MR W. C. WALKER AT ASHBURTON.

Press, Volume XLIII, Issue 6370, 18 February 1886, Page 2

MR W. C. WALKER AT ASHBURTON.

Mr W. C. Walker, the member for Ashburton, addressed a meeting of his constituents in the local Town Hall on Tuesday evening. There wss only a moderate attendance. '"

Hia Worship the Mayor presided. I Mr Wai— at, who wss received with ap- 1 plause, eaid—He was sorry to see so few I present, as it was a source of satisfaction to have a full meeting and be able to explain one's views and actions -face to face with as many electors as possible. Still, he migbc take the small meeting as a sign that his constituents felt no uneasiness about his past or future actions. He had represented their interests as fully and freely as he could, and the action he had taken during the past session was, he felt Bure, such as would not cause them to alter the confidence reposed in him at the election. He then proceeded to refer to the early events of the session, and in doing so expressed regret that the Government had not received better support, when they brought down some of their important measures, several of which had to be abandoned in consequence." Ministers were disappointed, and some of them had recently expressed themsslves to that effect. Bumors were afloat that a dissolution would probably be asked for before Parliament mtt again. He did not;at present know if Ministers would be likely to recommend such a dis- . solution, but he thought it would hot be a fortunate thing for them to go to the country till they had an opportunity of putting some definite policy before the House. It was suite probable that as soon as the House did meet a dissolution would be asked for, but, of course, he could not predict whather it weuld be granted or not. In bringing down the tariff proposals last session the Colonial Treasurer had given reasons why the tariff required revision and remodelling. [Mr Walker here quoted from " Hansard " Sir Julius Yogel's remarks on the tariff proposals.]] He (Mr Walker) saw no reason for differing with the viewß expressed by the Colonial Treasurer on the tariff question. The first objeot of the tariff was the production of a certain amount of revenue) and the second, the fostering of local industries. The Canterbury members were very much disappointed with the action taken by the remainder of the House with regard to tbe East asd West Coast Bail? "way, and he thought the Government had received singular treatment on the question that , the proposals should be? submitted' to a Committee. A very large question had received mo3t ungenerous and unjust treatment When the proposal to submit the queries to a [Committee was rejected, he had hound, that the House would have passed the Tote 1 of-_ 150.000 for the purpose, of. com—encasg the line, and he had supported the proposafc When it was found that there waaj no chance of the vote being carried, then approached another party who were jprel pared to stop expenditure in other direcj tions, in order to make things fair all round, and they were thus enabled tS strike off half a million of money from thai Public Works Estimates. He: could assurjg the electors that the responsibility o! supi porting Captain Russell's motion had not been taken till all the circumstances of the ease had been felly gone into. They werej well aware at the* time'what the effect of

the resolution would be, that it would? not bring distress on the labor market of! the colony, - and that no great exodus of 1 laborers would take place. The urgencyj of the case <■ seemed to admit of no other' coirae being taken." With the exception of • Mr Macandrew, and Mr McEenzie, of Moeraki, the Otago members had not had the manliness to do what was right, but had acted .with a narrdwinindedness and selfishness which showed, that they had a good deal to learn before they could take proper views of any work that was not for the exclusive benefit of their own particular districts. Their action with regard to the East and West Coast Bailway proposals was deserving of great censure. The speaker then referred to the passing of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, a measure which he had great pleasure in supporting last session. He read a statement, giving the amount of subsidies received by each province. Some districts had received.* for je, some £2 for £1, and some as much as £3 for £1, raised in th 9 district, according to the rateable value. He did not suppose that the Bill was a perfect measure, but Hospital and Charitable Aid matters had got into such an unsatisfactory state that it was absolutely necessary something should be done. He regarded the Act as a real honest commencement of decentralisation, and was of opinion that decentralisation could be carried further with great advantage to the colony. Besides Hospitals and Charitable Aid there were other departments that could be locally controlled with advantage, and till a complete system of decentralisation in these departments was brought about they would never be properly controlled. With regard to theeubaidies to local bodies, the speaker said the system was now only on its, trial, and the whole question of local finance would have to be opened up again next session. Parliament had thought it a dangerous matter to entrust local bodies with borrowing powers, but he would rather tarns t local bodies with that power than he would: the House of Bepresentatiree. The Boada and Bridges Construction Act had led to an immoral state of things on the part of seme of the local bodies, 'and he was gratified at being able to support the repealing of that obnoxious - measure. .-. To his mind he thought the; Land .Act.'stood aa a monument to the member who introduced it, but he thought it was a great pity something could not be done to cut down the length and volume of the measure. If it could be divided into two Acts j one relating to the Land Board and the general functions of that Board;' and the other dealing with the conditions on which land cjuld be purchased, it would be more easily understood, and more useful to intending purchasers of land. At present, the effect the Act had on many men, was the very reverse of encouraging. In spite of the predictions of those Maori dootors who held office before Mr Ballance, he thought the action of the present Native Minister id dealing with the Natives and their lands was already beating good fruit. _eh d supported tho passing of the District Bailways Act, and thought the Government had made a g>x>d bargain in taking over the district railways on most favor-* able terms. Other measures passed lasf session were measures in the right direction*,' and were calculated to give ease and increased facilities in the transaction of business by the general publio. Mr Walker expressed himself in favor of further borrowing for specified and reproductive works such as railways. With reference to the extension of branch lines, he said figuifes proved that so far the work of extending the lines had on the whole been very satisfactory. During the past six years tho net railway revenue had been nearly doubled, while the increased expenditure had not been more than 18$ per cent. As long jas this was the case, we could afford to go en borrowing for railways. An entire stoppage of borrowing just at this time would not be wise, as the striking off of all votes for public works would cause serious embarrassment to the colony. But whatever was done must be done with exceeding caution. He would hail with pleasure aby feasible scheme for relieving the Houge'o% the management of the railways, and h_r still hoped that Mr Bichardson's But would meet with a favorable reception nest session. In Victoria the practical regps in the change in railway management Jnd

satisfactory. He waa sorry Me_te&ardsna's Bill did not go farther than it did at present, but even as it stood „the>SL ~wssa danger of its principles not being accepted for some time. Bather than sea the railways continue to be managed as at present, he (Mr Walker) thought it would be better to sell or lease them, bo that they could be handed over to some one who

would manage them on business princk pies. Bailway management was one of those things that the Government was bound to do badly. The railways were a

valuable asset, and if as a last resource-

they, were cold or leased, it would be a satisfactory thing to ba able to look the world in the face with a debt

of only about fifteen millions. The lines would realise a large portion of our debt, and we -might do a worse thing than sett our railways. He was in favor of the assumption by the State of say 1000 acre blocks of suitable land, for the purpose ot promoting settlement along the railway lines. He was convinced that where

practicable the policy would be a sound one, To Mr W. J. Steward, who had recently come to reside in Ashburton, belonged the credit of introducing th» question last session. That the time was now ripe for such a policy no one would deny. Many landowners would be ready to part with their lands at a fair valuation, and by the assumption of suitable blosks the Government would be able to perform, its proper functions of settling people along the lines of railway. It was not wise to press the Natives too far just at present, but the time would soon come when Native lands could be dealt with in the same, manner as European lands. With a view of giving an impetus to mining, scientific lectures had recentlybeen delivered at the instance of the Government, and next session the whole question of the mining industry would have to be considered. Ministers deserved* great credit for what had bean done in the . matter of defence, and more real enoomagement had been given to volunteering. Be trusted that Ashburton would always be represented by two Corps, and he hoped that Parliament and the Volunteers throughout the colony would recognise the earnestness of their work* -- and be always ready to act on the defensive. The speaker next alluded tothe tariff and the question of protection' and freetrade. If the colony wanted —easy for revenue purposes, increased duties" v should be put on those articles that would - encourage the fostering of local industries. - Freetraders should use a little common sense, and be careful in advocating how far the principle of freetrade should beactuahy carried. If carried out to the letter the duty would have to be takes off of almost every article. After referring, to the question of retrenchment, ana stating that all the Australasian colonies were on pretty much the same footing as regards the Civil Service, Mr Walker concluded by thanking the meeting for giving - : him a patient hearing; and expressing a hope that in the event of a dissolution the electors would show their confidence by , again returning him as their representa- , tive. He was quite sure that the rest of Canterbury would take good care to return representatives who would, prove good and true men. [Loud applause.] Mr-Walker having answered a number of questions, Mr D. H. BBOrrif proposed, and Dr. Tubvon seconded, a vote '_ of thanks to Mr Walker for his address, and confidence in him as representative for the distriot;. The motion was carried by acclamation* »>anjil a vote of thanks to the c^airtermi-