MR. J. D. ORMOND AT WOODVILLE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 931, 22 November 1881, Page 1 (Supplement)

MR. J. D. ORMOND AT WOODVILLE.

[fKOM OtJK OWN QORREBi?i>M>ENT.|. Mr J. D. .Ormond met the elector: in tile schoolroom, on Monday the Mil hist, Mri.Fomitum occupied the chair and briefly introduced the candidate About 150 persons attended, and 'listen ed with gi eat attention toa very straight forward statement which ran something after the following, He explained thai he had taken the earliest opportunity after the issue of the writs to meet tin electors face to face, and fully explain his action and votes of the past session, He had already addressed the elector. l at Waipawa, and might may have read his speech there in the "Waipawn Mail." There were already three candidates in the field. Mr Johnson had already addressed the electors and stated his views, he .had also taken the trouble to explain Mr Ormond's views bathe would tell them he had unstated them, whether on purpose or in ignovance he could not say. Mr Smith the other candidate was chief owner of the " Waipawa Mail," and a thick and thin supporter of Sir G. Grey. He cautioned the electors from believing what the " Waipawa Mail" was circulating about him, as the paper in question perverted the 'truth, and placed him in as unfavorable a light as possible He stated that he had- been accused of voting in favour of tho.introduction of Chinese, but he gave it a distinct denial and he referred them to "Hansard" to sec how he had voted on every question ill the House, and they would find he had voted against the introduction both now and many years since when the question cropped up through Messrs Brogden writing to him when he was Minister of Public Works, asking to be allowed to employ Chinese labour upon the railway works then being constructed, stating they could not get men and would be unable to finish their contracts unless they were granted permission. Ho had then referred it to provincial heads:'anil found them unfavourable so had refused the request. He said the only measure passed last parliament that gave satisfaction to the country was the Licensing Bill ; this was passed by,:-both sides of the House and satisfied,both publican and Good Templar. Tw.lheasures were introduced by Government, the Native Lands and Koad Construction Bills; he had opposed these on the ground that they did not provide for on extended form of local government. The Crown and Native TnncTs' 'Bill was a very unfair measure as improved sottiers land was rated at a value of £2O per acre and Native lands only .£1 per acre. The rate upon; Native land was chargeable upon land' when -it changed hands. Major Atkinson's".'scheme of local goTernment and-loans-to County Councils and Road Boards was objectionable, as he proposed to raise funds from balance of l.md fund saving bank fund and trust money; and when these funds were exhausted there was nothing satisfactory to offer the county councils. These measures were generally condemned, and he had oppssed them and tabled a motion amounting to want of confidence, ajid/Jie wanted to force the Government to go to the country, and lie considered it was a fair question to go before the country upon, and be dealt-, with, by the next Parliament, but they gave out they would resign and tlliT'so frightened people lest Sir G. Grey might again obtain power, that his motion was lost; still he had gained -..-Ji.is .point as the measures were now before the country. He had been calkb'V deserter to his party, but there were times when a member should make a stand 11 what he considered right. He had been in Parliament 20 years and had m>vcr seen such disgraceful "prow as there were in the last'parliament during the passing of the estimates, and Bills, ruseed through without debate. and many members ignorant they wer • to cow o". Mr Bryce bad forced upon the Government a reduction of £30,000 to be made during recess. With regard to the railway, he had gone to the Minister of Public Works to see what was proposed and found the sum of 120,000 placed upon estimates to construct railway from Makatoki to Mrs Crosse's; that not being to his mind satisfactory, he went with Capt. Russell and by representing that the line was the best paying line in the North Island, and bi'interviewing Mr Blackett. they ed out that they had only four miles of railway opened in four years. After considerable trouble he got them to agree to letting the large bridges be-

tween Tahorite and Mi's Crosse's, also the formation of works,"and lie thought this work may now bo looked upon as likely to goon. Twelve"or eighteen months since there was great distress I ,mongst the settlers of Norsewoorl, Danevirk, and many in Woodville 'were unable lb obtain employment, and he had urged upon.,the Government to go on with public works, and by a vigorous policy many men might still have remained..in the colony, whereas hundreds had left their shores for Australia. He considered that the Government had not treated them fairly In this district, and he, read several letters, i r c.,' both to ami from the Government, in' reference to finding employment foi the settlers of this "Rush. He also read a memorandum re Manawatu Bridge and tolls.. In October, 1880, he had written urging the aboli-

tion of tolls upon the Manawatn Paver, but the Government wrote hack statins; that they could not abolish the toll as they could see no other way of raisin" the money nccessarvto' keep open the George Road. He '■instanced how heavy it came Jon settlers having to pay 7s 6d in'tolls for taking .'a dray and two horses through to get their goods from Palmerstom He believed the cost of ,a brid«e...would .be only about £4,000 or 45000, With regard to the Native policy of the Government, he expressed;his. entire approval of the course Mr Bryce was taking.. He thought Mr Bryce should have been' left alone" twelve months ago, and the country would' have been savod half-a-million of money. The Governor should never have been allowed to.'gehdihis Aide-do Cam]) to Parihaka. He hoped the Government would be firm, and settle the Native difficulty once and for all. He d|d not like the two forms of local

government its iit present, as he considered either Comity Councils or Kent! Boards should bo abolished, as they often clashed'one with the other. i The administration of the waste lands i wan another fund ion that ought to lie ( performed by local bodies, as also School .Hoards, hospitals, ifec., could be . much better managed than from VVel- . lington, as at present, He condemned r the Government !!•;• reducing the pro- \ perty-tnx to it lialfp mny. He thought if the tax was nee:'. 1 my at all it should . not have been mi aced, was not in favor of any ligation, but as we could not do without it, he had voted ; in favor of the prrnerty-tax and landtax for the same reason—namely, that property should bear its full share of taxation. Sixteen million acres were still in the hands of the Natives in the .North Island and bearing no taxation at present. They wanted to encourage capitalists to conic, in and take up this large tract of country. With regard to public works, the Mickllo Island had got nearly all its main trunk lines, but the North bad only very small sections, and the largest upon the West Coast, from Palmcrstoii up New Plymouth way. He believed in giving land to companies to mwh railways, but didn't think they would be successful at present, In future all loans should be borrowed for a specific purpose, and tied to that particular section for which borrowed. He fully agreed that land upon the deferred payment system was the best suited for bona fide sillers, and he would use his endeavors to obtain as liberal terms as possible for them. He was not in favor of Government leasing land. As the Canterbury run leases fell in he thought the Government would cut them up and sell in small sections to settlers. He thought the Premier a honorable, straightforward, honest, and truthful man, but would rather they had formed a policy of their own in prefcronce to taking up Sir G, Grey's. He did not seek office himself, and thought office would be a nuisance, but would not shrink from it if he , thought he could be of service to the country. He still hoped lie had the confidence of the electors at the coming election. Mr Ormond sat down amidst ' immense cheering. In reply to an elector, Mr Ormond stated he thought the time bad now arrived when the Legislative Ascmbly should be elected ' by the people. In reply to Mr Lowry he would encourage the volunteers by funds, especially after the gallant manner they had turned out at dangers ■ call. A number of other local questions was asked and answered in a satisfactory manner. M.i J. Lowry proposed a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Ormond, who he believed had done his duty to the bush settlements and the colony at large, seconded by Mr D. Hughes, and carried amidst great applause. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings,