COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION FOR THE PAROA DISTRICT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XI, Issue 893, 7 June 1871, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION FOR THE PAROA DISTRICT.

MR DUNGAN AT GREENSTONE

A large meeting of the electors of the Paroa District was held at Hanna's Victoria Hotel, Greenstone, on Monday evening, to hear Mr P. Dungan express his political vievva.

Mr F. Keenan was voted to the chair, and in a few remarks upon the nature of the meeting introduced the candidate.

Mr Dungan said : My presence here this evening is more in the capacity of a stranger to you than in any other sense, and I consider it my duty now to bring under your notice the reasons why I have been induced to take this step. You are already aware that Mr O'Connor, your member in the County Council, has resigned, thereby creating a vacancy that necessarily requires to be filled by another representative. Of late I have been honored in having presented to me an address from a number of electors, requesting that I would put myself forward as a candidate for the vacant seat. I came here this evening in answer to that invitation, for with it is allied the chief motive in my present course of action. These are the circumstances that have introduced me here, and feeling myself called upon to make this statement, J am reluctantly compelled to speak of myself. In taking this position I cannot boast of being a public man, or little can I advance in my behalf to have your recognition of me ; but I do claim some pretension to a knowledge of mining matters, associated as 1 have been for many years with the pursuits, living amongst a mining community, and long sharing its varying fortunes in the spirit of independence and honest endeavors. This brings me to the mining question— a very important one, too, while this country remains a remunerative Gold Field. In giving expression to my views on some matters I shall be very concise. Observation and long ex--1 perience has forcibly impressed it on my mind, that for the interests of a gold field to be progressive its mining laws should be of a liberal character -that to make this industry a permanent one, give vitality to its progress, lend hope, encouragement, secure settlement to its hardy followers, the laws that guide, control, and promote its workings cannot be of too liberal a nature in their provisions. Of the present Gold Fields Regulations of Wesfcland, I will say they are the best yet given to the miners ; still I am of the belief further improvement might be made in them, and 1 am of the opinion also that a more judicious power could not be exercised by the Council than from time to time making necessary alterations, beneficial amendments, in them ; and if the Gold Fields Regulations have proved acceptable, from what result has this come ? I admit the gentlemen of the Council manifested a good disposition in a liberal framing, and an early publicity. But to tho healthy agitation of a few months ago I attribute the satisfactory changes referred to —to a remarkable occasion when the intelligence of the miners was brought forth and their desires made known ; when an attempt " clearly showing itself," was made to force an obnoxious code of laws on the mining community, repugnant to them in the fullest sense. I shall confess I took a pride in, 1 rejoiced over, the uncompromising spirit, the general denunciation, the united purpose of the miners, shown in giving to that insulting compilation a scornful repudiation, and sending it to a well-merited obscurity. Now allow me to point out to you the very essence of your usefulness and of your strength. When hostile and incompetent powers come to interfere with and trample your material interests, no course for you to pursue is more proper, practical and advantageous than to meet it on the broad ground of disputation, showing by your intelligence, your good sense, your ability to reason, and above all a knowledge of your own affairs, that nothing is required beyond what will be suitable, fair and just. I know there is a class of people that will not move at all, who when you speak to them on these matters, will answer y ou with a dramatic wave of the hand, a disdainful toss of the head. The Government should do so and so, and representatives should do so and so, pretty generally adding a very expressive colonialism — "let things rip ; I will not remain in the country." Now, this is the very pith of selfishness ; such conduct is as mistaken as it is vicious, for Governments seldom accede to popular demands without outside pressure, and our representatives are never more all-powerful for good than when backed by a people's voice. But the most sweeping satire on those people is, nine-tentha continue to live in the country, enduring the pains and penalties of existing disabilities, and of a discontented lot. Therefore you should meet together when it is possible to organise, for the interests of all are involved, and success is sure to follow. Look to the achievement of a few months service, when a tyranical tax hung in the balance over your heads for an opportune infliction, the silly despotism of an hour was forced to capitulate, And your wishes attended to in the end. I shall now allude to tracks through the inland country. They arc an absolute requirement to keep alive and uphold, prove a great stimulus to mining enterprise. From personal experience I weil know what the miners have to endnre, t!ie heavy lab;>r they must undergo and diflLiil'ies to surmount in the absence of tracks through the back country ; and, besides, tracks are the only means of cheapening the necessaries of life, the main object, for gold is less plentiful in these days and harder to be got. The water supply to the gold fields is another important question, for eventually it will become the great want-felt for the country. Every miner of fair experience on the Coast knows that there is a large extent of country which would pay for working if a proper supply of water were available; so it will be the duty of the miners and men of business to move in the matter if a grant of money for that purpose comes in the way, Another vital matter is the settlement of the people on the land. Everything should be done to encourage that object— every facility given to make it a success. Gentlemen, I have now stated to you some of my opinions. lam not here in the garb of a ready-made politician. I do not aspire to the title. I am a plain, practical individual, in whose little knowledge, if you see any merit, it is at your service. lam not the nominee of any particular class. My independent mind knows nothing of such invidious distinctions. I seek to represent the mining community. lam proud of the support, confidence, and respect shown me. At

the eleventh hour I came forward with some inconvenience to myself, and moved with something of a determination also, in asserting that the spirit of manhood and of self-respect was still living in the mining body. I will now reply to any questions that you may put to me. I may further remark that, on the question of education, I am in favor of the denominational system. I believe that in the educational training of youth religious instruction should go hand in hand. Still, in the absence of any general system of education, it is most desirable a distribution of money should be extended to the outlying towns, to foster and support schools — that is, to subsidize the individual efforts. I will now answer any questions. A Voice : Will you vote for Hoos to be Chairman again if returned I Mr Dungan : I shall not. (Laughter.) An Elector : Are you in favor of Annexation 1 Mr Dungan : Yes. An Elector : What do you think of Provincial Governments? Mr Dungan : I believe they are dear institutions. Their enormous cost helps to keep the country poor. I hope one General Government will soon be established in their place. The mining interest can never be impartially or comprehensively dealt with until under its supervision. After a few more desultory questions were answered, Mr Michael Blueman proposed, and (Mr Robert Dobester seconded,—" That Mr Peter Dungan is a fit and proper person to represent the Paroa diatrict in the County Council." The Chairman put the proposition, and called for a show of hands, which resulted largely in favor of the candidate. Mr Dungan said a few words in response, and then moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was given with loud applause, and the meeting terminated.