PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 8151, 23 April 1887, Page 5

PARLIAMENT OUT OF SESSION.

ME M'MILLAN AT ANNAT. Mr D. M'Millan, M.H.R. for Coleridge, addressed his constituents on Thursday night in the schoolroom at Annat. Mr James Cunningham was voted to the chair, and briefly introduced the speaker. There was a good attendance. Mr M'Millan, who was received with applause, spoke to the following effect. In asking them to meet him, he had to apologias for the short notice be had given of the meeting. He had been much engaged with bis piivate affairs, but bad seized the first opportunity for addressing them. Had he consulted his own convenience, he would have addressed them immediately after the close of the last session, but he held that a representative should meet his constituents to discuss future legislation rather than to chronicle the past. No doubt a repreientaiive bad to give an account of what had been done by him, but the electors knew pretty well all about this from the reports in the newspapers. LAIT SESSION. The Consolidation measures of last session were those chiefly worth noting, especially the Act consolidating the Counties Acts. There was one defect in the Loans to Local Bodies Bill, which would have to be remedied. Tiie Selwyn County Council bad not adopted the Act, because for water races the Counties Act made more liberal provisions. The Government Loans Act would require a slight amendment, but otherwise was a very useful measure. The Coalmining Bill was of great importance to localities where such mining was going on. It gave now very complete regulations for leases of mines and for the safety of lives. The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Act was a great improvement, but still required something to be done to it. The representation was unfair, and the management at first was more costly than it should have been. He was happy to say that in future the expenditure would be more economical. The contributions of local bodies were very unequal, the Counties contributing 72) per cent, while the Boroughs contributed only 27) per cent. He had moved that the money should be raised in the various districts in proportion to the amount required in each, 'ihat bad been rejected. He had supported Mr Pearson in his proposal to have the representation based on the property valuation rather than on population. That was lost. The next attempt was to have the money raised otherwise than on a uniform rate. The tendency now was for the districts to split up into small sections, and he feared this would result in the whole thing failing. The country must assist in maintaining the poor, who congregated in towns. This must be seen to. The expenditure on Hospitals and Charitable Aid in the Selwj n County had been, on the hospital in 1886 1887 £1387. and in 1887-1888 it was £l4-44, showing an increase of £l47 } that was due to a number of improvements having been made. The Charitable Aid expenditure for 1886-1887 was £3027, while for this year it was to be only £1336. So that the decrease was £1641, a considerable decrease, and he had no doubt this could be still further reduced. This showed what careful management could do. MIDLAND RAILWAY. With regard to the Midland Railway they knew that the Canterbury members had banded themselves together, and carried it through against strong opposition. The contract had been made out, and it was expected that news would arrive any day of its completion, when the work would be started at the same time at Springfield, Belgrove, Brunnerton, and the tunnel. He hoped ere long to have the pleasure of turning the first sod at the Springfield aide. (Applause.) The plan adopted would impose no burden on the country. The Railway Company received land; but the Government land would be opened with this, while the Company must find it to their interest to settle their land as quickly as possible. The rivalry between the Government and Company would cause settlement to make rapid progress. NEXT SESSION. With regard to the coming session, Ministers had given some clues to their plans, but on one subject, the making-up of the deficiency, no hint had been given. Whether thia was to be done by extra taxation or by retrenchment was not very clear. Any extra taxation would be very sorely felt. In the past no real attempt had been made to bring expenditure within revenue. This must now be done. The expenditure must be reduced, and some little extra taxation was, he feared, unavoidable. He trusted that the House would see that no more extra taxation than absolutely necessary was levied. The sooner Government was forced to keep expenditure within income the better for all concerned. The Bill that would take the longest time to discuss would be the Representation Bill. This had been introduced in the last session, and the Premier was anxious to carry it through. The House was not disposed to deal with it then, and the Parliament had now been called together eai lier than usual in order to take up the subject. The Bill had been on a population basis as regarded the two Islands, but now the Government appeared to intend to apply the population basis in all cases. He thought those who settled on the land should have a more liberal measure of representation than those who congregated in towns. The country could not be settled, or become prosperous, if the towns were to have the power of the Government. It would be short-sighted policy of the towns to refuse to give a larger proportion of representation