PUBLIC MEETING.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 11, 16 March 1867, Page 3

PUBLIC MEETING.

The Members and their Constituents.

Pursuant to an advertisement in, the papers a public, meeting was held in the Greytown School Room, on Saturday Evening, last, to consult with the members for the West Wairarapa—Messrs. Bunny, Masters and Renall the conveners of the meeting—-on the “ past and present requirements of the district.” Besides the members there were present several others who have been taking a leading part in provincial or local politics including Mr. Revaus, Mr. Wakelin, Mr. Burton Boys, and Mr. H. Jackson.

Mr. Moles, having been voted to the chair, read the advertisement in the Mercury calling the meeting, and after having addressed one or two remarks on the object of the meeting, called upon the first who had subscribed his name to the advertisement to address the meeting.

Mr. Bunny, responding to the call, said the members for the West Wairarapa had thought it desirable to meet their constituents before the meeting of the Council, and if possible to gather from them what were the wants of the different parts of the valley. They (members) had heard great complaints made that they did nothing, but he (Mr. Bunny) maintained that members had the greater cause to complain. Their constituents were so utterly apathetic about the general interests of the district that they, at all events, could not be said to have the right to complain. (Mr. Revans hear hear.) The representative for the district very much desired to know what their constituents wanted, whether their views and their constituents agreed—and nothing made members feel so strongly and carry out so zealously what was wanted than the general and energetic expression of the opinions of their constituents. He asked the residents of

the district to give their representatives their strong support in carrying out those great works which were required to advance the valley. Strongly censuring the apathy of the people lie said it seemed like silent opjtosition to what the members were trying to carryout. He would not hold his seat for a single hour if the views lie entertained and the course he pursued received the opposition of his constituents. Turning to the object for which the meeting had,been convened he said the great requirement 1 no doubt was that they should have a greater portion of the revenue from the district spent in the district. We had not had anything like a fair share of the revenue spent among us—We had had doled out to us the smallest possible portion (hear hear.) He had prepared some figures gathered from the Blue Books showing the amount ot revenue received from and sums spent in the district since provincial institutions were first established. The result of these figures showed that whereas £216,320 had been derived from the district only £46,998 had been spent in it leaving a balance due to us of £169,322. The figures showing this he would hand to the reporter who could publish them if he liked, so that the residents of the whole valley might see what a great injustice had been done to them by the Provincial Government.

Expenditure Receipts From Aug. 1, 1853, to Sept. 1, 1859 ... £26,916 From do £58,000 From Sept. 1, 1859, to May 21, 1861... £1,639 From do £35,000 From May 21, 1861, to April 30,1863... £3,298 From do £35,560 From May 1, 1863, to June 30,1865... £8,366 From do £69,910 Faom July 1, 1865, to March 31, 1866 £6,799 From do £27,850 £46,998 £216,320 46,998 Total receipts above expenditure ... £169.322 The little they had succeeded in placing on the Estimates for works in the district had not been expended, (Mr Revans; hear, hear.) The sum of money for the road to Morrison’s bush which he had got placed on the estimates the session before the last had not been spent, and the government last year admitting the justice of the claim had placed it on again, but not a penny had up to this time been expended on that road. The same was to be said of the sum voted for establishing a proper ferry at the Waihenga. Since the sura had first been placed on the Estimates, several lives had been lost. He strongly censured the policy which made the support of a ferry dependent on the quantity of grog sold by the ferryman, it was most injurious to the safety of people’s lives (applause). He had fought as well as one could do; he wished to have three members working as one for the good of the district, and if he thought he could get this by resigning his seat he would do so at once, better to nave three working as one than five or six voting against each other on a division. (Hear,, hear.) An Act was passed last session authorising the Superintendent to arrange with a Company to make a railway over the Rimntuka, a guarantee of 7 per cent being given on the capital expended, provided it did not exceed £300,000. There was an understanding that this was to be seen to during the recess —that a proposal should be made in England to see if it would be favourably received. The sources for the investment of the large amount of accumulated capital in Great Britain had lately been dried up, and he thought that such a proposal as this railway would meet with a very favourable reception, (hear, hear,) yet he believed that not even a letter had been written by the present Executive (sensation.) The meeting was aware that a great battle was about to be fought in the Assembly as to whether there should be general machinery for the functions of provincial governments from a centre, or whether provincial governments should still exist. He had not at present made up his mind which side to take. He had not however as yet seen any scheme put forward that would so well perform the duties of the provincial governments as those provincial governments themselves. He believed that in the present stage of the advancement of the colony no institutions were better adapted for carrying out the functions of good government than provincial governments if properly carried out, and not improperly as they were in this province. The Executive should only hold power so long as it had the confidence of the people. The distribution of the representation was very bad. Wellington city had a too greatly preponderating influence, it had twelve members to which might be added a member for Porirua, and one for Karori, viz., Mr Brandon and Mr Johnston, these fourteen members could readily combine to cany out any plans favourable to Wellington. Whereas the country members were almost unknown to one another—t he Wanganni members to the Wairarapa, and either to the Hutt. Cities were believed to have more men of ability and intelligence than the country and they should therefore have less numerical power. (Hear, hear.) He would not support Provincial Governments unless there was a different representation. The Executive was a mere Town Council—the whole of the members werefi r he ;.ity and moreover had been members of the Town Beard. There was no Country element in the Executive. Their interests were centred in the city, and it was supposed to be the interest of their constituents that the money should be spent there. He would like to know if a member of the Executive had ever thought the Wairarapa deserving the consideration of a visit. [No. Mr. Revans; You might go further. Have they ever answered letters from this district.] That was true. (Hear, hear.) He would urge the vigorous application of the broom, and the clearing of them all out. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) They should have men of energy in a new country; it sufficed in a country whose age comparatively was centuries to our years to go at a jog trot. The country wanted better men by fer than those who composed the present Executive, who went to their offices at 11 or 12 o’clock, took their lunch at 2 o’clock, and rc-visited their offices, and then went home. They wanted a thorough alteration in this manner of carrying out the government. Last year £2OO was voted to encourage proficiency in the use of the rifle, and a committee decided that well got-Up rifles, with a plate for an inscription, would be very

