MAJOR ATKINSON AT PATEA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 168, 4 November 1881, Page 2

MAJOR ATKINSON AT PATEA.

♦ The Hon. Major Atkinson met the electors at Mr. Barker's store, Patea, last evening. There were about 250 persons present, and Dr. Croft was voted to the chair. The Chairman briefly introduced Major Atkinson to the meeting. Major Atkinson on coming forward was well received. He said the Government had been compelled, notwithstanding every effort to the contrary, to call upon the volunteers for active aid, which call had been nohly responded to. Every one must feel proud and grateful to the volunteers for their response to the call ; and he took this the earliest opportunity of thanking them in the name of the Ministry and the colony. (Cheers.) He then referred to the Patea harbor, and what he had done to further the scheme and to get endowments for it, justifying his action on the principle that it was wise to open up all these small harbors. As to the charges made by Mr. Hutchison that he had sacrificed this end of the district to the New Plymouth Harbor Scheme, he said the endowment was granted seven years ago, and had been repeatedly confirmed : it came out of the General Government funds, and not from the district, and it was reasonable in extent. A trust created by Parliament must cause large interests to spring ap, and could not be abrogated unless under vary exceptional circumstances. The colony could not have benefitted by taking over the trust, nor could the district have benefitted, because the land fund would not be made available to the district, but would have gone to extinguish the loan already raised. As to rating, he was convinced no rate would ever be levied or required. On these grounds he had voted against the stoppage of the harbor. As to the charge that he had generally neglected Egmont district, it was untrue, for since the commencement of the Public Works scheme, iG106,000 had been spent in the district on roads and bridges — an enormous proportion of the colony's expenditure on such works, which could otly be justified on grounds of public policy. In Taranaki, v/ith two members and double the population, the expenditure on roads and bridges had been during the same time only i-46,000, If the paid to the New Plymouth Harbor Board from land fund, and the spent on Patea Harbor were added to that sum,

still it fell below tho sum that had been spenc in Egmoufc on roads and bridges. (Applause.) He also cited figurcs'to show that the expenditure of votes taken had been above the average in Egmont. He had been accused of supporting a bad Native policy, and treachery to his late and present colleague Mr. Bryce. The Government, like all other Governments, recognising that they were dealing with a proud but decaying race in their endeavors to bring the Natives under English law, had aimed at treating them with justice, tempered with mercy, and had done so with success. He contrasted the position of Native affairs on the coast in 1873, with the present position, and said if two years ago he had told his constituents that so many roads would be constructed as were now to be seen between Waingongora and Parihaka, he would not have been believed. In fact, he would not have dared to make such a statementj (Hear, hear.) The charge that he had been treacherous to Mr. Bryce was evidently ridiculous, from the fact that when Mr. Bryce left tbe Ministry, he spoke well of the Government, and had since re-joined it. Had he (Major Atkinson) deserted the Government at that time, he would have been treacherous to his constituents, unless he could not have remained in the Government except by the violation of some principle which he had not done. Whatever the consequences were, the present condition of affairs could not be permitted to continue. (Cheers.) The Government having the colony at its back would enforce law and order. (Cheers.) As to Public Works, the Govirament! ' would prosecute them with as much vigor ' as the finances would permit, and iie hoped before many years to see tbe railway carried through to Auckland. (Hear, hear.) Free trade and protection was not yet a practical question, because revenue must be raised, and the colony could not afford to put on prohibitive duties, but at present the Government and House were shaping the Customs duties, so as to encourage local industries, and would continue to do so. No more forms of local government were required, funds were wanted, and greater freedom of choice -between counties and road boards. ■(Applause.) In answer to Mr. Williamson, Major Atkinson said he was in favor of a state system of education, but he thought assistance should be given to denominations who educated their children. Every child should be educated, and the test should be examination. In answer to other questions, Major Atkinson said he hoped tenders would shortly be out for the line between Patea and Waverley (hear, hear) ; he did not think the line to Manutahi would be completed within six months ; the route of the line between Manutahi and Hawera was not yet settled ; the Government intended to take Hiroki on the first chance (a laugh). Mr. Dale proposed a vote of confidence in Major Atkinson. He was sure the district did not want any one connected with Mr. Ballance to represent it. Mr. Coutts seconded the motion. Carried with one dissentient, amid cheers. The usual vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings.