MR PHARAZYN'S MEETINGS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 248, 26 August 1879, Page 2

MR PHARAZYN'S MEETINGS.

CARTERTON. One of tho largest and moat orderly political meetings of the week assembled in the Public Hall, on Saturday evening, on the occasion-of Mr Pharazyn addressing the electors.

Mr B. Fail-brother, having been voted to the chair, said they had now four declared candidates in tho Bold, and he was glad to see it, as it gave them a good selection. If a candidate were returned without opposition, he might not be so apt to consider the wishes of the electors as if he had had to contend the seat. He advocated theelectorschoosingtwo men who would vote the same way. It had not been so in the past, but he thought it would be advisable that it should be so in the iuture.

Mr Pharazyn on rising, said ho felt lie ought almost to apologize for calling them together, as this was the fourth political meeting that had been held during the week. He did not think they had come there merely to be amused, as if so, they had better come to see an Opera Company performance; but really to makeup their minds as to the best men to return as their representative, and he believed they all came there unpledged to support any individual candidate. In his opinion the forthcoming election was a very serious matter, as its result might fix what men were to hold the Government of the country for years to come, and the fate oi number* might bo affected by such result. He spoke feeling the full responsibility oi the issue, and wished he had the gift oi oratory that he might carry the meeting witli him, but not having this, he could only speak to them straightforwardly. Ho should biing under the notice of the meeting (1) A review of the policy of th< country. (2) The provincial system oi Government, so far as it had been deall with in Mr Bunny's speech. (3) Loca questions. Various statement* had beer made, but the real question to be decidec was who was to conduct the affairs of the country during the next few years. This was the questional which the House hac divided, and the Government had said, " we won't resign, we'll go to the coun try." He was of opinion that the presenl Government should not remain in office, Mr Bunny had said that from time tc time the charge of their being bad mighl bo brought against every Government and that ho (Mr Pharazyn) had been in favor or retaining the Atkinson Government in power. He could only tell tlmac present that, had he been in the House, lie would have voted against the retentior of power by that Government. He hac started unprejudiced against the presenl Government and willing to give them i fair trial, but what had they done? Thej had nearly run us into a Maori war, and although we had escaped, it had only beer at an enormous cost. If a shot had beer fired a war must have ensued which woulc have thrown the Colony back for years. He thought this was a big piece of bung ling. We had no right to settle on tin Waimato Plains, and yet the Governmenl had gone so far as to advertise it for sale and had then had ignominiously to with draw it. Mr Fox had told them tha they would find Te Whiti a dangeroui man, and the result had proved so? H< did not say that the Government wen altogether answerable for the prcsen financial depression, but they had intensified it. The speaker here quoted case! where capital had been withheld and with drawn from the country in consequent of Sir George Grey's speeches, and oi this ground he could not trust them. Tin Government had mado great promises oi retrenchment, but in two years, tin expenses of the country had increasec enormously, and they had not dared t< place a Financial Statement before tin House, as, had they done so, they knew they would not have a chance of beiii! returned. (The speaker gave quotation! and figures in support of his assertion. Then the Government were going to en down the salaries of Ministers to £BOO ; year, but doubtless through some mem berß thinking they might be in office ii the future that measure had been lost but in spite of the vote the Governmen might have set a good example by refus ing to take a salary in excess of tha amount. Then look at the cost of th< Hinemoa, which had virtually been Sii George Grey's private yacht. Then thej were going to reduce taxation and relievi the working man. Some time ag» he (Mi Pharazyn had said if we went in for clasi taxation the rich grew richer and the pool poorer, and so the result had proved foi during the last few months they had 'beer called upon to do what he had hopec never would have been the case in New Zealand—to provide for cases of destitution. He had said the rich would grow rider, and was it not so? Capitalist! could now get 15 per cent, for their money and so the poorer classes had to suffer! He condemned class taxation. Most ir the district were working men. He had milked his own cows, and had worked nol eight but fourteen and sixteen hours a day, and he believed the genuine working man was independent and did not want patting on the back in this manner. (The speaker here read a long extract from a speech of Mr Hursthouse, M.H.R, on the position of the working man, whom he quoted as a genuine working man, and one who did not vote with Sir George Grey.) Then as to the effect of taxing landholders, he could tell them that in his own case, after allowing for the payment of the land tax—which, however he had not paid, and believed he never would be called upon to pay owing to the muddle the Government had made-owing to the reduction on tea, sugar, wire, and such articles, ho faund that he would absolutely save £7 per annum. The reduction made but little difference to the working man, but to large employers of labor the reduction on every chest of tea, bag of sugar, or coil of wiie was a great advantage. It might, then, be asked, If the Government benefit you thus, why don't you support them I Why, simply for this reason, they have so injured us with capitalists that we are unable to obtain loans :o effect improvements, and so have had ;o reduce the number of men employed • md so the action of Government, so far as lirect taxation went, had been to benefit

