Colonel Fraser at the Academy.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4837, 10 July 1884, Page 2

Colonel Fraser at the Academy.

Colonel Fraser, one of the candidate! for the Thames electoral district at the general election this month, addressed a large meeting in the Academy of Music last night, there being over 400 persons present. Mr Jas. McGowan was voted to the chair, and; introduced the speaker, saying he was well known, and had occupied prominent public positions for many years/ ; •• ■ ■ . ".', ■;• .'■•'.. ;...-

Colonel Fraser, who was received with applause, said he had for a long time bad in view the contesting of the Thames seat, and had entered the County and Borough Councils, put up for Mayor, and allowed himself to be elected Chair* man of the Harbor Board, in order to become thoroughly acquainted with the requirements of the district, and he felt sure he was now perfectly qualified in that respect. He had long been a resident of the Thames, his interests were identical with those of the. district, and his hearers knew his faults and virtues as well as himself. He had no prepared speech, but would take his printed address, explaining, his views seriatim, and iroald be wilfnul^to give his opinions on any other mattffjKkhe audience might suggest, or answer^in a straightforward manner any questions put. He had always been a supporter of Sir George Grey and his policy, because his hands were clean, and under his Government the abuses which were nearly always permitted by the party in power were not countenanceJ, and no underhand work had been allowed. The Government had at one time had the sole right to purchase native lands, but this' had been modified, and they all knew how the friends pf_ the ruling party had been able to geY the proclamations taken off, large areas of valuable land, and, after purchasing the blocks frqm the natives, had had the sales legalised by Government. Sir G. Grey's policy on this point was important, and he would support him. Sir George's policy had been a good one, and the succeeding Governments had seen thin, and had adopted many of his ideas, making them law, and taking credit for the reforms themselves. At the same time Sir George Grey,; as they all knew, was a bit of an autocrat, and did not get on well with his friends,and judging by the general outlook he was not likely to get into power for a considerable time. It seemed plain to him that the present Government would be ousted, and he favored a coalition Government containing the names of Sir J.Toge), Major Atkinson, and Messrs Bryce, Richardson, Ormond, and Stout, but he would not pledge himself to support any party or Ministry unless it would give the Thames district the justice which it was entitled to, but which it had never yet received. Sir G Grey had started the railway, and it was a fact that they had the line as far as Kopu.'but that was very little good to them, and the portion really needed—from JEopu to Te Aroba—bad beeni regularly shelved, bythe Government. If Sir George did get into power again, he had no doubt he would complete the line, and in this also he would support him, as it would be advancing the interests of the district. If he was elected, however, he would go to Wellington perfectly untrammelled by promises to support any: one man or party. If the Ministry in power would not do the, Thames justice, then he would not support it. The di's* trict had hitherto been neglected, but if he was favored with the suffrages of the electors, be would do his best to see that it was not neglected in the future. His iaterests were all bound up ia the Thames, be could not leave it to-morrow-if he wanted to,«and iu~ seeking election he had no axe to grind except as far as bis interests were bound up with theirs. He could not give Government, as at present constituted, his support, though he could thoroughly: respect Messrs Bryce and Atkinson, the latter having made a friend of him by hisr straightforwardness, while -Mr Mitchelion, % th«r^ last addition to the Cabinet, was a credit to the district which had given him birth. In the matter of miners' rights,he considered (heJaw asatpresent m force had been a slip in legislation, and that it hid never been intended to oppress the working man. The goldfield was now very much better regulated than was t^e case at first, but still there were some grievances, and thia" w»» one of them. He was suite it was never intended that every, man employed about a mine, whether he had any interest in it or not, .should be compelled to pay this ta*. He bad no doubt if they returned • local man they^would get th« grievance righted; and for himself he would feel ashamed to return from the House unless he had been successful in this particular.^ It was also a grievance that a man had to pay £% § year for a residence site, as weft as, fara miners right—the w« we should entitle him (q both. The charge of $\0 per year for battery sites was alia iniquitous, and retarded: profpeetinfl, . Tl»e fpe was.

