COUNTY COUNCIL.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 18, 23 July 1887, Page 3

COUNTY COUNCIL.

Thb usual meeting of the Cook County Council was held on Thursday afternoon, Present: Messrs G. L. Sunderland (chairman), Chambers, J. W. Sunderland, King, Gray, Stubbs, and Wallace. correspondence. tetters from the Council were read as follows :—To the Minister for Lands, Chairman Wsikohu Road Board, Harbour Board, M. A. Brown, Patutahi Road Board, Povei.v Bay Road Board, Mr Colebrook, Suiveyor-General, and Constable Stagpoole, The following in-coming correspondence was read:—-From Matawhero School Committee, Liberal Party (programme), Mr Shaw, Mr Kenny, and Mr Sperry. A letter from Mr Robertson was read, referring to a boat at Waiapu, and asking for a new one, as his boat had been washed away by the floods.—lt was decided to re-appoint the previous holder, Kuti, at the old subsidy of £5 and to cancel the present license to Mr '.obettsoh. . . From Wm. Cooper and others callig attention to the state of drains at Waerenga-a-hika.—The Engineer stated at the cost of the necessary improvements would be about or £2O. — Resolved that as insufficiently large pipes had been laid down originally by the petitioners the Council could not do anything in the matter. From General Survey Office agreeing to the Government plans being used for the compilation of the County, map under certain conditions.—Mr Warren said a copy of the letter had been sent to Mr O’Ryaa and that the map was now being'goue on with.

TENDERS. The following tenders were opened: —Maungapeka bridge: Norman File, f 209 15s; John Trimmer (accepted), 174; M. McLeod, £180; Kilburn nndGlover, Z 174 iOSRoad Metalling at Tologa (15 chains) —John Trimmer, £33 ; Patrick Maher (aocepted), /21 ns sd; M. McLeod, /a 5. Two informal tenders were also received. NEW BOAD DISTRICT. Petitions were presented by Councillors Gray aud Stubbs for the partition of the Waimata Road district into three districts, one to comprise the Kaiti block, the second Waimata West, Pouawa, and Whataupoko hill country, the third North Gisborne and Hapara Aiter discussion it was resolved to accede to the wishes of the petitioner subject to the names of the petitioners being verified by the Clerk as being those of ratepayers. The names of the three new districts were settled as being Kaiti, Whataupoko, and Waimata and Mr Warren was authorised to act as Clerk and Returning Officer until the new Boards ere elected. PAYMENTS. The usual payments were passed, including: H. E. Kenny /io 17s, C. Anderson/’16135, M. McLeod £23, John Trimmer /too, Murphy Bell and others £2O 14s, Pearce and Galway £l9 4s, Brownlow and party £33 12s, salaries £7l 4s, Jones and McDonnel £26 ss, J. A. Harding £22 17s, E. Cowen & Co. £32, Curry & Neil £l4. ENGINEER'S report. The Engineer’s report was then read and discussed. It was decided that cheap manuka groins should be placed in the Waipoua river near the Rangitira block to protect the road. It was also decided that in consequence of the roads being much cut up by teamsters, the bye-law No. 3 relating to loads and tyres be enforced from this date. Repairs to the Pakarae read were authorised at a cost not exceeding L2O. Similar repairs were authorised on the Murewai Road. ROSE HOTEL. It was resolved that the above hotel :>e sold by public auction as soon as the t-tle deeds arrive from Auckland,

ESTIMATES AND NEW WORKS. The Chairman in placing the estimates for the nest year on the table moved as follows:—That considering the heavy overdraft existing at present and that this Council leaves office in November, no allocations of money for the undertaking of further work be made, but that the present roads be maintained in repair and no new work undertaken unless there is an urgent necessity for them. J. W. S'-rderlpnd seconded. A long di;c assion took place on the motion, which was eventually carried, Crs Stubbs and Gray voting in the negative. DAY LABOUR.