the landholder and injure the working man. Then they had reduced the taxation on timber, to the detriment of the working man. He thought he could tell them how this had come about. Mr Larnach had a factory down South larger than the Government Buildings, The reduction meant something like Is per 100 in his pocket, as the native woods were not suitable for the purposes of his business; and so the trade had been injured, wages reduced, and the mill hands had had to suffer. Little benefit was felt by the small reduction on tea, sugar, etc., and in the meantime the Government

said they had not money to make roads, bridges, and other necessary works. Charges innumerable might be brought against the Government. They had constructed the Tapanni and Thames railways without the consent of Parliament, and if the House condoned their action and these

things were to go on, the House might as wall shut up at once. Then Sir G, Grey,

when before the Governor, placed the said Bill on one side, because he said it gave a monopoly to the Canterbury runholders. But this was not 10 aaid, they merely hold those lands until purchasers should come forward to settle on them. Then he thought there were personal reasons why the present Ministry should not retain power both from their general power and antecedents, particularly as regarded the Native Minister, as when the private acts of a man are such as to cause public scandal, he is particularly worthy of condemnation. It had been said he was opposed to the policy, but this was not so. He was not against the measures, but the man. It has been *jaid that those opposed to the Government, merely supoort those measures now because they are the popular cry, but he advocated them in 1870 in the first speech he made when standing for Parliament, The speaker here read the extract from the speech referred to:—The Government claim to be the Liberal party in the country, and say that any one opposed to them are bound to injure the working man. Then they were going to settle the land, but the settlement during the last two years has been less than in any prior period in the history of the colony. But we don't only want to review the past, but also to look at the present. Long ago he foretold the dangerous position into which we were drifting, and if the squandering that has gone on continues for a few years we shall be in a frightful position. He could see the remedy, and if the position is boldly faced it can be put right, but wo must face it and not go on as before, He advocated borrowing (the speaker here read another extract from his speech of 1870.) He was not afraid of borrowing, but the money must be judicially expended, which it has

advocated removing taxation from every tiling but spirits and tobacco, but he was not in favor of such a measure, as it would knock many young struggling industries which we want to foster on the head, We require men who can look deeper than men who would make a proposition like that. The great thing was to read just matters, the result of having so much borrowed money in the past has been that a representative was valued according to the amcunt he had got for his own "district, but when this was confined, not to our district but to each and ever/ one, no country could stand it, and the expense became enormous. What he advocated was that fixed sums should be allowed to each district on a fixed principle, and that affairs should be carried out in a business manner, and thus the expenditure should be fairly spread over the country. It is said he was opposed to Small Farm Settlements, but this is not tho case. He advocated the cutting up of suitable la* ds, but none of you can desire settlements on the hills and lands that are only fit for grazing purposes, It is not the fault of the land laws, but tho way in which they are administered. A Board of men are appointed who know nothing of the locality with which they are dealing, and it would be much the better plan to leave the administration of the waste lands in the hands of the County Councillors in each

district where the local knowledge of the members would enable them to do the work well, He had a knowledge of the district, and having thoroughly studied the questions believed if returned he might be of use to the electors in this res-

pect. Mr Pharazyn then briefly referred to what had passed between Mr Bunny and himself at meetings in other parts of the valley, and stated that Mr Bunny could speak well, could attract an audience and make them laugh, but he did not desire to do that. What he wanted was to put things fairly before them so that they might go homo and think over them quietly. He believed this election was really a contest between Mr Bunny and himself. Mrßeetham lis believed, and justly so, was sure to be returned and he would not stand if he thought he was likely to go out (voice in the hall: " How about Carter J" Mr Pharazyn : " Oh, I leave that to you!") He had fought Mr Bunny for years past on public not private grounds, and it was somewlnt painful for him to ask the electors to sever their connection with one who had acted for them for years, but ho had no right to be supported if he had not carried out his duty, Mr Bunny had many social qualities which he (Mr Pharazyn) admired and many he liked, but in politics they had entirely differed, and he opposed him. (Mr.Pharazyn here detailed several points on which he and Mr Bunny

were at political variance.) Mr Bunny asked for support on the ground of what he had done for the district in the pant, but he could show that the credit of this was due to other men rather than to Mr Bunny. He did not think a man should rest his claims on having obtained a few roads and bridges. This reminded him of an anecdote he had lately come across where a Yankee senator had been parading the great things he had done for the district he represented, when one of the audience called out: " I say, old- 'oss you've done a tarnation lot for this part; guess you must be pretty well worn out,' and you'd better take a spell." He »ave every credit to Mr Bunny for what he had done, but he believed they were indebted to his predecessor, Mr Andrew, rather than to Mr Bunny, and, above all,' to the late Dr Featherston, (The speaker here quoted from a speech of Sir W. Fitzherbert, late Superintendent.) He did the work, and those succeeding him got the credit of it. A man who "wished to gain credit in this respect would be sure to have works effected where they would be seen, whether they were wanted or not. As an instance of the waste that had thus accrued, he would point them to the bridge at Abbott's Creek, which, had cost £2OOO, and which he had opposed, believing that the railway would so soon render it unne-

cessary, and the bridge over the Manawatu, which had cost £6OOO, to which

there was no road or approaches, and over which he had found from inquiry not a single cart had passed during the four years it had been erected. He thought money should go where it was really wanted, and he believed that the County Councils had done mora in the last two years than the Provincial Council had ever effected. Another wasteful expenditure had been the erection of the new Wellington Hospital, which had cost at least £30,000, and was so far away from the city that it was virtually useless in the case of accidents, and it had been found

batter to continue the use of the old building rather than fiend patienti »o far amy. And ai in these cases so it had been with all the Provincial Government works. He did not seek to represent them to get place.. He had no personal object. He had not even taken any public money, and never would. But he desired to do good, and to stand well with his fellow-settlers, but should be contented if, m the long run, he thought he was respected and deemed trustworthy. ' He felt proud to find that many had come forward unasked and promised him their support, because they said they considered him, if elected, to be the right man in the right place, It had been said he was unpopular, and from a peculiarity of manner he might have given offence, to some, but it had been unintentional on his part; but for many years he had lived in an isolated position, and after such a life it took time to knock off somo rough corners. The papers gave him credit for ability and honesty of purpose, and then said he was unpopular, and this would make him useless in the House because he would not get on with others; but he had taken a leading part as chairman and otherwise in many things, and he had always got on well with those he had been associated, and he did not remember any instance in which he had had a disagreement with them. Then it was said he was wealthy and a large land and station holder. He was comfortably off but he did not think he could lay claim to being a wealthy man, and what he had he had made himself. Mr Bunny had attacked him because he wasa large landholder, butwherehehad taken up land he had at once improved it and employed labor. On his land at Manawatu, there were 50 settlers now, and if he settled people, he thought he did good. If he looked at the map of the district he found "Henry Bunny's" name all over it, but nothing had been done on the land, which had been held merely for speculation, and this was an evil to the district, and Mr Bunny should have- 'been the last to raise such a cry against him. He should state this at any meeting where Mr Bunny was present. Mr Pharazyn then concluded his address by urging the electors fairly to take either one side or the other. If they believed the Government should remain in office then support Mr Bunny, and any other candidate holding such views. But if not, then he asked them to support Mr Beetham and himself. They were not working together in the election, but he knew Mr Beethain's views and they coincided with his, own. He did not wish them to split voting but to vote straight for the one side or the other. He could respect an open vote, but did not believe in half and half measures. He trusted that they would consider the question over carefully, and that the furthcoming would be the best election with the larg°ost number of votes ever rolled in the Wairarapa,