suitable prizes, and he would an.-wcr for ii uoi a step bad been taken in the direction thus advocated. And that was how the Government ofthe Province was carried on! lie hoped his honorable colleagues would work wi'h him to secure a general clear our. lie hoped tin? people would criticise the conduct of their members. He would work in the forthcoming session to get the Morrison's Bush Road made and the Waihinga Ferry established. (A voice: and the Railway.) The Railway too: That they might depend on. This district now so much neglected, if it had a port of its own would si on take care of itself. He did not object to the payment for the Patent Slip or the Wharf, the port of the Province must have both. What he wanted was a fair p> oportion of the revenue from the district spent on and in the district. The members of the Executive should go over the province and find out what was wanted, as the members of the Colonial Executive did. They did not stay at the Seat of Government, but travelled over the Colony. The Wellington newspapers like the Wellington Executive were all for the town. The “Wellingtonlndependent” could not look beyond Clay Point, nor the “ Advertiser” see beyond Pipitea. After some further remarks he concluded by saying he should be happy to answer any questions, and obtain information relative to the wants or interests of any particular locality. Mr. Masters briefly addressed the meeting. He considered that it would be well for the electors from all parts of the Valley to meet their members to consult with them on what was most required. He always attended the Council, and supported Mr. Bunny, and Mr. Bunny him, on any measures introduced for the good of the district. He got a vote for £SOO for the main road, but it was not expended he beleived. They must not however, blame the present Executive for all these shortcomings. They undertook office when the Province was in difficulties, when several great works were being completed, and when there was not enough money to meet engagements. Without saying the present Executive were not very backward, he would like to hear what they had to say for themselves. The had, however, been told by the “ Independent” that the Provincial Government had ample funds, and if so the works voted ought to be carried out, and if they were not at the next meeting they would bring down the members for the Wairarapa hard on them. Until they had Municipal Institutions they would not have justice done them. Wellington having a large population would have most representatives, and would consequently have its own way, and most of the money. What wc should fight for was Municipal Institutions, and a strong Central Government. (Mr. Revans: No.) He had also prepared some figures but Mr. Bunny’s were so ample that anything further would be unnecessary. Mr. Renall next addressed the meeting and supported in the main what baa been said by the preceding speakers. He characterized the treatment this district had received at the hands of the Government as little less than robbery, and said (hat the scramble for the public money by ihe members for the different districts was rather a pitiful than a public spirited exhibition. An equitable apportionment of the revenue on some fixed rule, similar in purport to that which prevailed between the General and Provincial Governments was what was required. The rule now was for the Superintendent to portion out the whole of the estimated revenue, and what the Council afterwards succeeded in getting voted, could not be expended because the whole of the available money was devoted to other objects. After referring to the appropriations of last year by the Council which by general consent had all been thrown overboard, he alluded to the retirement of the old Executive because they declined to do with reference to raising at once the price of land, what the present Executive had made not the slightest effort to carry out. After what had fallen from Mr, Bunny he should expect to sec him propose a vote of want of confidence in the Executive [applause.) Mr. Bunny, and I will do so if I can rely on the uncompromising support of mj' hon. colleague. Mr. Renall ; If we turned them out who should w r e get in their places ? Mr. Revans : Do what is right; act on principle ; never mind the future. Mr. Renall thought it was the future that they had to mind, but he would not go into the question farther. When Mr. Borlase was called upon to form an Executive he had submitted to his Honor the names of Mr. Bunny and Mr. Bryce. The Superintendent objected to them, and Air. Borlase, without consulting with them, or his supporters, at once fell in with His Honors suggestion, and accepted in their stead two city members for his colleagues, Mr. Borlase, in his opinion, was constitutionally bound to decline forming an Executive under the circumstances (hear hear.) For matters as they at present stood he could not discover a remedy. Opposition was useless.

