MR. BASTINGS BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 374, 18 July 1874, Page 2

MR. BASTINGS BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

On Thursday evening, Mr. Horace Bastings, one of the representatives in the Provincial Council for the Tuapeka electoral district, addressed a crowded meeting of his constituents in the Commercial Assembly Boom, Lawrence. His Worship the Mayor occupied the chair, and in a few appropriate remarks introduced Mr/Bastings, who said

Mr. Mayor and gentlemen, — I appear before you this evening to render an account of my course of action since the last election, and to review to some extent the session of 1874. When I last had the honour of addressing you I held the responsible position of Secretary ior Works and. Q-oldfields, and upon the meeting of the Provincial Council the gentleman then at the head of the G-overnment sent in his resignation, which necessitated the whole of the Government resigning. This course of action I have no doubt took you and the province by sui'prise, because so far as I know the action of the late Government gave as much satisfaction to the general public as any Government that had preceded it for many years, and I think I may without egotism lay claim to having been the means in conjunction with his Honor the Superintendent of rendering that Crovernxaenb acceptable to the bulk of the people of this province. It is needless for me to inform you what has been admitted by two of the gentlemen who were my colleagues, that they never from the time of their taking office upto resigning gave any time to the duties of their department, or tho business of the country. No, these gentlemen were contented to occupy honourable and responsible positions but wore not prepared to sacrifice any time from their proper attendance of their private affairs, but left the province, so far as they were concerned, to take care of itself, and do aa best it could. Upon the resignation of the late Executive, his Honor the Superintendent sent for Dr. Webster. In this I think his Ilonor did me an injustice, for I have never yet been able to understand upon what grounds that gentleman should have occupied such a position. He never showed any zeal for the carrying on of the business of the country, except when a railway was to be cut, which was likely to enhance the value of his own private estate. Then he could leave his private affairs and come down post-haste to Dunedin, and decide in indecent haste a matter involving an expenditure of £45,000. I could have understoodhis having been sent for had ho ever shown any administrative or any other kind of ability whatsoever. It is true we have heard from himself since of the importance of the district ho represents, containing the enormous number of 200 electors, and his great social position, whatever that may be. But are we to be told that because one man may have more money than another, he is thereby to occupy an houorable position ? I can understand a man of ability being placed in such a position — a man who has clone some service for his country ; but I fail to see where, in one way or another, tlie houorable gentleman lias shown any such traits of character. It is true I v?as requested to join tlie Webster Executive as Secretary for Goldfields, without the oiEce of Secretary for Works. I declined for the following reasons : — I had been accused by tho Provincial Treasurer of favoring the goldfields in the expenditure of public moneys. This I deny mosl solemnly, and in proof of which I refer any one to the report furnished by the Public Works Department for 1874. I declare I had but oue desire, and that was to push forward the works of the Province and expend the votes of the Council, irrespective of locality, fairly and honestly ; and I think when it is considered that works were let to the extent of £300,000 during the last year, you will admit that neither myself nor the officers of my department were very idle — in which work they had the surveying of four lines of railway. The statement made by Mr. Turnbull is as true as many" others he subsequently made during the session. Therefore, believing I had done my duty to the Province in my official capacity, I was not prepared to take a subordinate position to that which I had previously held, and I fail to see on what grounds I should have consented. I was worthy of being in my old position, or not at all. If in office, I shall exercise the power such office gives, and be the tool of no party. During my career in the Provincial Council, I have been requested to take office upon four different occasions, one of which I accepted, and I think no one can accuse me of not attending to the business of the country. Mr. Turnbull stated upon resigning office that I he was of opinion that the oflice of Secretary for Works and Goidfields should be separate and distinct. If this were tho case, I would ask : Upon what ground docs the present head of the Government hold three important offices ? Is ifc because he hapjaens to represent an agricultural district ? But on these grounds, 1 suppose, the same objections do not lie. If it is wrong for a goldiield's member to hold two offices, surely it is wrong for any other member to hold several, unless, indeed, they wish to ignore the goidfields altogether. What is this but a slight upon a large and important interest. And lam sorry to fiud that a member representing a goldfleld's constituency could be found, who would take office upon such terms. I have no desire to set up the goidfields' interest against any other ; but when we hear such remarks as these, " that the country has been made desolate by the goidfields' industry of the Province," it is enough to make one speak out very boldly. - Why, but for the discoveries of gold where we now have our townships, municipalities, farms, schools, churches, and all the other concomitants of civilisation ; but for this industry, the country would have been a wilderness for years to come. We must also remember, 'that tha day will come when we shall only be too glad to have recourse to ouv goidfields for the employment of our population. Wool and produce may not always be at their present prices ; and one thing wo ought to endeavor to avoid during the progress of our public works scheme, is the concentration of our population in the large towns. I have noticed during my travels through the province a great desire on the part of many up-country people to become residents of Dunedin, everything seeming to be in such a flourishing condition there. This is to be regretted, because things will soon get bad in Dunedin if every one rushes there. If Duuedin is to hold its own, we must have population in our up-country districts. As you are aware, I brought forward a motion of want of confidence! in the present Government ; and I am prepared to state, but for the false accusations made against me by my late colleague, the motion would have been carried. As to the conduct of Mr. Turnbull towards myself, I can hardly give expression to what I feel. I think every ri<*htminded man will admit from all that "has transpired since, that his conduct cannot be justified. How any one having pretentions to rank as an honorable man could, for political purposes, go bo far as to try and dam the reputation of a man with whom he had been upoa personal— aye, friendly— terms,' I am utterly at a loss to conceive. Whathas been the conduct of Mr. Turnbull ? He was placed in an important and honorable position, with grave responsibilities, which ho entirely neglects — allows his own department to get into a state of chaos, — and has not the moral courage to meet the Council, but resigns office on the plea that he had not time to attend to the duties, and then he immediately accepts office again, and shelters himself behind the back of Mr. Reid; and further -to retain office, he endeavors to traduce th#sßaracter of a late colleague, who worked late 1 and early to carry on the public business of the ProYWCe, N.ot only did, Mr, Jurnbull do this,

but he ignored all rules of political etiquette in divulging Executive matters. Such is Mr. George Turnbull, member for the City of Dunedin, our present Provincial Treasurer, Compare his conduct with that of Mr. Eeid, who has taken him and Dr. Webster into his Government. How different is Mr. Keid's action towards them. He says, "However dissatisfied you may be with these gentlemen, I have allied myself to them, B.nd stand or fall with them." I say such conduct by comparison is manly and chivalrous. lam quite certain, but for this protection afforded by Mr. Reid, Mr. Turnbull would have been compelled to retire from his present position. I will now refer to the policy of the present Government, or I should rather say want of policy, for they have none, for if you refer to any division "rhich took place upon several important questions, such aa the placing of a tax upon land, &c., . Mr. Eeid and Dr. Webster voted one way, Mr. Shand and Mr. Lumsden the other, while Mr. Turnbull retires by the back door. The present Government came down with the policy of selling largo blocks of land, to enable them to carry out the construction of light railways, unless they could obtain a loan for £500,000 — which meant, if we had given them the power, that the land would have gone ; but finding the majority of the Council would not assent to this, they abandoned the proposition, and any other that would have gone against them — tHeir only policy oeing that -which -would secure to I them, their present position. However, I trust they will obtain the loan, and thus save our land j if not, it would be better to offer inducements to private persons to construct the railways upon the guarantee principle than sell our lands — better to put up "with bad roads for a few years and allow our estate to fall into the hands of the Government again. Then, in my opinion, the policy of any Government should be to sell no more pastoral land, but as the runs fell in, subdivide them into small pastoral farms, running roads through the valleys, giving settlers some flat and some hilly country. By these means, whore we have now one man occupying 60,000 or 70,000 acres, we would have sixty or seventy families, and a good class of settlers, while the produce of the country would be increased to a very considerable extent, and would maintain a large population, which we must have if we are to become a prosperous community, and raise a race of people attached to the 6oil of their country. This would be a much wiser policy than borrowing money to bring out a class of immigrants whose characters, to say the least of it, are very questionable in many cases. In my opinion, then, we should sell no more pastoral lands. We have left in Otago at the present time seven millions of acres of pastoral land, which, subdivided in the manner I have indicated, would at a very moderate rent, say of sixpence per acre per annum, bring in a revenue of say, in round numbers, £250,000 per annum — the same acreage turning in at the present time only about £60,000 per annum. This would provide a splendid source of revenue for the Province besides the many great advantages that I have enumerated. We have also 300,000 acres of agriculturaland left in Otago or what is termed agricull tural, and it behoves any Government to see that this land does not fall into the hands of a few individuals. I do not think the Hundred system at the present time answers the intention of facilitating settlement, because the pastoral tenants arc in a position to buy them up and they are forced into that position to protect themselves, and that is where I differ from the Government in declaring so many Hundreds, as they have done, because it lowers the value of the pastoral tenant's lease, will not cause settlement, and will be the means of some of our best lands going into runs. The Government have taken power to sell 100,000 acres under the Hundreds system, I think the 40,000 acres granted last year would have been ample, and it is useless and not right to lower the market value of the pastoral tenants' property until there is actual necessity for so doing. The Government will not be able to put the whole of these Hundreds into the market this year, and if they are I think they would be unwise to do so. The 40,000 acres will be ample for revenue purposes until they see the result of the loan, and if they are sincere they have no wish to see the best lands of the province go in large areas. lam willing to admit they have provided against this in a measure by retaining alternate sections, but I think experience goes to show this will not have the effect. The holder of 200 acres finds he is hemmed in by purchased land on all sides ; he is glad to sell out, finding 200 acres of land inadequate to raise and support a family upon. We have an instance of this in our own district — Mr. Joseph Clark, I am informed, having purchased the Spylaw Station and Mr. Lancaster's property ; so you will find, when the Hundred is for sale upon that run, he will become the purchaser, and it will be found in the course of a few years the whole of the country from the Beaumont to the Teviot, from the Clutha to the Pomahaka, a distance of 30 miles, and a country capable of supporting thousands of people, will ba in the hands of one man. We are bringing out immigrants, constructing expensive public works, borrowing million upon million for these purposes: For what ? Why in many instances the principal • residt will be to enhance the value of private property. When such a state of things exists there is not much hope for the future. If we must sell our land, certainly we should not sell any in thelocalities where we are constructing these railways until they are finished, and then they will fetch something like their value to the province, instead of sacrificing tnem and then increasing their value by constructing railways through them. Touching the deferred payment system, I cannot say, in my bpiuion, it is answering the purpose for which it was intended — namely, that of assisting bona fide agriculturists to settle — for I am in a position to state that many of these blocks have been taken up for no such purpose, but simply for grazing paddocks. However, the Government will be lacking in their duty unless they see the spirit of the Act fairly carried out. I think the agricultural lease system far more preferable myself in the interests of settlement than the deferred payment system. There is the annoyance of the ballot, which, though fair in itself, a man may ballot for months and not obtain the block of land he wishes. I altogether demur to the proposition of the Government to sell the adjoining blocks at 40s. per acre. It is absurd on the face of it to think that a man having ready money shall pay 40s. per acre for land of an equal quality to that another gets on -credit for 14s. 6d. It seems a policy, as far as I can see, to drire a man that has got a few hundred pounds out of the country. My plan in the deferred payment blocks would be this : When there was moro than one applicant for any section, let the section be offered for sale by auction amongst the applicants. This I think would be acceptable to the people themselves. I will not detain you any longer, but I shall be prepared to answer any questions at the close of my address. I considered it due to you, after what had taken place, to call this meeting, believing there should be every confidence existing between the electors and the elected. If my conduct has been such as to merit your approbation, I am prepared to retain the honorable position to which you elected me j and if the reverse, I am content to resign my trust into your hands.

Mr. David Maitland said, if permitted, he would ask whether the present Government were in favor of encouraging private parties to construct railways ?

Mr. Bastings said he would qualify what he had said. He contended that if the Government could obtain a loan or finesse for themsei'ves, it would be better for them to construct these railways than to carry out the policy they tried to initiate early in the

session of selling land first and then-making railways. Far-better, he contended, to borrow money to construct railways, or give a guarantee to parties to construct them, and when constructed dispose of the land, which would be materially increased in value. There were no definite means introduced by the present Government to discourage private parties from constructing railways on the guarantee principle 1 } They came down with - the policy that certain, public works should be constructed, and they asked power from the Council to sell 500,000 acres of land. Ho took credit to himself for having been the means, with other members of the Opposition, of causing the Government to'abandon that important point, and as V result ifc was decided » to ask the Assembly to sanction a loan for £500,000 instead -to carry out the proposed works.

Mr. Humphrey asked who was to blame for giving too much money for the Port Chalmers railway. Mr. Bastings, in reply said, that transaction was completed under the Tolmie administration. The General Government delegated the matter to the Provincial Government, who offered the proprietors of the railway £150,000. considering that sum a fair price for the work. The proprietors declined to accept that amount, and the negotiations so far as the Provincial Government were concerned closed. Mr. Richardson Minister of Public then visited Dunedin, and on behalf of the General Government purchased the line at £200,000. He considered the mistake the Government made was in allowing private parties to construct that railway, as ifc was one of those railways which ifc was absolutely necessary the Government should have under their immediate control. In reply to Mr. Darton, Mr. Bastings said he did not approve of the policy of selling lands on the goidfields which had been set apart for agriculture, purposes, but under the Waste Lands Actl 1872, the Waste Land Board had power to sell. By far the safest way was to lease land on goldfields.

Mr. Fraser asked if their member thought the leasing of part 6*f the commonage in small runs was an advantage to 'the Tuapeka District.

Mr. Bastings replied in the affirmative*He said the Government had received petitions from settlers about the sheep encroaching on the cattle country to the great annoyance of the settlers, and the Government thought it better to set apart a portion for sheep and have it fenced off to prevent any further annoyance. He was net aware how the system had worked in Tuapeka, but it had given great satisfaction at Wakatip. He had become enamoured with the system, and believed ifc could greatly be extended to the benefit of the Province and the increase of the revenue. He had made provisions in these leases by which all the advantages of the miner's right were reserved so far as the leased country was concerned.

Mr. T. Anderson said he would like to have some insight into the cause of the breaking up of tho late Government. Mr. Bastings, in re.ply, said when the Government met the Council the Treasurer, Mr. Turnbnll, stated that he had not the time at his disposal to perform the duties of his office, and that he must resign. The Government then broke up ; but why Mr. Turnbull immediately accepted office under Mr. Donald Eeid, . when ho had no time to devote to his public duties, he (Mr. Bastings) was at a 1O9 1 - to know.

Mr. Anderson asked if Mr. Turnbull ever withdrew the statement he made about certain illegal r.ppoiutmcnts he (Mr. Bastings) had made ?

Mr. Bastings said Mr. Turnbull withdrew the charges generally, and said he had been misreported. Any appointments he had made he considered not only legal, but those appointments were suitable, and when in the charge of a department he would decidedly give a friend the preference, if he considered him a worthy and competent individual. After a lull of a few seconds, Mr. Peter Robertson said it appeared to him as if all presert were so thoroughly satisfied with their member that they had no further questions to ask him. He regretted Mr. Bastings did not at present occupy the official position he lately held m the Government ; not for the sake of Tuapeka any more than for the proviuce generally. When he was in office a person could not take up a "Gazette" or a newspaper but he would see tenders called for public works all over the province ; and even if he had favored Tuapeka, although he (Mr. Robertson) did not say that he had, they could not find fault with him for that; but any one who knows the road from Tokomairiro to the Teviot will admit that, if any road required a special expenditure laid out upon it, that road required it. He felt confident the day was not far distant when Mr. Bastings would have another turn of office. He had only to wait his time, which he did not think would be long. He had great pleasure in moving a vote of entire" l^ confidence in Mr. Bastings as their member. Mr. Darton seconded the vote, which was carried by acclamation.

Mr. Bastings thanked the meeting for the renewal of their confidence in him as^ their representative.

A vote of thanks to the Chairman brought the meeting to a close.