Wiamea – Picton Election.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 193, 12 August 1887, Page 2

Wiamea - Picton Election.

* MR MILLS AT HAVELOCK Mr C. 11. Mills addressed a large meeting of Picton electors at the Town Hall, Havelock on Wednesday ovening. A. E. Hyde Esq. being in the chair. The Chairman briefly referred to Mr Mills in eulogistic terms as the candidate for their suffrage. After a residence among them of nearly 25 years, ho felt sure they would accord a patient hearing and had much pleasure now in introducing him.

Mr Mills thanked the Chairman for the flattering remarks which exceeded his merits and said—At the request of many old and new friends, a great number of whom I am pleased to see present this evening, I have the honor to stand before you as a candidate, willing to g.ve his best services to represent your interest in the next Parliament. But I must ask you to kindly view my opinions as the utterance of one from among yourselves, one who has been emboldened by your confidence to undertake the task of veutilating your ideas, your feeling and requirements in a common sense practical way. And should my address fall short of your expectations you will, I am sure, generously recollect the base of my pedestal is not to pose before you as a statesman, but to carry forward into a wider field what little experience I may havo gained in a lifetime for my own mutual advantage, to assist in framing Statutes which have to guide ourselves and children hereafter on workable rather than theoritical lines. (Applause.) Gentlemen, you will pardon me if I am going too far back but the history of this Colony has been (in spite of many drawbacks) one of steady though quiet internal progress. As one born in New Zealand my recollection carries mo to those early days when the oldest settlers, men of sturdy frame and strong intellect were battling with all the hardiness of other nature in founding home 3 for their wives and little ones, building them in a now country thousands of m ; les from all the associations they held so dear, and I am sure you will sanction my paying this tribute to the memory of those grand old pioneers who have passed away, and those who still remain with us, when I say they represented the flower of English yeomanry, and all honor to the land from whence they came. (Loud applause.) I can assure you nothing has gratified me more in my recent political tour than the warm grasp of fraternal friendship from the old friends of my father, the few survivors of that plucky band, and one of the strongest reasons for my presence on this platform is, that unless some of the first generation born in the Colony irlio had the benefit of tlieir parent’s acquired experience now take a more active interest in framing the laws wc are governed by. I believe a serious gap of ripened judgment will be lost in tho history of our native land. (Applause.) Gentlemen, I believe you will acknowledge that practical experience as a rule is dearly paid for, and should be an acquisition in every sphere ; in fact, it was never illustrated better than in the case of tho two men who became partners. Tom, who was the sleeping partner, provided all the capital; Jack had the experience, but in one short year tho positions woi-o entirely reversed, for Jack had all tho coin and Tom only the experience. (Laughter.) Now, gentlemen, you are aware that under the new Representation Act tho electoral district has been so extended that it embraces nearly one-half of the Waimea constituency, and although at first sight our interests may not appear identical, I believe it is tho best arrangement the Commissioners could have made under tho circumstances. We must, therefore, sink all local feeling, and become united, so that we can all pull together, and as electricity passes along tho wire over hill and dale, I see no more difficulty in your representative allowing his inind to embrace fairly the requirements of the whole district, and treating them on the same footing, so if you return me I shall endeavor to look upon the electorate as one great trust, independent of all local feeling. (Hear, hear.) But I wish it to bo clearly understood that while I shall never forget to study the welfare of New Zealand as a whole, iny mission is to represent our electorate, and not every other district of the Colony in local matters, for I consider representation as a circle, and if all tho members do their duty by carefully watching the in - terests of their portion in an impartial spirit, wo shall do collectively what, to my mind, it would be presumption and absurd for ono man to undertake. (Applause.) We are now tho central power and chief polling plaeo, and it remains with ourselves to make Havelock and its surromd'ngs a place of somo importance. (Hear, hear.) I will now ask your attention to somo prominent facts and figures which show the Colony is not in that hopeless condition some gloomy individuals would havo us believe. OUR NATIONAL estate. This comprises no less than 64,000,000 acres of laud, of which about 25,000,000 acres still remain at the disposal of the Land Boards. Tho value of all real property in tho Colony on Oct. Ist, 1885, including only Native Lands situated within five miles of any road suitable for horse traffic was over 116 millions, the value of personal property over 82 millions and Government property nearly 20 millions, making a total of L 218,204,959, against which wo have the following liabilities: —Debt of the Colony (less sinking fund) L 31,658, 349, of the Local Bodies L 5,616,273, debts represented by mortgages nearly L 32,000 or debts exclusive of mortgages over L 20,000 showing altogether L 59,491,324, which leaves a surplus, after paying all our debts of L125,803,G35 iu our pockets, or if divided a sum equal to L 223 for every man, woman and child in the Colony, then when we remember our export of gold up to the 31st December, 1885, amounted to the enormous sum of L 42,327,907, and last year our exports iu wool reached these startling figures 714,G14,3681b5, while in one year the value of our exports in wool was L 3,267,527, gold L 985.953, timber L 152,938, cereals L 1,891,887, frozen meat L 404,305, flax L 24,000, and many other items from industries still in the'r infancy I think these, figures should go a long way to convince the most sceptical that our progress is only delayed not stopped for ever. (Applause.) Besides all this wealth the Natives still own about 14 million acres of land, in many instances, the very best class in the Colony, which will eventually become the property of the Crown, and when we reeollcct our genial climate the fatality of our soil and the vast mineral wealth yet undeveloped, surely we have no cause to fear the present depression. If we refer to histoij we find that when the National debt ot Great Britain was about L 10,000,000 there were far more croukcrs thfin has been ever since with a national debt at present exceeding L 300,000,000, and the country is more prosperous. If England could and did pay off her debt to-morrow it would he a national calamity, thousands of people would he rendered absolutely helpless through their not being able to make safe investments for their small capital, of course I recognise this maternal distinction that whereas the annual interest of England’s debt permeates through all classes our interest leaves the Colony every year. But gentlemen, this will not last for ever, and I firmly believe that before many years have passed our squatters merchants, farmers, .and others who realise a competency, will find no better in- ! vastment outside of New Zealand, conse- *

quently by degress our debentures ■will bo redeemed and the interest returned in circulation throughout the Colony, therefore, for these reasons, I do not view the public debt as beyond our control, or oven further borrowing with alarm, when it is to carry on the great work of colonization, and complete Colonial work of importance. (Hear hear). What wo want is careful and judicious expenditure, with proper management of the State, and so try to convert the present heavy deficit of £92,000 into a credit on the proper side of the ledger during the next financial year (applause), and this can only be don? by thrift and living within our means (Hear hear). Wo must learn than useful lesson—the art of doing without (hear hear), and if we only place the position in a manly, straightforward way, looking at retrenchment as meaning something substantial, we shall soon be masters of the situation. Holding these views, it is a difficult matter to ask any Government to spend large sums of public money on the requirements of our district, unless they can bo shown as an urgent necessity, and I am convinced many of them are, and although my Nelson opponent has been silent upon these important topics, more especially as regards Pelorus and Picton, I shall consider it my duty to advocate strongly certain local works throughout the electorate (hear hear), such as opening out the Pelorus Sound by steam communication, which would benefit everyone to a much greater extent than some people think for the isolation in that part of the district is strangling all enterprise, while no better spot oxists in all the Colony for establishing a successful fishing industry, but we have a practical illustration before os now of what kills speculation. The large fishing and curing works erected at Bulwer township, at the entrance of the Sound, which cost hundreds of pounds, have got into Chancery through the proprietors not boing able to communicate rapidly with the outside