THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4419, 12 July 1884, Page 2

THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

MR CHAS. ATKIN AT NEWTON

ATHENAEUM,

Mn Charms Atkin delivered his first address to tho. doctors of Edon in tho Newton Athenrcum last evening. There was a largo attendance. Mr Young Warren was voted to the chair, and brielly introduced tho speaker.

Mr Atkin whs rocoived with cheers, Jlu said it. was only after muture consideration that ho liuil decided to seek election for Parliment, it boing somewhat, out of his track to appear on tho political platform. Ho had always been determined that if he sought election at nil, it would bo for the district in which he lived, and where lie was known. His lovo of manufactures was ono of tho principal reasons of liin coining out. During his residence in New Zealand it had boon one of his chief occupations to bo over head and oars in manufactures. It had been his good luck to Ijo asHociatcd with a large numbor of intelligent artisans, who, togethor with, him, had endeavoured to make manufactures in Auckland a success. (Cheers.) lie could not help deploring that tho artisans had hardly a single representative in tho House. He hud gone over the list of members-, and boliovod their occupation to bo as follows :— Farmers, 18 ; merchants, 20 ; lawyers, 10 ; journalists, i) ; squatters, <S; no occupation, H ; contractors, 4 ; land agents, 2 ; doctor, 1 ; auctioneers, 2; clergymon, °, Ho could not ascertain the occupation of some six member* Jf tho North Island waa to occupy tho position which Nature intended for it, she iiiuct be great in her manufactures, -and it was noeessary that this interest should be represented in the Parliament of tho country. The speaker, retelling to tho political crouds of the day, said ho could sco no real division among tho people as to Liberalism and Conservatism. He held no real Conservativo principle*, and was not a rabid Liberal, but, could not bo a blind follower of any man while ho had a mind of his own, and was hold responsible for his own actions. If ho wore sent to Wellington, ho must act according to his own judgment. There was much that ho admired about Sir (ieorgo (Ji'oy, who was ono «f theablest politicians that had crossed tho Lino, and while he con»iderod that he would bo out of his place if he were out of Parliament, ho did not think that ho hud been a successful administrator. At the samo time tho people owed a debt of gralitudo to Sir Oeorgo Grey for tho great pains ho had taken to educuto the people npto the standard which they had reached. (Cheers), Thoro was no ill-feoling between Mr Tolo and himself They Viud been on terms of friendship for Homo years, 110 had been asked his opinion in reference to tho North Inland trunk railway scheme. Ho was bound to rofer to thie question tonight, because hp was pledged to that ellect. When ho was tirst spoken to, ho had not looked into tho whole facts of tho case, and wax unable to givo a definite answer. Hut ho believed now that his answer then wan tho same as he would give to-night. Looking at tho surveys of tho Marton and Stratford lines, and taking out tho quantities of good and bad land, the questions suggested tliomßolvos—which line would suit tho Colonial [Exchequer best 1 which would norvo tho commercial interests best? and which would bo the more likely to open the country and settle it with an industrious population? Taking the survey from Marton to To Awftmutu, ho found that there was übout 50 miles that would never bo able to keep a burrow of rabbits. It consisted oi pumice stone land, high above tho sea level, which would never bo reproductive, and would never support cuttle or fheep. Tho cost was estimated at £6,500 per mile, and taking this unproductive 50 miles into consideration, the cost would really bo £8,000 or JCU.OOO por mile. Then there would be the steady lohs resulting from running in this tract of country, which could do nothing towards feeding tho lino. There wero objections to tho Stratlord line, but it ran through such beautiful country that wo would never want beef in Auckland, and it steady tiado would be opened. Unless additional evidence wore ottered, ho would, if elected, record his vote in favour of what was known as tho Stratford lino. If, however, further evidence against this decision wero offered to him, ho would be prepared to place it before them, and bo guided losomooxtentby their views. Another groat want in this part of tho country was the almost uttor absence of railway communication with tho North. Ho did not forgot that ho was one of those unfortunate Albortland sottlors who packed up tlioir belongings at Oruawharo and camo to