Mr. Revans : Opposition, founded on great and admitted grievances, was everything. The Mercury was making these grievances known, and that journal was making itself felt at Wellington (loud applause.) What more powerful than a great grievance with which to appeal to a representative Assembly ? If the Provincial Government would not attend to it, the Colonial Parliament would.

Mr Renaij. was not speaking of grievances, but the remedy. It was true we had the Mercury, and he hoped that it would be sufficiently well supported to enable it to send a reporter to the Council. The Wellington papers did not report the speeches of Wairarapa members, and the consequence was that their remarks were lost to the public. The speaker then entered into an explanation of the reasons which had prevented him from carrying out the special object for which he had been elected, and he said that if the meeting desired it he would resign his seat as ha despaired of doing any good in the Cooncil under the existing system. Mr Revans : I for one then will certainly ask you to resign. A man who despaired of doing anything would do nothing. What was wanted was an efficient team, and not men who despaired. Mr Run a Li. reiterated (hat he despaired doing any good, but (here were other electors besides tho c present he should like to consult before sending in his ronigaation. He would be happy to answer any questions.

Zvlr Kkmpton : What is the use of your going to the Council if you despair of doing anything? 'Mr Ren all said he bad already explained. Mr Revans said lie would take the liberty of addressing a few words to the meeting. He was sorry to hear no mention of the East Wairarapa M- the preceding speakers. The district had not three but four members, who should all pull together. They could perhaps not have found a more useless member than Mr Stokes had proved to be, but it should be the object now to secure an efficient team. Mr Bunny had anticipated a statement that he had prepared relative to the expenditure in this district. They had a strong claim on the Government, to the extent, with interest, of £200,000, without saying anything with regard to their share of the Custom’s revenue. With such a splendid grievance ns that, which had grown up to their credit, or rather to their discredit, to despair was out of the question. (Cheers and laughter.) He was sorry Mr Renall had spoken so long to so little purpose as had he been bent upon speaking against time he could not have answered his purpose more admirably. If their just claims were granted all the wants of the district, including the railway, would be supplied. Mr. Jackson said he should like to ask a question of the members with regard to the Fencing and Impounding Acts. He thought that no damages should be given for the trespass of cattle on unfenced land, and that only a four-rail should be deemed in future a sufficient fence.

Mr. Renall said that a Fencing Committee had been appointed last session, which, owing to the change in the government, and the abrupt termination of the session, had not brought their deliberations to any practical result.

Mr R. Wakelin thought that the meeting should not seperate without passing some resolution. After what they had heard relative to the character and conduct of the present Executive, he was sure the meeting had no confidence in them. He would therefore move—- “ That the present Executive Government of the Province ought not to have the support of the members for the Wairarapa.”

Mr Eevaxs would gladly second the resolution. Without any kind of doubt a more inefficient Executive never held office. At the meeting of the Council he hoped they would be brought to account. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. Mr Wakelin apologised for again coming forward, but as there would shortly be an election for the East Wairarapa, he should like to ask Mr Revans, through the chair, thus publicly, in order that the answer might be publicly and widely known, whether he would consent to become a candidate for the East Wairarapa at the ensuing election? (Hear, hear.) Mr Masters said as an elector for the East Wairarapa, he would be most happy to propose or second the nomination of Mr Revans. Mr Revaxs said that if he consulted his own ease, feelings, or convenience, or even his private interests, he should hesitate in coming forward, but as he believed he could assist in obtaining justice as well as the satisfaction of several large wants for the Wairarapa, he would consent to be put in nomination, and go to the poll if necessary. (Loud cheers.) Mr Bu.nst, in rising to propose a vote of thanks to the Chairman, would take the opportunity of saying that he should be most happy to co-operate with Mr Revans in obtaining justice for the Wairarapa. With a team of four active members who would attend in their places, and pull together, the claims of the Eastern and Western sides of the Valley would be able to secure attention. (Cheers.) A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.