MR LANCE AT OXFORD.

Press, Volume XLVIL, Issue 7725, 3 December 1890, Page 3

MR LANCE AT OXFORD.

On Monday evening Mr J. D. Lance, a candidate for the Ashley district, met about 200 electors at the West Oxford Town HalL Mr J. Dobson occupied the chair. Mr Lance, who was well received, said the reason he had asked the electors to meet him again was to make certain important explanations as to what had been iaid of him during this election, in doing which hetdid not wish to say one word discourteous to his opponents. It had Qr»t of all been alleged that one of the candidates had come forward, to split the vote. This, so far as he was concerned, wae an absolute untruth, and till he saw Hr Knight's advertisement in the paper he did not know that he was likely to be » candidate. Mr Meredith had referred to certain persons in the early days as having gained advantages over other persons in the acquisition of lands. Though it was rather going into ancient history, yet he most explain this. In the forties an"association, of which Lord Lyttelton, Mr Seife, and John Robert Godiey were among its principal founders, was formed to establish a colonial settlement In New Zealand. This Canterbury Association acquired the land between Waipara river to the north and Ashburton liver to the southward, and according to maps issued in England the land was sold at 4£J per acre. Of this sum £1 was to go towards the administration, £1 for the provision of roads and means of access, Jtnd £1 for the purposes of schools, churches and education. The first three ships arrived in 1850, bringing in them persons who had bought the land at Home upon the plans referred to. Outside the blocfc comprised by the Waipara and Ashbarton the land was purchasable from the Government. He landed in 1856, and the regulations then with regard to the land outside the Canterbury block were such that it was offered by Sir 6. Grey as the then Governor of the colony at 10s per acre. The Governor at that time advertised these lands largely in the Tasmanian and Australian papers for sale, 10s per acre being the price, and one or two purchasers came forward; among those Glenmark and a block at Timaru were purchased. The inhabitants of the districts at that time, however, objected to those sales continuing at that price, end a meeting was called at the instigation of Mr Godiey, whereat was discussed the various systems of colonisation which had been tried in different parts of the world, for New Zealand was one of the last of the British colonies, and the outcome, after Bix weeks' arbitration, was . the decision to discourage speculation, bat to encourage settlement. As a result, the price of land in the Canterbury block was reduced to £2, and thatoutside agreed to be raised to the same sum, except hilly - or pastoral country. Now, the latter was olaced on another system. It being found difficult to sell, it was decided to let on Rntal if si-nply for sheep runs. There was even in this way some trouble in getting persona to take up the land. Well, is time went on andXencinsc was rendered necessary, the holders of these runs, to secure their fences, protected their Interests by purehasiug a strip of land, which they made their freehold, alonj? lioth sides of the fence. All the land was, however, open, it must be borne in mind, to free selection, and this was the only remedy to protect theii interests. This was called the pre-emptive right system, and in these days it was all the sheep farmers could do to to save themselves from being turned off their land. All this mtehtbe ancient history, but to show Hiat the owners or lessees had done nothing unfair, it was requisite he should allude to it. There was no favoritism shown in the matter, all had equal rights, and the respective lands were submitted to public offer. As to the new methods of settlement, he did not believe that the land would be taken up by any spasmodic effort that the Government might make, bat only in the regular way of demand being made for it. A3 to the present ■yrtemof land tenure, there was no better iretem that he knew of than theirs of MTDetual leasing, which was introduced by hie friend, the Hon. W. Bolleston, ■which farther combined the advantage that a person had the privilege of purchase and so making the land his own. (Cheers.) If he held a lease, the value of the improvements were appraised, and at the value as estimated a settler could enter Into complete possession. Under this most popular system, chiefly during last year, 450,000 acres were stated by the hon. » Minister of Lands to have been taken np. Regarding the manner of allotment ot lands, tnis had been a