M. HAY, Esq., M.P.C., AT WAIPORI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 21, 4 July 1868, Page 3

M. HAY, Esq., M.P.C., AT WAIPORI.

Mr. Hay, being on a visit to Waipori on Wednesday, the 24th ultimo, some of the inhabitants were desirous that he f should give an addreis on the present state of affairs in the Province, dissolution of the Council, &c. Mr. Hay wil- , lingly acquiesced in their wish ; so the bell announcing the meeting was sent round in the evening, and considering the short notice given, a very creditable meeting was the result. On the motion of Mr. Cox, Mr. Samuel Caldwell was voied to the chair ; and in opening the meeting, stated that the hon. member for Wakatip would give his views on the proposed dissolutionof the Council, and also on the Land Question. He (Mr. Caldwell) would leave thenrto form their own opinions, as it was not his place to go into the subject at any length. He (Mr. Caldwell) would leave his remarks till afterwards.

Mr. Hay then rose, and after expressing his gratification at having an opportunity to address the electors of Waipori in one of their own buildings, said that he thought it would be well to have the public opinion on the question of a dissolution. He wished to hare their views regarding that matter. He had no intention of giving a long speech of his stewardship during the past session, as he did not consider himself in duty bound to do so on that occasion ; but he would say this, that he had conscientiously done his duty. He took his seat on the cross benches, and voted with the Government when he thought they were right, and against them when he thought they were wrong. The Opposition in the Council had been termed a factious opposition, but as far as his own voting was concerned, he was acknowledged, even by the Government, to have voted conscientiously. His reason for opposing the Government was as follows : A House divided against itself could not stand. They had two eighteens in the Houie, and while it continued so, he considered the laws of the country could not be fairly administered. He would refer them to the Provincial Council Papers, where it could be Been how each member had voted. In these papers they would find proof of what work had been done in the House — it was a mere bagatelle. Mr. Hay then referred to the Land Question, which he considered to be the great question before the country. He told the Government he was opposed to the land policy pursued by them, and he gave them his reasons for his opposition ; and five out of the six members of the Government were in favor of his views. Mr. Yogel was strongly opposed to the principle of Hundreds, and although the Council voted that certain land in the vicinity of Tokomairiro should be declared into Hundreds, the Government did not recommend the Governor to set the land apart. The residents of Tokomairiro, seeing the course adopted by the Government, got up a petition, and had it numerously signed, and what was the consequence ? they obtained their wish — the land was dtclared into Hundreds. Then the same course was taken by the Government in regard to the West Taieri Hundreds, but not being so energetic as the Tokomairiro people, they did not at that time obtain their wish. Mr. Yogel proposed that a select committee be appointed \o enquire into the West Taieri Hundreds. The Opposition quite agreed with this course, but the Committee, being a pack Committee, was objected to, and was thrown overboard. A select committee still beinw approved of, the Council then appointed one, consisting of members who were interested parties, and members who were not, that the result of their enquiries might be beneficial to all. Mr. Yogel then said that even supposing that Committee agreed that the West Taieri Hundreds should be declared, the Government would then take into consideration the question of Hundreds — in other words, would then consider whether they should recommend the decision of the Committee to the Governor. All the members of the Government were in favor of Hundreds excepting the Provincial Secretary, and he was thoroughly opposed to them. Mr. Yogel was a smart man ; but a smart man may do good, or he may do evil. A resolution was passed, to be brought before the General Assembly, for a dissolution of the Council, by which means the Superintendent would not require to go to the country till the end of his term of service. He (Mr. Hay) didn't believe in it. He spoke of the office of Superintendent and not of the man. He considered such a plan would give the Superintendent a power equal to the Governor. He didn't think the resolution would pass the Assembly. The Council had no wish to put -fclxe Su.perori'fcencleTJL'fc "to expense j V>ti-fc as they were willing to sacrifice their seats rather than have the laws of the country so badly administered, he saw no reason why the Superintendent should not also go out with the Council. As regards the land laws of the Province, it was well known they were quite unmanageable, and could be turned about in any way. time had come when large blocks of land must be opened for settlement. But what did they think the squatters were asking from the Government as compensation for their runs? why from ss. to 9s. an acre ! If they asked a good deal less money, they might have a chance of getting something reasonable, but not till then. Arbitration was suggested as a means of deciding the amount of compensation ; but did ever any man find that arbitration favored the Government ? no, it was always against the Government. Referring to the land in the neighborhood of Waipori, Mr. Hay did not suppose there would ever be the necessity for opening it up for settlement, as the climate was too severe for agricultural purposes ; but take land in many other districts, where we have not climate to contend with. It was quite impossible for the Government to pay from ss. to 10s. an acre as compensation. He did not wish the squatters to be intruded upon. The runs they hold were given on certain conditions, viz., when they were required for settlement they were to be given up. The time had arrived when more land was needed for settlement, and let it be land in the right place. There was a run between Waipori and Tuapeka for whioh the Government paid £1200 compensation, to be opened for settlement, but he was not aware that any of it had been taken up. Then why was this ? simply b«c»u«« it wan not in a pr«-

per place, and he believed the gentleman who received the compensation was still running his stock upon it, and so far as as the land laws were concerned, he be lieved that gentleman might claim his right to the land as much as ever. If there were a dissolution, he (Mr. Hay) would oppose the runholders from getting any compensation, and he was certain hha.t could be done by withdrawing the runs from the goldfields, and declaring them into Hundreds ; and in proof of the power given by the land laws on this point, Mr. Hay read the 48th clause of the Goldfields Act, as the ground upon which such a course could be carried out. That Act, he said, entirely throws the matter open, and the runholder would only be entitled to compensation for the buildings and fencing, and other improvements which had been made on the land. Honesty and consistency was his motto,, and he would atate as his firm conviction, that under the existing position of parties in the Council, the Government might as well bring down the whole budget to Mr. Reynolds, the Speaker, and say : " Here it is ; pass the lot." Mr. Hay then read a memorial which had been got up by the Opposition, and, he continued, it was the land question upon which the Opposition had staked their seats. He would therefore urge upon every elector in Waipori to come forward and sign that memorial for a dissolution of Council. There was another important question which he would just touch upon, namely, that of Immigration. The large sum of £15,000 has been put on the estimates for assisting immigration. He objected to this sum, and was supported by Borne of the members of Government. Instead of giving L 15,000 towards assisting immigration, he would prefer giving 15,000 acre 3, so many acres to each family. They should then have more chance of bringing people to the Colony who had some money to invest in the necessary implements required for cultivating the land. A large sum would also be saved for Immigration Agency which was now paid, and a more suitable class of colonists would come to the colony. The Hon. Member then resumed his seat amidst great applause.

The Chairman stated that an opportunity would be given for any gentleman to ask questions of Mr. Hay ; but no one taking advantage of the occasion, Mr. Cable proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Hay for the way in which He had acquitted himself. There could be no doubt, Mr. Cable continued, that he had worked hard, and he was a most «onscientioua and independent member of Council. Mr. Beresford Cairns seconded the motion, which was carried amid loud and continued cheering ; after which, Mr. Hay thanked the meeting for the kind reception it had given him, and closed his remarks by proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. CaldweU, the worthy Chairman. The meeting then dispersed.