ME ORMOND AT NAPIER,

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2265, 8 April 1886, Page 2

ME ORMOND AT NAPIER,

(United Press Association.) Napier, April G. Mr Orraond addressed his constituents in the Theatre Royal to-night. The Tlireatre was closely packed, a large number of ■ladies being in the dress circle. The Mayor of Napier was in the chair, Mr Orraond on coming forward waa wi& ltfsg iNtatwftMl Awn.' Htj

said lie had intended meeting his constituents at a much earler period, but owing to his serious illness he was prevented from doing so, After referring at some length to his action in reference to the successful initiation of the harbor scheme he said he would challengo any of the electors who had supported him in his election to say whether he had not faithfully carried out the promises he had made during the election. He then referred to Sir Julius Vogel's arrival in the Colony, and the hopes he had held out to the people generally before.his advent to power. He said his (Mr Ormond's) reason for not joining tho StoutVogol Governmoiit was because he considered that Sir Julius Vogel was not the man to lift the colony from the depression under which it was suffering. The means by which he (Sir J. Vogel) proposed to remove the depression were principally forests conservation, a fisheries scheme, and an exhibition at Wellington. He considered forest conservation very good in its way, but it affected generations to come, and the present generation had to pay for it, Ho explained that the reason for his not taking office was because he found that no large section of the house would uphold him in the views he so strongly advocated and he refused to form any Government of which he was not the head. He described the position of parties in the House previous to the formation of the present Ministry, and said that Major Atkinson's was by far the largest party, Sir Julius Yogel's consisting principally of Canterbury members, and the most rank Conservatives in New Zealand ; while Mr Stout's party comprised all thoso known as Liberal members. He said the present Government were distinctly pledged to the repeal of tho property tax and a sound form of local government, but' it was soon found that sir Julius was the'j'uling head of the Ministry, and that no measures wore brought forward except the District Railways Bill, East and West Coast Railways Bill, and others similar, He was not prepared to support such Bills, although he had promised Mr Stout to assist in carryingout the measuresto which the Government promised to give effect, He said that Mr Stout's supporters were bitterly disappointed when they found this class of legislation to winch the Government gave their influence, Referring to tho Financial Statement of last session, ho said that the Statement at once convinced tho Bouse that the Government did not intend to carry out the principles they advocated He considered that Mr Stout, by his action since he beuamo the head of the present Government, bad forfeited all right to tho leadership of the Liberal party in New Zealand, He referred to Mr Stout's lectures all over the colony about a free breakfast table, yet ho had not only relieved the monied classes by diverting the sinking fund to reduce the property tax, but had also brought down an iniquitous Customs tariff, which would have pressed heavily on every working man in the Colony. Although the Government were repeatedly told they had no chance of passing their tariff, they insisted on bringing down their proposal ; but several Liberal members, like Mr Montgomery, absolutely refused to bo dragged into the dust by Sir. Julius Vogel, and distinctly declined to follow the Government. On that ' occasion the Government should have undoubtedly resigned office and made way for better men, and it was generally agreed by all leading pubiic men that in keepiug in office after tho rejection of this policy, they were occupying a miserable and contemptible position. He next referred to the Meiggs proposal, and the action of tho Government in connection with it, He said, after those proposals were made, he wrote to the Premier absolutely withdrawing his support from a Government which coqld act so unjustly in the interests of the colony. He criticised at some length, the local government measures brought doivn last session, but said tho Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill had ono merit, in that it handed over to local bodies matters which were formerly administered from Wellington. .Reforring to Captain Russell lie said the motion had been taken advantage of by nearly every member of tho Government, who laid at Captain Russel's door nearly all the difficulties connected with the unemployed, He said there was not a shadow of foundation for the statements made by Ministers in connection with those matters, He explained that the reason why the members supported Captain Russell's motion was because by not doing so anothor loan would have to be authurised, and this Parliament would not allow Sir Julius to do. He said that Mr Stout vfas • allowed an opportunity of defeating thjs motion but as they had failed to do so the Government wero responsible for it passing the House, and not Captain Russoll. Referring to personal matters, he said he had been held up by a portion of tho Napier Press, also by certain of his opponents, as not having done his duty in the house; but he considered he had acted honorably in tho position ho had taken up. He thought it was a more honorable position than to be tho head of a Government which had eaten up every principle it had advocated. As to the future, he had not the smallest idea what ■ was to be the policy of tho Government for the ensuing session. Every Minister whu had recently spoken had said that he was not triving expression to tho views of tho Government; and immediately after anothor Minister had given effect to altogether different views. He ridiculed the idea of Ministers ffottinc a dissolution during tho present recess, and said that Sir Julius Vogel's big speech was merely to feel the pulse of the people of New Zealand, and it was found that, tho Colony would have nothing to do with such reckless proposals as had been made by Sir Julius Vogel. If such proposals were carried tho Colony would shortly be flooded with unemployed from other colonies, pd a period of disaster would ensuo which would irretrievably injure the colony. Sir 'Julius Vogel had promised railways to the people in every conceivable part of New Zealand, and all were to bo carefully earmarked. Ha (Mr Ormond) hoped to see tho works continued which were valuable to the country, and he would be in favor of borrowing to that extent and no further. He considered that the East and West Coast Railway would bo a standing menace to the country till it was disposed of, and if it could be shown that any company could be found to construct that line on fairly advantageous terms to the Colony, he would almost be inclined to give his vote with that object, so as to remove this work from the path of good government. Ho hoped, whatever Government was in power that they would proce»d cautiouily with the construction of the North Island railway; at any rate, until the land had been obtained from the Natives to pay for . the work, He announced himself as a determined opponent of the Nativo policy of Ministers, in consequence of the introduction of personal government by Mr Ballanco; and he considered the present Native Minis: ter'sline was a retrograde liije, Tho Natives owned thirteen million acres of land in the North Island, none of which paid taxes, and Mr Ballance had acted wrongly in daring to bind successive Governments to a promise not to tax the Native lands. He thought the time had come when those vast tracts of land should bear their share of taxation, and he was glad to see that othor leading public men were now of the same opinion. He understood that proposals were to be made by the Government during mi session

to increase the Customs duties, and ho would follow the same course he had adopted last year in opposing any addition to taxation ,on necessaries of life, unless it were shown to he absolutely., necessary for revenuo purposes. Mr Orniond spoke for hours, and was loudly clieered oil resuming his seat. Several question* were asked. A vote 6f thanks and confidence was proposed by, Mr Cplenso, and carried by acclamation.