CAPTAIN RUSSELL AT NAPIER

Temuka Leader, Issue 2770, 31 January 1895, Page 4

CAPTAIN RUSSELL AT NAPIER

Napibe, Jan. 28. Captain Russell addressed a public meeting at the Theatre Royal this evening. The theatre was crowded in every part. His Worship the Mayor (Mr G. H. Swan) occupied the chair. After some “ chaffing ” reference to a recent attack made on him by Mr Carnell, Captain Russell went on to deal with the recent speech by the Premier, whom he accused of inexplicable ignorance or wilful misrepresentation in stating that Hawke’s Bay was not so prosperous "is the rest of the colony, and that its population had not increased so fast in proportion since the last census. He quoted from official figures and the journal of the Labour department to show that proportionately the population had increased faster than that of any other provincial district, and that labour was in greater demand. Referring to the Premier’s accusation that he (Captain Bussell) had denounced Sir H. Atkinson as worse than a highwayman and a footpad, he quoted at length from Hansard to show that the words had no reference personally to Sir fl. Atkinson, being applied first to the Stout-Vogel Ministry when they proposed to largely increase the customs duties, and only repeated in general terms when the Atkinson Government proposed similar duties, and he and others left Sir Harry in consequence. As to the Premier’s charge that he, as representing the old family practitioner, was responsible for bleeding the people, he pointed out that Sir H, Atkinson only carried the increased duties by the aid of Mr Seddon and the party now led by him. He contended that however taxation was imposed it must eventually fall on the working people. The people of New Zealand were taxed through the customs 25 per cent, on the value of all imports, while the figures for Victoria stood at 13} percent., New South Wales 12} per cent., and South Australia 8} per cent. All those who heard the Premier the other night must be prepared for a further increase. He condemned the Government for sending over emissaries to Australia to advise that work was plentiful in New Zealand for the purpose of increasing the population. The co-operative system introduced by the Government, he contended, was only a big engine to secure work for men of the “ right color ” especially when election time was coming round. On the question of land monopoly, he said he was fully alive to the importance of small holdings, and quoted a long list of official figures to prove the inaccuracy of the Premier with regard to the large holdings held by a few people. The inevitable tendency at present was, he said, to destroy the large estates by division among families as the present owners died off. It was the terrorism of the present Government with regard to large holdings that kept the large army of unemployed parading the streets at the present. Captain Russell then went on to contrast what he denounced as the u spoils-to-the victors policy ” of the Government with that of Sir Harry Atkinson. He mentioned, as an instance quoted by the Premier against the late Minister, that Mr Moss, who was appointed as resident of Raratonga, was opposed to the Government at that time. The late Mr Gillies, when made a judge of the Supreme Court, was also politically opposed to Sir Harry Atkinson. Captain Russell then alluded to the purchase of the Polhill Gully rifle range, and contrasted that transaction with the recent purchase of the Pomahaka block. The Polhill Gully range, he said, was the only practical rifle range in Wellington. When the lease w a? falling due the officers of his department Came to him and advised the purchase. Inquiries were made, and after considerable negotiations through a firm of solicitors it was acquired for £3OOO, and not £3BOO, the price which it was valued at by Mr Macdonald, Mr Mackay, the Land Purchase Commissioner of the Government, advised that the bargain was a good one, and if the land was put into the market at the present time, and a road put through the section, it would fetch £2OO per acre. In contrast he would take the Pomahaka block. He then reviewed the various transactions between Messrs Douglass, the bank manager, Mr Ritchie, end Mr Barron. With regard to the petition for the purchase, which was get up and paid for by Mr Douglas, it did not reach the commissioner until long after the land was purchased. Mr Stevenson, the owner of the adjoining land, ou oath, stated that the land yras not worth more than £L to £llos, while the Government paid for the land £2 10s. While be bought Polhill Gully at £6OO less than the amount wanted, the present Government paid £18,500 for that which the bank thought was bad value for £BOOO. Captain Russell then reviewed Cplopel Fraser’s appointment as Sergeant-at-Arms, which he characterised as a job perpetrated to reward politieal support. The indebtedness of the colony was then touched upon. The Premier had stated that the taxation per bead bad decreased, but that had only been brought about by swamping the colony with a number of outsiders whom we would have been better without. However, notwithstanding the decrease per head of indebtedness, the public debt bad risen £1,587,873, and although the Government had not gone into the English market be had no doubt that a large amount of sly borrowing was going on under the Public Accounts Act, which gave power to borrow £1,476,000 on Treasury Bills which did not mature for five years. Captain Russell then touched on the amount of borrowing proposed by the Government last session, which he contended amounted to £7,368,250~-a far greater sum than ever attempted by Sir Julius Vogel in initiating his public works scheme- Captain Russell \ concluded by hoping that the day was close at hand when the people would speedily call for a change. He resumed bis seat amid loud applause.

A hearty vote of thanks for his able and statesmanlike address was carried by acclamation.