difficult subject to deaiwfch. It was first tried to let them by auction, but as the competition caused persons to bid more than the value, it was decided to try the tender system, which, again, had been superseded by the ballot; md outof an instance of eixcy-six applications all were granted, leaving only six to be balloted for. The Minister of Lands "fend stated that 1,200,00) acres were surveyed ready for settlement, a part of which was also roaded. He pointed ouc tfa&t every member of Parliament was fcaxloaa to see persons settle on the land; km it was impossible to contend that titers was anr opposition to persons taking op the lands of the Crown. ftm this he was led to refer to the Question of taxation; and here to had to say that he was strongly Opposed to a progressive tax ou land, for She reason that ie would have the effect of doing the very reverse which those who ■Wished to draw capital to the colony detiled. From this capital the wages fund irw maintained, and those who were «arnicg wages would easily understand , that to frighten capital away waa to drive away their means of employment. The cbject of all within the colony should be to increase its capital, thereby cheapening tie rate of iateresc to farmers. Now, tStis graduated tax would not be a means Vet encouragement, but rather the reverse. It was an unfair as well as an unjust tax. Ta&t which would be unjust between man and man was unjust between the State and the people. If a man sold a piece of land, nothing could be more unJast than that he should try to regain it again by unfair means. (Apphiofe). They must recollect that the ecSoay for the last twenty-five years had not been standing etilL They had Bos only to show every due consideration to the original purchaser of land, but also those who had since bought land second fetnd at an increased value. (Applause). "■■ la both cases the parties had considered tfeej were dealing with people who were &r and just and with a Governmeut eqaallyso. (Applause). Their colony had . oaly seen a short life in the life of nations, feat its Government bad a reputation for fceaesty, which he trusted they would opbold, and maintain the high principles «the British Empire within which every c&sea knew that whatever he had boaeetly acquired he would be defended in fes maintenance. (Applause). This was eae of his reasons for ltaviujs: the Hon. J. Ballance's party, therefore, on this ground of a proposed land and income t*x. the former on a graduated basis, he eaald have no more to do with them. ( Ap9**ase). He thought he had made this PUia, and now what he intended to do *h«a he was returned was to attach waself to no particular party. It was ty&e uncertain whom the Ministry of the **w Parliament would consist of. Tue »<Kfe-to-be-regretted ill health, of Sir *w«y Atkinson would prevent that galk&t gentleman taking & longer part in Politics; hence there muse be quite a new SBsUtry elected, whereupon he should «wd the right to support It or oppose it & it might approach the lines as indicated. Going on to speak of rabbles, *Q order to put himself right and set aside *rtaln reports put forth, he , was KfcopeUed to blow hi* own trumpet ep tttls question. It was in 1883 his afcteu«oa was first drawn, by the serious views by Sir J. Hall on this question, to the §*[&*££ which rabbits were causing in .. «Ottth Otago. and, on personally witneas«g the dire destruction wrought in InverCu ßUit he decided to do his utmost to •We Canterbury from so serious a plague. TPSWS3 not at that time in Parliament, |g* entered it in 18S4, and then, for the **& time, set up the Stock Committee, jJßaer whose direction information had fi6 *B obtained, and an exhaustive report opoa the rabbit nuisance. In this f« recommended that their spread should w checked by a fence at the Waitaki. »{n Wever ' their progress was not stopped «}» the present Minister of Lands con|«a«ed to & fence into the Tasman Valley g ß ® L the eea. Mr G. F. Richardson for a t*sieh*ld back, till he was impressed at *<*.wiUi the necessity for preserving the fr* 1 * 0 "*! possessions of the Crown, and !«*speakar urged him that delay simply ~***at that the public would have exe£***d the Ministry of the day. There **»Rowafence from Mount Cook to the S*™ ao rabbit had either got over or r*™oghorunderit. The fence had been one, as the leases of the runs *«ea were to let a few months after its 2*getioß, at a cost of £11,000, were t**»** at snch rentals as recouped the to theeaha&cfid rental, the first year. .detractors in that district had ,_vmaking capital by sneering at the J?*-, Well, all he could do was XJ*? 1 -the electors to the debate gg l the stock estimates in the House last jgFemoer, which estimates, through his iriSS!? tk® member*, were carried Swat opposition That Stock Com""wee, including tea members ot each

[branch of the Legislature, then said in its I report:—" Your Committee desires again to draw attention to the enormous annual loss that the colony is suffering from the rabbit pest—a loss probably equal to the interest on our national debt. The loss and cost to the colony for rabbits was reaching a sum equal to 2,000,000, and would they say it was not an important matter that this loss should be prevented. Last year they had referred with pride to the fact that the exports had reached nine millions. Now, where did that come from chiefly ? Did it not come from the soil, viz., from the agricultural And pastoral productions? Wad it not a proper thing that this should have attention; farther, he considered the time was ripe when a Minister of Lands should be appointed who should attend to all matters affecting the welfare and advancement of these interests. (Applause.) As to the opinions of persons able to judge, he qaoted from the Minister of Lands, who told the House —''It is only by weighing this matter, by impressing the House and the country with the seriousness of it, that the districts at present free will realise the danger they are threatened with. The hon. member for Cheviot has covered the whole ground of the report so fully and completely that I need scarcely follow him, except to say that I entirely endorse what he said." Now, did the electors think there was nothing fair in this when the Hon. G. F. Richardson, who was at first not favorable to the fence, bad the manliness to admit that bat for his (Mr Lance's) action the country would be over-run with the pes'*. (Applause.) Farther Mr Brown, of Tdapeka, added his testimony [Bead.] Would hid (Mr Lance's) detractors saf there was nothing in that or in the statement of Mr Lawry, a farmer in Auckland?—"l should be doing violence to my feelings if I did not express my high appreciation of the action of the hon. member for Cheviot. 1 think the House and the country owe that hon. gentleman a deep deot of gratitude for the interest be has taken in everything that pertains to the welfare of the agricultural and pastoral industries of this colony. Not only has he taken an interest in the matter here, not only has he devoted an enormous amount of time and attention to these industries in this colony, but he has also attended the Stock Conference in Australia, where he has rendered valuable assistance in New Zealand by his counsels in the deliberations of that body. I cordially endorse all that has been said by the Minister of Lands with reference to the source of congratulation to the colony which lies in the fact that we now have a certificate of freedom from scab; but I say that this is not a time for the hon. gentleman to relax his care and energy." Was there nothing in that? (Applause.) Then the Hon. Mr Bryce, a very cautious member of the House, said :— " Sir, I am quite prepared to join in the chorus of congratulation to the hon. member for Cheviot in respect to the services he has rendered to the country in this matter. The hon. member, in the course of his speech, said th&t the pastoral settlers had no voice in this House, or when it was raised it was not heard. I am very sure that, whether their voice is exercised or not, they are pretty well represented in this House by the hon. gentleman, and represented, 1 think, with advantage to the colony." Was there nothing in that? (Applause). Mr Buchanan further said "Oα the rough portions of the outlying districts the rabbits are born ana come swarming on the farms and holdings of the small settlers. I say emphatically that the small farmer has,' if possible, more interest in the matter than the large settler." Mr Fulton, of Taieri, also thanked him and asked him to take up the small -birds , nuisance, which be certainly should do. (Applause.) And Mr Dodson, of Wairau, added his opinion of his (Mr Lance's) work, followed by that of Mr Duncan, a small farmer near Oamaru, whom he should hope to see re-elected to the House, who put the matter thus—" But, taking the report as it is, I must, with other.-*, congratulate the hon. member for Cheviot for.