MAJOR ATKINSON AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5015, 22 February 1878, Page 2

MAJOR ATKINSON AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

[From tub Piikss Aqrkoy.l NEW PLYMOUTH, February 21. Major Atkinson addressed a largely attended meeting at the Oddfellows' Hall. A number of his constituents came in from the Egmont district to hear him, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather. The Mayor was in the chair. Major Atkinson spoke for about two hours, his remarks consisting of a review of the late session, and the part he took in it. At the beginning of the session, he said, the Ministry had a majority. Through the action of interested parties who were opposed to the abolition of the provinces, a determined opposition had been raised against the Ministry, and although the Financial Statement and other parts of their policy were introduced early in the session, yet no work was got through, owing to the interminable discussions of the Opposition. To make matters still more difficult, a large majority of the House utterly distrusted Sir George Grey, and a Middle Party was formed to oust the Ministry, but at the same time they wished to keep out Sir George Grey. The party, however, seemed to forget there were only two lobbies, and consequently got into great difficulties. With the assistance of Sir George Grey and his section of the House, the Middle Party succeeded in displacing the Ministry, and then, very much to their astonishment, they found Sir George Grey master of the situation, and he formed a Government.

The Middle Party then broke up, some coming to the ranks of the Opposition, and some going with Sir George Grey. The Opposition numbered a majority of from four to six, of which he was chosen a leader. That party had several meetings, and they decided to wait till the Financial Statement was brought down before any attack was made. They waited some time for that statement, but finding it was not made lie moved a vote of want of confidence. That vote was discussed, the debate lasting over several days, and was at last lost on the casting vote of the Speaker, through two or three Opposition members being absent. The Opposition were then determined to give the Ministry another chance, but finding that they could get no satisfaction he gave the second notice of want of confidence, which, the Government treated with contempt. Major Atkinson then went on to say that the new Government adopted the late Ministry's estimates, their Land Bill, the Inscription of Stock Bill, and other measures. He said that Sir George Grey had declared he could make deductions to the extent of £100,000, but he had failed to do so. Major Atkinson referred to the incidence of taxation, and showed that if a property tax was introduced the amount would not be large. In speaking of the new Land Bill, Major Atkinson said that the Colonial Treasurer voted against his • own Government on that occasion, and what confidence, he asked, could they have in a Premier when he permitted his own Treasurer to walk into the Opposition lobby against him? That bill, when the majority of members left Wellington, they considered was to become law, and little expected that the Government would recommend His Excellency to disallow it. He considered it was a most unconstitutional course for a Minister to take, after a bill had passed the House, to recommend the Governor to disallow such an important measure as that. Referring to the constitution of the Waste Lands Boards, he said he was opposed to the members being elective, and considered that the duties could be better performed solely by a commissioner. With regard I to the native policy, he said the late I Government were very much abused for what they had done, but Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan, he found, were doing exactly what Sir Donald M'Lean had previously done. He believed in the view Mr Sheehan took in native matters, and was glad to hear of the firm stand he had taken with regard to the confiscated lands, although he blamed him for stopping the surveys when he did. Major Atkinson then proceeded to speak of the public works development since 1870, and shewing, in similar words as reported in Hansard, his opinion of the financial position of the colony. He said that the statement laid on the table by Sir George Grey showed that he would have a deficiency on the 30th of June next of £130,000, and after that the supplementary estimate for some £110,000 were passed but not provided for, so that the deficiency was .almost a quarter of a million, for which the Government had made no provision. Abolition, he said, had effected the objects its promoters had in view. It had created a national finance, and entirely altered tho position of the colony, for now the people looked to the General Assembly with a greater interest. He referred to a, table he had prepared, showing the indebtedness of the colony and its actual revenue and expenditure, and pointed oat, t that under the provincial form of Govern. \ ment they were spending far more than, their income. With regard to what hehad said about the deficiency there would be at the end of the financial year, he could not help thinking that additional taxation would be required, and, judging from the past year, he felt certain the Government could not carry out as they ! were doing, and a property tax would be proposed in addition to the present taxation. The House had passed a resolution last session directing the Government to introduce a property tax next year. He: thought it was a very reasonable tax, and that it was desirable to have it. It would, not, however, bring in a very large amount, and would not relieve the Customs to any great extent. With regard to the electoral franchise, he said thepresent Government proposed to introduce next session a system of universal suffrage. He thought the present qualification quite liberal enough, and considered if there was a change it should, be in the manner of registration He thought that a twelve months' residence in a place before being entitled to vote was necessary ; that an officer should be appointed who would have power at any time to register persons who had the proper qualifications, and who should also have authority to strike names off the roll when necessary. The Government, he said, intended to disfranchise New Plymouth. They intended to abolish the Egmont district by throwing the Patea end of it into the Wanganui district, and he supposed this end into that of New |Plymoutlv)j they would then, take one member from Taranaki. Major Atkinson then referred to matters of local interest. Witth regard to the Mokau, he said the late Government were always most anxious to get it opened, but found that it could not be so except through the King country, and in that opinion Mr Sheehan held the same view. He said that but for his influence the Harbor Bill would not have been passed, and denied that by his moving the vote of want of confidence in the Government that it in any way jeopardised it. After touching on one or two other local matters, a vote of confidence was proposed and carried.