MR J. P. CAMPBELL'S ADDRESS AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1120, 28 August 1879, Page 2

MR J. P. CAMPBELL'S ADDRESS AT C AMBRIDGE.

Shoetly after seven o'clock on Tuesday evening, a very large audience assembled m the Public Hall. The building was quite* full, and many were standing m, the doorway, "being unable to find sitting room. Oh the motion of Mr H. M. D. Tearson, Mr A. A. Fantham was voted to the chair.

Mr Campbell said : I appear before you to-night, m what, to me, is somewhat a novel position, viz.— as a candidate for your suffrages. This, however, is not the first occasion on which I have appeared before a Cambridge audience. I have no doubt that I shall obtain from you the same patient hearing, and the same kind consideration, that I have always experienced from my fellow-settlers m this district, when necessity compelled me to appear on a public platform. It was with a great amount of hesitation, and much reluctance, that I consented to become a candidate ; but as I ascertained that there was a very general feeling -in my favour, and as my views, especially on the leading questions of the day, coincided with those, as I believed, of the majority of the electorate, I felt that their was no other course left open to me than to come forward, regardless of private interests, at the urgent request of numerous personal and political friends. Having come to this decision, I thought it was desirable that, at as early a date as possible, I should state my views, especially on those points which are agitating the public mind, and concerning which much interest has been exhibited. Gentlemen, I think that the coming contest m Waikato, will do a great amount of good m this way, that it will be the means of exciting much interest m political questions, that the interest thereby excited will evoke much discussion, that discussion will lead to thought, and that thought will evolve itself m action. Far better that there should be hot discussion and a keen contest, than that we should remain apathetic and indifferent to the grave political questions which are before the country at the present time, questions which must decide -our future position and which will affect, materially, the future history of the country. Better that we should have political differences, and should even excite political feeling, than tbat we should remain wrapped up m stolid indifference, or over engrossed m private cares. Having, then, decided to come forward, the question was, where I should first address the electors; Residing m Cambridge, where I have always interested myself, and taken part m publio local matters, I decided that this was the proper place first to address the electors of Waikato. I must first say a word, with regard to personal matters. It has been said by some who desire to oppose me, that I wish to get into the House of Representatives, for tho sake of getting some Government appointment. This must have been originated by those who are ignorant qf a law passed, about twQ years ago, that no member should accept an appointment under the Government, unless he should have, left the House twelve month? previous, under a penalty of £50 a day. At the time the law was passed, it was tried by some to make the term six mouths, but, I think it is better as it is, and that it is a very proper law. Therefore, I could not be going m with the intention of getting a Government appointment. With regard to Mr Whyte, who is my opponent, but a personal friend of my own, and •whom I would desire to regard with fiivery feeding of resjoect, I trust that, to-inorrowi'ybuwilf giye'lfim aiair hearing. I expected that, to-night, ne would have been here, and Mr Fergusson, al -o, ' the latter of whom has retired from the contest. This is why I called the meeting at seven o'clock, instead of eight, which would, perhaps, have been a more con•venieu^ nou^r, I must tell you, t}-tat Xam .