Cr King moved that all wages for day labour be reduced to 7s per day, Cr Chambers seconded, contending that the cost of living being so much less than it was 4 years ago, 8s a day was excessive. Cr Wallace moved as an amendment that the ra e remain at Bs. Cr Grx >n seco >ded the amendment and said that 81 w: s a fair wage. The Council only employed the best men and they should pay them a fair wage. Cr Gray thought the men should not be paid more than the cunent rates of wages. Cr Stubbs said that those who were in the permanent employ should only receive 7s. The amendment was then put and lost, Crs Gannon, Wallace, and Stubbs voting for it and Crs Gray, King, Chambers, and the Chairman against it. The original motion was then put and carried, the voting being the same as above. MUHUNGA CREEK. It was decided to vote Lio towards the expense of clearing out the Muhunga Creek at the point below King’s bridge. ARAI BRIDGE. Tenders were ordered to be called for breaking 60 yards of stone at the Arai Bridge. APPOINTMENTS. The following appointments were made Mr Stewart as returning officer for Waiapu Riding ; Mr Finlay as ferryman at Pakarae; Mr Arundel to take charge of the punt at Tiniroto. NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr G. T, Sunderland gave notice to “That for *he purpose of allocating the funds of the Council the County roads shall be divided into two classes, to be known as County main road* aud County roads.”

TO THE EAST COAST ELECTORS, GENTLEMEN,— Having announced that, in deference to the expressed wish of many of you, I am a candidate for your suffrages, and stated my policy—what it has always been—as to dealing with the Crown and Native lands, I think it well, pending my addressing you in public meetings, to set forth my opinions on the chief subjects of practical politics in the Colony at the present time. You can thus weigh them meanwhile, and will be prepared, should you so desire, to ask me further explanations from the platform ; and you will understand the course I shall take should you do me the honor to again elect me, The grave position in which the Colony is makes it imperative that the most earnest attention should be given, and the most vigorous and radical measures be adopted, to re-organise our Finances, so as to put Ou 1 affairs in a state of assured safety. This is of such vital necessity to our well-being that the wholelpower of the Legislature should at once be directed to it, and the task completed before any other business is taken. The Colony's expenditure p must be reduced to its present income, without any increase of taxation. To that end I shall advocate the most rigorous retrenchment, while doing strict justice to every person and interest. Many extravagances on which our means are now wasted must be instantly put an end to; and i shall insist on the three branches of the Legislature setting the example of the utmost economy. The cost of the Governor's establishment, the Executive, and Parliament can be very greatly lessened. I would reduce the number of Ministers by a fourth, of the two Houses by a third, and the honorarium by a half. Borrowing must be ended with all possible speed. I believe the £500,000 a year which Educa-tion-primary, secondary and higher—now costs the Colony, can be reduced by at least a fifth, without doing the slightest injury to the cause of real education, but rather improving the results from the outlay. A reformed and comprehensive system of dealing with the vast educational reserves and endownments would effect a large further saving. The defence expenditure must also be minimised ; and, at what ever sacrifice, the current spending of the Colony must be adapted to its present means.

I hold that such a policy is possible that during the life of the new Parliament the need for a separate system of administration for the Maoris should cease, the Native Department be abolished, and our aboriginal fellow-subjects be placed on an exact equality with ourselves as to land, representation, and the duties, burdens and responsibilities of citizenship. I would reverse the present and past policy as to Native lands, and give the owners the same freedom in dealing with their property that Europeans have. Native and European should equally bear the taxation of the Colony. Ao to dealing with Crown lands, the recent policy has had the effect of preventing settlers with means from coming to the Colony, and thus it has added to our difficulties. I support such legislation and administration as would both attract capital to the country and ensure the most rapid occupancy of the public lands. The price obtained is a secondary consideration to immediate increase of settlement.