world, and all the settlers are languishing through the heavy expense of getting their produce to market, while our sleeper industry, which has afforded useful employment to a great number of men, has been so pared down that it is difficult for the labourers to make both ends meet. I c innot see why tho Department should not take first and second-class sleepers, tho former for new works, and the latter for repairs. This would bo strict economy, not only in price, but a saving of valuable material. (Applause.) Wo require the Government to view tho question of roads through the electorate from a fair stand point, the formation of a dray road from Tua Marina to Ivaituna, or a bridge across the Wairau is a work of colonial importance, and while the Government own such a large area of valuable timber land in the Wakainarina, Rai Oronga, and Opouse Vallies they must grant our Boad Boaid some assistance towards getting the roads properly formed and mottled, and tho necessary bridges constructed. Other places have long since had the benefit of good roads constructed by funds taken from the public purse, and our main road between the Tua Marina and Wakapauaka should be placed on the same footing, while Cable Bay, a station of great importance to the Colony, should not be isolated from every road by over a milo of mud flat, and Mahakipawa by a hill over 1300 feet high, which prohibits reasonable intercourse with other parts of tho district. The wlmrf accommodation in Pictoti required extending. Every settler should do his utmost to encourage direct shipments to and from that port, and a better system of mail service must be established between this district and Nelson. (Applause.) Last, but not least, our mining interests have been sadly neglected. Thousands of pounds have been spoilt annually on tho West Coast for water races, but nothing has ever boon done by the Government to assist in developing the auriferous block of country extending from tlie Wakamarina over to tho Wairau river right up to Mount Patriarch. The benefits derived from payable reefs are so great that I cannot enumerate them, but a reasonable sum of money might bo judiciously allocated for prospecting, and opening grod , tracks between tho various mining centres, thus encouraging the plucky miner, to whom we are indebted for the raw material we convert into sovereigns. I know there has been long discussion in Parliamont re the gold duty, and I do not agree with any class taxation, but to my mind the greatest grievance among the mining commuity is not having enough gold to pay duty on. (Applause anl laughter). Now, gentlemen, these are some of the matters that I consider should engage a member’s special attention, and if I can only get the right side of tho Colonial Treasurer, I hope tho till will not he found empty. (Hoar, hear). I shall support a Min's try with Sir Robert Stout as Premier on general principles (hear, hear) because I believe most of the recent legislation has been framed on practical lines, and spe dally to b'nefit small districts and the working classes. Take, for instance, the act which prevented any native lands being sold except through the Government, and prevented the land sharks from monopolising lnrce blocks. They have consolidated the laws relating to tho local bodies, and T believe intend going a great deal further in that direction. They extended the rules respecting delayed telegrams, and will shortly have a parcel’s post in full swing, sending goods from one end of the Colony to the other at a reasonable rate, while the First Offenders Probat’on Act is one that, reflects credit on any Ministry, because if you can save a person after the first mistake you have accomplished a great deal. (Applause). You will therefore understand that my allegiance is not for what the Ministry have done for us locally, but for what they are going to do hereafter, and now I come to the subject of RAILWAYS. Well spent, as you all know some 13.1 millions have been spent on the various lines partly shown on this map I now call your attention to, but I must say that so far as Marlborough and Nelson are concerned, so far they have been poetically asleep. Hero you see we have 18 miles of railway constructed from Picton 'o Blenheim, Nelson has 22 miles to Belgrove, while Canterbury has about 300 miles, Otago nearly-100 miles, and Invercargill nearly 200 miles, with all the advantages derived therefrom, making a grand total of nearly 900, with North Island nearly 800 miles, against our paltry -10 miles. Surely it is time we made a stir in this direction, and have a uniform system of charges throughout the Colony. (Applause). Now, gentlemen, when it was first talked about of form in" a syndicate to construct the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway, I wrote to 0. J. Fell Esq., Mr .Lovestam M.H.R., Mr Dodson M.H.R., and Mr Conolly M.H.R., asking them to eddeavonr to get the same syndicate to construct a Fne from Nelson, via Havelock, to Blenheim, and so have a ring-fence radway, which shows that I was then, and am now, ; n favor of that line, but Mr Conolly dcclinol to assist the others who wore wil i: ng. The statistics published by the Eadway League must carry conviction to every thoughtful mind of its utility, and I hope ad those who are returned will unite and have a preliminary survey of a railway line to connect Nelson with Picton, via Havelock and Biennoim (lend applause), which I fearlessly assert can be done in a four hours’ journey, while the passenger traffic, tithes from timber, with carriage, would ensure good returns, besides providing the laboring classes with settle 1 employment for many years, and I think 1 you will all hear me out in my opinion that such a line would bo the making of

this district. (Hear hear). Now, a great 4 deal of capital has been made out of the' proposed reductions in tho Civil Service, and it seems to me wherever the 6crew pinches this body of men, whoso daily bread depend upon their salary, aro threatened with dismissal, or something nearly akin to it. This stylo I do not believe in, having experienced both kind of labor for many years. lam sure that mental is more exhausting than physical, so let us view the matter from a fair standpoint, and examine the various departments and amalgamations whoro possible with effective servico (hear hear), remunerating them in accordance with their work, and where it is absolutely necessary to reduce salaries do it progressively, but no man, without his salary exceeds £l5O, ought to be reduced from the Governor downward. (Applauso). With regard to the Minister’s salaries, a sensible reduction should be made, but they should not tie them down to a few pounds in travelling expenses, for after all it is only circulating a little money, and there is nothing like an intimate personal knowledge with all parts of tho Colony. I think as the coroner says—go and view the body before you decide mat - ters of present interest to communities. (Applause). And now wo come to tho HONORARIUM. Well gentlemen, I must say this has already been cut down with country members specially through increasing their districts to nearly double the size, and looking at the post-sessional work they have to do in travelling throughout the Electorate, independent of their time engaged in Parliamentary dutie). Ido not think tho present honorarium is too much, let them do their duty and they fairly earn it, but if in the interests of tho Colony some reduction must be made they must accept tho position cheerfully. (Hear hear.) The members of tho Upper House who are supposed to represent tho wealthy classes can well afford to attend, say for LIOO each and let them bo elected by tho people every seven or ten years. LAND ACaUISiriON BILL. This is a measure I shall support although I do not pledge myself to every detail as it seems to mean in dealing with the rights of property we cannot bo too careful to prevent injustice, to tho present owners, but I emphatically object to public money from loans being spent on railways through large areas of private property before arrangements arc made to protect the State. (Hear, hear.) 1 would suggest in all such cases the land between tho termini should be dealt with in this way, if no better scheme is propounded. Let the private owners appoint an arbitrator, the Government another. These two appoint an umpire to act if necessary, then classify all the land affected by tho lino into 1,2, and 3 classes; and before tho construction is started value all the land, then when tho line is completed, have a fresh valuation made by tho same method, and all those who wish to retain their large blocks must pay the Government the increased value, less a reasonable per centage added for tho owner’s benefit. (Applause.) THIS VILLAOE SETTLEMENT SCHEME has to my mind been viciously misrepresented. Looking at tho provisions of the Act from a practical settlor’s point of view, I consider it is tho nearest approach to perfection embodied in any Statute professing to encourage tho location of people on the land, and so long as it is not abused wo ought to encourage such measures in every possible way. No doubt the unauthorised expenditure was irregular, but if that is tho greatest crime tho Hon John B.allanco has to answer for ho will be a tower of strength in the next Parliament. (Loud applause.) Tho principal provisions of this Act are theso—(Mr Mills enumerated them) —and it far exceeds in liberality the Land under Deferred Payment Act, from which a good many have suffered in this part of the district, and now wo come to EDUCATION.