to the country. The Ministers were prepared to concede this because they could not carry the measure otherwise. He would support such a measure of fair play, though he - would not be a party to any stone walling or other unfair means. (Applause.) PROTECTION. With reg. I to Protection and Freetrade, the tendency in towns seemed to be in favour of protection of everything. Protection meant increased cost to the consumer, and it would be a sorry day for New Zealand when Protection was established. The farmers could rot get along unless they had free ports to send their produce to, and if New Zealand adopted a protective policy other countries would soon retaliate. The distance New Zealand was from the old countries was a sufficient handicap to give manufacturers a fair start, especially when there were also duties levied for revenue purposes. Many industries flourished without any protection. It was right enough to give things a start, but to encourage and bolster up industries that could not afterwards stand alone would be a mistake. It would be seen from these remarks that he would be opposed to any tax of a merely protective character. There was another matter he would speak of. RABBITS. Lost year a P.ill for the destruction of rabbits had been passed. He had been on the Committee that reported on this. The subject was an important one, for in Otago alone the country was losing £IO,OOO a year in rents, and in 1890, when the leases of many runs in South Canterbury expired, there would be something like £15,000 a year off the rents. In Amuri, <Src., the runholders would take effective measures; but where the leases were about to expire people would nob spend money when such expenditure would only raise the rente they would have to pay. The Government should take the matter in hand. LAND ACQUISITION. With regard to the Land Acquisition Bill, he did not think it would be passed. He recognised the right of Government to take land for public purposes, but this was a proposal to take one man’s land for another man to occupy— a very dan-

gerous thing. It might be necessary to settle portions of the country, but thia could be done without the intervention of any Companies. He would oppose anything that would interfere with the security of the land. Of course he was far from advocating the locking up of large estates. As a matter of fact, the large estates were being cut up as the population required the land for settlement. He was sure that the Minister of Lands would guard the administration of such an Act so that no injustice would be done; but though the Bill would be discussed, there was no chance of its being passed during the coming session. RAILWAY MANAGEMENT. As to railway management, the Minister of Public Works' had sketched out a Bill by which Conciliatory Boards, or Boards of Advice, were to be formed. Now, advice was all very well, but the railway people would not take advice. (Laughter.) / He thought that the scheme would probably work out better than at first seemed likely. The great fault in the present management was the political influence brought to bear upon it, and the proposed Boards would possibly remedy this. The creation of independent Boards would place the management where the country would not like to see it. The railways should be considered as roads, and should not be expected to pay a certain percentage on the cost of their construction. He was speaking here of the branch railways. The lines had been constructed out of loans, and Government said they should pay sufficient to maintain themselves and the interest on the capital. This he thought was not unreasonable, with regard to the main trunk lines at any rate. The fact that the Minister could refer all complaints to the proposed Boards would relieve him of considerable political pressure. Whatever alteration might be made, he hoped that there would be n a better system of management. He had always held that the people 'should, by a reduction of the tariff, be induced to use the railways in preference to the roads. It should be remembered that where traffic remained on the roads the people were taxed to repair the wear and tear of these roads. (Applause.) FEMALE FRANCHISE. There was one other matter he would allude to, and that was the extension of the franchise to women. He looked upon this as a joke, and was certainly not sufficiently far advanced to approve of it. He did not think the women desired it. or that it was a desirable thing. VALEDICTORY. He did not intend to ask them to retunj him as their representative next Parliament, as he had so much work to do that he had not time to devote to the interest of the district. He hoped that whoeverrepreaented them would receive as kind treatment at the hands of the electors of the Coleridge district as he had received. (Applause.) He would always look back with pleasure to the kindness and consideration he had received. He thanked them for this, and for the attention they had given to his address. (Applause, and a voice: “ We shall not get another as honest a man.”) In answer to questions Mr M'Millak said that he could not state definitely the relation the present small contracts had to the main contract for the Midland Hail way. They were a work which the Government had intended to carry out themselves, and a work which would be a great service, even should the big contract fall through. He had no sympathy with sweeps or the totalisator, and thought the latter had done much mischief by encouraging gambling. He had suggested to