I will assist in whatever is possible to encourage the growth of industries, consistent with right to the general public. While the conditions of our political system remains as now, I believe a Second Chamber to be indispensable, and the need and value of the Legislative Council were fully shown last session; but I think its constitution can be greatly improved, and I would support its election by the Hare system. There ie|mueh need of improvement as to Local Government, in the direction of providing increased means for roads to open up the out-distriets, I consider the present Ministry has failed in its duty to the country in Finance, in Native and Crown lands administration, and in other ways, and I must oppose it as now constituted. On local matters, including the harbor, telegraph extension, deeds registry, reading and settlement of Crown lands, Waste Lands Board, Native Land Court, and others, my opinions are unchanged, and my actions will be the same in the future as in the past. These, Gentlemen, are my views on the main subjects on which I shall presently address you at length, Meanwhile, I beg to submit them to your consideration, and on them to ask for a continuation of your confidence and support. I have the honor to be Your Obedient Servant, S. LOCKE. Gisborne, July 21, 1887.

TO THE ELECTORS by thu EAST COAST ELECTOR VL DISTRICT. HNTLEMEN, —I beg to announce that I am a candidate for the honor of representing this district in Parliament, In placing before you the main points of the policy I should support, if elected, I desire to slate at the outset that I am opposed to the manner in “Meh the political party that has held powdr during the past three years has administered the finances, and the Crown and Native lands of the Colony. It is admitted that the present time is the most critical in the financial history of New Zealand. To re-establish the prosperity of the Colony, or prolong its adversity, depends largely upon the Government that may succeed to power after the approaching general election. The extravagance and mal-admihistration of public affairs during the past years have brought the Colony to an extremely unsatisfactory state. Apart from all side issues conveniently raised by interested parties, the electors generally, no doubt, recognize the fact that unless the credit of the colony is placed upon a sound basis at Home, and an inflow of capital created, there is little hope of a change to a state of better things. A stable Government, conducting the affairs of the country, on a practical and not a theoretical foundation, avoiding experimental legislation, and exercising prudence, caution, and economy would, I believe, speedily restore confidence in New Zealand’s unlimited resources, and bring about an era of prosperity of a more abiding character than any yet witnessed.

While the electors ask themselves in what way have the Governments of the past endeavoured to bring about so desirable a change, year after year the public debt of the Colony is accumulating—the last three years by more than five millions sterling—until at last a population of a little more than half a million have a public indebtedness of £37,558,553, necessitating annual interest to the extent of one million and three quarters to be sent out of the Colony. While other colonies—South Australia and New South Wales—rapidly retrenched when they found themselves involved, the Government of New Zealand, notwithstanding a falling revenue, and the increased expenditure proposed last session still further taxation to the extent of £33o,ooo—the greater part of which would fall upon those least able to bear it. The cry is raised for capital to be brought into the country, and settlement promoted, but capital is frightened from our shores, and the settlement of the country is carried on in such a way, as to render success doubtful. Thousands of pounds are squandered in one part of the Colony in the Utopian endeavours to establish special settlements upon some visionary basis, while in this electorate tens of thousands of acres of good land are offerd to the public on such extraordinary terms, that it is impossible for them to be accepted. This present year 129,000 acres of Crown land in this district were offered to the public, but were hedged round with such conditions that absolutely no security of tenure was given. Can people be expected to take up land and improve it when the very first clause in the regulation is, that their occupancy may be determined at any time, upon twelve months’ notice being given, and no compensation whatever to be awarded for the fruits of their industry, or the money that they have expended in the land. Reference to the condition alluded to will show that the mode in which the Government sought to administer the Crown lands in this district, is a mockery, and their efforts at promoting real settlement, a delusion and a snare. Turning to the millions ‘of acres of land owned by some 40,000 Natives, who can never possibly utilize their surplus possessions, what do we find ? By the Native Land Administration Act passed by the Government—an Act the Native themselves petitioned Parliament to repeal—large areas of Native lands are sealed against settlementWould it be believed that in this land of Democracy, and in this enlightened age that it is absolutely penal at the present time to purchase even a quarter of an acre of land from a Native, However desirous anyone may be to make his permament abode in this country, he must look upon all Native territory as closed against settlement. Under these circumstances, therefore—reckless extravagance on the one hand, and the settlement of the country retarded on the othercan it be wondered at that the Colony is , tottering on the verge of bankruptcy ? In the hands of the electors of the Colony the remedy lies. At the forthcoming elections they have the opportunity of showing that they realise—however unpleasant the discovery—the true state of the Colony’s affairs; by exercising that knowledge to return to Parliament candidates resolved and pledged to support wise and liberal land laws and a vigorous policy of economy, together with judicious and equitable retrenchment.

