PROVINCIALISM IN WANGANUI.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 1023, 6 May 1869, Page 2

PROVINCIALISM IN WANGANUI.

PUBLIC MEETING. A meeting of elector.", convened by the representatives of the Wanganui district, was held in the Odd Fellows’ Hall, on Tuesday evening, for the purpose of allow-

ing the members an opportunity of stating what was done in the last session of the Council, and the electors the means of expressing their views as to future action. By half-past seven, when the proceedings commenced, the hall was Dearly full, and, before the conclusion of the meeting, was crowded. ’ On the motion of Capt. R. W. Smith, Thomas Powell, Esq., J.P., took the chair and read the advertisement calling the meeting.

Mr John Morgan, then rose and said : Mr Chairman and gentlemen, it is some time since I addressed yon from this platform on Provincial mailers. I have now represented you for three sessions in the Council, and I have only to say that my views are not changed one iota on the subject of Provincialism. My opinions are the same now as when I first addressed you — indeed they are rather confirmed than otherwise. I have maintained and still maintain that Provincial institutions ought to be done away with. At the end of the previous sessiou—that of 1868—we were told we would have to meet in March of the present year for a short session, so as to put things in order for a new Council. We naturally supposed it .would be a,.short session with supplies only asked for such a time as would allow the new members to be returned. We found, however, that the Government intended passing estimates for one year,—a course which I for one did not think a proper one for an expiring Council, as the time of the members expires this month, so that till next Marc!) there will be no Councillors. 1 would ask you to refer with me to the Superintendent’s speech at the opening of the Council this year. In that speech His Honor attempts to throw the blame of the depression of the provincial finances on Colonial politics. But at the opening of the session before last, I find the Superintendent saying in his address : Turning now to a far less satisfactory topic, I need not tell yon that the general depression under which the colony has lor some, time past been staggering, has been felL in this province almost as severely as in other parts—that consequently my last year's estimate of the revenue has fallen miserably short—that few of the sources of revenue have yielded the amount that T calculated upon, and, further, that in order to carry out those public works which were absolutely essential, or to which the public faith was solemnly pledged, it has been necessary to have recourse to an overdraft at the hank, which amounted, on the 31st March last, the end of our financial year, to, in round numbers, £12,000. , # You must remember that at this timq, : war bad not broken out, therefore there must have been other causes than war depression to account fortliisdeprecialion. The falling off in Land Sales, for instance, could not be accounted for by war. It was the same story this year as last. In my opinion depreciation over all branches of revenue is entirely owing to Lhe past mismanagement of the Superintendent and liis Executive. It no doubt appeared all very right to them to spend money as long as they could borrow it, but now that, their supplies are stopped, not only is extravagance stopped 100 but the public are made to suffer. You will observe by this-year’s estimates that the province can do little more thau pay salaries and sinking fund. In his opening speech at last session the Superintendent had said it was “ not without some misgivings” that lie had estimated the revenue for the ensuing financial year. That revenue however he estimated at £32,00Q J from the Consolidaied Fund. lamat a loss to know how the Superintendent arrived at these figures. I cannot think how he cau calmly suppose that the gross revenue of the province will be £78,000 as he does. Then, again, the Appropriation-Act amounts to close upon £SO,OOO, so that when the next session meets there will probably be again some £1.2,000 or £14,000 of debts to be provided for. Bnt [ weed not go further into figures. Matters are in such a deplorably involved state that they present little or no bope of extrication. Passing, then, to another point, Income to the consideration of Mr Pharazyn s resolutions in the Council. They were to the effect that Provincial institutions ought to be abolished, aud that the various functions of the Council should be handed over to the General Government. These resolutions I could only support in so far as they seemed to support local government. I could not follow the hon. member, who moved them, when he flew off at a tangent, and proposed to throw everything into the hands of the General Government. That motion was lost on a division of 15 votes against 9. I and my colleague Mr Hnlchison, voted for the general principle contained in the first portion of ihe resolutions ; and on that question, I presume, you will have to return your members at tbe ensuing election, and it will then be for j 7 on to decide bv your votes whether you are in favour of local government or not. The next matter that 1 have to touch upon is the. Representation Act. In last session a similar Act was passed and the numbers were then proposed to be 32, but for some technical reason His Honor did not assent to it. In the Act this session, tlie Government proposed to fix the number at 21 members; hitherto Wellington city had returned 12 