MR. DONNE'S MEETING AT CHARLESTON.

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 208, 31 March 1868, Page 2

MR. DONNE'S MEETING AT CHARLESTON.

• A large number of citizens and miners attended at the Belle d'Union Hotel, on Saturday evening, to hear an address from Mr George Donne, M.P.C. Mr. Bain having been called upon to take the chair, asked that a fair hearing should be given to the gentleman who appeared before them that evening as a candidate for the General Assembly.

Mr. DoXjN'E said that he would not on that occasion detain them very long, but would as briefly as possible give them some account of his opinions on matters which he thought likely to engage the attention of their future representative in the General Assembly. But first he had a few words to say about the subject of increased representation His hearers were probably aware that it was mainly owing to his exertions that the increased representation of the Nelson South-West Goldfields in the Provincial Council had been accorded. He had on a previous occasion in Charleston, given the history of the discussion of that question in the Council, and only referred to the matter again because the Westport Times denied that be had any claim to take 'credit for what had been done. When he first mooted the idea of an increased representation of the goldfields in the Council, objections were raised on all sides to any such innovation, chiefly on the ground of the alleg >d migratory character of the population; and yet, with singular inconsistency, the Council recommended that the same constituency should be allowed a representative in the General Assembly. He was happy to say both objects had been gained, though not to the full extent that he desired, and he now came forward as a candidate for the honor of being their first representative in the General Assembly. He referred to his conduct as a member of the Provincial Council in proof that he knew how to discharge his duty, and that he had been faithful to the terms and promises contained in his election address published eighteen months back. He then spoke on the subject of colonial politics, and called attention to the enormous taxation which the people of this colony were subject to, amounting to not less than £G 2s Gd. for every man, woman and child in the country—a rate far in excess of the mother country. More than three years ago, he had used his pen in advocacy of a reduction of taxation, and the extinction of Provincialism, and he was glad to see that some of the most distinguished men of the day were taking up the same doctrine. He referred to the printed speech of Sir David Monro, as containing an able exposition of the evils of the present form of government, and remarked that the present heavy burdens imposed upon the country were owing to the expensive system now at work. They must have, and that speedily, a more simple form of government, a reduction of taxation, a revision of Customs duties, and other reforms of a like nature. As a substitute, he would suggest that the colony be divided into counties, each to send to a General Assembly, a number of representatives proportioned to its population, and each county to have a local body to administer its local affairs. In this way there would be one Government to make laws for the whole colony, instead of, as at present, nine distinct governments, each manufacturing laws, the whole resulting in general confusion. One advantage which would follow the establishment of a simple government would be, that a miner would not be called upon to pay for a Right in every province he visited, for a colonial Miner's Right, or a colonial business or other license would stand good in any part of the colony, the same as in Victoria or Queensland. He was prepared to admit that Provincialism had done good service in its day, but the time for its continuance was past, and it must be swept away to make room for a better order of things. There was another question, which, if elected, he should strongly

advocate, and that was the reductbn of the gold export duty, with the view to its gradual total abolition. He considered that persons resident on the goldfields contributed more to the revenue than any other class of the community. He stigmatised the tax as a piece of class legislation • it had been done away with in Victoria, and should be here, and if the General Assembly were averse to such a course, he would, if returned as a member, proposo an export duty on wool 5 the squatters and land-holders could better afford to contribute to the revenue in that way than ourselves. He then referred to the unequal and unfair scale of fees, applicable to the Resident Magistrate's Court, now in use, and promised to endeavour to get the same revised. Also to the existing law as to imprisonment for debt. He did not see why a merchant who was owed an hundred pounds, should have a privilege which was denied to a storekeeper who had less than ten pounds owing him. If imprisonment for debt was to be allowed at all, he thought it should operate equally for all parties, and the present anomalous state of the law should be remedied. He also referred to the working of the Vagrant Act, as leading to injustice, and requiring alteration. He was in favor of an enlargement of the miner's franchise—in way: that a month's holding of a right should entitle to a vote, instead of six months as at present required, and on occasion of an election for the colonial parliament, he thought that every holder of a miner's right or business license should have a vote. He concluded by saying that he placed himself in their hands, and that if returned as their representative he would faithfully perform his duty. The Chairman having intimated Mr. Donne's readiness to answer any questions—

Mr Cameron enquired why Mr Donne omitted reference to miners, when he spoke about the law of imprisonment for debt.

Mr Donne explained that the miners as well as storekeepers were sufferers from the existing law, which appeared to be a law for the rich and not for the poor.

No other question being put, Mr Hennelly, in a few remarks, proposed Mr Donne, as a fit and proper person to represent them in the General Assembly, The proposition being seconded, was put to the meeting, and declared by the Chairman to be carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the business of the evening.