It is to aid in carrying out such a policy that I enter, though somewhat reluctantly, upon the present contest. Taxation cannot be avoided. However objectionable the present Property Tax may be, I believe it would be unwise, under the existing circumstances of the Colony, to change it for a Land Tax. It should be borne in mind that a peculiar uncertainty has threatened our legislation in land matters, and hovered over the financial affairs of the Colony. These and the varied utterances of Ministers on land questions generally, have a tendency to create alarm and misgiving in the minds of those who have money to invest in the Colony, and consequently capital is shut out. A Land Tax, as I will show on a future occasion, would be the “ last straw that breaks the camel’s back.” For the foregoing reasons, and recognising the urgent necessity for capital to be introduced, in order that there may be ample employment and increased prosperity for all, it does not appear to be desirable, at the present juncture of affairs, to tamper by means of experimental legislation with an established system of taxation.

Willi regard to the Crown Lande, I am in favour of the freehold tenure being given to settlers upon an easy system of deferred payment extending over a lengthened period of tiffid; The main object should be to secure bona fide settlement. lam also in fivour of lessees arid holders of land under the Perpetual Lease system having the right to convert their leases, if they so desire, into a freehold tenure on deferred payment system conditions; I should support the utmost reasonable concession in the matter of time for paying for the land, as I look upon the revenue derived from that source as a very minor consideration compared with the advantages the Colony derives by getting genuine settlers upon the soil. As to Native Land matters, I am in favour of—in semi-European districts like the East Coast—the Natives being placed upon, as far as practicable, the same footing, and with the same responsibilities as the Europeans. I believe such a policy would be acceptable to the Natives themselves, and have the effect of elevating the Maori race in the scale of civilisation, I should deem it the imperative duty of the Government to see that every Native had sufficient land for the maintenance of himself and those dependent on him, and that such land should remain an inalienable reserve for him and his descendants. As to the surplus Native Lands, the Native title over them should be extinguished as soon as possible, and individualised where practicable and Crown grants issued. Subject to every safeguard the Legislature would deem necessary for the proper protection of the Natives in their transactions, I consider that they should be allowed to exercise the same rights over their property as Europeans, The Natives should be encouraged to compete with (their uropean neighbors instead of being subjected to a policy of isolation. I regard the question of Freetrade and Protection more in the light of a side issue, raised to distract attention from the ignomi-

nous defeat the Government recently sus tained over their financial proposals. Nevertheless, it is one of the public questions on the tapis just now. I have no hesitation in saying that I consider the Prohibitory Protective tariff advocated by a member of the Ministry as disastrous in its bearing upon the great bulk of the population, more espe oially in a country district like this. With wages low, employment scarce, and trade dull, the occasion seems to me to be a singularly cruel one for advocating a policy, however much it may suit large importers, that would increase the cost of clothing, food, and other necessaries of life—in fact, inflict additional taxation upon the people at the very time they are least able to bear it. I believe the true policy for a maritime country like New Zealand is Freetrade. Still, one cannot fail to recognise the necessity of industries being established so that fields for employment may be opened up to the rising generation. I should therefore be in favor of reasonable encouragement being given towards fostering those industries for which the Colony is specially adapted. Matters of detail as to retrenchment, and other subjects of a local and general character! will deal with in the immediate future. Fox the present the above exposition will, I hope, suffice to acquaint the electors with an accurate view of the political opinions I hold. I have devoted a considerable time during the many years of my residence in this district to public 'affairs. It is not for me to say how I discharged my duties. I leave that to the public to determine. I have no desire to thrust myself on the constituency. At public meetings throughout the electorate I will enunciate my views more fully. The issue, gentlemen, will then remain with you, I am, Gentlemen, Your Obedient Servant, M, J. GANNON.