members and Wanganui 3 ; now the Council was quite willing to give Wellington only 7 and Wanganui 5. You will see tbe proportion before —it was 12 to 3 anu now 7to 5. This will prove how well founded were all these assertions that Wanganui was not properly represented in the Council. The billas passed this session decided the number of representatives at 25. Thus, you will see, that for the past twelve or fourteen years Wanganui has not been properly represented. I would ask you to consider what chance our 3 members had against AVellington’s 12 ? Now, by their own showing Wanganui is entitled to 2 more, while they confess to have been over represented by 5 ! As this is now, I might say, the end of my tether, it may not be out of place in me referring to some of tbe privileges that representatives ought to have. As it is they have no power or influence. Members under proper representative government might be supposed to be upon a better understanding as between themselves and the and also with the Government. For instance, in the matter of roads, I thiuk that members ought to have some supervision. Then again in the mattei of Surveys—that vexed question of Surveys ! There is no control whatever given in that matter. Then, the Ferry : what power have we over such things ? The Superintendent says that he is jealous of the interference of the General Government, but in such things as thus mentioned he dele-o-ates all the supervision to the magistrates who have no popular standing. Members might, at least, be empowered to inspect works and have some responsibility. As it is, members after they are returned are left to themselves \ tlie Superiix-

tendent never asks them any questions; he either gets his information from some other source, or not at all. You will find that the road, between Wanganui and Turakina, which is under tlie cai - e of the province, is in a bad condition, and 1 am not aware, that the contract was yet let. Then, there is the Great North Western road ; I would like to know how far it is passable beyond Wanganui? Mr Morgan said tlie road the road has cost £16,000 and he was at a loss to know where it was spent ; still that sum had been put down against us. The subject of retrenchment has been discussed but the difficulty was : Where to begin ? An attempt was made by members to reduce the salaries of various officials but unsuccessfully, as some were passed over and those that were reduced were recommitted, so that, as it was said, no unfair reductions might be made among the officials of the Government. The consequence was that instead of the working expenses of the Government being reduced, Public Works were made to suffer ; Education was made to suffer ; Equivalents to Road Boards were madetosuffer. Heconsidered that when retrenchment had to be adopted the pruning knife ought first of all to have been applied to salaries. Bnt as soon as the salary of this one or that other one was touched everyone was going to resign immediately.. Tae estimates were brought forward in a fuller house than usual, but the Government, not sure of their ground, made an excuse that all the members not being present, they did not feel justified in committing the executive, which were thereupon put off to a more convenient season. The Provincial Secretary said he did not like to begin with the executive —he would begin with the judicial. Well, they found the salaries as high as ever. In a number of cases small reductions were carried, but every attempt to reduce a public officer or a turnkey was met with opposition. The first step that a new council will have to take, he should think, would be to provide a host of these officials with annuities, else it will be threatened that they will all resign. For his part, he thought they had better all resign (bear, hear) and there would be little difficulty in getting better men for less money (applause). The speaker believed the time had fully come that we should go in for local government. He did not see the object of seuding members from Wanganui and Raugitikei to Wellington. For what is there for Wanganui this year ? Look to your bridge (laughter and applause). Speaking of this bridge, the Superintendent in his opening speech said that it should be erected by a local company ; afterwards the Government stated that it was intended to apply to the General Governmen for a loan of £12,000 wherewith to erect it. £16,000 worth of bridge debentures have been taken up. Of this sum, £IO,OOO has been spent, but where the remaining £6OOO is, remains a mystery. The fact was, the Provincial Government had made capital out of the bridge and now have no intention of ever erecting it. In the session before last the Government wanted £IO,OOO to erect the bridge, he and his colleague Mr Hutchison had opposed this and had £5,000 put on the estimates instead ; afterwards, they would remember, by a kind of side wind Mr Wa*4 had the £IO.OOO put down as absolutely necessary. Well of that, only £4.500 had been spent. The next session the Government accepted a tender. But what did they do ? They immediately after gave the contractor £IOO to keep him quiet for three months ; and if he was cerrectly informed there was in addition to theiinpeuding action of the Messrs Kennard, a threatened action from the contractor for a breach of contract. He was not aware in what state the bridge now stands, more than that it never was more hopelessly gone. Nor was he aware that his hon. friend, Mr Watt, understood the Bridge Act (applause), or that he ever understood it (laughter and applause). He had purposely misled the electors by stating that only half the cost would need to be raised by debentures, as the province was goiug to contribute the other half, and that°we should only have to pay interest on the sums raised by debentures. The Provincial Secretary had said that we must pay interest on the whole amount, as every sensible man knew.—Mr Morgan concluded by expressing his willingness to answer to the best of his ability any questions that might be put to him by electors. Mr Hutchison, after some preliminary remarks, and a reference to the Wanganui Bridge, which he said had been made a political stalking-horse for more years than one chose to remember —which the Provincial Government were always going to build and had never built, and which they now acknowledged their inability to build under any circumstances, so that a request was to be made to the General Government to guarantee a loan for it, which might be got and it might not—proceeded to say that, in now resigning into the hands of the electors the trust with which they had honoured him as one of their representatives iu the Provincial Council, he was sorry that the members had so little to show for three years’ labour, but it was their misfortune more than their fault. The palmy days of provincial government were over and they had fallen upon evil times ; money was scarce and getting scarcer, until now the whole system had all bnt collapsed.. If they asked him to show them in a single sentence how complete that collapse was in as far as this district was concernedhe could not do better than poiut to one fact. He held in his hand the estimates of the Province for the present year in which the revenue was set down at £79,700 (in round numbers £80,000), how much out of this sum did they suppose, exclusive of salaries, necessary and unnecessary, was intended to be spent in this district ? How much for public works and improvements which the supporters of the present system always said was the grand function of provincialism ? It seemed almost incredible, but it was the fact notwithstanding, that out of this sum of £BO,OOO it was not intended to spend one single thousand in the whole district of Wanganui. Aud this not because the wants of the district had not been represented to tlie Government. They could plead no excuse on that score. It bad been pointed out to them that various public works were in absolute need of repair and i improvement, but the constant reply was “We have no money.” He was bound, however, in speaking of these estimates.. to tell the meeting that although the Superintendent had set down the revenue for the year at £SO,OOO, he did not think he would realise any such sum. And his reason for saying so was simply this—The consolidated revenue accruing to the province for last year was (in round numbers) £24,000 ; but notwithstanding this the Superintendent had estimated the same item this year at £52,000, or an increase of £28,000. Did any one suppose or was it at all likely that tbe consolidated revenue of this province, with an unsettled war

hanging over it and consequent commercial depression, would be larger this year than it was last? No one could think so. They might be glad if it could be maintained at the amount of last year. Why then, it might be asked, did the Superintendent make his estimate higher than he was likely to realise? He (the speaker) could nol say. It was just possible that his Honor might wish to keep up the respectability of the province, and £'Bo,ooo was not a sum to be sneezed at. People at a distance would be apt to say that the province of Wellington was not to come down yet awhile, seeing it had so large an income. At all events, it would have no such income, and the result he feared would- be that next year there would be the same amount of debt owe to tradesmen and public servants as this year, leading to a large amount of inconvenience aud in some cases positive embarassment to poor men. He would have supposed the most natural as it was the most proper thing for the Provincial Government to set about in such circumstances would have been a rigid economy in every department of the service, but no. There was a curious feeling about economy, not only in the Provincial Government but apparently in all governments alike. Economy in. the abstract was most popular. Everybody went in for it, but economy in the concrete —economy applied to particular persons or establishments was most unpopular. It could not be tolerated. A number of the members of Council how-ever„wor*»-determined--to-Ary what could be done in this way, and he agreed with them. He was no admirer of provincial institutions, as they all knew, but he went to the Council determined to make the most and the best of them while they lasted, and he endeavoured to act honestly on that resolve throughout. With the Government, however opposed to retrenchment there was little could be done, aud it appeared to him the great question for the electors, when they came to choose representatives for a new Council, would be whether or not such a system should be continued or not. They would very likely wish to send men to Wellington, not to perpetuate but to wind up a Government that could spend £BO,OOO, and not have a single thousand of it to spend in this district. Mr Hutchison here referred to the movement in the Council disapproving of provincialism, and stated his conviction that local management was what they were chiefly concerned to aim at. For the consolation of the electors he might tell them that the expiring Council had presented them with