RE-ANNEXATION TO NELSON.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 189, 14 August 1869, Page 4

RE-ANNEXATION TO NELSON.

PUBLIC MEETING. On Tuesday afternoon last a public meeting of the inhabitants of the Province was held in the Provincial Hall, Blenheim, for the purpose of considering the question of the Re-Annexation of Marlborough to Nelson. The Hall was tolerably well filled on the occasion, including many settlers from the country districts. Mr. Nelson, being voted to the chair, opened the proceedings by declaring the object of the meeting, and reading the advertisement calling the same. Mr, Goulteii in proposing—• “That the people of the Province of Marlborough regard with the utmost aversion any attempt at re-annexation to Nelson, and will use all Constitutional means to prevent it.” —said he felt much pleasure some nine years ago in taking an active part in obtaining separation from Nelson. Since that time, he had seen no cause to regret that it had been done, and we could not gain anything by re-annexation to that province now. The reason why separation had taken place was on account of the unfair treatment we had received. Out of £120,000, arising from the Land Fund of this District, we had only received some £B,OOO or £9,000, £7,500 of which had been charged to this province under the Nelson Debentures Act. It was surely not worth while going back to be treated in the same manner again. We all know how unwilling the Nelson Provincial Council were to vote money for her country districts to this day, in the Amuri for instance. Supposing we were part of that Province, she would contribute nothing for our support; we should be worked under the Country Roads Act, and have to raise amongst ourselves whatever was spent. Our Land Fund would doubtless be taken to support gaols, police, &c. No, we had nothing to gain by re-annexation—what Nelson could do, we could do ourselves. We might still go on as a Province by making further reductions in our expenditure. The purely Provincial funds were sufficient for the maintenance of the necessary machinery ; and what was derived from other sources might go towards keeping Road Distiicts. Another great inconvenience arising from annexation was the necessity of sending members to the Nelson Provincial Council, where they would find themselves only about one-fiflh of that body, and as all the rest would oppose any action for our assistance, it would only result in the time of those members being thrown away. He emphatically recorded his voice against 1 so far, indeed, did he go, that perhaps the word “ constitutional” had been 1 better omitted. When the Imperial Government wished to make the Cape of Good Hope a penal settlement, the people refused 1 to permit the convicts to go ashore, but sent them back again. It was not quite consti- '• tutional, but it had the desired effect. If i it was necessary we would go the same length. [Applause.] Mr. A. Moneo briefly seconded the reso- '• lution.

Mr. J. TVaed, ia supporting the resolution, said he would use all means, whether constitutional or otherwise, rather than submit to such an arrangement; and he considered those were cowards who did otherwise! We separated because we never

could obtain anything like justice from Nelson ; for out of the thousands and thousands she had received from us, we had never got back but £9,000 ! Many had said, one reason for separation was because they went in for billets. It was false; they went against their will, wishing rather to apply themselves to their sheep and their farms than be bothered with politics; they had sacrificed their private interests on

public grounds. They had succeeded in their object: Marlborough had its own Council. He did not say it was formed_of very good politicians; they had not been trained to it, but still they had carried their object—the money had been spent in this Province instead of in Nelson. To be reannexed was in every way disadvantageous. The Superintendent of Nelson was a straightfoward man; if the matter were in his hands alone, we might obtain justice, but from their Provincial Council, with their log-rollings and schemes, it was useless to expect it. If we went back we should be made self-supporting! Our population was about 4,70 C ; theirs, about 20,000. At the outside, four members was all we could expect, and they would be powerless against so many. The treatment we had received from the General Government had been most unjust, owing to the bad system by which the Customs were collected. Every man, woman, and child in the province was taxed to the extent of £3 11s. per head, and Nelson and 'Wellington reaped the benefit, as most of our Customs were collected there, we only getting back half the sum paid in the Province! Mr. Yogel admitted the present system was unfair, but nowhere so much as here. Mr. Hall said “it had beggared Marlborough.” and yet there was no remedy. He [Mr. Ward] said, give us our share of taxation! The real fact was, we were a small province. After quoting from Mr. YogePs recent Statement, Mr Ward continued—We were being robbed, but could not help ourselves. Mr. Vogel taunted us with our poverty, as if it was a disgrace, but the disgrace was with the General Government, who robbed us I “The only one course open was to return to our parent, Nelson,” said Mr. Yogel. Parent indeed ! —she had treated

us worse rhan a step-mother, or like a regular boa constrictor. What we wanted was our money ; if they could not give it us, away with such a Government, and let us have a Cromwell a Protector who would treat all alike; but they could if they chose. It was no gratification to lose by law. Carefully framed petitions had been forwarded, clearly showing that certain evils existed, which both sides the House acknowledged ; and because they would not take the trouble to find a remedy, we must return to Nelson as an easy method of getting over the difficulty. They must think us a lot of cowards to submit to it. Give us our own ; for that we would fight as long as we could, and if conquered at last, we would remember that one vote will upset a Ministry. It was all very well to say that the interests - of the whole Colony were the first consideration, but that was no reason why the

large provinces should be benefited at the expense of the small ones. The matter was made worse when we considered that Mr. Stafford had all along known how we were situated ; but he [Mr. Ward] felt sure that if he had not been so tramelled by that few and others he never would have permitted such injustice. We paid, the year before last, more than £15,000 in taxes, last year over that amount! Had half that sum been returned to us, as fairly it ought to have been, we should be in as independent a position, if not more so, than any province in the Colony. Indeed our losses were so great they could hardly be believed. One great reason for our incapacity was because we had been quarrelling amongst ourselves ; we were a divided people. The Government knew it; this was the result. He felt sure, however, on the point in question we should all agree, and in future he proposed we should differ in the dark, and that there should be no reporter present. In conclusion, he would say that if we tamely submitted to the insult which was wished to be put upon us well, we were not Englishman, and that was the greatest disgrace he could think of; and he, for one, should be glad to get away from the country. [Prolonged applause.] Mr. Sinclaie endorsed the sentiments of the last speaker, and said he was dcidedly opposed to annexation, Mr. Dodson entirely agreed with previous speakers, and regarded Mr. Yogel’s action as a sop to Wellington and Kelson members. He expressed some surprise that the member for this district should have allowed such an insult upon the Province to pass without a challenge. If we went back we had nothing to hope from Kelson, and if it was insisted upon, we could resist manfully, and would not send members to the Council. [Applause.] It was a simple matter for the Government to rectify the evil if they liked. With a change of Ministry we expected

justice, but it appeared tbat the fair promises of Messrs, rox and Yogel, made last year, were now forgotten. He for one would never submit. [Applause.] Mr. "Wemyss did not intend to have spoken, but he felt bound, after what had been said by the last speaker, to state that their representative had had no opportunity of publicly informing his constituents of what he had done. On the evening of the 29th July the Financial Statement had been read, and on the 2nd August a meeting was held, consisting of Sir David Monro, Messrs. Stafford, Richmond, Baillie, lienwick, Kenny, and Eyes, who resolved to oppose the proposal of annexation to the utmost. Since that meeting, so far as we knew, the question had not come before the House. He had received a letter from Mr. Eyes, wherein he said it was very desirable that the people of the Province should express their feelings on the subject. The Chairman then put the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Dodson then proposed—

“ That a Committee be appointed to draw up a Petition to the General Assembly, praying that this Province shall not be re-annexed to Nelson. Such Committee to consist of Messrs. Joseph Ward, C. Goulter, T. Carter, John Gibson, Geo. Storey, Alex. Monro, Henry Dodson, W. Budge, Harry Pitt, James Sinclair, W. Soper, James E. Hodson, and W. Douslin, with power to add to their number.” Mr. Ward seconded the resolution.

Some discussion ensued as to the advisability of increasing the number, so as to represent the various districts. Mr. John T. Robinson moved as an amendment that each member of Committee should get a copy of the petition. The amendment and original resolution was then put and carried. Mr. Wkmyss promised that the Police should assist in obtaining signatures. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting separated.