My platform is to maintain tlio free, secular, and compulsory system of education, with certain reforms or sensible i reductions where practicable. (L md applause.) Grants to High Schools, Col- • leges, and Universities should cease until the Colony could better afford such an ' outlay. I consider the present standards satisfactory, but the ma jority of us cannot afford to keep our children at school after they have passed the sixth standard, because somehow nature seems to have ordained the poorest p' oolc shall have tho largest fanvlios—(laught >r) —and in justice to the olher’s oh ld-ea you cannot lavish all tho education on the oldest, but what we require is a few naoie scholarships, with en lowment funds sufficient to p/ovidn the needful for carrying forward any of our children who display special n latitude or talents beyond average ability—(ho r, hear) —and if at any time a scheme is proposed by that section of the community who consider thems'dv‘S aggr'evd which will not impair the groat benefit a wo all derive by united tuition throughout the country districts, it would have my hearty support. (Hear hear.) Personally I consider the benefits of our own free system cannot bo overrated, many years ago children had to actually ta'ce their money in their hands each Monday morning or they were sent homo, and in ma >y families it meant a direct outlay of nearly 10s per week or £'2s a year. When I r;flect on this it reconciles me to paying a little extra through the Customs. (Hea" hoar.) but we must have the TARIFF revised, for tho purposes of revenue, there are thousands of people in this Colony, including the travelling public who it is impossible to get at in any other way, and why shou'd they not contribute when they enjoy ihe same benefits of good government with ourselves. Then we must foster Local Industries without making the taxes oppressive putting fortunes into the hands of a few, and specially keeping in view a reciprocal trade with all other countries. (Loud applause.) Some imports from American and other places require heavy duties, whilo Congress imposes such a heavy tax on wool ns 7d lb. Tlmn if we export butter to Australia that Government infli ;t. ?d per lb duty, which is the difference hotwr< n profit and loss. It is quite plain theoretical principles which anply to oVlor countries will not act in young colonies. (Hear, hear.) But in a district like our own, whose principal industry is siwinilling. and other places where they are starting factories and have to import so much machinery of various kinds, it would he unwise to impose heavy duties, as it would onlv check what we desire to encourage. (Hear, hear.) The fanners want consumers—(hrar, hoar) —as wc are now suffering from over-produot : on, and we have no outside markets within easy distance to relieve the Colony of ils surplus at satisfactory prices. (Applause.) MAIL SERVICES Outside the Colony might he reasonably curtailed, as the expense is far beyond our absolute necessities. The San Francisco service might be abolished altogether, especially when we have cable comrnuni- ? cation. * (Hear, hear.) In coachis'on I have not pointed out specially very many direct savings, because with my limited experience in departmental work it might bo egotistical and proved to be quite the reverse, but one thing is qu'tj certain the present Government have not (or any ono with which Sir Julius Vogel lias been connected) sp.tnt so much out of the loans as the Atkinson-Hall Ministry, and the Opposition had really no policy to put before the country on which to ask the election decision. (Hear, hear.) Now if you elect me, and I firmly believe that I shall le returned, you may roly on my

best endeavours to promote retrenchment in every possible way so far as is consistent with good Government, and I shall give way to none in the laudable ambition t > sec a great and glorious futuro for my nativo land. (Loud and continued ap--3 Rutland —Would you support the present Ministry with Sir Robert Stout r Mr Mills— Decidedly I will, if no re- j organisation takes placo. 1 Rev E. Slicarc—Would you support denominational Education ? Mr Mills—No. Mr Rutland— Do you agree with a progressive property tax ? Mr Mills—Yes, I consider tho wealthy man can well afford to pay more in proportion. ~, n Proposed'by Dr Drury, seconded by G, 0. Criotton Esq.— That this meeting having heard Mr Mills’ political -views consider thb most fit and proper person to represent the Wa’.mea - Picton electors in the House of Representatives was carried most enthusiastically with acclamation. A vote of thanks to the Chairman | closed the meeting.