a Representation Re-ad-justment Bill, whereby Wanganui in future was to have five members instead of three —a magnificent Reform Bill, which reminded him of a man ordering a fine suit of clothes for a wedding when he was about to die. Local Government, he said, was really what concerned them in this district, but he feared there would be little heart to go into the question, or indeed any question, until the present weary wasting war was at an end. The war was not, properly speaking, a provincial question but it affected their province most materially, and touched their interests so closely at every point that he could not help making one or two remarks regarding it. He was sorry to say it, but the truth should ever be told, that the Stafford Government had terribly mismanaged the whole thing. Bungliug was no name for it. Little wonder that men looked wistfully for Imperial troops, considering the ruin that had over taken a once flourishing district. It was not likely that we should get troops ; they would not be sent unasked, and our government had not asked for them ; there need therefore be no division of opinion amongst us on the subject, for we must fight our own battle as best we can. Still he could not help saying that there had been what seemed to him a m>od deal of nonsense talked about selfreliance. Every one liked self-reliance ; the colonists were eminently self-reliant ; but self-reliance did not mean that every body should fight any more than that every body should plough and sow. He asserted, with all deference, that it was cheaper aud more efficient —better for the country and far more likely to bring the war to a speedy end—that those having business to attend to should attend to it, and pay ethers who were willing to do it to fight for them than that every one should leave his business and take to fighting, which would be thus done very inefficiently. Fighting was a trade and required training like everything else. It was thus very much a question of money, and as they had to pay men to tight, it did not seem to him material—it could not affect the question of selfreliance —whether they paid for men picked up in the streets of Melbourne and elsewhere, or whether they paid for Imperial troops. Only the Imperial troops, if they could have got them, he believed, would have been much the cheapest of the two in the lono’ run. It was true the Colonial Government would not have such complete control over Imperial troops as they had over the Constabulary, but he ventured to think they would have as much they could well get through. Their management of our own little army was not such as to inspire great confidence. It had been made a perfect piece of political jobbery from the Commanding Officer to the lowest subaltern. The country, in fact, was in a bad way between Provincial Governments and General Government. And he would sum up the whole matter by simply saying that the end of all Government should be security, liberty, and justice. It was the best Government which secured the maximum of these advantages with the minimum of interference with individual action. This was a mere truism —little better than a political platitude—but it was in some danger of bein'* overlooked and traversed amongst them in these days. What between Provincial Government and General Government ; a whole army of place-holders and place-seekers ; they could scarcely move a turn without being interfered with. There should be an end of all this, and for its accomplishment the people must bestir themselves everywhere. He believed that it was essential for the success of a country having liberal institutions, that in every part of it men should take an interest in political affairs, and come to an intelligent consideration of all public questions. . Now then was the time to gird up their loins and to address themselves, not as to a trivial work, but as to one demanding every energy they could make, and with a firm determination that, so far as depended upon them, no efforts should be wanting to punish atrocity and crime, to establish a permanent peace, aud by the management of their local affairs, to ensure at once cheap and efficient government. They had been too long quiet ; let them now arise unitedly to the rescue. Mr W. H. Watt, who was received with applause and signs of disapprobation, said : Mr Chairman, I must state that I haye had little to do with calling this meeting. I certainly said I would attend it, when told

of it, out of courtesy to the electors ; but 1 considered that it was nob properly called. I think that if the electors had any interest in the matter they should have called it, and I confess to feeling rather nonplussed. I scarcely feel myself in a position to go over the same ground as the other speakers, who have told you of Provincial matters and much that was beyond that. What I have done and have not done would fill a large volume. And after what my colleagues have said there is little left for me to touch upon. But to go over the same ground would not be good taste or edifying (hear, hear, and applause). 1 would rather wish byegones to be byegones (laughter). I tried to do all the good I could in the Council for the province in general and Wanganui in particular. I have no particular act to speak about, but I will be happy to* answer any questions. But while here, I may as well make a few remarks. We have served our last session, and it may be quite time the electors had an opportunity of looking round as to who should represent them in future. On the subject of the bridge (laughter), that my friend, Mr Morgan, had so much to say about, I would only remark that a great deal has been said and little done. I was one of the first who agitated for that bridge, and if it is not erected it is not my fault. Mr Morgan said I did not understand the, Act (hear, hear), but I do not believe he understands it either (laughter). You could see how he was q u ite~Vs ut of ~placet —lt had given my friend considerable pain to thiuk where the money was coming from. I believe I have always said there was no bridge too * good for Wanganui. The talk about interest is all stuff. That reminds me of what Mr Morgan said to me after a session when the Council passed a loan of £50,000. He said it was a great amount. I said it was no matter as we never intended paying it back (laughter). The interest had been 10 per cent. It had recently been bought up by the General Government and a thousand a year in interest saved. So we might go on borrowing till we reduce the interest to 4 per cent., and in the end wipe it out altogether (great laughter). Mr Morgan had said he never sa w why we should have to pay for all the bridge. [Mr Morgan here endeavoured to put the speaker right]. But I never thought it would be otherwise (laughter), and 1 consider the sooner the tolls are wiped off the better. It was necessary to put the bridge on a safe footing, that the debenture holders might .have some guarantee for their money* So l they got the material (laughter).-Mv. Watt then continued : The bridge was nowhere and he was not sorry for it; although we were too poor to erect it. Mr Morgan had said there was £16,000 worth of debentures taken up for the bridge ; well, he was not sure that this was correct, but supposing it was, the interest on £16,000 at 10 per cent is £1,600. Now, what it is proposed to do is to get the General Government to take up the £16,000 debentures—for we cannot give the bridge to any company or erect it in any way, but by the province, till the debenture holders are paid— along with two other small debts of another £6,000, and for them to pay the whole off by 5 or per cent scrip. If so, it would reduce the thing to this : the whole would be got for the interest we are now paying for the bridge, besides getting the bridge up. Mr Morgan is indignant that members have no voice in the administration of local affairs he seemed to regret that members had so little voice in every little road board ; but if provincial members had to look after every bit of road that wanted patching and every petty grievance, he would like. to know who were to be members? He for one, would not. If that is to be the way, the sooner, as Mr Hutchison says, we collapse, the better (laughter and applause). Mr Morgan in one breath condemned things and in the next extolled them. These were # his views as to how far we are likely to get the money for the bridge. It all rests with the General Government, and with tbepresent Ministry in office and the kindly feelin<* they have shown to Wanganui there is even little hope by these means. He would take this opportunity of making a few remarks about the self-reliant policy. Mr Hutchison seemed not so much to be opposed to the self-reliant policy, as to the manner iu which it was at present carried out. He was in favour of employing Im perial troops. It was very true that some of the local forces had distinguished themselves and the reason was that the officers, and the cavalry specially, were very efficient by being elected out of ourselves. If this had been carried on throughout we would now have been in a better position. But it happened to be always the case that some retired Imperial officer instead of some local candidate was put over military affairs. With regard to the resol inions proposed in the Council about the doing away with Provincialism, he admitted having voted against them. We have been told again and again of local government, but no practical scheme has been proposed to take the place of Provincialism. It was absurd to think that every little road board should be independent of the rest of the colony. It would be a very good thing to carry out local government, but not to allow it to ride rough-shod over everything. He concluded by thankin'* the electors for the confidence they had reposed in him in the past, and hoping that they would be better served in t e future.

The Chairman stated that if no elector had any question to ask, he would direct their attention to the second part of the evening’s business that of considering their “ future action.” Mr W. Taylor appeared to assure the meeting he had never been in favour of Provincialism (great laughter). The only salvation for the colony seemed to him to be the formation of a Vigilance Committee in Wanganui. In support of this he spoke at some length. Mr Bryce rose to move a vote of thanks to the representatives for their attendance at the past session of the Provincial Council. Mr Ballance seconded the motion pro forma , and in the course of a speech, which from its length we are unable to give, advocated the adoption of a resolute and effective Native Policy by the Government. The motion was then put from the chair and carried unanimously. Mr BaTiLANCE then proposed a resolution to the effect that to restore confidence in the Government a clear and distinct Native Policy ought to be proclaimed and measures taken to place military settlers on the confiscated lands. Mr Chadwick seconded the motion, which, after some discussion, was carried unanimously. After a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting dispersed.