Address to Constituents.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3899, 28 June 1881, Page 2

Address to Constituents.

MR SHEEHAN BEFORE THE ELECTORS.

Last evening Mr John Sheehan, the junior member for the Thames, addressed a meeting of his constituents at the Theatre Royal. The Theatre was crammed, and the meeting was most orderly throughout.

Mr Wood proposed, and Mr Greenville seconded, " That the Mayor take the chair." Carried unanimously.

His Worship said the meeting was aware why they had been called together. Mr Sheehan needed no introduction at his hand, as he had been connected with the field for many years.

Mr Sheehan, on rising to address the meeting, was greeted with much applause. He said:—Mr Chairman and gentlemen, I have not come hereto make a speech, as my health is so bad as to almost preel ode me from doing so. All I ask is, that you will f>ivo me not only a patient shearing—for,that t feel sure of—but also a quiet one. I wish now to tender an apology to you all. I intended to hare been in my place at Wellington long ago, and should have been. but for the fact that I waa tackled by an old friend of mine—sore throat, and was laid up for seven days while at Taupo. Had it not been for this, I should hare addressed my constituents long before now. However, I made a promise to the electors, and have fulfilled; it, "and hare thus shown my respect for them. I will not keep you long, although I have ample material for a loa£ speech, but will confine myself to the leading public questions of the day. I'll take the great case, | the enormous case of Patetcre, first. lit 1872 I was the first to advocate the j establishment of the Crown's pre-emptive 'right to all native land, and I asked Sir Donald McLean if he intended to do so, but I received an unsatisfactory reply, i'ear after year I fought for this, and my determination culminated in my successfully passing two bills which gave the Grown the pre emptive right of acquiring native lands. I drove out the land speculators in the North until there were none left, and the only transactions I had with those gentry were, when they I came to me begging for the money they had advanced on lands. They | say it is wrong to reveal Cabinet I secrets. I'm not going to do it. But when I find myself calumniated, I must use the best means I can of clearing myself. In 1879 I left Auckland, having j been sent for by Ministers, and on arrival at Wellington was told that of the £q,000,Q00 loan, £1,000,000 would be available for the purchase of native lands. I told them to give me the money, and I would do what they wanted. I did so. I went back to Wellington uud was told the amount was going to be cat down to £500,000. I returned, and when again in Wellington, I was told the amount was cut down to £250,000, and afterwards to £75.000. But I said I'll tackle it, although £75,000 is a small sum to buy over seven million acres of land with. .'I ana now of the same opinion in regard to the acquirt»----1 ment of oath-* land* a& X wap then, and if