* the action he has taken regarding this Committee. It is to that hon. gentleman that the honor belongs of stamping out scab—if it is stamped out —to him, and to the Committee, adding, that he hoped the hon; member for Cheviot would be in hie place in the next Parliament, and if he was the farmers would only have themselves to blame if they did nob bring the small birds nuisance under his notice. Yet when he (Mr Lance) came to his own district he found persons going about it saving he was doing no good. At any rate, he believed now he had cleared his character ot all those base, underhand imputations. (Loud applause.) He believed that the erection of the rabbit fences would prevent the pest destroying all before it In those districts. Then it had been freely circulated that by some process he was going to use his influence to tax the Ashley district for rabbits. This was entirely devoid of foundation. The Babbit Act could only be brought in upon petition of the stockowners, and a stockowner must be the proprietor of hot less than 500 sheep befjre the taxing powers ot the Act extended to him. With regard to the Northern rabbit fence, ie was alleged against him chat be bad obtained a grant of £6000 to the Huruuui Babbit Board. The position of this matter was, id was a loan, of which £2400 had been repaid, aud in proportion to the subsidy of £1 for £1 on the rates raised. The Hurauui Board were paying the remainder off at the rate of either £1000 or £2000 a year, and the Government had the advantage of them there, because the. amount was each year deducted from the subsidy payable to the Hurunui Rabbit Board. The past was pressing on the fences, both north and south. Neither were put up any too soon, and as to their being erected in the interests of the runholders, it was no such thing. These fences were erected to protect Crown properries and' the public. It had been said at a meeting at Bennetts that either Mr Lance or Mr Meredith had told a lie about the money for the Hurunui feuce. They said, "Mr Lance nad said it was a loan to the Board, white Mr Meredith had said it was a gift." He (Mr Lance) had given them every explanation, and they could test it in any way they liked. (Applause.) He then explained a local matter relative to a letter said to have been sent to him by the Oxford Road Boerl, which remained unanswered, that had been posted to Wellington when he i was in Christchurch, and which never i reached him. He said it was his regular practice to deal with all letters by return mail, in order to keep pace with his pretty extensive correspondence. As to the further necessity for a Minister of Agriculture, he desired to point out that in the matter of intercolonial federation, which New Zealand would not at present absolutely join, aMi nister could give special attention to the adjustment and removal of such duties as those on their produce with Australia, as well as forming reciprocal treaties ou such matters. (Applause.) Oα the subject of needed reductions in railway freights, Mr Lance said the people ■ had now to get these on a proper footing. They had only to look at America to witness the success of reduced rail carriage. Eighteen veara ago the average j freight ia that country was per ton per mile 1JD82& ; in 183S it was reduced to .4ood. During that period production and carry- ! insc had doubled. In the last tea years in New Zealand production and carrying had doubled, yet here for every mile of carriage the settlers were paying 2.1 M, or nearly five times as much as charged in America. He said there seemed no reason in the charge, and it would confer a boon , ou the coJouy to make a suitable reduction. Their railways were threatened by competition on the roads with traction engines. Now, this should not be. Tramc by roads. It was admitted, for distances j up to twenty miles or so could compete, i but for seventy and eighty miles it was | preposterous that such should continue. fAnnlause.) Last year it was stated the SttSSKit the carriage of 30,000 bales of wooL Now, this was a subject which might engage some of the attention Of the Miaister of Agriculture, how best to meet interests of the farmers, and at the same time bring the traflic to the public railways. (Applause.) Several questions were asked to regara to education. Mr Lance said he had voted for Mr Pyke's Private Schools Bill, and to be consistent would ; support Id, though he neither thought it would ba taken much advantage of or interfered with the national system of education. He said the idea was Kainjn* R™"" 1 .? |- na , c Bankruptcy Acts should be abolished, whereupon a cash system would grow up. He answered a number of technical questions on the matter of the rabbit fence in each instance satisfactorily. Mr F Hodges moved a vote of thanks in Mr Lance, with an expression ox opinion that he wae a fit and proper person to represent the Ashley electorate, which was seconded by Mr Howabd Sees, and carried by acclamation. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded an orderly meeting.