not the nominee of any man, oliqne,

ring or party, that I am not m a position, to be influenced by any clique, ring or institution. Having now cleared the ground, I shall speak to you sh the -financial position of the oolony. The net indebtedness of the oolony is £21,513,303, the gross indebted-l-ossis £23,000,000 ; bat as to the question of borrowing. It is absolutely necessary to borrow money to complete the public works. If a man held a piece of land and had no capital to work it, he would not let it remain fern, it would be very little use to him if he did, but he must borrow some money to cultivate the land that it may yield him a return, and so he will g-^t the interest on the money borrowed, und on the original cost of the land. Now i consider the position of the colony somewhat similar. There is no cause for apprehension with regard to our debt. The debt on each person m the colony computing the population at 450,000 wiii be about £48 per head. Now the national indebtedness of the colony has often been compared to that of England and Belgium and other continental countries. The national debt of England is about £800,000,000, this with the population -would be about £20 per head. But the oases are not parallel, about 600,00,000 of this debt was spent m the Peninsula War. But we have our railway and other public works to show for our money. Again the position of every member of the community is very different, the rate of wages here is higher than at Home. The financial position of the colony may be regarded m one sense as unsatisfactory, and m another as eminently satisfactory. There is a deficiency, but the falling off is the land revenue. The increase m the general revenue from Customs and >tamp Duties i_ £150,000, and we shall have the land to the credit of the colony. *r'ome time ago railway stock m England was not thought much of, but now when ail the lines m the country are opened up, the stook is the best m tho country, it is preferred to even bank stock. Now, with our railways we may expect as soon as they are opened up, that they will pay good interest on the money, borrowed. Consider what an advantage the railway is to this district although it does not yet reach Cambridge. I believe that.it is a saving of £5000 a year to this district m freight and fares. It used to cost me about £10 to go down to Auckland for a couple of days, now I can do it for £3 or £4. It is a considerable saving. I have before me Mr Mc Minn's speech at Hamilton. He"refers to the amount spent m the North and South Islands for railways— £2,817,592 m the _Torth, and £4,819,715 m the Soath. Just £2,000,000 more to the South than m the North. He then goes on to try and prove that the North has not been unfairly used m the matter. But if Mr McMinn is satisfied with the comparative amounts expended m the two Islands, I believe he is the only man m the North Island who is. If you do me the honor of sending me sent you m the House, will join with the Auckland members, and shall sink all minor differences and petty jealousies, jealousies, and endeavour to get this injustice remedied. The railways m the North Island pay 1-f per cent., while those' in the South "pay 3 per cent. The reason of this is, the railways m the South have feeders. In the South, the land received a greater influx of immigration than the North, Immigration ought to be carried on m connection with the public works. Where public works are being carried on, this immigration ought to be diverted. We ought, too, to hv/e a Minister of Public Works for the North Island, then we might get justice done. Taxation is the next question I shall put before you. A t present, the Land Tax has been instituted at a great expense. I believe m a land tax, but think a sliding scale would be better, so that those lands which, are lying idle should be more heavily taxed than those occupied and cultivated. As to taxing small owners, it is a question whether it is worth while collecting the tax on such. With regard to immigration, gentlemen, I believe m nominated immigration, That, I think, should always continue. It is a means of getting desirable immigrants. Other immigration should follow .where necessary. But I am opposed to Chinese immigration. If we must have Chinese, let hs have as few as possible, He is not a desirable neighbour from a social point of view. I believe m Manhood Suffruge, with a twelve months residential qualification, but with a property qualification as well. lam also m favour of Triennial Parliaments. I think they are better m a. new country than quinquennial or septennial, as m England, Members are often brought back to their constituentt, and are thereby made more careful to look after their interests. But Ido not think it is necessary, with Triennial Parliaments, to send membera baok to their constituents if they accept a seat m the Government. This, I think, quite unnecessary, as, if their constituents are at issue with them for doing so, at the end of three years, they will come back, and let them get rid of them, it will be question enough. I do not approve, gentlemen, of the Maori dual vote. As long as Maoris have special representation, they have no right to a dual vote. I look forward to the time when they shall be put upon the same footing as Europeans, and enjoy equal rights. The Government are m favor of giving extended powers to County Councils. jThere has been too much tendency to centralism, and I belive that money spent by local bodies, is spent to the best advantage. The next matter, is one of importance. It is, native lands, There are four ways of dealing with native lands. The first way is, for the Government, alone, to buy the lands, and this, I believe, would not do, as it would arouse the Maories into rebellion, and would cause a war. The second is, free trade m native lands, and Ido not think this arrangement would prove satisfactory. The third is, to continue the present system, which is not at all satisfactory. The fourth system is, that which the present Government have indicated as their policy, m the^Governor's address. That the Goveru_rr i *-iAauJ4j refrain from purchasing the land, that all native lands should be put up to pablic auction. I ara m favor of this system. It will enable the man with a hundred pounds capital, to buy land, equally with the man with his thousands. I shall now speak of my position, with regard to the present Ministry. As long as they try to carry out the line of policy indicated, I shall give them my support. I' think, gentlemen, that the want of confidence motion, at the beginning of the session, was a mistave. In the speech m which Sir Wm. Fox moved it, there was very little argument, but much yituperatiqn. The Opposition showed very indecent haste tq qccupy the Govern^ 1-Qent benches. They approved of the Government's policy, and would not give them an opportunity of 'carrying it out, They acoused the Government q£ maiadministration^ but, they would uot givo them time to give an account of it, or, to make their statements. As long as the Government, headed by Sir Goorge Grey, endeavour to carry out that policy, I shall give thorn my hoarfcy support. If I find they refuse, or nogloct to oarry it out, because I regard sins of j omission as great as those of commission, • I shall conso to support them. lain m faymfr of Urn in-QSfiiftr system of 'edif(;:*.timi, and would not, on any account, oonsen tto allow the present Act to be tampered with. We arc entitled to have a railway to Cambridge. I shall, if you return me, press upon the Government the necessity of having the line made at once, J be-

' heve, also, we ought to have a road to > Taupe. I shall try to get that. But, I aU» think, we ought to have a railway to the Hot Lakes and Taupo. If the line to Taranaki cannot be carried through, I will endeavonr to get the money voted for it, transferred for a line to Rotorua i and Taupo. If we can get both, all the i better.

Mr Selby asked if the natives were to be compelled to put up their lands to publio auction P Was it to be voluntary or compulsory ? Mr Campbell said he had not quite been .understood, perhaps, on the question. When the Act was being passed, no doubt amendments would be added, to provide for all contingencies. An elector asked if Mr Campbell would endeavour to get a special grant for the Auckland educational district, out of the vote for Education Boards ? The money was now distributed on the basis of population, but Auckland was behind other districts m educational requirements. Mr Campbell said Mr McCosh Clark had said that the money should be distributed on the bisis of educational requirements, instead of popuUtion. This he approved of.

No other questions being asked, Mr Forrest proposed a motion of confidence m Mr Campbell, seconded by Mr James H»lly, which which was carded by accLmition.