NORMANBY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 158, 12 October 1881, Page 2

NORMANBY.

ME. HUTCHISON BEFORE THE

ELECTOES.

Mr. Hutchison met the Normanby seotion of the eleotors on Monday evening, at the Town Hall. There was a good attendance, from 100 to 150 persons being present. Mr. Quinn was voted to the chair.

The Chairman said he had attended every politioal meeting held in Normanby for the past two years, and he had always found that they were orderly. Therefore, he had not the slightest doubt that Mr. Hutchison would get A fair hearing. With these remarks, he would call on the candidate to address the meeting. Mr. Hutchison, who was very well received} th«a proceeded to address ibe meeting in much the same terms as at the other meetings which have already been reported in the Stab. He said that the New Plymouth Harbor Board was receiving 25 per oent. of the land revenue which would otherwise be devoted to local works, and from that source had already derived £43,000, while they expected to receive another £80,000 this year. This amount was going to construct a harbor which would only be available for the loading and discharging of vessels in fine weather, and which would serve the district no better than the Waitara, or that other harbor which required but little expenditure to complete what nature had commenced. The Stab had fallen into a misapprehension of his views. It stated that he only advocated the reduction of the rating area and nothing more, whereas it was quite obvious to anybody who heard what he said with reference to the land fund, that if the Plymouth Harbor Works were stopped that 25 per cent, of the land fund would, not be required by the Board. Consequently, he advocated the immediate stoppage of what necessitated the payment of one-fourth of the land fund to New Plymouth. That was most necessary. In faot, it was almost indispensable to the prosperity of this district. At present the district was most heavily handicapped in the race. He detailed trh&fc h&& aeenwed in Pariiftmant last ses« sion, and blamed Major Atkinson for a oontinuanoe of an expenditure which was inimical to the best interests of the district, In connection with the native difficulty he said if Major Atkfnson had been as staunch as Mr. Bryce they would either have had their own way or would h&Vd so shaken tha Government as to have brought a change which must have been beneficial to the country, and they would have been deservedly the most popular men in the colony. (Applause.) Ho repeated his formerly expressed views on the question of local government and the land question, advocating the substition of lottery instead of auction in conconnection with the deferred payment lands, claiming that not only would people get deferred payment lands cheaper, but also that it would lead to bringing down the excessive values of cash lands. As an instance of economies which might be practiced, the salary of the Governor should be reduced. The £7500 paid to him directly was exclusive of allowances ; £400 or £500 was occasionally voted for furnitnre. Last year there was £35 spent for outlery. Hospitality had worn out the knives and forks, and the country had to pay for a fresh supply. He had been challenged in connection with the profession to which he be belonged. He had desired to show by deeds, not words, that he had a great distrust of the profession to which he belonged, and he was prepared, if returned, without making any fuss about it to go in thoroughly for law. reform. He knew enough of the legal profession to be aware that there were many corners hung with cobwebs and shrouded in darkness which required nothing much as the besom of reform to sweep them clean. Honorable members of the profession wanted such changes. They would he glad to let d*ylig>fc injp

dark places, and see a stop put. to that which had ruined many an honest man. (Applause.) He spoke with a linowledge of these things, and was aware. thai-4u practicing the system ho might" have laiu^Jmnself open -to charges - that might at first- sight appear to bear . personally on himself: but be feared no, investigation personal to himself. .The. evils were mostly the evils of th© system* but at the same time there were many things which though attributable to the system must carry a good deal of personal censure with them. He agreed very much , with Sir George Grey's proposal fo throw' the profession open to all who could pass an examination in law and~gehera-lJknow-ledge. (Hear, hear.) If returned. ..he would not content himself with'worda, but., would do works also. He was not a beI liever in party Government, as it .was believed in by many, and. 'he denied fi the statement that he was the nominee of any one. If eleoted he should go injx* the House as independent member, seekV. ing to do the best he could for his cox*1 stituency. (Applause.) . Mr. McCutchan asked (1.) -Why Mr.-' Hutchison had retired from the ; Waitotbra contet ? (2.) Had he any interest in the district beyond that in Quinlivan's hotel, in Hawera ? (3.) Whether it he bought that hotel, or whether it was not obtained - for a bill of costs? Mr Hutchison— ln the first plaoe, when I issued my address to the electors of Waitotorjkt.it was understood that Mr. Bryce would be a oandidate for the town of Wanganui. In fact, Mr. Bryce him,self, assured me that his inclinations were . to contest Wanganui ; but persuaded-hy some of his friends, I suppose, he decided to seek election at Waitotora, and .1 deemed it my duty to withdraw, mast much as he being the exponent of that policy which I think is the true "one for this coast, deserved unopposed ejection. As to my interests in this district, ihey are not only those which have . been somewhat offensively referred tob y Mr. McCutchan, but I. do not ask you to elect me because of my interests. I offer my- . self as being able and willing to serve. ' you ; and if you accept my services, they will be given to you loyally, aud your/ Interests will not be neglected- as they have been in the past. As to the property known as Quinlivan's hotel, it was not acquired in the way Mr. McCutchan would suggest. As to other interests, I have a considerable stake in this very town, and I have a i pro-f perty at the back of Kakaramea, which.. I intend to improve so soon as I hava a little capital. I do not like torefer to these personal matters, but tha'.' question compelled me to do so. (Ap-i plause.) ' , Mr. McCutchan said Major Atkinson^ was a member of the Government when/ the Harbor Works were initiated, and the> sanction of the colony pledged to the* people of New Plymouth. Thatbeingso* could Major Atkinson have turned roundL and been unfaithful to the people of New Plymouth ? Mr. Hutchison — Thought Mr. Mo* Cutcban had answered himself. Hewould only add that as Major Atkm- j son had stack to New Plymouth, let New' Plymouth people stick to him. (Laughter, and applause.) r r

