J. C. BROWN AT WETHERSTONES.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 280, 12 June 1873, Page 7

J. C. BROWN AT WETHERSTONES.

On the evening of Saturday last, Mr. J. C. Brown addressed the electors of Wetherstones in the schoolhouse. The attendance was very good, about 80 persons being presont. Mr. Carr occupied the chair, and, in v introducing Mr. Brown, said he would not occupy their time with any remarks. They were aware of the political crisis, which was the occasion of their meeting. ISTo doubt their old friend, Mr. J. C. Brown, would be able to explain the action he took in the Council, and it would be for the electors to say if they were satisfied with him. Mr. Brown said it afforded him great pleasure to appear before them again. On many previous occasions he had been accorded by the electors of Wetherstones a fair and impartial hearing, and he had no doubt the same would be the case now. (Hear, hear.) He was not given, as they were aware, to making flowery speeches, but he appeared before them to give an account of his past doings, and to seek a continuance of the favor aud confidence which he had enjoyed as their representative for so many years. They were all aware of the crisis which had taken place in provincial affairs. It was not his intention to refer to the personal squabble which took place between his Honor the Superintendent and Mr. Keid ; but he would simply give a concise account of what had happened since the Council first met during last session. The Council met on the 6th May, when the new or

provisional Government mot the Council for the first time. The Superintendent opened the session by an able and exhaustive address, which was fully concurred in by him (Mr. Brown) and a considerable majority of the Council. After the address was read the Council, as usual, adjourned to the following day. A large number of members met the same day to consider what had been done during the recess. He (Mr. Brown) was invited, and attended. After hearing what most of those present had to say, he thought it desirable that some understanding should be arrived at to prevent similar occurrences to those which had happened during the recess again transpiring. At the meeting to which he referred the question was discussed : Whether it was fair that a Government should be selected, as the existing one had been, from the minority of the Council to administer the affairs. While little or no fault was found with the Executive, the meeting could not help denouncing the badness ot the precedent, and the necessity for recording its protest against it. The result was that Mr. Reid was forced, against his inclination, to move au amendmant condemnatory not of the conduct of the Executive, but of the way in which that Executive was appointed. (Mr. Brown here read the amendment.) This issue was then put to the Council. The debate was an exceedingly short one. The Government, finding themselves in a minority, saw their position was untenable. Dr. Webster, oue of the Government sunporters, then moved an amendment which was really far more condemnatory of the Government than was Mr. Reid's. The leader of the Government then asked for an adjournment. The majority of the Council, anxious to bring the crisis to a termination, thought the business should bo gone on with. He (Mr. Brown) had been twitted for voting as he did ; but he felt confident he would be fully acquitted by his constituents when he gave his reasons for voting. Mr. Tolmie moved that the House be adjourned. This seemed to him (Mr. Brown) nothing but a mere waste of time. They were adjourning from day to day over a matter that could be settled at once. The question of adjournment was the only one upon which a division was taken during the sitting of the Council, and was not in any respect a party question, but merely one regarding the carrying on of the business. After the division the Government left the benches and the house. So far as his own action in the matter was concerned, he thought he was quite justified in the course he pursued. He exercised his judgment in voting against the adjournment, and his only reason was that the business of the province might be gone on with without further delay. Two days were allowed to pass over before Mr. Reid was sent for ; but before he had time to form a Government, a message was received from the Superintendent asking the Council to co-operate with him for a dissolution. Regarding a dissolution, be (Mr. Brown) was strongly in favor of such a step being taken when the Council first met ; and having occasion to wait upon the Superintendent about another matter, recommended him strongly to ask for a dissolution of the Council, as the only escape from the awkward position in which things stood. As Mr. Reid had been asked to form a Government, he would only have shirked his duty if he had not attempted to comply with his Honor's request. Mr. Reid asked him (Mr. Brown) if he would consent to be a member. He positively declined for several reasons. He thought any person accepting a position in the Government ought to devote his whole time to the duties of his office, and that his duties at Wellington would preclude him from accepting office. He recommended Mr. Reid to select some one who had more debating powers than he could exercise. Mr. Reid regretted the stand he (Mr. Brown) took and sa/id he would not take a refusal. He (Mr. Brown) said be would not ] accept office on any consideration without consulting the goldfields' members. He consulted several of them, and found them most anxious to obtain office themselves. He then thought that if a Government were formed, it should be a strong one ; so he advised Mr. Reid to invite two members of the late Government, or two of their supporters to join him. He (Mr. Brown) conferred with Mr. Hallenstein, a gentleman who had the interests of the goldfields thoroughly at heart, and other members, a1!a 1 ! of whom agreed that if Mr. Bastings could be persuaded to join Mr. Reid, it would be the best thing that could happen. All this happened on the Monday. He and Mr. Reid went and talked the affair over, being most anxious to form a coalition Government. Mr. Reid offered Mr. Bastings the position he now holds, and gave him power to name another gentleman expressing at the same time his desire to bury the past, and to unite together and form a strong Government. Mr. Bastings promised to answer Mr. Reid on the following day. Mr. Bastings then called a meeting of the goldfields' members, and laid the position of affairs before them. He expressei his willingness to join Mr. Reid, provided he could get others of the game side of the house to act with him. The Government party were not favorable to the proposal, and the

goldfields' members thought that by Mr. Bastings accepting the office in Mr. Reid's Government, it would look strange to go from one side to tho other. So having respect to Mr. Bastings' feelings, they advised him not to accept. Mr. Bastings intimated his decision to Mr. Reid on Tuesday. The next thing on the board was a proposal from Dr. Webster, a Government supporter, and one of the minority. This gentleman offered to assist Mr. Reid to form a Government. He proposed a number of names, with himself as leader, and was indifferent as to whether Mr. Bastings or Mr. Bradshaw was Goldfields Secretary. Mr. Reid said he would require to consult his party before he could agree to tho proposal made. He did so next day, at the Criterion Hotel, where a meeting was held, and the result was that Dr. Webster's proposition did not meet with approval. As Mr. Reid had been entrusted to form a Government, and all the overtures with the object of forming a coalition government were refused, he could do nothing but fall back upon the majority — the 29 members. He came to him (Mr. Brown) on the Wednesday evening, and stated that all his proposals bad been rejected, and that he (Mr. Brown) must accept office. He replied he would decide in the course of the evening. He then consulted Mr. Bastings and other gentlemen. Mr. Bastings said it might place him in a false position ; but when he told Mr. Bastings that if he (Mr. Brown) did not accept, some other goldfields' member would certainly do so, and the result might be very injurious for the next two years ; he quite agreed with him. He, (Mr. Brown) therefore, thought he would rather stand tho chance of appearing in a false position for a short time, knowing that when the whole affair was explained to his constituents, they would acquit him of all mercenary motives in connection with his conduct, and believe that he accepted office solely for their good. He told Mr. Bastings that he could hold office for him while absent at the Assembly. He arranged with Mr. Reid that he should have full control of all public works on the goldfields, and he believed that he would have been able to occupy the position for the good of the goldfields. Had he not accepted, there were others who would gladly have done so for the mere empty honor. He would take this credit to himself that he felt confident he could administer the department as efficiently as any other member of the Provincial Council. — (Applause, and hear, hear.) He apologised for the prolixity of his remarks, but he felt it due to the electors to enter thus fully into an explanation of what might be thought strange conduct on his part. It might otherwise have seemed a contradiction that his colleague should be in one Government, and he in another. If they thought he was deserving of censure for the way he had acted, they would have an opportunity of rejecting him on this occasion. One thing he had omitted to state, viz;., he called a meeting of the goldfields's members, and pointed out the necessity there was for unity on their part. If they were united, they could keep in or turn out any Government that might be formed. He said he was willing to sacrifice a good deal so far as any party was concerned, with the object of gaining unity and action. At present, they were divided upon nearly every subject, and it seemed impossible to keep them together. There were eight of the eleven goldfields' members present at the meeting. The two other parties in the House had done their best, and with effect to disunite the goldfields' members, and the result was they could not benefit their constituents in the manner they might otherwise be able to do. The speaker then illustrated the good effects of unity of action, by referring to the annual motion which had been brought before the House of Representatives for some years, regarding the reduction of gold duty. It would be thought that if goldfields' members would unite upon any question, it would be that one above all others. But the reverse was the fact. Some would be in favor of a total reduction of the duty ; some thought 3d., somo 6d., and others Is., an oz. should be remitted ; and others again did not wish any reduction, as it was their principal means of revenue. The consequence was that session after session the question was brought forward, and from the diversity of opinion expressed, the Government naturally said these people don't know what they want. In 1871, the result of the division on the proposition to reduce the duty by 6dan ounce, was noes,2B; ayes, 21. Well, he thought if a better understanding were arrived at amongst goldfields members, that state of affairs might be altered. He therefore made up his mind to attempt something in that direction, and called a meeting by circular of all the goldfield members. He got them all to attend — 12 in number. He then made a proposal of this nature : As they had been hitherto unable to gain the common object they had in view ; he proposed that they arrive at a proper understanding of what they really desired. Let them, he said, have some basis of agreement, and if there was any difference let it be fought out amongst themselves. It would be better to do so than to bring their

diversity of opinions before the Houho. The result of tbe meeting was, they all agreed to support a proposition of a reduction of 6d per ounce. The next question he asked them to decide was, who should brin»it forward in the House ? He wished them to agree upon this point, to prevent a rush of the members who would be so anxious to take the credit of the proposition to themselves. Well, they agreed to his proposal that Mr. Gollins should bring it before the House. He suggested Mr. Collins, because that gentleman had associatad with several members who were opposed to the goldfields interest, ' thinking that if they did not support Mr. Collins proposal, they would not vote against it. And what was the result of all this planning? why, when a division was taken last session, there were 34 for the reduction, and only 11 against it, and out of that 11, 5 were members of the Government. He had no doubt the electors would excuse him for referring to himself in the manner he had done ; but it was important that they should know how these results are brought about. Unity of action on tho part of the goldfields members was of the greatest importance. They found the squatters united to a man — the farmers also were uniting strongly together, and it was absolutely necessary for the goldfields members to unite if they would sevre the best interests of their constituents. Mr. Brown then read extracts from "Hansard" showing the credit he had had accorded to him by members, for the action he took in regard to the reduction of the gold duty and the placing of the Tuapeka railway on the first schedule. He then enumerated various subjects which had engaged his attention in the Assembly, such as the extension of the miners' fanchise, so that a miners' right would give a vote for Superintendent as well as for Council and Assembly; a department of mines, adjustment of representation, to get goldfields revenue locally expended. He said, no doubt he would be twitted that if he was in favor of a dissolution, why did he sign the memorial against it; but it must be remembered that he was only in favor of a dit-solution when the Council met, and not after a fortnight's valuable time had been wasted. When it came to that, he said, let the busiuesa be carried on, and have a dissolution as soon as the session was over. A dissolution at first would have done good — no time would have been wasted, and some of the weeds would have been removed. fHear, hear) He might probably be one of them ; he did not thinlr so. but he would leave them to say. He heard his friend say " hear hear," and had no doubt that the " wish is father to the thought." He signed the memorial because the Superintendent had been in communication with the Governor, and had not got permission, so thaj another week would elapse before any business could be done. Another matter which induced him to sign it, was the fact of the Waste Lands Act, which came into operation at the beginning of the year, and which required a resolution of the Council before it could be set in motion, had remained a dead letter, and he wished it put in operation, as he knew of many persons desirous of taking up land. If the Council were dissolved after the delay which had taken place, there would, in all probability, not be a meeting of tbe Provincial Council till after the meeting of the Assembly, thus entailing a delay of another four months before the Act could be brought into operation — all the business of the Council could have been performed in a fortnight. He also objected to the shortness of time allowed for the election of members. It could not be expected that the best men could be got in such a short time. These were his principal reasons for signing the document. He had no fear to meet his constituents ; he had always done his best to serve them. If they returned him, he would pursue the same course of conduct which he had done in the past, and which, he considered, to the best interests of his constituents. He had been attacked on all sides. He had been accused of being a drug on the district, iv fact, a mill stone round Tuapeka. One gentleman named Pish, of Dunedin, asked him the following question : — " What are you going to do? You can't get in unless you go on Macandrew'B bock." " Well," I replied, " I'll neither accept a seat on Mr. Eeid's nor Mr. Macandrew's back. I will not go in as a supporter of either the one or the other ; but I will support what is good in Macandrew. I will support every good and reject every bad measure, whoever may bring it in." (Great applause.) He saw a great deal of good in Mr Macandrew ; butthat is no reason why he should put his vote in that gentleman's pocket. Mr. Macandrew is anxious to get rid of the waste lands of the country, auriferous or non-auriferous, in large blocks, or otherwise — indeed be believed he would sell the whole of the waste lands of the province to one man. Well he (Mr. Brown) did not agree with Mr. Macandrew on that point, and did not think he ever would agree with him on it. He did not like a Government with Mr. Tolmie as leader, for it was evident that a man who was connected with a firm wiich were agents for one-third of the runs in the province could not have his