Auckland, 110 would bo prepared to advocate tho const ruction of 10 or '20 miles at a time, if nothing bettor could bo obtained. Ho thought wo should do an thoy did down South, ami at least got little by lit tlo. Thoro was an opinion amongst soino peoplo that a powerful syndicate should bo formed, and that wo should got rid of our railways to it. Ho would opposo any projwsal to effect Mich a sale. \Vo hat) a splendid highway round our Island, but we also required n good highway through tho island. This was afforded by our railways, and to part with these would bo liko a man parting with his right hand. What right, ho nskod, had wo to disposo of our children's birthright for a moss of pottago ? We should not make such an enormous concession to what wore really birds of passage. Tho speaker proceedod to attack tho present system by which railway officials woro romoved frequently from tho positions which thoy woro (naming, to fill properly, consequent upon tho changfi' of Ministry, to tho detriment of etiiciont railway management. Ho thought wo should have ono general railway manager, independent of Ministerial influence, in whom tho responsibility of tho working of lines might bo vested,' and who might bo paid a per-centago of profit. He would proceed to refer to a question which was ono of tho most vital importance to tho pooplo of tho colony. Thoro wero many people who thought they should attuch religious to secular education. He did not despise roligious education. [A voico: We have too much of that.l No, ho did not think we have. But ho did not think it was tho duty of the State to pay ono penny for tho roligious education of the pooplo. (Cheers and uproar, in which Mr Mullully was a prominent foaturo.) He preferred to leavo tho religious education of tho children to the mothers, the ministers and priests of tho present day. (Cheers.) As a matter ef principle and political economy, ho held bard and fast with freo trade principles, although ho himself was a manufacturer. Butitwasadiflicult andavoxedqucstion. WhonhowasinSydney recently ho saw a large pieco of material. Requiring somo, ho asked the prico frem the vondor, who wished to know if ho wanted it for export or froo trade. Ho was told if for uso in tho place it would bo £2 less, because »f the export duty. Avenues which had boon made for tho protoction of local industry Were boing taken advantage of day by clay, and the revenue was decreasing. For instanco, a merchant imported a cortain class of goods, tho duty on which was £500. Somo of tho goods were duty froe, and instead of paying €500, which was tho real duty, ho passed them through at i.350 or £400. (Messrs Mullally and Gregory managsd, at this | stage, to throw the meeting into a state of | disorder, and for a minuto or two the remarks of tho speaker wore _ inaudible.) Ho had co-mo to the conclusion that it was their duty to wipe out all these exceptions, and instead of bonefitting the manufacturer by the 15 per cent. ml valorem, strike them off. America was now inakiig a position for herself amongst tho nations of the earth by her protection, and having amassed immense woalth, would proclaim frpo trade, and take a loading placo in trade. He thought t(io time had gone past for free immigration, but not for nominated, (Tho speaker proceodod to point out the benefits of nominated immigration, but tho disorderly conduct of Mullally again prevented him boin,g heard.) Speaking in reference to the taxatjen of tha colony, Mr Atkin said that so long as wo borrowed money, so long wo must be prepared tq pay for it, If we wero to bo taxed, it wob wiso to consider tho best means of taxation. He was not in love with tho property tax, nor yot out of lovo with it. Ho considered a land ta,x would bo fairest, but wo must not Btop thoro. There should also bo an income tax. (MrMullally: Inquisitorial.) Mr Atkin could not see that it would bo more inquisitorial than the property tax, under which tho taxed individual had to mako revelations regarding his privato porsonal possessions. Further interruptions by Mr Mullally followed, and while one elector suggested that ho should bo thrown out, another recommended him to ascend the platform. He adopted tho latter suggestion, and took his seat on tho platform. Silence having been restored, Mr Atkin proceedod : —Ono disadvantage of the property tax was shown in the case of the individualwhodrew£l,oooand£l,sooperannum, but whose possessions did not amount to the £500 exemption. He escaped free. But in the case of tho man who acquired appliances to assist him in his labour, the fruits of his industry were taxed. [Mr Mullally again became disorderly, and an altercation between him and the Chair-