On reply to questions Mr Pharazyn said that he was opposed to the abolition of Road Boards as they had clone their work well in the past, and would be very useful in the future, He thought they should continue the work they had been doing, and that the Council should be left to carry out functions they could not. With regard to Native matters he thought Mr Slieehan should besupersededashe lost the confidence of the Natives, and it was absolutely necessary they should as in the case of the late Sir Donald McLean respect the man with whom tiny had to deal. The general complaint made was that Mr Sheuhan made all sorts of promises on all sorts of important matters, but nothing was ever done, The Settlement of tho native laud quostion was a great problem to bo solved, and he thought the Government were following a false policy as they were taking up large tracts of useless land at five shilling and ten shillings per acre for which he would not give a shilling. He would let land speculators deal with the natives for the purchase of lands merely provi: ing that where necessarv before the title was completed the Government of the day should say, " this is required for the public benefit of the country," and the original purchaser should be paid a fair profit on his bargain, He was in Lvov of free immigration, but at present we were not in a position to command it, Ho had found that when immigration ceased the demand for labor had decreased, and consequently wages fell. He thought for the future England could supply all the immigrants we should require, without going to foreign countries,

He was opposed to the Maori dual vote but would give the Natives a vote if they paid taxes.

He was in favor of the extension of the franchise on the basis proposed by the Electoral Bill lately brought before the House, but not passed, a two years' residence in the colony, and a six months' district residental qualifications. Ho strongly condemned tho late action of Sir Julius Vogel in connection with the land company, and believed it had been most prejudicial to tho interests of the Colony.

He advocated the opening up of lands by roads before they were offered for sale, and that the necessary works should be left to the County Councils. He deprecated the honorarium received by members last session, since which, the Ministers said they could not find money for works required. An expenditure of £IB,OOO had thus been imposed on the country. He was opposed to an alteration of representation on a population basis, as it would give the towns an undue advantage over the country districts. Ho was in favor of state aid to schools, and a secular system of education. He thought schools should be maintained at any price. He was in favor of Triennial Parliaments, and had advocated them five years ago. Cn the motion of Mr 6. H. ListerKaye, seconded by Mr E. Campbell, a vote of thanks to Mr Pharazyn for his address was passed, and a vote of thanks the Chairman brought the meeting to a close.

MASTERTON, Hie heavy pouring rain last evening thinned the attendance in the Town Hall; however, nearly a hundred electors were present, and after a little delay the meeting commenced, his Worship the Mayor taking the chair. The Chairman, in introducing Mr Pharazyn, said though unlike the other candidates he had not a long list of services in the past to recount, he'had a long connection with many public movements in the district in which he had taken an active and intelligent part. Mi Phavazyn then addressed the meetin?, and his speech was very much the same as the one published above. It was well received and frequently applauded, although it was evident from occasional interruptions that he had some antagonists among his audience. ° In answer to Mr Eaathope on the Local Option Bill, he approved of the Bill as he understood it, but he did not hold with interfering with vested interests without compensation. He would support any reasonable measure which would check extreme drinking.

In answer to Mr Holdairay, Mr Pharazyn was in favor of the present system of Education in New Zealand.

In answer to Mr Cowan Mr Pharazyn was opposed to the dual vote. (Applause) He would let Maoris have votes the momenttheypaid taxes. He also believed that at present it was desirable that the Maoris should have a special representation. , In answer to an elector, Mr Pharazyn said that the bankruptcy question was one of great difficulty. It was very desirable to do someJiing if something could be done. ~, Mr Greaves asked if and Mr Bunny did not vote oil /Hpsides, when in the Provincial Coun&frV

Mr Pharazyn said that they did, and in the most important debate they ever had in that Council, He read the division list, which showed that on the side Mr Bunny voted, all the members' besides himself were town representatives, and on the side the speaker voted all the members excepting one, were country representatives. He left it to the meeting to say,\ if he differed from Mr Bunny, was he | not right I—(Loud applause). * In answer to Mr Gapper, Mr Pharazyn was afraid that subsidies to local bodies would have to be knocked off. The money was not in existence. He would like to see the Land Tax spent locally to replace subsidies.