Sir Jjulras Vogel that a tax might be levied on the totalisator as there was on drink—another vice. At the same time, he thought the totalisator should not be legalised at all. He agreed that it was a great fallacy to put people on too small pieces of land, especially when the land was of poor quality. Ou the whole, however, the deferred system had dona fairly well in Canterbury. With regard to the water-race through the Annat settlement, it should have been called a storm-water channel, which was all that had been intended to be placed there. If the settlers had been misled, they had a grievance against the Department. He did not see how the number of members could now be reduced, though at present the country was over-represented. He thought the members of the Upper House should not receive more than half the honorarium given to the members of the Lower House. Mr Colthart moved “ a hearty vote of thanks to Mr M'Millan for his address and past services, and that this meeting views with regret the prospect of Mr M'Millan’s retirement.” Mr Thomas Atkinson seconded the motion, which was carried with enthusiasm. Mr M'Millan thanked the meeting, and closed the proceedings by moving the usual vote to the Chairman. MR O’CALLAQHAN AT PEEBBLETON. Last night Mr A. P. O’Cailaghan, M.H.R. for Lincoln, addressed his constituents in the Prebbleton Town Hall. There was a fair attendance, and the chair was taken by Mr J. Gammack, who briefly introduced the speaker. Mr O’Callaghan, who was received with loud applause, spoke to the following effect. It might perhaps have been expected that he would have called his constituents together sooner, but he had decided to wait in hopes of knowing aometning of the intention of the Government, as also to enable his constituents to let him know their views. He would not occupy much time in speaking of the past session, a? he believed that his action during it had met with the approval of his constituents. (Applajise). He could, before saying anything else, record his deep regret at the loss the Colony had sustained in the death of Mr Macandrew, whose kindness and personal friendship be could not bub remember with gratitude. midland railway. With regard to the Midland Eailway, he believed there was nothing no prevent the contract being signed immediately, and the work being commenced in this side of the ranges early in spring. And here he could not but deprecate the language recently uiod by Mr Travers, whose utterances however would have little weight with all who knew him. On another subject, the Government Assurance Association, Mr Travers had acted in much the same way, shifting his opinions so quickly as to prove that they were not " worth a red cent,” to use his own phrase. the coming session. As to the coming session, he would give precedence to the ladies, as compelled by his native gallantry. Be was opposed to the proposal to take women out of their proper sphere, in order to go through the difficulties and troubles of public life; for to be consistent, the Legislature must not stop short at giving them the franchise, but must also allow them to take seats in the Legislature, where there were already enough “old women.” Mr Bernal Osborne had said, “We are accustomed to see judges old women, but we should be sorry to see old women judges,” and this might: be applied to the question of the Women’s suffrage. Then, again, the ladies would not like to have a permanent record of their ages to be kept, as would be the case were there names on the register of voters. (Laughter.) He did not believe that the ! Bill would be carried this coming session. finance. The great questions of the day were connected with the finance of the Colony, and never was finance of greater importance than now. He was prepared to join the Government party in any measure for securing economy, but felt that the Opposition would give no more economy than the present Government. Every possible pressure should be brought to bear on the Government to make the expenditure

come within the revenue. He took it that there would be a deficit of somewhere of about .6X50,000, or perhaps even less. Then there was a deficiency of £150,000, in five year debentures, a legacy from the Government of Major Atkinson. These two sums made a deficit with which to commence the financial year. Sir Julius had the name of not being economicaC but he (Mr O’CalJaghan) thought it was more difficult to get him to consent to expenditure than it had ever been to get Major Atkinson to do so. In the Lands Office at Christchurch four officers had received notice—he did not say that this was right, but showed what was being done towards reducing the expenditure in the Civil Service. Mr Scobie M'Kenzle accused the Government of having no intention to reduce expenditure, and of having made Mr Reynolds a stalking horse. He (Mr O'Callaghan) felt indignant at such a statement, as Mr Reynolds, without any salary, was doing his best to further the interests of the Colony. Before proceeding further, he would like to put before the meeting some suggestions by which the revenue could be increased and the expenditure lessened. Did it not often strike them that an immense number of people escaped taxation to a very large extent, except for their investments in property ? These were lawyers, surgeons. Civil servants, &c., who were in the receipt of large and steady incomes. There should be an Income tax to reach these. Those who went Home bad immediately to pay an Income tax, while those who came here