ADDRESS BY MR S. LOCKE.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 23, 4 August 1887, Page 2

ADDRESS BY MR S. LOCKE.

ENFORCED BEIIREMENT,

Mr Locke addressed a large meeting of electors in McFarlane’s Hall on Tuesday evening The chair was taken by Mr Townley, who said the time had again come round when we had to go through all tha iutmoll of an alto, tian, Mr Looks, he atmiihued, Would fekni ah account of iiiu stewardship during ths past session, which had nnfortunately been a short one, and he asked that he be given a patient and orderly hearing. (Hear, hear,) Mr Locke waa received with applause. Be; ferring to tt previous statement that he. .did hot aiiaih intend buntesting the East Oqe M beat, a very large requisition had been eent tt! him from his friends, asking him to reconaider, his dioision and offering to support him in the contest. He had felt very keenly the kindness shown him, and though very N> luctant, owing to the state of his health, he felt he could not retire at the time. Although he had a great dislike to talking about himself, he believed that during the time he had been in Parliament he had worked zealously and to the best of his ability for the general welfare. (Applause.) From the time he had became a member of the House he had dropped all thonghts as to who wore friends or opponents, and applied himself to the representation of the district as a whole, (Applause.) By voting against the Government he believed he had acted for the good of thd country—(hear, hear) —and,. Had the side he was on; he wished the other candidates would express themselves on this matter. He then referred to the course of the representation Bill in Parliament, by which the North Island got three rhore members; As to bis own work) he had got a High School Act passed; bj) which the administration of certain lands set apart for educational purposes had been transferred from Auckland to this district; also the telephone to Tologa (Voice; “No ") a good dray road to the Wairoa, and mori! frequent sittings of the Land Court. HC had strongly opposed the Native Land Administration Act, which was oarried by a majority consisting principally of Southern membars who had little knowledge ot the question, but stuck to the Government merely tor political purposes. The speaker followed out the course he had taken in this matter, showing that his views were correct, and that the Native Minister had eventually partially admitted it. He had nothing to say against the officers in the Native Department personally, but a thorough reorganization was required. The present system might have suited the purpose some twenty years ago, but was out of place now. He was in favour of the opening up of the country in a judicious manner, on the deferred-payment system for small blocks of good land, and perhaps perpetual leasing in the case of the poorer land. Passable roads should always be made through the lands before they were offered for sale. He looked Upon Ballance and Stout, as far as politics wart concerned, as men who were full of fade. They took up theories which they had read in books—theories suited perhaps to circumstances in an older country, but not suited to a new country—and, knowing nothing of the practical carrying out of these things, or what was necessary, tried to cram them into the people. (Laughter and applause.) Ballance's village settlement scheme was then criticised, and the unauthorised expenditure of £65,000 referred to. Many of these village settlers had been put upon poor land, and when the money received from Government was expended, they would be unable to combat with the circumstances, and the land could be bought up for a trifle. As to the question of education, he believed in the present system, but thought there might be the slightest alteration without impairing the system. The school reserves, of which there were over two million acres in the Colony, should be nationalized, and above the fourth standard a small fee might be levied, so as to bring the system into keeping with the present depressed state of the country. Referring to retrenchment, Mr Locke said Parliament should follow the example of South Australia and reduce the expenditure in every possible way, from the Governor's salary downwards, The matter should not be left to any Ministry, but the members ot Parliament as a body should face the question. He had come to the conclusion that it would not be wise to reduce the number of members, owing to the poor representation which would thus be afforded to the country distriots, but the honorariums of members ot both Houses should be reduced, the number of members in the Upper House might be lessened, and there should be a thorough re-organisation ot the Civil Service—not by the usual popular plans, but with a genuine sohems, and he believed much could be done in the way ot amalgamating different departments, enabling the work to be done at less cost without impairing the efficiency of the service. He bad every respect for the members of the service—who could blame anyone for taking g od positions and good pay it he were offered them ?—but the question must be faced, it we were going to keep the expenditure within the revenue, and this must ba done if the country was to be lifted from the verge of bankruptcy in which it now stood, (Applause.) The number of Ministers and their allowances might also be reduced. The country could not bear further taxation, and he was opposed to the increase of Customs duties, allowance being made for the encouragement of certain industries. It should be left to a number of practical men to decide what industries were entitled to exception. The management of our railways was not at all satisfactory, and there would be a very different system if they were placed in the hands of commercial raen. There might be an alteration in the scheme of local Government by amalgamating many of tte local bodies. As to the Maori question it was quite time special legislation in reference to the Maori was done away with. (Hear, hear). He believed it would be better in the end for the Maori if special legislation was done away with, because the European members would then take special care to look af-er the interests of the Maoris in the dist. let. Referring to the local wants the speaker had presented a petition to the House for the opening of lands, but without definite result. Tne lands should be placed in the market in such a way that people could take them up with a feeling as to security. Then there were a deeds registry office, a local lands board, and a permanent Land Court Judge which he had constanly advocated, but he had always been put off by Ministers, Although his health had prevented his being present at many divisions, he had always made enquiries as to when there would be any important division coming on, and in such case had recorded his vote—it would net be right for him to unnecessarily protract his already feeble health, and unfit himself for other work. (Hear, hear.) Now his medical adviser had warned him that to subject himself to the exposure necessary in the present contest would be very unwise, and after mature consideration he had decided to withdraw from the contest. Mr Locke resumed his seat amidst loud applause. The Chairman expressed deep regret at the cause of Mr Locke’s retirement, and felt sure all would agree with what he said. (Lond applause.) The Chairman then referred to Mr Locke’s past endeavors in behalf of the district, and hoped they would get a successor in whom they could place as much confldeuce. (Cheers.) The meeting broke up with three cheers for Mr Locke.