NEW PLYMOUTH.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2816, 22 February 1878, Page 2

NEW PLYMOUTH.

Thursday. Major Atkinson Addresses his Constituents. Major Atkinson addressed a largelyattended meeting at tbo Oddfellows' Hell, a number of Ivs constituents coming :n

from the Rgtnont district to hear him, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather. The Major was in the chair. Major Atkinson spoke about two hours, his remarks consisting of a review of the late session and the part he took in it. In the beginning of the session (he said) the Ministry had a majority, but through the action of interested parties, who were opposed to abolition of the provinces, a determined opposition had been raised against the Ministry, and although the financial statement and other parts of their policy were introduced early in the session, yet no work was got through, owing to the interminable discussions of . the Opposition. To make matters atill more difficult, a largo majority of the House utterly distrusted Sir G. Gray, and a Middle party was formed to oust the Ministry, but at tho same time they wished to keep out Sir G. Grey. The party, however, seemed to forget there were only two lobbies, and consequently got into Sir G. Grey's. With the assistance of Sir G. Grey and his section of the House, the Middle Party succeeded in displacing the Mr'iistry, and then, very much to their astonishment, they found Sir G. Grey master of the situation, and he formed a Gorernment. The Middle Party then broke up, some coming to the

ranks of the Opposition, and some going with Sir G. Grey. The Opposition numbered a majority of from 4 to 6, of which ho was chosen as leader. The parly had sereral meetings, and they decided to wait till the Financial Statement was brought down before any attack was made. They waited some* time for that statement, but finding it was not made, he mored a rote of want of confidence. That rote was discussed, the debate lasting over several days, and it was lost on the casting rote of the Speaker, through two or three of the Opposition being absent. The Opposition was then determined to give the Ministry another chance, but finding that they could get no satisfaction, he gave the second notice of want of confidence, which the Government treated with contempt. Major Atkiuson said the Government adopted the late Ministry's estimates, their Land Bill, the Incorporation of Stock Bill, and other measures. He said Sir G. Grej declared he could make reductions to the extent of one hundred thousand pounds, but he had failed to do so. He referred to the incidence of taxation, and showed that if a property tax was introduced the amount would not be large. In speaking of the new Land Bill, Major Atkinson said that the Colonial Treasurer to led against his own Government on that occasion ; and what confidence, he asked, could they have in a Premier when he permitted his own Treasurer to walk into the Opposition lobby against him. That bill, when the majority of members left Wellington, they considered was to become law, and they little expected tbe Government would recommend His Excellency to disallow it. He considered it was a most unconstitutional course for a Minister to take after a bill had passed the House to recommend the Governor to disallow such an important measure as that. Referring to the constitution of the Waste Land Boards, be said he was op* posed to members being elective, and considered that the duties could be better performed solely by a commissioner. With regard to the native policy, he said the late Government were very much abused for what they had done, but Sir G. Grey and Mr Sheehan, he found, were doing exactly) what Sir D. McLean had previously done. He believed in the view Mr Sheehan took of native scatters, and was glad to hear of the firm stand he had taken with regard to the confiscated lands, although tie blamed him for stopping the surveys when he did. He then proceeded to speak of the public works scheme, giving a history of its development since 1870, and showing in similar words as reported in Hansard his opinion of the financial pasition of the colony. He said that the str.tement laid on the table by Sir George Grey showed that he would hare a deficiency on the 30th June next, of £138,003, after the supplementary estimates for some £11O,C1D were passed, but not provided for, so that the deficiency was almost a quarter of a million, for which the Government had made no provision. Abolition, he said, had effected the objects its promoters had in view. It had created national finance, *nd entirely al the position of the colony, for now the people locked to the General Assembly with greater interest. He referred to a table he had prepared, showing the indebtedness o( the colony and its actual revenue and expenditure, and pointed out that under the provincial form of govern* ment they were spending far more than their income. With regard to what he had said about the deficiency there would be at the end of the financial year, he could not help thinking that additional taxation would be required, and judging from the past he felt certain the Government could not carry on as they were doing, and a property tax would be pro* posed in addition to the present taxation. He said the House passed a resolution Jast session directing the Government to introduce a property tax next year. He thought it was a very reasonable tax, and it was desirable to have it. It would not bring in a very large amount, and would not relieve the Customs to any great amount. With regard to electoral franchise, he said, the present Government proposed' to introduce hest 'session £ system of universal suffrage. He . * thought the present qualification quite liberal enough, and considered, if there was a change, it should be in the manner of registration. He thought that a twelve months' residence in a place before being entitled to Vote was necessary, and that an officer should be appointed who would have power at' any lime to register persons who had the proper qualifications, and tfho should also have authority td strike names off the roll when .necessary. The Government, he said* intended to disfranchise Hew" Plymonth--they intended to abolish the Egmont district, by throwing the Pates end of it into the Wanganui district, r^d, he supposed, this end into that of #ew Plymouth. They would then take pile jneml>,er from Taraflaki. Major Atkinson then referred to matters of local interest. With regard to the Mokau, he said the Into Government were always most anxious to get it opened, but found it could not be so, except through the xLiTIZ country, and that opinion Mr Sheehan now' .Held. He said, but for hig influence, the HaruC"? -Blli w°als not have been casflfldj and denied tuitt by his moving a vote of wane of confidence in the Government,'it in'anyway jeopardised it. After touching' on one or ■two blfrer loct.l matters, a vote of confidence fu proposed find Carried.