continuance of the SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE. . This service is at present costing an : ‘gihbunt, altogether out of proportion to ' the benefits derived therefrom. (Hear, hear.) The letters could all go by the direct lines, and would be delivered almost as quickly ns by tho ’Frisco service, while this latter service is utterly useless from a trading point of view, as the amount of merchandise carried between this colony and the United States of America is insignificant as compared wiih the amount carried by any of the other direct liners ; and we see that during the last few months tho effect of subsidising this service enables I the American,wheat-grower to flood the) Sydney market with wheat to our detriment, (Hear, hear.) If we can have communication with Canada or tho United States of America by paying a small subsidy, by all means let vs have it, but 1 believe that the United States of America and New South Wales will carry on the San Francisco service whether we continue our subsidy or not. I hope that there will be no large subsidies givoe to any company for a lengthy term of years, as in the event of the owners of the direct liners combining and forc•cihg freights up, as it is quite possible they may do, we ought to be in a position to offer inducements to other ship-owners to come in and compete; and I think that in subsidising any mail line we ought to pay attention to the interest of our farmers, who are our main exporters. (Applause,). An attempt was again made last session to raise the school age and lower tho standards. I, an oo previous occasions, opposed these attempted changes in the BBUCATIONAL SYSTEM. It seemed to be a great waste of time to bring this subject up sc soon after it had been thoroughly threshed out, as it was during the previous session. There has been an Education Bill circulated by Mr Fisher, which, although many of the clauses are 1 believe generally popular v with thy members of tho teaching profession, would have to be v=fy much amended before it could be got through. As I have heard from the Premier that the Government have no intention of interfering with the Education Act for the present, I don’t think there is any chance of Mr Fisher's Bill getting through the House during the coming session. While some of the proposals appear good many are unworkable. Whilst speaking on the subject of Education, I may mention that next session we will have to consider the report of the commission on Lincoln, College. As the report has not been published in full, it is hardly fair to make any comments on the charges contained in it against the present management, but I shall certainly oppose any attempt to hand over the control of this institution to the Government, us that would be J simply the first step towards the handing over ot our educational reserves to the Government. 1 am certain that the institution can, and ought to, be made a most valuable one tor students from all parts of the colony. I belieye a good deal of the dissatisfaction about the cost of this college arises from the enormous cost of the building, but it is hardly fair to charge the present management with that. The resolutions proposing the repeal of the Act by which the REDUCTION OF THE NUMBER OF MEMBERS is to be effected, was also lost. The wish of the country was very strongly expressed in favor of the reduction of members at the last general election, and I don’t believe the Act giving effect to that desire will, be tampered with, although no doubt many members of the House of Representatives have very strong views that it is in the interest of tbe colony to retain tbe present number of members. With larger districts it is even more necessary that the country population shall have a larger proportionate share of the representation than the town population. The Premier has promised to give tia a chance of discussing this question, and I hope we will be able to alter the present quota. A very elaborate Electoral Bill was introduced last session by the Government but it was not proceeded with. The provisions in favor of purging the rolls every three years and the issue of electoral rights 1 thoroughly agree with. 1 don’t believe the present House will adopt the Hare system, which I believe would be an improvement on the single member electorates. But if the Hare system is introduced I shall oppose having electorates that are too large, as, for instance, I think no electorate should be larger than one consisting of the country between the Rangitata and the Waitaki. This would be large enough to enable minorities to be represented. As I informed you last recess the Government intended to propose soma alterations in the RULES OF PROCEDURE to prevent the present absurd wasle of time. I believe there was a majority of , the members of the House of Representatives in favor of some considerable modifications in the present rules; but the members of the Opposition were deterl mined the matter should not be properly ■discussed, so a number of them absented themselves from the Chamber and lima prevented the resolutions being discussed through want of a quorum. I hope they