Mr Pharazyn, in answer to a question, said stoppage of immigration would mean lowering of wages, as it would produce stagnation. A stream of immigrants coming into the countiy kept wages up by making trade brisk. Mr Cowan then moved a vote of thanks to Mr Pharazyn, and made a speech against him. Mr Caselberg seconded the vote of thanks, commenting on the straightforward manner in which Mr Pharazyn had answered questions, which contrasted favorably with previous candidates. The Chairman read a letter of apology foiMion-attendance from Mr E. Meredith, which expressed a very high opinion of Mr Pharazyn. Mr Greaves thought if the wealthy classes of the colony met the working men half way the latter would not be found working against them. Mr Holdaway was pleased with Mr Pharazyn's able, courteous address, and with the manner in which that gentleman had replied to a question on the Local Option bill. He and his friends were banded together to advocate that measure, and a time would come when they would be listened to, Referring to the political question before the country he said that they could not keep the fountain head too pure, or support men in office who had been proved to have acted unconstitutionally. 'J'hey were indebted to Sir George Grey for waking them up to a political life, but those who followed him did not deserve their support. On a previous night, Mr Bunny had insulted and sneered at the promoters of the Local Option Bill, speaking about their hawking a petition from house tohojse as if, in the Licensing Act, petitions were not recognized on the side of those desiring licences, and therefore why should those opposing them not have a similar privilege. He also censured Mr Bunny for the manner in which he had spoken on the question of honorarium.

Mr Fergusson pointed out that Mr Cowan had acted in an unbecoming manner in proposing* vote of thanks to Mr Pharazyn. He advocated the return of Mr Pharazyn, as he was not only an able and independent politician, but also that \ his position as Chairman of County West I pointed him out as their proper represen- 1 tive. , Mr P. G. Moore supported Mr Phara- / zyn, and expressed a conviction that the I Grey party were working for insular / separation—a movement prejudicial to the / interests of Wellington. / Mr A. R, Bunny spoke, in the absence I of his father, criticising Mr. Pharazyn's' address, and pointing to several questions which he had omitted to touch upon, such as the public works policy, the Native question, and the franchise,

Mr Pharazyn, m reply, congratulated Mr Bunny upon having a son able to take Impart during his absence, and admitted that all tke points made against himself by the last speaker were fairly put. The Chairman alluding to the charge brought against the candidates of dodging questions, expressed an opinion that Mr Carter was the only one who had acted 10 and then only in one instance. A vote of thanks to Mr Pharazyn was then carried unanimously, and the meeting closed with tho usual complimentary vote to the Chairman,

Communication with all stations south of Featherston has been interrupted since yesterchy morning. Onr usual press telegrams are in consequence, not published.

A sentimental novelist, describing his heroine as one who "always kept'modestly m the background," was horrified to find it recorded in print that she "always kept modesty in the background!"

Is there a scientific man in the country who can tell, after a sock gets a hole in it what becomes of tho material that once took the place of the aperture? Smaller Boy: "Oh, I say, Jack, my bie brother won t go without a collar, like you do, because when you go without a collar you have to wash your neck, you know.''

Nothing can exceed the intense affection which a girl deals out to her father a day or two hfore the time when she's going to ask for a new dress. The inventor of a new gravy is held in ugh honour in Paris; but the new President of France is only an old Grevy. A man who says he "speaks from 3xpenence," thinks that one felon on the hand is worse than two in gaol. , A man who was in love with a beautiful Hebrew girl, on hearing that she was"* >ick, exclaimed, "Oh, my precious pear! -my Jew-ill!" * In one of the counties the other day Robert Guile and Mary Williams were named. Now is she " Mary of R. Guile," • " You never saw my banc's as dirty as ;hat, said a petulant mother to her little Jirl. -"No, but your ma did." was the 'eply. When a man presents himself before a niblic andience, it often happens that his )ody is inclined to sink while his head wims, In a letter to a friend a lady states that he is not engaged, but she sees a cloud ■bove the horizon about as big as a man's land, . There are four metallic qualification's t'luch help a man through the worldran in his heart, brass in his face, silver n his tongue, and gold in his pocket. In Greenland the women paint their aces.blue and.yellow. In America they flint them red and white. The Danielsonville Sentinel says if there i any time in a man's existence when life Muranoe seems appropriate, it is just ' eiore he attempts to break a colt.