THE ABOLITION QUESTION. MEETING AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume IX, Issue 509, 24 August 1875, Page 2

THE ABOLITION QUESTION. MEETING AT CAMBRIDGE.

(From our Special Reporter.) A Public Meeting of seUiers was held at the National Uotel, Cambridge, on Safcunfav afternoon, at 3 u'e! irk, to coaaidar tl^j Abolition of Frovnii c* -And Local Q-overiiaient Bill* now before JParlkffipnfc. On the moLion of Mr Forrest, Major J. "Wilsoo was unanitnonaly voted to the chair. Tlio Cluitmin theu ivaj the notice conrenirg fcbe nnoafcjnT fin>n fbei Witttato Tr\r. q }>p a -,\,1

lions under consideration, bat lio rfg"*otted'very much that the meating was held almost at the eleventh hoar. However, ii was ** better late t 1 an never." He claimed a fair hearing fur all spankers. Such had alwave open accorded to ■peakera in Cambridge,* which was no^ Uk« Auckland, where topb were hissed down if they ex proved opinions which were unpopular* (Ap plaus-*). Mr j. IT., Smith »aid the meeting was la'fl in tho diy, but the duty of calling it hid not devolved up^n any one in particular The H'gh* way Boards were not political bodies. They were called upon ij di^chvge function 3 of an unpolitical nature, and there was no one in author 'ty whoso special duty it was to call meetings of fhis nature. The Abolition of Provincial Institutions was one of the tno s t important questions tint had agitated the people of New Zealand. The sottlers had remainedftiider the earlipst form of Government eitablished in the country, viz.. Provincial Government. The Abolition of Provinces Bill waa a measure which would not only afftfct'the.prespnt generation, but their posterity. Abolition was, however, a change for the betler. It would remove one great and crying evil, — that of having to approach th<j General Government through tlao Provincial authorise '• Such a eourso was tortuous to a degree. The settlers- of Cambridge were separated from th« Provincial centre by a distance of nearly 100 milea. and they wore subjected to a gieat deal of unnecessary expense, trouble, and delay in order to obtain even bare justice from the Provincial Government. If the Abolition of the Provincos only remedied this greit and crying evil, it. would be a benefit. There might b<? a 'great deal cf difference regarding the proposed change, but tho benefits would far more than compensate for any disadvantages. He believed thejiieaßures before Parliament would become IjUt There bad been a great de*l of discussion on the Bills, 'hut to rery liftle practical purpose. The Local Government Bill was a very bulky measure, conraining no fewer than 271 clauses. It was of a very complicated nature, und it would require a very larg> amount of consideration befon? it was made workable. It would require amendment in C'>mautte», and especially in rating clauses lie did not th nk he would be justified in taking up tho time of tho meeting by any lengthened n.pmnrks on the details of the Local Government Bill. The clauses would come home to tho ratepayers, &ud they would have to s*udy them for their own welfare. He thought that they might safely leave th© necepaary amendments to their representatives in Parliament, who would so alter tho objectionable fen'u-es a* to L.eet the wishes of those who had criticised them at various Public Meetings. No doubt the Bills would receive careful consideration by the^provornment. The appointment jf officers, under the Bill, the specification o_* their mities and powers, the districts to be constituted, and other important matters would require careful consideration. Fueling the pressing necessity for the Abolition of Provincial Institution*, he had prepare 1 the following resolution :— "That in the opinion o ( this meeting it is desirablo that the Provinces should, be abolis^iei." If any gentlemen present could adduce argument to prove that a continuance of the existing Provincial Governments would beneOt the country districts, he (Mr Smith,) would be glad to hear it. He admitted that Provincialism hnd done good work in the past, when there was little communication between the various Provinces, and when it was necessary that the little Parliaments shoulJ asaeml le and consider various matters for the well-boing of the districts. In all that could confer good and efficient legislation, strong Central Government was the best. The Jes3*>r lights must be eclipsed by the greater body. If they derivad as much light from the larger body as was necessary, what wai the use of a number of others ? A strong General Govern me nt would confer great ad van tigea on the out-divfcricta from an £s d point of view. In one way or other the expondjture must ultimately rome from the General Government. Provinces without fun. ls could not stand. Tho speaker concluded by moving th* resolution amidstjapplanse. •Mr ft Booth Dsked whither Mr Smith meant lhat thnre wa9 to bo nothing but a strong Cent**al Government. Mr. Smith rp c orred at eomo length to tho Bill. The Abolition Bill would do away with the Provincial Governments, and the Looal Government B 11 would provide machinery to replace them. The tw> Hills must; be taken togeth'T. Cipt. Ivineiman, in seconding tho motion, said, he did not think it was necessary to delay the Abolition of the Provinces. It appeared to be tie gem>ral feeling of the country that the time had corao. Some a?ked for delay, but c^uld not abe.r any benefit, to be derived from rlelay. The question had been before the country for at least I. 1 months. If tho passing of the iiills weie postpom d until the next Parliament., there would be a delay of 16 or 18 nv»nth«. Auckland wa<? anxious for delay, because it b?neGft.(>d by Provincialism. But would anyone present B*y that the country districts benefitted by Provincialism. N?> doubt the provinces bad done good work. So had many of the settlers who were now growing old and effete. Mr *orrost supported tho resolution. Hes»id he could not understood hdw anyone could be indifferent to the i nportance of this question. He believed there were no opponents of Abolition in Cambridge. For the last nine or ten years, they had heard nothing but the cry of " support tho General Government, and Abolish the Provinces." There were always two sides to a question, and there was what might be called an " ancient party " who were endpavonriug to obstruct the measures before Parliament. He was in favor of Abolition pure ami simple, and immpdntcly. He wished to see dummy Road Boards abolished also. Ho knew of a case wht're the proonetor of 90,000 acres of l.md, was chairua in of a dam. Ny tijid Hoard, with his workmen and servants as co-trustees lio believed the Local Government Biil would do away with ?uch dummy Roa J Boards. He proposed that the word "immediately" ba added to the resolution. Mr Smith and Capt Ruuoiman consented to the addition of the word, and fie motion was .•uworrdngly put in the amended form and carried unauimously. Mr Smith made a few remarks on the necessity of the settlers studying the Local Government Bill. Mr Cump said the Bill would no doubt be , considerably amended in Committee. The Chairman said there were several objectionable clauses in tho Bill, which would no doubt receive the attention of the Government. Capt Rune. man moved that the resolution passed be telegraphed by the Ch'iinnan to Major Jackson, to be laid before the Hjusa of Representatives. Mr J. J. Smith seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. 4 vote of thank 3 to the uhai: man, terminated the proceedings.