from England had no such impost. Was it not right that an Income tax should be imposed upon the people ? (Applause.) It was only amatter of justice that these people should pay something towards the taxes of the Colony. (Hear.) Another way of raising money, was worth considering. All knew that a large amount of money was spent on racehorses, or racing, and on the totalisator.: Would it not be fair to tax what was only an amusement to the people? (Hear.) No doubt racing improved the breed of horses, but those who bred racehorses did so for profit or amusement, and so was it with the totalisator. He was an advocate of racing, and saw no objection to the totalisator, but held that they were amusements and sources of profit, which should be taxed. (“ No,” and applause.) He was stating his opinion, and believed the totalisator had removed a very objectionable class of people. (Applause.) The Treasurer looked to the Customs as a source of revenue. The Customs had fallen off in conrequence of the great reduction in the values of goods imported and paying ad valorem duties. Now, it was only fair that those who got the benefit of the reduced prices should contribute to make up the deficiency thus caused. The prices < f tea and sugar had fallen, and it was only fair, the Treasurer said, that the Government should participate in the benefit thus gained. PROTECTION. He (Mr O’Callaghan) had been a Freetrader from his youth, but believed that extreme views either on Freetrade or on Protection were undesirable. Victoria, the most Protective country in the world, was prosperous; Sydney, with Freetrade, was in a depressed condition. Canada, with Protection, was flourishing; and generally Freetrade countries appeared to suffer most from depression. These were facts. At all events. Protective countries rallied quicker after depression than did Freetrade countries. He was no advocate of Protective duties, but these facts must be remembered when any changes had to be made in the tariff. Each country must be regulated by the conditions under which it existed. (Applause.) He thought that neither Freetrade nor Protection was essential to the prosperity of the Colony. He thought it would be a great mistake for the Colony to send representatives to Parliament on the dangerous cry of Protection v. Freetrade. He desired to see the necessaries of life as cheap as possible, but the revenue must be thought of, not to bolster up industries which could not otherwise flourish, but to encourage healthy industries like the woollen factories, which had not increased the price of articles they produced. (Hear.) Before leaving this subject he would like to say he hoped the electors would allow him to use his discretion upon the question. He felt it was impossible to say what must be done, in the interests of the consumers and the State generally, to meet the deficit. RETRENCHMENT. As to the redaction of expenditure, the representatives must make up their minds noc to be too fastidious in attacking the subject. A beginning should be made with the Governor, not the present one of course, whose salary should be reduced by at least one-third. (Applause.) When once the Governor’s salary was reduced it was a guarantee of redaction all round. The cost of the Legislature would come next. The honorarium of the Upper House should be reduced by half, and that of members of the lower House should be reduced to .£l5O. Were this done, there would be less compunction among the members for reducing the salaries of public servants. All salaries above £2OO should be reduced, seeing that the necessaries of life cost so much less now than formerly. This was common sense, that salaries should be regulated in accordance with the cost of living. The present Opposition had ridiculed this idea, and the proposal in the Civil Service Reform BUI tad been struck out, on the motion of Mr Bryce. It was impossible for a member to bring about any reduction while the estimates were before the House, as he could not be sufficiently conversant with the requirements of the Civil Service to put his band on the man whose salary could be reduced. The only way was for the Government supporters to bring pressure by giving good advice, as the Government would yield to such advice, although it would not submit to be dictated to by the Opposition. There was one thing he would not endeavour to have reduced by a single sixpence, and that was primary education. SINKING FUND. The Treasurer had been accused of collating the Sinking Fund. But this was a mistake; and so far from it having been ■an injury to the Colony, it bad been a benefit. Every sound financier was of opinion that a Sinking Fund in a young Colony was a mistake. If the £210,000 had not been appropriated the Colony must ..have been taxed to that amount. (Applause). The loss to the Colony had been little or nothing, seeing 1 that tax also had been sown. BORROWING. All were aware that no loan would be required this season. The question then came, what was to be done afterwards ? Was borrowing to be stopped altogether ? He would be very glad to think so, but there were expenditures which must be made, and which could not be provided for without loans. Of course the amount of such loans must be kept as small as possible, and he believed action would be taken to prevent any further borrowing to any large extent. The representatives of the settled districts would have this duty thrown upon them, as members for the unsettled districts were constantly crying out for grunts for this work and the other. LAND ACQUISITION. He would like to say a few words on Mr Ballance’s Land Acquisition Bill. He had frequently urged some such measure. The principle had bam acknowledged in the Land Act of 1885, but had never been acted upon, for the reason that the necessary machinery had not been provided. The objections made were : that there was plenty of land; that the owners would be glad to sell at high prices; and that the door would be opened for corruption. As a member of the Canterbury Land Board, he must say that there was not much land of .good quality in this part of the Colony and

