MR BEETHAM AT TINUI.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2200, 21 January 1886, Page 2

MR BEETHAM AT TINUI.

Me G. Beethmi addressed some 40 or 50 of his constituents at the Town Hall Tinui onTuesday last. MrThos.Mackayoccupied the chair. He touched first upon the local Government, and regrotted the Roads and Bridges Construction Act had been repealed, It had been a very useful measure for thnt district. Now, there was no measure for local government in force. Sir Julius Vogel had appeared to indicate that he would deal with this question in a most masterly manner, but the result had been a most lamentable failure (hear hear). He had proposed a subsidy should be given of £300,000 a year from loan to extend over 25 years. No one would be more glad than himself, and money could not bo better spent than in opening up roads in country districts. But this money was to be distributed prorata, and thus Counties which were richest would get the largest share, and the impecunious ones tho least. The County Selwyn was one of tho most powerful and wealthy in New Zealand, with all its roads nearly already completed. That County would recoive £5,000, whereas the Wairarapa East County would only£69l. Tho local bodies under this system were supposed to borrow at a limit of G'J-per cent interest by debenture. Sir Julius Vogel wished to give the gold field Counties £2,000 more than any other, and although it was struck out when it came to supplementary measures, they got it in again and secured tho £2,000. It was well known that the whole scheme of Sir Julius Vogol's was a lamentable failure. What they required was a scheme whereby counties could borrow money as they wanted it. Not for these bodies to rush upon tho Homo market, as such a scheme would have ruined the credit of the colony. Sir Julius Vogel should have recognised the fact that it was the duty of the Colonial Government to obtain the money at a low rate of interest. He was glad to son from the remarks of Messrs Stout, Balknce, and Lamach that they recognised the principle that the Colonial Government do the borrowing. Tho disposition of lands was then touched upon, and he reiterated the statements made at his previous meetings, and already published. He said the Government should not study the publicchestsomuchas settlingtheright men in the right place at a price that would enablo them to succeed. The payment of witnesses for criminal prosecution was next considered, He said tho Crown should give every man a chance to prove his innocence, and not use the purse of the colony against him, without paying the expenses of witnessos for the defence. The Minister of Justice had told him tho colony could not afford it, but they had no right to bo economical where the lives and liberties of their fellow settlors were to bo considered. In regard to Federation he said "all things come to he who waits," and he had no doubt some practical good would come out of his Bcheme, If they had a federation of all under the British flag, tho peace of Europe would be assured if they had the American government with them, Ho briefly touched upon tho San Francisco, mail service, the Hospital and Charitablo Aids Bill, and other matters, and concluded by expressing a wish that some scheme might be brought forward to borrow a million, and a commission appointed -not of financiers and newspaper editors —but of thoso who knew what road requirements were—who should examine and classify the requirements, and let out tho money to those bodies at a low rato uf interest for from 30 to BO years. They would then increase their rating area, and the burden would become lighter, He might then hopo to be able to congratulate the County of Wairarara East upon their good roads and flourishing population. He expressed a hope that they would question him upon any subjects on which they might require enlightenment, and he took his seat amidst cheers. Mr R. Meredith asked at what rate of interest Mr Beetham would propose to let out the money for local works, and whether he would suggest paying out of it the money they had borrowed at a high rate tor special works under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act.

Mr Beetham said the money should be got at 4 per cent, and there was no reason why the suggestion to relieve, them of the special rates Bhould not be done, Something similar had been done by the Government taking over the district railways,

Mr Manx was informed that some 40 or 50,000 had been placed on the estimates for immigration, and he asked Mr Beetham if he did not think it would have been better to have expended the msney on roads.

,Mr Beethafn explained that only nominated immigration was going on at present, and in answer to further questions by Mr Manx, he explained tho threo systems of obtaining land.

Mr Manx thought it would be a niuch better system to have a deposit plan in the Land Olce, and allow would-be settlers to pick out the land they required and pay their deposit, lie had seen several driven away who would havo made good settlers, but for the difficulties et>. countered in securing suitable fori d.' Mr Grove's said fo ; takuig up. bush land as he and several of, W neighbours had : done, they yu to kve

chase money for the purpose;^opening up the roads totheir property 1 ./^". Mr Beethara said when lan«as sold for cash, thero was no provisiofEo enablo the Land Board to return any part' of the purchase money to the Road Board. Ho. had got a clause inserted to give back one-third of deferred payment, and oiw nfth of leasehold sections. •

A vote of thanks to Mr Beetham foe his address was unanimously carried, and in responding to it, Mr Beetham said ho would like to'see the management of the finance in .the hands of Major' Atkinson who was a thorough and >!o man was more sincere. He sliovild extend to him his best Bupport. ,„■, A vote of thanks to tho Chairman concluded. tho meetih?.