Mr. MoCutchaii asljed if the success ot the coast daring the past twelve months was not due to the confidence inspired by the good government of the country by' the present Ministry ? Mr. Hutchison thought that the pro* gvess of thft district was largely in spite of the Hall Go-verainent, and not by reason, of anything it had done. The wave of colonisation and settlement which had set tip this coast had been like a wave of the Atlantic, washing over ft frail ftnd timid Government, and not to be stopped in its onward course by all the Te "Whiti'o, the Atkinson's, or the Hall's in the world) and it would still surge on and" on> and overwhelm these miserable Maori quarrels, until this district was. as populous as an English country, and fax mora contented and prosperous with happy citizens and flourishing freeholds. (Ap* plause.) In answer to Mr. Woolcock,, >

Mr. Hutchison expressed the opinion that a second chamber was necessary, but the present Upper House was as bad as a Upper House could be, and 'certainly some reform more or less violent was* necessary. The men of independent! thought and ability to be found in it could be counted on the fingers of one hand. It occurred to him that Hare's system of election might be introduced in connection with that chamber. ' That, was to say, that men who might be said: to have leisure, and other capabilities, nott perhaps brought out by an electioneering* contest, might be chosen by the peoplet at large in some way to form an Uppec House. There might be a nominative element but tbe present system of keeping it entirely nominated was bad. The. present members were simply pensioners, having £200 a year, who tacked " honoi* able" to names, which people otherwise) would never have dreamt were honorable*

! Mr. Woolcock invited the oandidate to> be a little more explicit. Mr. Hutchison thought a certain pro"-» portion of the members might still be* nominated, and for this reason : Ministers! might very often require one of them-. selves or a supporter to be in Parliamentl who might tail to find a seat in thai Lower House at a general election. Thera might be a certain-amount of the nomin- ' ated element, but the rest of the members, should be elected under Hare's system.,. Then there was the scheme suggested by the Premier, under which nomination* were to lie upon the table of the House of Representatives for a certain time, and. then if not objected to or challenged by vote, to take effect. A .third mode of doing it was to allow the local bodies to> beoome electoral colleges, such, as existed; in Amerioa for the purpose of the election, of the President. But really he must confess he had no very definite scheme. He was inclined to think election by tho local bodies would perhaps be best, because people could understand what that meant, whereas Hare's system was at present merely a theory. He thought the Upper House — or second chamber, he would call it— should be m the nature of a scientific brake on the Parliamentary train, whereas the present seoond chanv ber was a clumsy clog, which prevented good work being done. Mr. Gray, referring to Mr. Hutohison'a proposal to suspend payments for the first seven years in connection with deferred payment lands, asked whether that would not render payment so easy as to greatly increase <wmp«£tion 4 and conge,.

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Qnßntly make the land even dearer than atpreaehf. ". • Mr. Hutchison thought the introduction of tbe ballot would regulate that. Mr. Gray asked if the ballot would not Mdnee tbe whole thing to a lottery, into which many people would enter in the hope of drawing the lucky number, and getting for a nominal sum tbat which would immediately be a marketable article at a higher price.

Mr. Hutobißon said that sort of thing would have to be provided for by the imposition of restrictions preventing the assignation of interests. To some extent that was done already. Mr. Gray — Putting aside the harbor and the native difficulty, in what local matters has Major Atkinson neglected our interests?

_ Mr. Hutchison — I understand he has tken generally negligent of your interest.

Mr. Gray — Will yon particularise ? Jtfr. Hutchison — The Mountain road Has been neglected, and I am 6ure there are other local matters which have not attended to, but I cannot particularise many. It would bo my business to make, myself acquainted with your wants And attend to them.

Mr.. Woolcock suggested the election of Ministers to particular departments by vote of the House ior a specified term. Mr. Hutchison could not approve of that.

Mr. "Woolcock — It would stop party Mr. Hutchison — And land us in chaos.

In answer to Mr. McCutchan, jun., ,Mr. Hutchison Baid he had no doubt of the validity of the connscction. Mr. Beresford moved, and Mr. McGregor seconded, a vote of confidence in Mr. Hutchison.

Mr. Gray moved as an amendment, "This meeting declines to pass a a vote of confidence in any candidate opposing Major Atkinson." Mr. McCntchan seconded. The motion was declared carried by 40 to 2.

Mr. Hutchison thanked the meeting for the vote.

ThQ usual compliment to the chairman terminated the proceedings.