North Otago which was near the railways and suitable for village settlements. With regard to the high price, he thought that many landowners would be willing to sell at less than Property tax valuation. As to conuption, this might be prevented by stringent regulations. There were several improvements that should be made. Among them were the following : —That a limit should be placed on the amount of land in each district; that no land should be acquired that was not on a line of railway; that the quantity taken from each individual should be limited; that it should be made a matter of necessity that half the purchase should be paid in cash, and the other half in land bonds; and that no agreement should be completed by the Government without the sanction of both Houses of Parliament. REPRESENTATION BILL. It was absolutely neceotary to pass a Representation Bill this session, as the present Act expires in December. He intended to support the Government Bill even though the South Inland would suffer by it. This was a matter the members were bound in honour to carry out, otherwise the South Island would be unable to claim increased representation when its population increased. The country districts should be favoured to this extent, that their constituencies should have a population of 5500 to the towns’ 7000. RAILWAY MANAGEMENT. As to the Conciliation Boards of Railway Management, he believed that all political influence should be removed from Railway management, and these Boards, though a step in the right direction, would not go far enough. The only principle on which the Railways could be managed was the commercial principle. It was absurd that the roads should be used alongside the Railways. The reduction of the fares to the Saturday rates would induce a large increase of traffic, and relieve the roads from the and tear the Local Bodies had to pay for. CONCLUSION. As the time was rapidly passing, he would briefly refer to a few of the measures passed last session, and then answer any questions. The speaker then referred to the Native Lauds Act, a most important and beneficial measure ; the Charitable Aid Bill, with regard to which he had opposed the levying of rates on the Property tax basis; the Abolition of Entail and the First Offenders Probation, both good measures. With regard to the Loan Bill, he had voted against the beginning of new lines—Westport to loangahua, and the Blenheim. He had voted for £175,000 to the . Southern Island, but that had been rejected. The Agricultural College was now rated—(applause)—but this would only be for two years. He would endeavour to make it pleasant. (Applause) He had been attacked on the score of the fencing at the Asylum, but was not responsible for it in any way. However, he was glad to say that a respectable fence was about to be erected. With regard to, the settlement of Lake Ellesmere Flat, the Land Board had a scheme which would greatly facilitate it, without the land being alienated from the State. The scheme would provide for the drainage of the land. So also the Halswell district would be provided with drainage. He had suggested to the Treasurer a plan for connecting Prehbleton and Springston with the Lincoln telegraph station. (Applause.) He concluded by thanxing the people for their coming to hear him on so dark a night, and promised to put himself at the disposal of the district at the forthcoming election. (Applause.) After Mr O'Callaghan bad answered several questions, Mr Andrews moved a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr Alsop seconded the motion, which was carried amid loud applause. A vote of thanks to the Chairin' a closed the proceedings. ME PEARSON AT OHOEA. Mr W. F. Pearson, M H.E., addressed the electors at Ohoka on Thursday night. There was a very fair attendance, and Mr Pearson, who was very warmly received, delivered a similar address to that he gave at Oxford. At the termination of hia speech, several questions were asked, which were answered to the apparent satisfaction of those present. A motion was then proposed of thanks and confidence, and a counter motion of no-confi-dence. After some discussion between the conflicting parties, both motions were withdrawn ; and by request of Mr Pearson, a vote of thanks only was tabled, which closed the meeting. [Per Press Association.] HOKITIEA, April 22. Mr R. J. Seddon has addressed his constituents at various places, and received votes of thanks and confidence. He expressed his opposition to representation on a population basis, and favoured names on electoral roll instead. He would oppose any Government that favoured such injustice to the country districts, and he recognised the great value of the present Government to the Colony. He spoke generally in favour of a Laud and Income tax, and approved of Mr Ballance’s Expropriation Bill; but it should apply to the neighbourhood of towns, and find homes for people engaged in trades.