.altogether.-'put of proportion,; forthe land, i in many districts where bat tenes ; weie neeHed—especially in the upper country —* as not worth 5s an acre. He would do hiß best to have this altered, but did not feel so confident of success as in the other matters. We on the Thames were behind our Southern neighbors in the matter of getting assistance "for prospecting works.: Instead of calling ventures like the Caledonian Low Level a "Gold Mining Company," it should have been called a '.'Prospecting Association/ when it could hare been subsidised. He hoped we would yet be able to get works for prospecting the low levels subsidised, as on the success of mining operations there the future of the field depended There wag • great deal of talk about the mines here being worked put, but he had seen- the start and career of numerous fields in Australia, and all were liable to times of depression, and so it would be with this district, but in the face of the recent discoveries of gold at the 640 ft. level and in the New Prince Imperial mine, he could not but feel confidence in the future of the field, and in the ultimate discovery of payable gold at the low levels. A very large alia of land in New Zealand was at present lying uncultivated the owners' holding it for speculative purposes," ai»d waiting till the improvements effected .to the ad joining property by more industrious individuals enhanced the Value of their possessions. This land, he considered, should be taxed, and the revenue detoted to the formation of roads for the benefit of those who ,were improving their blocks. There was no reason why a man should be paid a premium, as was really done at present, for locking up a few thousand pounds in laud speculation. The, present sy stem of education had many enemies, wh¥ hoped that it would drag itself down, but he did not think this would prove to be the case. He was in favor of free, compulsory, and, secular education, but was wishful of seeing it conducted on an economical and sound basis, as extravagance would be a nail in its coffiD. He would like to see the present successful' system carried on, as education was the greatest betefit a nation could have, and if we. paid attention to the, education of the rising generation it would, with temperance, greatly relieve other institutions, such as gaols, asylums, Ac, many men becoming criminals because they had not the benefits of education. The Thames-Te Aroha rail* way had, been started by Sir G. Grey, but Government had shelved it year after year. A local company had been formed, the money for the construction of the line could be had at any time, but Government j still blocked the way, saying, that they, had no land available, though of bis own knowledge he was aware of blocks which could be devoted to the purpose.: The want of this railway cut the Thames off from everywhere, and it was the Auckland people who had used, their influence to keep it from vi, while they pushed on the line from Waikato to Te Aroha, in order to try and get the trade in that direction, knowing full well that had we a railway they would not be able to compete with ms in the Te Aroha trade. He would pledge himself to do his utmost to secure the completion of the line, and whatever Government was in power he would make, it & sine qua non that it would not have his support unless he could see his way dear to get it. Be the gum leases question he was in favor of all Crown land being open for the public, though each digger should have to pay a small license. He was of opinion that 200 acres was intended to be the limit of the leases, and that the titles, to all larger blocks could be upset. Any one holding a large area was, really a monopolist, and those working on his land had not a fair field, as they had to sell their gunvtohim, and in many cases had also to get provisions from him also, and this system* was open to many abuses. Local industries were necessary for the advancement of any place, aad especially of a district like the Thames, while it was also necessary to I provide some employment besides mining for the rising generation. It was important that these industries should be started, and he would support a policy favoring them. In conclusion, he hoped the election would be carried out in a fair spirit, and that neither his supporters or opponents would attempt to abuse either party; for himself he did not intend to have a word to say against any gentleman wno might solicit their suffrages, nor would he oountenaae* any such.action on the part of his commit* tee. Let all have a fair chance. There were many present whom he knew were going to oppose his election, but he could respect them, and hoped that opposition would not decrease the friendship existing between himself and them. (Applause).

: ■ -\ '- V: - questions. >,/.l >:';;;;'- In reply to Mr W. Brown, Col. Eraser said he was in favor of the working man being allowed to occupy as farms goldfields lands, the surface of which was not being used for mining purposes, the improvements to belong to the holders, and be would favor legislation with that view. Some sections of the goldfield had already been thrown open under the Homestead. Act, but the settlers had so far bad nu merpus difficulties to contend with.

Replying to Mr Ord—He was in favor of Government resuming the pre-emptive right to native land, and cutting it up into blocks and leasing it for the natives. If this ■ were not done, the land, instead of benefitting the cottntrj, would fall into the hands of monopolists. Government should not allow one sigle acre tp-be sold. He approved of Mr Bryoe's sokeme, with the ezoeption V that*- Wastti f Boards should be elected, not nominated.—He was decidedly in favor of an eleotive Upper House.; It was nonsense that old fogies, who had perhaps been rejected when they, offered themselvesi for eleotion, should be nominated to that position, and that they should have the power to govern the oQuntry.~H« favored the federation of the Australian colonies, but not on such a large basis as was now proposed; our government and taxation should not be handed over to a polony which had no interest in us, but all should join together in slitters of common welfare, suah as the resisting of the transportation of convicts to the Pacific, &O, :.'...,;';-'-.;: ; . '•• '„•:■ ..'■■.•■".■■;;■ :/'/■■■■- A

Replying to Mr Alexander—lf QoTerriment owned the goldfield, and there w«s no agreement with the natives to break, be would do away with miners'jrighta -altogether.' '■ '••. ■■■•'.■:;•"'. .;■ s'-; i-vi Replying to an unknown qnerts t—He was in favor of an export duty on b'aljilk timber; Urge quantities were pipped and cut iup elsewhere, wj«le oar mills were idle, and he considered that if people took it Witboat cutting it up-here they ihqnJd be taxed. :U . ,::l-v; £* V;k.;- l:/^-.T.C-.V '■' BepljingtoMrMacMiuimsß—He had freq|uentlj|urffed GoTertuoeht not to •Hqw the; goldfield to pass intoprirtte bwdij heb«ld»KMU wctiooof itbim*

piece";; if ■« all others \l iferif made./ Uf[d(^tfijStf4 samel—He would; not interfere/With the ; ; present system of leducatiMi but:;if the Catholics aUowedthVir^s^^ examined by th« {'Sptird: inspectors ;he would be in favor^ of -'aissiatance being granted in proportion oto the number passed. ■•;;:; ' "::::y.::A-^--* ■::■<■'^■'^■■^'■f- .■ -,''":. ■'-.':' Replying^ to Mr; A. Griffiths-rHe had worked for some time in the ■ ■ direction { of getting a central recreation ground, and- ; hoped the Borough Council would beable to get a short bill passed authorising them to sell their, present property J (useless for - the purpose mentioned); and if this was done be had no doubt Mr Grraham would come to terms which would '&lMM the^^W«orK»»k» Flat.; .being'pu'rdiaMd.-"^;:'::;:?;;5^-K--^^ No more questions beini forthcoming, Mr John West moved, and Jtfr Forgie seconded, a vote of confidence, which wat carried, there being but one opposition hand held up. :'./':^ i':U::A■%■':% , ■•i-":;; A vote ot thanks wis passed to the Chairman, and Col. Fraser also thanked ; the audience (especially those wtp were opp 'sinß him) for the orderly aM gentle-. manlyhearing a^drded him, hoping that any of his sappprters . treat other 'candidates^the^iihmii^nM v-vX-;'^'-;:-;: