Untitled

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 4419, 12 July 1884, Page 7

Elaborato preparations aro boing made for the grand concert which tho Orchestral Society tenders to Herr Schmitt on Friday evening noxt. This Society has gained quite a colonial ropute for the high excellence of its performances, and no pains will be spared on tho forthcoming occasion to quite surpass iteolf in the effort to mnke an adequate recognition of tho groat services which the present conductor of the Choral Society has rendered to tho cause of music in Auckland. Ho is woll-deserving of a bumper house, and it is to be hoped that the local dilettanti will see that ho gets it.

[Continued jrom Page Tito). and upon Auckland especially. Tho North, deprived of its Customs revenue, would bo ! driven for all local purposes to burdensome i taxation, Tho South would havo a large railway rcvenuo and a large land revenue on which to depend. He at once admitted the force of the objection, but was convinced that ifapproachedina fair spirit, andwith a desire to ell'cct a settlement, an equitablo arrangement could bo made. Gentlemen, I call \ this to your earnest attention as one of the grave matters likely to take prominence in the new Parliament, and which may make that Parliament one of the most important that has yet been assembled. It is not to be supposed that all the Southern members will unite, but depend upon it they will not rest till they have at least brought together a suliicient number to form tho nucleus of a powerful Southern party whose chief object will be tho maintenance of Southern interests A party so formed cannot fail to bo, in tho present permanent Rtate of tho representation, a standing danger to this great province and to the unity of the colony. You may fairly ask me what in such a contingency I should think the best courso to take. My reply is this —What wo havo to dread is tho creation of parties based on local interests and geographical boundaries, and if I had tho power 1 would forestall them by the creation of a greater party based on the democratic principles which are dear to thousands in all parts of the colony, and which they would eagerly unite to uphold. You will readily see that mero sectional disputes would bo dealt with by such a party in a very different spirit to that in which they would bo dealt with by a coalition of members from two great Southern provinces aided by such other members from other districts as they might induce to join them. The real dilliculty for Northern members i 3 to decide who would be their most suitable leader against a Southern coalition, or who would most suitably represent tho North in the happier event of tho formation of a National Democratic Party. If Major Atkinson and Sir George Grey can be got to work together so much tho better, but two men are to ride one horse, one of them must sit behind, and therein I fear would bo tho trouble. I believe that a general desire to do justice will always influence Southern members, but if they get strong and we get weak, their ideaw of justice and ours may materially differ. In view of tho great danger of a united party in the South ruling and perhaps driving into dismemberment an impoverished North —in view of any return to tho financial arrangements under which' Auckland so long gave all her revenue to the colony and got so little in return—l havo, gentlemen, felt bound to speak to you with the utmost candour and to givo you tho results of my experience and obscrva tion during tho time you havo done mo the honour to send me to Wellington as your member. Connected with this subject let mo remind you that next Parliament will have to deal with a NEW REPRESENTATION ACT. Tho present Act expires on Ist December, 1887, and the representation must bo previously rearranged. You will remember (ho bitter struggle over tho passing of tho present Act, and tho nicinorablo stonewalling of certain Noise n memberH in defence of tho rights of their constituency. Tho proportions of tho country anrl town representation, tho creation probably of new districte, and the computation of tho Maoris will havo to be dealt with. I tako it for granted that the general principle of representation according to population will lie accepted, and I shall, if elected, bo prepared to maintain it to tho utmost of my power. If tho Assembly should by any means bo relieved of local affairs, there is also no reason whatever why tho Parliament of 140 members should consist of moro than 00 or 70, both Houses included. The fixed annual PAYMENT OF MEMBERS should also bo insisted upon. Tho new Parliament will last for three years from the return of tho writs, which, I think, is fixed for 7th August. It will hold four sessions in tho three years, namely, in August, 18S4 ; May or June, ISBS ; May, 188G ; and May, 1307 ; and thus its members will receive two honorariums during tho first year, unless a fixed annual payment is made the law. If elected, I shall make the passing of such an Act a primary consideration. In fact, not a session has passed in which I have not cither introduced a bill or heartily supported ono introduced by other members. I urged it strongly upon the Government as a bill they ought to pass bofore the recent dissolution, anil blamo them much for not having done so. Kcspecting the great question of FEDERATION, 1 have on former occasions given my views, and need not now repeat them at any length. I believe that federation is a grand and desirable measure for the Australian Continent. But I believe that it would be rank folly in New Zealand to surrender her independence of action to any General Council or General Government in any part of Australia. A mountainous country, surrounded by a vast ocean, Now Zealand will soon be able to defend herself against all comers, and can always independently maintain with Australia the close alliance which a common kindred and a common tongue dictate. Beyond that I do not think we ought, by a single step, to go, You will expect me to refer to your LOCAL REQUIREMENTS, on which I have something to say, and to which I think every member is bound to givo his earnest attention. Mr Moss then referred to his action in reference to the workshops, school fdtos, native reserve at Sunset Point, tho Harbour Board land in Hobson's Bay, tho amendment of tho Town Districts Act to facilitate drainage and water supply, the approach to the Railway Station, and various other local matters which he had taken from time to time in hand. He particularly regretted that nothing could be done to improve tho school building for the present, as the Education Board, in common with so many others, had to Hufl'cr by the late ill-timed dissolution, and could not get funds till Parliament met again. He noticed that Mr Dargaville had disputed this, and that he had declared the Opposition urged the Government to take all the nioney it wanted. This was only one of the innumerable outbursts of Mr Dargaville's daring imagination. No ono else would venture to say that the Opposition had done anything of the kinil. The Public Revenues Act, on which Mr Dargaville laid great stress, provided only for five months of indisputably necessary expenditure. Thewant-of-confidence motion once carried, the Ministry would not have been justified in bringing down debateable matter to delay the consequent dissolution, It was chiefly because he foresaw this result and pointed out the necessary stoppage both in caucus and in his speeches during the debate that he had so strongly objected to Mr Steward's motion as ill-tiraed. He said this much because Mr Dargaville had directly impugned his (Mr Moss's) statement on tho subject. It was not part of his (Mr Moss's) duty to defend the Ministry, but ho was bound to say in their favour that this assertion of Mr Dargaville's about tho Public Revenues Act was only ono of numerous others of the poouliar kind for which Mr Dargaville had become remarkable, and which had so' much tended to reduce the Dargavillian paity, as he had himself boasted to Mr Dargaville himself. Mr Moss said that he would not take up their time by going over matters upon which ho had already spoken in the Parnell Hall, but would leave them to ask him such questions as thoy might think fit. He would if elected give to the present Government a goneral support. He did not, in the present state of affairs, see what other party any Auckland member could support, and he would never again go to Wellington pledged to be merely a personal follower of any man. That was very well when all wore fighting for| a great cause and know what they were fighting for, but it had lasted too long and after the cause itself had been forgotten. He had often explained to them tho political principles by which he was guided and which he had to the utmost of his power fought for and maintained. To no party opposed to thoso principles would he give his support. It had been so in tho past and would be so in tho future if they were pleased to return him. He challenged his bittorest enemy to say.that lie had everby voice or vote belied in one single respect tho pledges upon which their support to him had beon obtained. The speaker, after alluding to the Federat;on question, which he said New Zealand should steor clear of, went on to refer to local matters. He urged the electors to keep in view their rights in Hobson's Bay, which would one day be very valuable, and also to the reserve for Maorj hostelry, which if not carefully watched, might be taken for some other purpose. This district was ■suffering from the late dissolution of Parliament, as the district school could not have necessary repairs effected for want of funds which Parliament must voto. He also explained the delay which had taken place in providing a railway station for Parnell. In reply to questions, Mr Moss stated : (1) That he would support a proposal to

vote a sum to be divided among the horti« cultural societies of tho colony for the introduction of new industries and the cultivation of now plants. (2) ]J e would, if returned, take ono honorarium, only for the two sessions next year. (3) Ho would not pledge himself toany courso of action an to licensing districts, but would maintain'tho principle of the Liconsing Act. (4) That ho did not think that ratepayers only should elect the Licensing Committees. (5) That he would like to sco barmaids abolished by public opinion, not by legislation. (0) That he would like to see bars dissociated from hotels and clubs, but would keep the bar at Bellamy's. Mr Howell asked : Why did you desert your party? And how do you think "Judas" Vogel was any good to tho colony' (Laughter). J Mr Moss said this gentleman had surely not been in the meeting, or he would havo heard his explanations on tho first matter, and would aim havn learned that ho did not consider Vogol any good. Mr D. H. McKknzik moved, " That this meeting, having heard Mr Moss's explanation and address, arc fully satisfied with hia action during the last session of Parliament and the electors of this section of the electorate havo entire Ronlidonce in him aB member of the forthcoming Parliament." Mr J. Jenkins seconded. Mr HowivU, proposed, and Mr Bah seconded, a voto of thanks only. On a show of hands being taken, only six were held up for tho amendment, while about 50 voted for tho motion—tho latter being declared carried. A voto of thanks to tho Chairman closed the meeting.