WORKING MEN'S ASSOCIATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XXV, Issue 1636, 14 March 1866, Page 5

WORKING MEN'S ASSOCIATION.

—- - i A meeting of this association took place at 7.30 on the evening of March 6, at the Foresters' Hall, to discuss the policy of Mr. Moorhouse as a candidate for the Superintendency ; Mr. Kent took the chair. Mr. Barnes said that he had been eight years in the province ; he came into it when Mr. Moorhouse was just elected, and having watched that gentleman's career, he was of opinion that he was the best man who was putting himself forward. In the year 1859 he first noticed that times were beginning to get bad in the province, owing" to the introduction of too many immigrants, but that was not Mr. Moorhouse's fault; it was rather the fault of the public at large. A meeting was called by himself, and Mr. Moorhouse attended it as Superintendent; and, after hearing its views, did his best to get over the crisis. Mr. Moorhouse had also started the railway in spite of the opposition of the " heavy respectability " class, and no one could deny that that was a great work. Mr. Moorhouse afterwards obtained power to borrow £500,000 ; it was true there were no signs of a crisis then, but no doubt Mr. Moorhouse saw the one that was coming. Unfortunately, however, he was bound shortly afterwards to retire from office. Mr. Moorhouse's present policy was to make railways and bridges throughout the province, and make them pay for themselves. He would be glad to hear any objections against Mr. Moorhouse, for he would take the opportunity of answering them. Mr. Worth said that he was present at the meeting alluded to by Mr. Barnes, and knew that Mr. Moorhouse sent instructions home to send out emigrants, whether agricultural or not. Hence it was that there was the subsequent distress in the province. Mr. Moorhouse was not worthy of the support of the working classes of the province. He had not, in fact, initiated the railway. He (Mr. Worth) would like to know how Mr. Moorhouse was going to construct railways and bridges. They should endeavour to support some man of greater capabilities ,and one who was likely to raise the reputation of the province, not one who was constantly changing his opinions. Mr. Parrish spoke in support of Mr. Moorhouse, especially praising him for having initiated the making of the tunnel through the Lyttelton Hill. Mr. Lawrence spoke against Mr. Moorhouse as a candidate for the Superintendency. He objected to him. first, because he had given the hint to Mr. Lance's playfellows by which the Land Regulations, said now to be like the laws of the Medes and Persians, were so altered as to give the squatters an extension of their leases. He did not care who was Superintendent, provided he was a man who had some good definite policy. He also objected to Mr. Moorhouse, because he was inconsistent in his views; at one time he said he firmly believed in separation, at another he said he had not made up his mind on the subject. He also objected to Mr. Moorhouse because he had made the foolish boast that he could float the debentures at par. There was no country in the world, not even the old established ones of Europe, which could negotiate loans at par. On these and other grounds he could not support Mr. Moorhouse. Dr. Florance said that he had no intention of attacking Mr. Moorhouse's private character, but he did not think he was a fit man to be Superintendent. Mr. Ford spoke as one of those who had got .up the meeting alluded to in 1859. He did not believe the evils complained of at that period were caused so much by Mr. Moorhouse as by Mr. FitzGerald, who was at the time in England. It was said that Mr. Moorhouse would be unable to carry out his professions, but had he not made the tunnel, and had he not kept his promises hitherto. During Mr. Moorhouse's last term of office, more money was spent on public works than by the present Government. Mr. Moorhouse had the interest oi the province at heart, and he would advise every man to support him. Mr. Gadd condemned the present Government for having spent money in a most extravagant and useless manner, and having done all they could to grind down the working man. Mr. Cutler observed that he was not standing up as an advocate for Mr. Moorhouse ; he did not oppose him because he was a lawyer, for there had been many eminent men in that profession, but because he (Mr. Cutler) did not think Mr. Moorhouse a properly qualified man. He also thought that Mr. Moorhouse had been too profuse while in office and had made too many promises—promises which he never could perform. Mr. Moorhouse had said he would introduce manufactures, but how could he do so, unless he subsidized persons to carry them on and that would not pay. When the country was ripe for manufactures, there would be plenty of capitalists ready to start them. For these reasons he could not support Mr. Moorhouse. Mr. Gibbs said that those who opposed Mr. Moorhouse had not been in the province a sufficient length of time to know what he had done for it. He had started the railway in spite of a very strong opposition, and had always encouraged labour. Mr. Moorhouse had had several accusations made against him, but he had answered them every one satisfactorily. Mr. Cooper said that when Mr. Moorhouse was made Superintendent the second time, the province was almost in bankrupt state, but he soon initiated better times by raising money, and setting the labouring man to work, and when he left office there was £75,000 in the chest. The opposition against Mr. Moorhouse was raised because he was a clever man. He felt convinced that if Mr. Moorhouse was elected, in nine months time the province would be in a very different state. | Mr. St. Quentin said that Mr. Moorhouse ' would not bring the province £100,000 into debt; he would not give £5000 for a tramway to bolster up private enterprise; he would not introduce too many immigrants; he would not allow the Government to be in the hands of a clique, who would grind down the working man. He knew that Mr. Moorhouse Would alter the present mode of granting pre-emptive rights; that he would have a policy, and that he would not reduce the province to a state of penury. Mr. Moorhouse would not have allowed a goldfleld to exist in the province for twelve months without obtaining access to it; he would not have spent £10,000 on a useless escort and laid out money unnecessarily on roads. Mr. Moorhouse was the propounder of the railway system, but he was not the man, who would run the province ruinously into debt to carry it out; he would, however, and very properly, raise the money in such a way that posterity would have to pay a portion of it. He (Mr. St. Quentin) would contend that Mr. Moorhouse would be the best man for the working dassei.

Mr. Lee spoke against Mr. Moorhouse as a candidate for the Superintendency. His policy seemed to be to get money, but he did not state how he was going to get it. Mr. Lee then went on to blame Mr. Moorhouse for several things which he had done. Mr. Hart rose to contradict a statement made by Mr. Lee. Mr. Andrews said whatever Mr. Moorhouse might promise, lie was not in favour of the working classes, for he was in reality in the squatting interest. Mr. Andrews then proceeded to attack Mr. Moorhouse on several accounts. Mr. Mansell also spoke against Mr. Moorhouse. Mr. Barnes in replying said that he pitied the last two speakers, and looked on them as friends of Mr. Travers. It might be true that Mr. Moorhouse had helped to obtain an extension of the squatters' lease, but he (Mr. Barnes) would contend that he had done quite right, for the province had depended to a large extent on its wool. Mr. Barnes concluded by proposing Mr. Moorhouse as a fit and proper person to be Superintendent. Mr. Lawrence moved an amendment to the contrary effect. The original resolution was carried, and the meeting, which had been constantly interrupted by Mr. Worth throughout, then separated.