people say that I am going back on my views they assert what is a deliberate untruth. ' I have had ten years of public life—not by any means a profitable one My business in Auckland and also in Napier, worth £2,000 per annum, I have given up in the interests of the public. While in office I never bought a single acre of Maori laud for myself, and no one could have had more than I could—had I wished. Had I been like Mr Rees or others of the profession, I could have bought land and so recompensed myself. But I wanted to serve my country, and not myself. In 1879, when the Grey Ministry were beaten and had to clear out, a brief was offered me in the Patetere business. I refused to take it unless the Government would assure me that they would not go on with the native land purchases. Mr Bryce, who was then Native Minister, told me the Government did not want to acquire any more land, and on that understanding I j accepted the business, and I have sue- i ceeded in settling the title of speculators, and settled also the Crown's title to jth of the block. For this latter I received no fee whatever. In the block was some excellent land, and the Crown are possessed of about the pick of it. I hold that when I left office and became an ordinary member of the House, I had a perfect right to make my living the best way I could. I fail to see any reason why Johu Sheehan should not make an honourable living, and as I consider my connection with the Patetere affair was thoroughly fair and square, people had no right to say that I should have held aloof from it. (Hear, hear.) My theory always has been that every acre acquired should be for the people. Of course reasonable reserves should be set aside for the nativo race. The real reason why the Grey Government was chucked out was on account of fbe land purchase system. To show you how I was fixed: On one occasion a leading member of the Grey party came to. me and offered me £10,000 if I would remove the proclamation off a block of land. But this, of course, I refused to do. This incident shows that some of our own party bad a hankering after native land.. (Laughter.) I have never acquired a single block of land, except on one occasion when I purchased a block of 4000 acres for £450, and saved it from being sold for drink. Twelve months afterwards I sold the block at a loss of 5 per cent, on the whole transaction. I may here say that I have never ceased my connection with the Grey party. (Cheers.) In 1874, when Mr John Williamson died, I went to the Kawau and bad an interview with Sir G. Grey, with the result that he was elected as Superintendent. If I were never to leave the stage alive, I Would say that I never was unfaithful to my colleague, either by de^d or word. ((Jheers.) Sir George Grey has held enormous powers, and wherever he had been his name was held in respect. But Sir George wants to have his own way, and as this is the case, and others want to have their own way, it, is not wonderful that Sir George should offend some one. In the case of Patetere, Sir, George moved for a committee, and I supported the motion.' On the last daybf the session, however, my late colleague came down and tabled a motion indicting me and some others with—well, worse than high treason. This was not fair to me, and I think my old friend might have told me what had happened before I went down to the House. However, this did not cease our friendship. One day last session, after I had been making a speech; Sir George ■came to my seat and said;" The best speech of the session, Sheehan; thanks." Years ago Pollen, who was then Native Minister, went to seethe King natives, spent £2000, saw Eewi it was true, but nothing came of it. It was not until the Grey Ministry, came into office that anything really worth speaking about was done—hence I look upon the Grey Government as deserving credit for everything in. connection with native land accomplished by the present Government. On one occasion I was informed that I spent £127 in one night at Morrinsville in an-hotel. The fact was that there were nine in the party, with six horses. They' had tea, beds, aud breakfast, and the whole cost was only £12 75,.----instead of £127 as stated by some of my friends. (Laughter.) Then again, I have been charged with squandering £250 of public money in travelling from Tauranga to Napier in. order to contest a seat in that place. The truth was that I paid the cost (£4O) out of my own private purse. I could give plenty of instances like this, but I do not thiak the meetiug thinks me such a spendthrift after all. I have always had my accounts passed by the ordinary audit, which is a different mode of procedure to that embraced by my predecessors. For instance, in 1872-73, Sir Donald McLean laid a statement before tbe Houae eoutaining only oue line, via. •. —" Expenses of Native Department, £69,000." In the ! House was a Scotchman " who wanted to know you kuow " if Sir Donald could give them some information on the mutter. Sir Donald took it away, aud about three days after brought down the bill divided into three items of £23,000 each which was all the information he could jgive. The Grey Government were entitled to the honour of having caused the rapid advance in the Native business, and all that had been accomplished, hud been done by the inspiration of the man who was more blamed than any one of the whole crowd -r Sir George Grey. If I were asked to discontinue my connection with the Patetere case I would not do so. The reason I will tell you. I hold it as a, matter of policy that the Crown should, acquire- every acre if possible. Every acre so purchased meant law and order, increase of revenue and population and the opening-up of the country. At pr<?-; sent I could travel from Cambridge; to Taupo—a distance of 98 miles—by > three different roads, without seeing a soul 1 on the way. With regard to the Government, they are disorganised in party, and must collapse soon, although when it was bard to tell. For my part I would allow them to hare enough rope. I am quite sure the Ec-distribution of Seats BUI will finish them. (Laughter.) I am, as you know, a staunch Provincialist and would willingly go back to that system^ if I could, as I believe it to be a bettejr system than the one in existence. Now you are locally governed with a vengeance. You harp Coim|;y Cou.npils, Roadboards, Harbour Boards, and numerous other, kindred local governing bodies. But the fact was, that previous to the introduction of local governing bodies the people had no money. I thiuk with Mr Hwansou, who in '74 said that "one day in the year all the civil servants should walk about the towns with a piece of red tape attached to their arm (laughter)." If they Were to do so you would see oue out of every two uieu was a ei?il gervaat (roan»).:

They had killed the Provincial devil, but out of him had risen up seven devils, each one worse than the first (great laughter). At the present time every application for more than £5 goes down to Wellington, where it is placed in a drawer. Presently a clerk comes in, and after looking at it exclaims, " That beastly Parawai Board again (roars of laughter)," or such like. About twelve months after the petitioners receive a notification from the Government, saying that the petition has been received and is under the consideration of the Government. The number of servants of local bodies aud civil servants was legion. ." You have brains and common sense, and should i have more power in the control of your own destiny." I am not a supporter of the Government, although I will go with them when I consider their policy is the best for the public good. As a proof that I am not a friend of the Government, I would say that promises made by me while Native Minister, have not been fulfilled, which would not have happened had I been a supporter and friend of the Government. There is no man freer of oligations to the present Government. Talking of local matters, Mr Sheehan remarked that until the much abused Grey Government came into office, uo votes fcfr the Thames line were put on the estimates. The great mistake they had made was beginning the railway at the Grahamstown end. I may, perhaps, offend Grahamstown people when I say so, but had the railway been commenced at the other end of the district —iv Obinemuri—operations would have been continued and the railway completed. Without a change of Government it was not likely they would see much more of the Thames-Waikato line thau at present—the commencement at Grahamstown, and the small piece of it completed at the Hamilton end. I can tell you that one of the reasons why you do not go ahead is the jealousy existing between the Thames and Auckland. Although an Aucklander, I do everything I can to dispel that feeling. They had been told that the Thames Kail way was a job, and hir George Grey had it flang in his teeth as a job. But could they speak thus of the Thames Railway, when there were railways down South which did not even pay for the grease used on the wheels ! (Laughter.) After advocating the settlement of the land at the back of the Thames, and pointing out the urgent necessity that existed for the proper settlement of the land, Mr Sheehan said that if the Thames people were still his friends, and once more reposed their confidence in him, he would be found no unworthy servant. (Applause.) In answer to a question put before be sat down, Mr Sheehan remarked " There should be no Chinese question. We should have no Chinamen here."

Mr Hurley asked if Mr Sheehan was in favor of all lands becoming State property which should be leased, but not sold to any person. Mr Sheehan said he could not support such a proposal. The leasing part of the question was a dream that would never be realised.

Mr 8.-K.-Dix asked:—" Will Mr Sheeban explain why the would-be murderers of McWilliams had riot yet been brought to justice, seeing that such strenuous exertions were made in the late murder case. I would wish you to satisfy the unsatisfied mind if the equal justice rendered to both, races."

Mr Sheehan said the affair should have been settled at once, and the would-be murderer captured. He had endeavored to obtain Mr Me Williams proper compensation, but had never been able to bring the matter fully before the colony yet. However, he would do so when in Wellington. .. •'

Mr J. Inglis asked—ls Mr Sheehan in favor of borrowing money and laying it out in works which are obviously unproductive—such, for instance, as the G-ra-hams town reclamation aud other dormant public works ?

.Mr Sheehan said he did believe in borrowing .money for productive works. In reference to the .Reclamation, the people would have it, and would talk of nothing else. At that time the phrase ■" Good morning" had given place to "Reclamation." (Laughter.)

In answer to a question, Mr Sheehari said if the Thames people did not know when they had a good servant, he knew whea he had a good master. (Cheers.) Mr Smith asked why Mr Sheehan had not taken greater care to ensure the construction of the Thames Valley line from this end ; instead of allowing the landed proprietors of Waikato to gain all the favours ?

Mr Sheehan said he had always fought for the railway. For the delay, they had to thank the new Ministry.

In answer to a question, re the recent Sullivan-Douglas suit, Mr Sbeeban said that a mau who pegged out..a, piece of ground was eertaialy entitled to it if he did not forfeit it through non-working. The ruling just referred to might be [Resident Magistrate's law, but it was not his.

Question : Do you think you are doing your duty to your constituents and the country by absenting yourself from your place in Parliament th*Wf parts of last session, and witl you gp/rtght down now and attend to your efafttfi ? ■ , Mr Sheehfrf^ My friend Who has just put that question must be better acquainted with Parliamentary work than I am. I was under the impression that the session had only just begun. Sickness has prevented me attending, and if sickness is a crime, let me be put on my trial and hanged at once. I have, at my own expense, chartered a steamer to go to Coromandel, and after I have addressed my constituents there, I will go straight to Wellington.

Mr Shaw, of Ohinemuri, asked whether Mr Sheehau would support any measure for making County Chairmen elective by the ratepayers, as i« the case of Mayors ? and, also, if he would advocate the acquisition of the freeholds by the settlers or the leasehold sections of the Ohiaemuri G-oldfield?

Mr Sheehan : I think that the County Chairman should be elected by the ratepayers, as ia the case of my worthy friend the Mayor here. For the second, I hope to see the time, when freeholds frill be'aeqtoiied.

Question : Will you advocate the continuation of the Volunteer capitation allowance ?

Mr Sheehan: If Volunteering were carried oh'all over the colony as it is on the Thames, I would, but the fact is that in many places Volunteering is a farce. For instance, at Napier there was a man 6ft 4iu who commanded an army of three privates and eleven bandsmen. In that 'cast? he would uut, but tbe Thames corps

was deserving of the grant, and would receive his support (cheers). Iv reply to question put: Mr Sheehan said he was in favor of the present system of secular education, and therefore could not support any other. Mr Comer then moved the following resolution:—"That this meeting having heard the address of Mr John Sheehan, one of the representatives of the district desires to thank him therefor, and to express its entire confidence iv him as one of its representatives."

A voice : " What do you think of he? " (Roars of Laughter). . „^ <»„..« His Worship: Well, whatever you think of he, you might let he speak. (Renewed laughter.) Mr Greenville seconded the motion.- « An amendment was moved expressing a want of confidence in Mr Sheehan, by Mr Hutohinson, seconded by Mr* Delahunty. T The amendment was put to the meeting: when only six hands were in favour of it. The resolution was carried triumphantly. A. vote of thanks to the Mayor, moved by Mr Sheehan, terminated the meeting, aud the electors dispersed. ; : ;,i