will allow some modifications that ‘will prevent a repetition of the unreasonable atoue-wa'ling that took place last session. During my first session I urged on the Government the necessity of introducing a ( i:l to amend the law relating to , SECURITIES OVER PERSON IL PROPERTY with a view of doiug away with the cumbrous instruments now in use as bills of sale, acd other securities of a like nature, and thus to greatly reduce the costa of person*! requiring to raise money in this manner. 1 am glad to be able to state that the Government have adapted my suggestions, and will introduce a Bill next session which jvould have the effect of enabling forms to be used as simple as those in use for instruments under the Land Transfer Act. (Applause). This will, I am sure, make borrowing money far cheaper than at present. At present it is difficu.'t to draw up a bil l of sale that will stand, and for that, of course, the borrower has to pay. I hope the measure proposed will be adopted. (Applause.) The Government will probably also introduce a new BANKRUPTCY BILL, _ which is much needed, but I will not deal with this matter this evening. The Government have at last appointed THREE RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS, who have the solo management of onr railways. The Chief Commissioner was an excellent officer at the head of (he Land Department, and I am certain his removal will be a loss to that department. Although I have no doubt but that ho will eventually be as well able to manage the railways as an imported official, his first change (one can hardly call it a reform) — tho Chmtohurch and Dunedin express—is as unsatisfactory to the country as any change one can imagine. (Applause). If there is soffloient through traffic to warrant an express let us by all means have one, but don't lot it be at the expense of all the smaller towns and country districts. I sbafl do my utmost to get tho old timetable restored, or the present one much modified. (Applause). I believe there are not more than five or six threugh passengers a day. Practically now there is only one tram from Christchurch a day. I should like to compliment the Temuka Leader on its articles on the subject, and | in which the matter is very fairly dealt | with. (“Hoar, hear,” and applause). I cannot understand why the trades people of Timaru have not taken more interest in the matter than they appear to have done. It is certainly against their interests. Before bringing my remarks to a close I would like to say a few words about the GENERAL OUTLOOK. And in the first place it is very satisfactory that this year —tho first for several—the Government will be able to meet Par'iatnent with a surp'us on the financial operations of the past year. The Government claim that notwithstanding that the revenue has not on some important items come up to their estimate, they will show a surplus of something like £70,000. We may therefore congratulate ourselves that there need be no further increase of taxation this year, The burden of taxation has been pressing so heavily on all classes of the community that if tho general revival in business should continue, in which case the public revenue must be largely increased, I hope it will be possible before long to make some reduction in the burden of taxation. Last year I gave you some figures to show that notwithstanding the depression of the last few years a remarkable increase in the volume of trade had taken place. At that time, in consequence of the low prices of most of our staple products, there had been no corresponding increase in the value of our exports. This last year, owing to the general rise in prices, the increase in the value of our exports is something astounding. 1 hiring the last quarter, ending at the 31st of March, a population of about 600,000 people have exported nearly million pounds’ worth of produce. This quarter’s exports are far the largest that have ever been known in the history of the colony, and they are nearly double the value of the imports for the same period. Although the current year will hardly keep up to the average of the last quarter there is no doubt that there is a brighter outlook, and in looking at the wool industry, the better prospects for the exporters of meat, and the increased aiea that will probably be under crop this year, the revival of the flax industry (although that does not greatly affect this district), it seems certain that our exports for some time to come will be much larger than during any previous years. (Applause). Mr Khodes then expressed himself willing to answer any questions, and sat down amidst applause. Questions. Mr Newbury: Are you in favor of amending the Town Boards Act so that anyone who is rated at £lO will have the right to sit as a member of a Town Board (instead of £2OO as at present), and will you introduce a measure into Parliament having that effect ?—Mr Rhodes said if no one else brought in a measure dealing with the subject he would bring one in himself, lie could not pledge himself to the amount, because it would depend upon what he could get passed, but he would bring forward a measure and do his best. (Applause.) Mr J, Davis ; What is your opinion on Deceased Wife's Sister’s Bill ? (Great laughter.)—Mr Khodes said it was not a Bill that affected him much at present. (Laughter.) It had been passed in JSew Zealand and some of the other colonies, and he had no doubt it would eventually be passed in England, It had already been passed there in tho Lower House, but it was thrown out in the Upper House. Mr H. La very : The Oxford-Temuka Railway Bridge will soon want repairing. Gin you inform tho meeting whether auy funds have been set apart for the purpose ? (Laughter.)—Mr Rhodes said he understood that the bridge was past repairing. He thought they v.3ro going to have u funeral, as the Eoad Boards had leave to mnovo it if they could make use of any of thematerial used in its construction. He was sura if they wanted a bridge to serve, that district it would not boia the position of the present one. i No other questions being askod, Mr M. Quinn rose to propose a Vote of Thanks.. He said ho had much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Khodes for his address that evening. It hid bean said that they would holy see Mr Rhodes once a yocr after the election, bat they kiipw whr/HSver ho had been wanted he had com % down to their social meetings ! to opp'n them, and assist by putting his

hand into ' h pocket. (Applause, “soft soap,” and “ no, no,”) Mr Rhodes hud been spoken of as linear ohurn in politics, but they "’ere all euw claims once. After a few tart Iter remarks ho moved a hearty veto of thanks to Mr Rhodes for las adorc.is, and confidence in him us their me in her. Mr A. Grant seconded (he proposition* No amendment was proposed, and the Vote having been carried unanimously Mr Rhodes briefly returned thanks, and proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman. This was also carried, and the meeting terminated at 5 minutes past 9 o'clock.

Selectors. Acres. Cash lands, this year ... 464 63,644 ,, last year ... 350 28,229 Def’d payment, this year 336 4?, 441 ,, last year 319 41,100 Pesetas) loare, (hie year 828 210,863 ,, ,, last year 349 Total, tiiis year 1628 71,966 321,948 ,, last year 1008 FOREST TREES. 141,298