THE WAIPA ELECTION.

Waikato Times, Volume XII, Issue 940, 2 July 1878, Page 2

THE WAIPA ELECTION.

THE MEETING iT ALEX__3.DRA. On Saturday afternoon a meeting of the Electors was held at Alexandra, and was addressed by the two cau--1 didates, Mr McMinn and Mr F. A. Whitaker, as follows : — Mr McMinn on being called upon by the uhairinan, came forward and stated hi* first duty was to apologise to the electors for his delay m coining forward as a candidate, but said it was not altogether his fault as probably the meeting would allow when he . had stated the reasons. They all had heard of the scheme of the late Sir Donald McLean to buy up all the land on the west side of the Waipa, and return it to the natives. Most of them were also aware of the part he (Mr McMinn) had taken against this scheme, m getting up petitions to the Assembly at different times, the first of which was laid before the Assembly by Sir Georgo Grey. The only consolation they got from the late Government was a snubbing from Dr Pollen and Sir Donald McLean but as the latter gentleman was now no more he would not refer further to him. Dr Pollen m his place m the Legislative Council speaking very strongly about tlib selfishness of the settlers m thinking only of their own gain and nothing of the good of the country, Sir George Grey on the contrary expressed his entire concurrence with the petition, and promised it his support. Since his access to office he (Mr McMinn) had seen Sir George on severel occasions m Auckland, Alexandra, andlatterly at the banquet at Te Awamutu, on all of which he expressed the same views stating that it was riot m accordance with his views to locate natives among Europeans as there were great difficulties m the way, and stating positively that he would not return these blocks purchased from Europeans. He, (Mr McMinn), must at tfce same time state he was not opposed to giving land to the King Natives as a principle but only to returning these lots among the settlers. The Government had any amount of land where they were uo settlers, amply sufficient to supply nil reasonable requirements for natives, and s he recognised the necessity of giving them land to live on, both as a matter of justice and policy, to preserve them from pauperism and also to keep up that independent spirit which would be so advantageous to the race if, turned to proper account. When the account of the meeting at Hikurangi appeared, accompanied by the official list of the arrangements i made by Sir George Grey with the . King (and he must observe the ' same account appeared m the • Weekly News '), it was stated all land west of tlie Waipa was to oe returned, aud no exception was mentioned. As no contradiction ' appeared, he (Mr McMinn) began :

to be afraid. Sir George Grey wa s I not going to keep his promise ; and as he would not attempt to go into the Assembly Against. Sir George, and could not support him if there was a breaph of faith, he intended to stand aloof. But he was assured by persons well qualified to know that there had been an exception at least intended and imputed m the case of the Pirongia lands. He resolved at once to telegraph to Sir George and ascertain the true state of thecase. The reply was : "It does not include Harapepe, it stops at Karakariki." This, of course, excepted considerably more tha a the petitions sent iv bad referred to, and completely ratified Sir George Grey's previous promises. Immediately on receipt of that assurance he telegraphed his intention to stand bo every station m the district. While speaking on this subject, he was glad to bear testimony to the very strong manner m which Mr , Whitaker had expressed himself against this proposal, through the Waikato Times. He was not aware of any subject on which that paper had spoken so strongly, and he thought the thanks of the settlers were clue to Mr Whitaker for his able advocacy of their cause. Having made this explanation, he proceeded to state his views on some of the questions occupying public attention. Firstly, he would refer to tho proposed land, property, and income tax. It would be remembered by some of those present that 'when l;i3t a candidate for the Waipa constituency he had expressed himself m fivor of a property and income tax, but he failed to see why there should beany distinction made between a property and a la-ud tax. Property Avhen used m this connection usually meant houses, buildings of all sorts and landed property. Therefore, he thought simply a property and income tax would meet all the wants of the case. So far as imposing a tax upon property, m the shape of land, &c, he went with Mr Whitaker, but when it cime to an increasing progressive tax, it had something the colour of protection, or the introducing the thin edge of the wedge of that obnoxious article, and he (Mr MclYJLinn) was a freetrader to the backbone. Ho did not see why if a man had acquired a large sum of money m commerce or any other way he should be prevented from investing it m land ov any other article he thought fit, by the imposition of a prohibitive tax. Of course, on principle, he was personally opposed to the acquiring of enormous estates by single individuals, it wns uot good policy for the siate ; bat still he did not like legislative enactments to interfere m these matters. He believed m ths laws, of supply -and demand, and these questions would settle themselves naturally f v better than any prohibitive taxation could do. There was another subject he considered of very great importance and which had not been touched upon by Mr Whitaker, — the question of Education and especially he referred to (he compulsory clauses He thought it a very great mistake to make the imposition of these clauses optional with each committee. The same blunder had been made m the Auckland Provincial Education Act, and he presumed the present clause had been passed on tha.t Act. He was aware some committees had formally brought these clauses into operation, but he had never yet heard of any case m which they had befiiL enforced. He thought the main principle to be enforced and he would if possible have it made a principle of the common law of the laud, tha it was the duty of every father of a family to have his children educated, at leastrso far as to enable them to carry out the ordinary business of life m an efficient manner. Of course, the re Avere and always would be extreme cases Avhere it Avas not practicable, but m his 'opinion that principle ought to be stamped on the face of the Act. "With regard to the religious question, this was a tender point, but on that account he would not burk it. The only practicable solution he could see Avas that Ministers of all denominations should have equal facilities for instructing the children of their respective persuasions j at stated times to be fixed by the seA r eral committes ; and whenever practicable, aud the number of children justified the expenditure, he would . like to see classrooms added to tlie schoolhouses, mainly | for ensuring privacy and convenience of religious instruction. As a general | principle he was opposed to denominational education, as it tends to keep up that party spirit which had done so mudi mischief m European , countries, and the custom of children of all persuasions mixing together m youth would help to foster and strengthen that natural spirit so desirable m a ne-Av country If elected, he would make it his business to study the Education Acts of England, Canada, Victoria, &c., so as to be able to form a stronger opinion on the subject. Concerning the question of local government, it was quite evident there must be a change. At present, he could not consider the county system m opera - tion at all, or only very partially, and m these cases Avhere it had been tried, it was doubtful whether it would be a success, cA r en with considerable modifications. The great objection to the county system Avas that it meant triple taxation — General Government, Koad Board, and County. It Avas proposed by Mr Whitaker that . local bodies should be endoAved Avith ample funds from the consolidated fund, but he considered that this Avas a delusion. If the General Government had to pay these endoAvments, it Avas certain they Avould have to tax the country sufficiently to raise the means, and it would be simply taking the money out of one pocket and putting it into the other. There Avas another objection to this scheme, and that^vas that, Avhere any local governing bodies were depending entirely or mainly for their existence on the grants reoeiA r ed from the superior poAver (even though these grants Avere fixed by laAv), it tended to deprive them of that independence which was absolutely necessary to preserve for them the respect of the people. It seemed to him that it might be possible, by enlarging the dis, tricts and inereusiug- the powers of th<4

present Road Boards, to do without a dual System of local government. What he would propose would be that a committee be firmed from members on both sices of the House and of all sl.ide< of oh^;} opinion, to *horn would be reload whatever Bill the Govenjinrnt had Lpi - pared on the subject-tha drafts shou be forwarded for the consideration ot all local Ss, and, after their suggests be prepared and submitted Pwhamont. By some such means he thought a sati.factoT settlement could be come to Ther7were severalother ™^<»^ he had intended; to address them this evening, but, as it was getting late and 111 wfather so unfavorable, he would have to defer it to another occasion. He would only assure them that if he had the honor of being returned* he would continue to act m the larger sphere upon the same principles by which he had been guided during the year m which.he had been conneoted with local, government. " The greatest good for the greatest number "had been and would be his motto. If there was any question upon whioh any elector present wished a more definite explanation, he would reply to him. He had or^irther to thank the meeting for the p» lG^ce with which they had heard him. V

Mr Whitaker m addressing the electors said that, before he touched on the several questions of the day, he should refer to one or two electioneering squibs which, had been circulated m reference to himself. He must remind his hearers that, m election times, the partisans of each side promulgated suoh reports as they might think damaging to their opponents, often without believing'theni to he true. People should always stop to enquire into the truth of these reports before forming a prejudice against the object of their attack. For instance he had heard it said that he was coming forward as a nominee of Mr Cox. Now, could anything be more absurd than such an idea ? Did they imagine for a moment that any man coming before the public for tho first time could afford to do bo as the nominee of any man ? If a man meant to succeed m the political world, he must be above being a nominee. Then capital was . trying to be made against him by reports being industriously circulated that he was an opponent of the Grey Ministry. He could teU them that, as far as the measures of the Ministiy were before the country, he would support them. He was a Überal politician, and the measures proposed were liberal. In his opinion, there was no Opposition m existence. At the same time, no reasonable man would expect another to pledge himself for three years to blindly follow any leader. He was quite certain that the constituency of : Waipa would never insist upon its representative being bound hand and foot, and left without any liberty* of action. The people were satisfied with the general avowal of support to the great liberal party which was now springing into existence. Mr Whitaker then referred to the great necesoity^ for a. change m the incidence of taxation he used the same arguments as have been already reported m these columns. He expressed himsolf m favor of a land tax, upon a slidingrscale, but urged that improvements should 'not be taxed. An income and property tax, he said, would relieve the general taxation, and would touch the pockets of absentees, who were drawing large sums from the colony and paying nothing towards* the maintenance of the institutions of the State, which alone gave security and value to their property. In reference to the Land Fund, he should vote for any measure which might be brought forward to take the remaining 20 per cent., no.w paid to the different provincial 'districts. tie was a. young colonial, belonging to the North, and had always felt and smarted under the ir justice ot one part of a nation absorbing the proceeds of the sale of public land to the great detriment of the rest of the country. He would, if elected, work as hard as possible tc get another grant similar to that of the £40,000 which had been voted for public works m the Province of Auckland. That provincial district, ' in_ his opinion, has received nothing like a fair share of Publio Works money and the least that could be done would be to give a good large sum. out of the new loan to Auckland, so as m some small degree to equalise the expenditure north and south. In reference to local self government, Mr Whitaker said that it was the mot. important question the country had to deal wilh. Nothing could be more hateful than centralism. He balieved m endowing and subsidising any form of local self government that might be agreed, upon so as to render it a real power 'omd not a mere sham; Local government should not mean simply a fresh taxing machine. They ought to receive a considerable portion of the general revenue, and take over the control of all minor matters which could not be properly attended to by the over- • growing department m Wellington. The country was ' too much governed by officials m Wellington. What the people wanted was to have power given them to govern themselves, liereferring to local matters, Mr Whitaker said his policy would be to procure money to be spent m districts not already opened up. He believed m opening the country for settlement, and that could only be done by making roads and bridges m out-districts. Districts woll settled could better afford to help themselves than those places where settlement was scant. He thought, therefore, that money obtained from the colonial pur_e for public woiks should be as far as possible expended m opening up now country. He thought that if land was given back to natives arrangemems should be made by which Europeans who were injured should either be bought out or compensated. At the same time the ad vantages of a peaceful settlement of the Maori difficulty were so great that scarcely any sacrifice would be too much for the oolony to make to secure them. He promised, if elected, to act m accordance with his previously expressed views j to press forward the Raglan ahd Waipa Road,. and also the Ngaruawahia and Alexandra Road, which would open up a country second to none m the > district. Mr Whi taker concluded by stating that, if elected, no man should ever send to bim for information without getting an answer as quickly ao possible ; that whatever waA right and fair he would attend to for any of, his constituents ; and, further, that if on any measures not before the country at present, but which might subsequently be brought toward, he should find himself at variance with his constituents he would not misrepresent them, but would make way for another man. ["The two speeches comprise the sole report of the proceedings of the Alexandra meeting to hand.— Ed., VV.I. |