MR GEORGE HUTCHISON.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 144, 20 June 1899, Page 3

MR GEORGE HUTCHISON.

The announcement that Mr George Hutchison, tlie member for Patea, V?a.s to deliver an address on political questions caused a large audience to gather last evening in the Choral Hall. Mr David Goldie presided, and said he had much pleasure in introducing1 the member for Patea, who had in response to a very largely signed requisition consented to deliver an address.

Mr Hutchison, tipon rising to address the audience was received with applause. He said he esteemed it a great privilege to be allowed to address an Auckland audience, as he Relieved that a change was near, and he thought it would be one productive of good to the colony of New Zealand. (Applause.) He trusted that the people of Auckland would jsise to the occasion, and no longer be Isolated either in opinion or position. '(Applause.) He proposed to follow somewhat on the lines of the speech ©f the Premier. He would, however, first touch on a matter of importance jto Auckland, namely,

*THE SAN FRANCISCO SERVICE.

In March the Premier, when addressing an Auckland audience, said provided the colony had a fortnig-htly service probably one would go to •Auckland and the other to Wellington. The next meeting the Premier addressed in this city was two months afterwards, and then he said; the San. Francisco service was the best imd they were going to keep it. A toice asked, "In Auckland?" and the Premier replied most assuredly in 'Auckland, and added he had never (the slightest intention of taking the service from Auckland as long as it fWas a monthly one. Mr Hutchison asked the audience to consider what <£hese declarations meant. Simply tlfcit If there was a fortnightly service lone would go to Wellington, but if ft remained a monthly service it remained as at present with Auckland. Contrast the Premier's diplomatic declaration with the straig-ht-iforward one of the Leader of the Opposition, that Auckland from its position must remain the port of call.

THE PREMIER'S POLICY,

Mr Hutchison then criticised the platform laid down by the Premier at his last address. The Workman's Compensation Bill, he said, was copied from a measure introduced by the Tory Ministry of England. (Applause.) The Government Accident Insurance Bill was introduced §ast session, but failed to pass. Mr Hutchison considered it was entirely undesirable for the State to com■pete in commercial ■undertakings. It ytas a speculative undertaking that %c considered was best left to private fsiterpris©. (Applause.) Then there Hwas an amendment to the Advances fl» Settlers Act also promised. That Act seemed to constantly require amendment. This time it was to reduce the rate of interest. The Jfcdvances to Settlers Act was a measure he had never opposed, as he considered it a desirable thing. All tie opposed was the method of raisteg" the money in London. What he &d object to was the Board not being non-political. At first it was as nearly as possible non-political, but that did not suit the Government of the day, and the next year the Character was changed so as to give a Minister a chairman's and a castfag Vote. There was also to be an amending Bill to the Land for Settlements Act, which was a copy of the Workman's Cottage Bill passed ■by the British Tory Government. Mr Hutchison said that also was a desirable measure, but he thought the power should be given (to the local authority, as he Relieved in decentralisation. (Applause.) The' penny postage was another measure promised by the sPremier. Surely the Premier as Postmaster-General ought to know that there already existed an Act passed eight years ago which only required and Order-in-Council to bring it into force. (Applause.) Mr Hutchison said the penny postage was a desirable measure provided the finances of the colony would permit of it being brought into force. He j»ras firmly of opinion the loss at first ;would soon be recouped. The Prepiier also proposed to amend the Old Age Pension Act. The Opposition •were not opposed to old age pensions, but considered the principle should He a fair one and calculated to retain the recipient's self reliance. (Applause.) The Asiatic Kestriction Bill had been tried before, and was an amarfng effort at legislation. An Electoral Amendment Bill was another measure mentioned, and no doubt it was required, for at present the powers of registrars were inrefinite, ■Which >as dangerous. Pveferring to the propped amendment of the native lands law-,, Mr Hutchinson said they required atering. At present the natives were -eally forced to sell their land to the Government at its own interest. He v ou ld like to repeal every ■word of the present native land laws. There %s now to be a Land Board, and numbers of Parliament .■were not disqua} ne d. His own opinion was that cotcst should be established, all the members of which but one should be navves, and let that court deal with th\ lands. Give the Government a preemptive right of purchase, but not a, exclusive one. •He noticed that the Vernier offered Mahuta a seat in the LVislative Council, but to that gentle, an ' s honour, fee' it said, he declined >he appointment. (Laughter.) No greater insult could have been offe% him, unless it was to make Mahu\ a justice of the peace. (Applause.) - h e Local Government Bill was also praised, fcut that meant decentralisati I)Wllic h the present Government did i t like. The measure had been dang^ be - lore their eyes since 1895 The* also the Political Undf/ Seg^y of interest, which was a.very dgar_ !<La Tg HE r-OPPOSITION POLICY. Speaking regarding the Opgjjgm uoicv Mr Hutchison said OaPta^ E Sell had declared for a freehold rApplatise.) There was no idea of Wishing the leasehold but to add to it the option of the freehold. Mr Hutchison then referred to the land