man onaued.] Concerning the land tax, he considered that tho land was an immovable possession, and was always there to bo taxed. Ifo also wished to speak regarding tho administration of lands in this colony. We wero all ontitled to a New Zealand inheritance, and if wo were . not possessed of the almighty dollar, how were wo to enter into competition for land ! A bill had been introduced by the late Government in reference to the legality of past land transactions, but ho did not know if that would do. He thought there should bo an amendment that each man should ballot for his own land. Jfo was not a man to sot clans against class, but provision should be made fur tho poor as well as the rich man. lie did not tavour tho law of entail. Probably there was no man that had been so robbed out of a large estate by this law as Charles Atkin. A dead man hull no right to legislate for the living. We should have none of theso arbitrary laws in Now Zealand. We should look upon the land as the greatest gift that we can have, and uso it for the country's benefit and exaltation. Tho speaker was loudly applauded at the conclusion of his address. Air Jack Mullally wantedtodeliveran election address too, but the chairman insisted that he had no right to do more than a.=k a question. In roply ta questions, Mr Atkin said : — (I) He had no interests in land mattera, and had no friends to serve in land matters. He wished to represent tko people and conserve their interests, (2) He had n« fault to find with Mr Tolo. (3) He did not say on his return from New South Wales that mechanics wero too well paid here, and that a reduction in wages would have to bo made boforo trade woidd prosper here. What ho did say was that they worked too hard over there, and that he would not work so hard. (4) Ho was notin favour of the disenfranchisemerit of Government employees. (, r>) He could not sco how wo could prevent a duty on the necessaries of life as well as on tho luxuries, although tho latter should have a red work against them, (ti) He was not in favour of doing away with licensing committees. (7) Ho was not in favour of cheap labour, boing coloured labour, 110 had men in his shop who had been with him IS years und downwards. Also, men who hud served their timo with him. He had nover worked for low wages, and did not wish othor peoplo to do it. (8) lie was not in favour of nationalising the unsold land of the colony on the broad basis He had endorsed the action of Rev. Shirley Baker at Tonga, aud believed it to be the most equitable system. (9) He believed there should bo a limit to further borrowing, and feared that the appcaranco of Sir Julius \'ogel would have the effect of leading to further borrowing in the mistaken belief that it would oventfully remove depression. (10) Ho believed tho system of giving large blocks of land for special settlement should be discontinued. (II) At the present time, ho was not prepared "to support aland tax on a sliding scale according to the extent of tho holding. Ho would require further proof on the matter. (12) He hoped that no law for the punishment of blasphemy would bo needed. There might be a difleronco of opinion about the moaning of blasphemy. (13) Ho would support tho division of a sum of menoy amongst the horticul tural societies of the colony. (14) lie was in favour of monthly instead of sessional payments to mombers of Parliament. That, ho thought, would do away with the honorarium difficulty. (15). If manhood suflrage were allowed for the election of licensing committees, ho thought, they should also havo woman suffrage. (10) If olected, he would vote for tho Government in, the event of a want-of-conlidonco motion being proposed on tho assembling of Parliament. (17) He was in favourof abolishing any law calculated to assist gambling. (18) Ho would assist in correcting any orrors in the present Licensing Act which gave one vendor of drink more liconse than another. (l'J) Ho would not support Sir Julius Vogel. (•JO) Ho did not see what objection there could be to a coalition Grey and Atkinson Government; thero was no difference in thoir policy. Some of those present might think there was, but ho had nover seen it. (21) He would support a measure for obtaining ouo universal hour for closing hotels. (2J) Ho wu» not in favour of the amalgamation of all thii licensing committees into one. Ho believed in the principle of local option, tho residents in v district boing best acquainted with tho character of a hotel. ('2'A) Ho wo"ld not support v tax on Church property. This concluded tho questions. Mr F. CIIKKHV moved, und Mr Fuk.vch seconded, "That the thanks of thin meeting bo accorded to Mr Atkin." Mr Paths moved at an amendment, and Mr James Piiilmi'-s seconded, "Thut a vote of thanks anil confidence bo pawed to Mr Atkin." Somo confusion ensued during tho taking of I he show of hands. The Chairman doclared tho amendment carried, but ono of the scrutineers rose and contradicted this statement. It win thin announced that the motion was curried. A vote of thanks to tho Chairman terminated tho proceedings. MR PEACOCK AT AVONDALE. Mr Peacock addressed tho olectorH of Avondalo at tho public hall last evening. There was a largo attendanco. Mr Bolland occupied tho chair. Mr Peacock placed his views on tho important questions most interesting to tho electors before them in an interesting manner, and was givena respectful honring throughout. Various questions wero put to the candidate, which he answered satisfactorily. Ho was asked if it was true, us stated in a letter to tho papers, that a man employed by a timber comjHuiy with which ho (Mr Peacock) was connected who had lost his arm, had not beon well treated. Mr Peacock said ho had not seen the statement referred to, but from his knowledge ho could givo it a flat contradic; tion. The man had Received a gratuity of £50, and had been afterwards in tho employment of tho company for a long timo. At the close of the mooting Mr Bell proposed, and Mr Howell seconded, " That this mooting has groat pleasure in thanking Mr Peacock for his ablo address, and has every confidence in him as the representative of Newton in Parliament." Mr Johnson moved as an amendment, " That a vote of thanks only be givon." The motion was carried by a large majority. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to tho Chairman.