sympathies with others than the pq natters. Take as an example of what may be expected from a Governmont with Mr. Tolmie at its head the action taken by him and his crowd with regard to the Bellamy run. For years past petitions have been got up, land leagues formed, and subscriptions raised to get a portion of that run thrown open. What have we got for all our trouble ? No sooner had the Government ten or twelve thousand acres surveyed and declared open for settlement, than an injuncting was served upon them, restraining them from Belling it. A Supreme Court case was the result, when the Government received an adverse judgment. The judgment was appealed against, and the Court of Appeal reversed Mr. Chapman's decision. What happfned then? Why the squatters united and subscribed to a common fund, to enable this runholder to send the case to the Privy Council. Mr. Tolmie was one of them, and therefore he (Mr. Brown) did not think him the proper person to lead a Government. He would now conclude, as be was afraid he was getting tedious. He would be glad to answer any questions to the best of his ability. — (Applause.) After a short pause, Mr. M. Hay asked on what side Mr. Brown took his stand — Reid's or Macandrew's ? Mr. Brown said he thought he had answered the question. He would repeat it, he would go in independently to exercise tbe vote he had been entrusted with. Mr. Hay read from the address of Mr. Fish with regard to Mr. Brown ticking off certain names as being those of Government supporters and the Opposition, when Mr. Brown was said to have ticked off his own name as a Government supporter on the very same day as he was announced as a member of the Govenment Mr. Reid had formed. Mr. Brown said he was glad Mr. Hay had put the question. Perhaps Mr. Hay would give his statement as much credence as be gave that of Mr. Fish. In ticking off the names in the presence of Mr. FisL and Mr. Bastings, he ticked off the names of those members who, he thought, would not be returned in the event of a dissolution. He did not refer to himself, because he believed ho would go back. (Applause.) He denied that he ticked off his owq name. In reply to another question put by Mr. Hay, the candidate said he had nothing whatever to do with the advertisement in the paper about Mr. Bastings and himself going in on the same ticket. He believed that his (Mr. Brown's) Committee — some 30 or 40 gentlemen, had offered their services to Mr. Bastings, who had accepted them. Mr. Hay said he had asked Mr. Bastings that afternoon, and he denied having consented to go in on the same ticket. Mr. Russell asked if the candidate was in favor of the Tolmie Government. Mr. Brown said excepting on their land policy, he was at one with them. Mr, Hay asked why the candidate refused to present a petition in the Assembly from a large number of the Roman Oatholic body. Mr. Brown said a report of this kind bad been industriously circulated by Mr. Hay and others, with the view of damaging his canditure. He had taken the trouble to refer to the records of the House of Representatives, andfoundthathe notocly presented the petition referred to, but one from St. Bathans, and one from Clyde. There they are upon the records of the House. Mr. Hay denied having circulated any reports detrimental to the candidate, and offered him a suit of new clothes if he could prodnce any person who would prove that he had made any such statements. Mr. David Herd said he had known Mr. Brown for six years, and he did not think they could find much fault with his conduct as their representative. He thought the best thing they could do would be to continue to place their confidence in him a little longer. He would therefore propose a vote of confidence in Mr. Brown as 'a fit and proper candidate to represent them in the Provincial Council. Mr. J. Moore had pleasure in seconding the proposition. Mr. Brown was always accessible and ever ready to attend to their wants. Let them put in the men who had done most for the district. Mr. Hay moved, as an amendment, "That Mr. Brown is not a fit and proper person (groans and hisses) to represent the district." The amendment had no seconder. Mr. Brown, in returning thanks, said it was now eight years since he first came before them as a candidate. On that occasion there was an amendment moved, which had a difficulty in finding a seconder. He thought the fact of his having represented the district so long, was sufficient evidence that they gave him credit for doing the best he could for it. He would endeavor to carry out the same line of policy as he had hitherto chalked out. He was now in such a position as he had not * before occupied, to devote all his time and ability to their services, and so long as he had their confieence, the labor connected with th^r representation would bo to him aisDor of Jera. — (Applause.) A vote of thanks to the chair terminated the proceedings.