settlement system of the present Government, and contended that for

the past six years there was a de-

crease of 500 in the number of selec-

tors as compared with the previous six years. Other reforms promised by the Opposition were in the Civil Service and the Legislative Council. Both were, he considered, muchneeded measures. The nominee, system was quite out of date. Sir Georg-e Grey, who drafted the constitution, once said a nominated Upper House destroyed

the glorious fabric he had been privileged to form. (Applause.) Captain .Russell also advocated a reduction of Customs taxation. Mr Hutchison pointed out that on the total imports of £8,211,000 last year £1,965,000 was paid as duty. Another plank of the Opposition party would be labour legislation, for no policy could be secure without providing' for the reward of success to those who laid the foundation of all prosperity. (Applause.) Mr Hutchison said the Opposition did not propose to repeal the Conciliation and Arbitration Act, but would amend it so that while securing the rights of labour they would also do justice to the community at large. Referring to the North Island Trunk railway, Mr Hutchison advocated the Central route as the one that was authorised and would get the mails through to the South the quickest. The co-operative system he characterised as a mere voting machine. He said that on the very day Mr Seddon read the telegram from the Wellington Labour Bureau that not a soul had been sent to Patea the local paper there announced the arrival of eighteen men, and a few days later another ten arrived. Evidently Mr Seddon considered co-opera-tive labourers had no souls. (Laughter.) His own chief objection to the co- operative system was that it was a system of favouritism. Unfortunately the patronage of the Government was not confined to co-operative works. Take the appointment of Superintendent of Mercantile Marine | at Auckland. The Govern- j ment had appointed a most estimable i young man, but one who did not fulfil the conditions of being1 a master mariner. Referring to the taxation proposed, Mr Hutcheson said Captain Russell had emphatically declared the Opposition would not repeal the land and income tax, but he considered that law wanted altering, as it now described growing trees as land. That at least affected Auckland. He also considered the accounts of the colony should be differently kept. He contended the large surplus from taxation should be reduced. The introduction of the freehold system would by the purchase money provide the means for their railways or roads without ffoing to London for one penny. (Applause.) Mr Hutchison also referred at some length to the marine scandal, and said that the statement from Captain Allman read by the Premier in Auckland was the one given by' that official before his services were dispensed with, when he was willing to take the whole blame on his own shoulders. After he was dismissed Captain Allman sent in another statement, in which he said it was a standing joke as to how Jones was to get his certificate, as the Ministers were understood to be

desirous he should have it. In con-

elusion, Mr Hutchison said the Opposition's object would be to eradicate abuse, reduce taxation, to enlarge national life in every direction, to ensure every man the fruits of his own industry, 'to give freehold tenure and advance the cause of freedom

throughout the colony. Mr John Shaw handed up a statement to the effect that his nephew, Mr William Reed, was a duly qualified master, having brought over a ship. Mr Hutchison, in reply, said he was told on good authority that Mr Reed held a master's certificate, but had not been in command of any vessel at sea. The young man had merit, but the result was to displace a competent servant of long standing. On the motion of Mr Moody, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Hutchison for his able and lucid address upon the present political

position. The address, which lasted two hours and a half, was listened to with attention by nearly all present. There were interruptions occasionally from a few persons, and one ihan had to be removed by the police at the.request of

the chairman.