PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7222, 23 April 1884, Page 5

PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

THE HON E. T. CONOLLY AT PICTON. [Phk Press Association.] PICTON, April 22. The Hon E. T. Conolly addressed his constituents to-night; the Mayor in the chair. Referring to the work of the past session, he said that although much time was wasted in idle tali and recrimination, yet it would compare not unfavourably with tho session that preceded it. Impatience of legislation, and the anxiety of members to get away home, prevented more work being done. He had been specially interested in three Bills. The Bankruptcy Bill was a considerable change for the better, though no Bill could he entirely satisfactory, and there was a growing opinion, to which, perhaps, he would be a convert himself, though doubtful at present, that all bankruptcy laws were, undesirable, and the relations of debtor and creditor should be left to be settled by the parties themselves. The other two Acts were the Married Women’s Property Act, and an Act for preventing restrictions on the alienation of land. Next session, unless it was interrupted unexpectedly, he hoped, to see both placed on the Statute Book. He referred to the benefit of the action of the Native Land Courts Amendment Act, and said that if, as shadowed forth by many of his colleagues, they were able next session to restore pre-emptive right, they would really protect the Natives from falling into the hands of land sharks. He referred also to the Bill introduced to give a northern company immense and improper privileges with regard to the purchase of Native lands, and to its ultimate withdrawal. He did not think any other great company for the promotion of land sharking would introduce a similar measure. He commended the Bill introduced, giving great powers to Land Boards to enquire into the bona fides of transactions under the Land Acts. The effect would he to prevent the evil of lands falling into the hands of a few capitalists, and to provide the establishment of a class of small farmers settled on their own land. The Land Boards would have greater power to prevent dummyism. He then referred to the important work done in consolidating statutes, and making them more readable, and also dwelt at some length on the alleged irregularity of Government drawing an imprest at the beginning of the session, and pointed out that, however irregular, the plan was absolutely necessary. He condemned the silly Bills introduced last session, such as that to prevent sale on credit of goods by retail, to regulate the hours of keeping shops open, and the Eight Hours Bill. Sir George Grey’s Bill to abolish the Legislative Council was entirely beyond the power of the New Zealand Parliament, as Sir G. Grey well knew. Another equally extravagant and absurd Bill was that which provided for an appeal to the electors of the whole Colony, where two bodies differed in opinion. Sir G. Grey introduced this just, as though he really believed in it. Mr Cenolly then dwelt upon Mr Montgomery’s Decentralisation resolutions, the result of which was that though Government had a large majority, it showed still a considerable minority who believed in Provincialism, which, he hoped, was dead and buried, but which was restless in its grave. He referred also to Mr Eusden’s false accusations against Mr Bryce, which gave the latter an opportunity to deliver a speech that went to the hearts of members who heard it. Mr Bryce was a man of firmness, but the charges of cruelty and brutality were absolutely impossible to be true, and Mr Bryce was now challenging the truth of them in the English Law Courts. The House saw with regret that Sir G. Grey appeared to excuse such atrocious and false accusations. Mr Conolly then spoke strongly against reviving Provincialism, which, though good for some, would not benefit the whole community, hut he feared they would never see the day when the New Zealand Parliament would copsist of men taking up the position of statesmen, and not mere local delegates. He referred at considerable length to the Catholic grievances on Education, and the proceedings in Committee last session, and said that so long as Government undertook the education of the Colony, it must do so on one basis, and the moment they attempted to assist the schools of one particular denomination, they must do it for all religions—Christian, Jew, or heathen. The question of education must be entirely distinct from religion, and denominations must not ask State assistance to teach their children the faith they believed to be correct. He condemned the proceedings of the Committee, and said that it took the views of the clergy as representing the laity. He could conceive no subject on which tho clergy so little represented the laity as that of sending children to tho common schools. The Committee was a farce, and ended in nothing. Ho then referred to the Dargaville episode as a disgraceful proceeding, and was sorry to see that Mr Dargaville was praised by his constituents for his courage in attacking tho Ministry. There was no courage in making charges which lie could not prove, and he was deserving of censure rather than of, praise. In concluding his review of the past session, Mr Conolly said it was clear the Opposition were thoroughly disorganised, and could only unite to attack Government. On matters referring to the financial state of the Colony, he said that, when the returns for tho year came to be made up, the revenue of the railways was largely -below the estimate, and grain was being carried at an actual loss to tho Colony. There was ft falling . off also of £120,000 in Customs, in which Government possibly made a had calculation. A largo portion of the deficiency arose through the increased sobriety of the people, the falling-off being under the head of importation of spirits, which was not altogether a subject©! regret, but rather of gratification. The money was not spent hut saved, and did not go out of tjje Colony, but was ready to meet the necessities of the hour. It became immediately necessary to reform the

railway tariff, as it clearly was not right that when the railways wore not paying anything like interest on tho cost of construction they should carry articles at a loss. Tho tariff was raised, but still not to the height at which it stood some years ago, and was infinitely less than the rate at which goods would bo carried by any other means than rail. It had mot with * storm of opposition in Canterbury, where people looked upon the increased tariff os specially directed at them. Mr Saunders said the increase amounted to £150,000, nil of which came out of tho pockets of Canterbury farmers, but assuming this year’s return to bo the same as lost—and Mr Conolly doubted if tho harvest was as good—tho difference to Canterbury was .£30,000 only, so that Mr Saunders multiplied it by five. Tho tariff had been increased on other things besides grain, and Otago and Southland made no disturbance about it, though their grain product equalled that of Canterbury. If the tariff was not raised there was no alternative but to increase tho general taxation. Those who opposed the increase thought that if things prospered they should got tlie benefit; but if they went wrong tho whole Colony should bear the burden. A largo number of members, hitherto consistent supporters of Government, went against them in this matter; but ho hoped, when they had time to consider how the tariff affected tho Colony as a whole, they would see how shortsighted the policy they advocated was. Mr Conolly then criticised a portion of Mr Montgomery’s speech, and said that tho latter thought that the discontent existing in Canterbury would put him in a better position, and so made use of it as an opportunity for violent language about the Government. The depression in tho South Island cities was like that which existed in Wellington five years ago, and invariably succeeded over-trading, and no Government could cure such a state of things. Mr Montgomery asserted they could, but did not attempt to show how it was to be done. The drain from the Colony by interest on the public debt was no fault of tho Government, and the borrowing had been done with the consent of all parties. Mr Montgomery’s only objection to the last three million loan was that the first million should be delayed a year. They might have been too extravagant and borrowed too much, but the fault was with the members of both Houses during the last thirteen or fourteen years, and it was absurd for Mr Montgomery to charge it on the head of the present Government. Mr Montgomery was right in saying that departmental expenses were excessive, but; that was a favourite cry with the Opposition. He agreed that there was room for reduction, but it was much more easy for the Opposition to clamour for it than for the Government to carry it out. Only let Government try the effect of saving in any place and they had all the inhabitants of the district crying out, “ Save elsewhere, but don’t touch us.” Mr Conolly then deprecated the reduction in the Armed Constabulary, and pointed to the destruction of the beacons at Kawhia, as an instance of its use in preserving peace and good order in the North Island, where there was still a large number of Natives with mistaken notions in respect to their rights and powers. The Colony was paying very small insurance in keeping up the Armed Constabulary. Mr Montgomery also said the South Island was going to the bad, because large tracts of freehold land were lying waste, but the evil was curing itself every day, and owners were not likely to be so blind to their own interests as to let the land remain idle. Absentee proprietors drawing rents andspending them in England were, no doubt, a great evil, but how could it be helped ? Mr Csnolly then strongly opposed separation of the Islands, and said that Marlborough, Westland, and Nelson would bitterly rue the day if it took place. For those districts the North Island had far more friendly feelings than were entertained by the southern portion of the South Island. The policy of the latter was to keep what they got and let other districts go. Mr Montgomery’s scheme meant that the million which, in the ordinary course, would be borrowed in January, would not be borrowed at all, and that if he were in power, the million for the North Island Central Railway would never be raised. In separation and some other subjects, Mr Montgomery was a mere catspaw in the hands of Mr Macandrew. It was easy to understand why Otago people clamoured for separation, because Dunedin in that event would be the capital of the South Island, but he could not understand the blindness of Canterbury people in following such a policy as that. Mr Montgomery said that whatever happened the Ministry’s days were numbered, and they must go. This was because they had possibly made a miscalculation in the Customs, and had dared to attempt to make the railways pay. It might be next session that the Opposition would take advantage of the discontent among Canterbury members, and with their aid put the present Government in a minority, and compel them either to resign or apply for a dissolution. On the other hand, the session might run its course, but in any case there would be a general election before the end ' of the year, and he would again be a candidate for their suffrages. He complained of secret workings against him behind his back among his constituents, and especially complained that it had been several times circulated that he was about to be elevated to a Supreme Court Judgeship. There was no foundation whatever for this, and why the rumour was renewed over and over again he could not say. Mr Johnston and all the other judges werein good health, and he was happy to say there was not the slightest chance of any of them resigning at present. If one resigned it was most unlikely he would take his place. He did not think his colleagues in the Ministry wished him to leave them, and he would certainly not desert them when he apprehended that'' danger was impending. The invitation to take office in the Whitaker Ministry had been entirely unsought, and was a matter of surprise. Three questions, at least, would be fought out on the hustings. Tho first was Separation or Provincialism, the second was a Land tax, as against a Property tax. He had always advocated the latter, viewing land as a species of property, but not the only pnoperty. To tax land and leave other property untaxed was class legislation of the worst possible description. He condemned a progressive Land tax, which was based upon an utter fallacy, and nothing could be fairer than a Property tax. He would gladly see an increase in the Property tax coupled with a diminution in the numerous articles which at present were subject to Customs duty. _ Tho third question was that of education, and he at least would not support any material alteration in the system. He desired to see primary education up to tho sixth standard maintained, but thought they had gone a little too far in the direction of secondary education. Those who boned to. <>j that ought to pay for it, and not tho Colony tit large. Alter references to local topics, Mr Conolly concluded by announcing his intention to seek re-elec-tion at the next general election. - A vote of thanks and confidence was passed almost unanimously. About a hundred electors here present. The Minister addresses other parts of tho district during this week. ° MB J. MUNEO AT WESTPOET. [Pee Pbkss Association.] WESTPOET, Aran. 22. Mr Munro, M.H.E.fcr Duller, addressed a crowded meeting last night. After -referring at length to local matters, he contended that the Colonial Treasurer had every reason to expect the revenue would sustain itself, and urged the large pay-

monte for interest on borrowed money, private and public, as the chief cause of the commercial depression. Ho supported an increase of tbe Property tax to One penny, and tho imposition of 11 progressive Land tax, the latter for revenue* purposes only. If Government wanted land tor settlement they should ro-purchase it. lie supported tho increase in the railway tariff, and believed that Parliament would justify the action of tho Government to-morrow. Ho spoke strongly against Mr Rolloston’s administration of land, mul expressed tho opinion that his resignation would not weaken the Ministry. Ha suggested a reduction of the education vote, by making the curriculum simply elementary, and confining tho school age from six to thirteen. He agreed that the charge of. half tho cost of hospitals, Ac., against local bodies would ho fair, and held that deficiencies in tho Justice and Telegraph departments should bo made up by an increase in charges for services rendered, not by a reduction of salaries. He would persist in endeavouring to got the gold duty reduced by 25 per cent. Ho contended that the County system was tho best extant for local government, and thought Federation premature and nationalisation of land utopian. He would go to tho Houad an independent supporter of Government, and would judge of the record that was brought against them. A, vote of confidence was unanimously passed. AUCKLAND, April 22. The member for Franklyn North received a vote of confidence from his constituents last night.