MEETING AT PALMERSTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 98, 15 August 1879, Page 2

MEETING AT PALMERSTON.

« MR. HALCOMBE'S ADDRESS. A meeting was held in the Forest jrs' Hall Palmerston, on Wednesday last, at 5.30 p.m. to meet tho two northern candidates, and consider the advisability of one or other retiring. Upon the motion of Mr Snelson, Mr H. M'Neil, J.P., was voted to the chair. The meeting was very orderly throughout notwithstanding the faot that the buildin" was literally packed. ° The Chairman wished some one had been called to the chair more used to electioneering than himaelf. He would, however, do his best to act impartially. He asked a fair hearing for both candidates— Messrs Snelson and Halcombe, especially the latter, 80 that when Mr Bnelson visited Feilding he would meet with the same tokens of re-' spect. He wished the speakers to conform to. the ordinary rules of debate, and the audience to give a fair hearing to all. If they did that, they would show their common sense, which was more than could be said of the late Parliament in its last days. (Laughter.) Some fews days ago, a meet* ing of the supporters of the two candidates was held, and it was then determined to see if one of them would retire. He was one of the deputation appointed to confer with them. In reply, Mr Snelson said that if the new Parliament would only sit until the time when the old one would have ex-pired-about 18 months hence— then he would retire in favour of Mr Halcombe 5 but if the new Parliament was for five years he would consider further, and announce his decision that night, at that meeting. He culled on Mr Snelson to state his intentions. Mr Snelson came forward amidst loud and continued applause, and suid he chnught it right to advise them of the course of j ro» cedure at the meeting a week ago, in case

of possible misconception. That moelhij; acted with the best intentions, owing to the desirability of not having two northern candidates in tlic field- He quito agiveil with this, as ho was under the impression that members wore simply being returned t" get the opinions of their constituencies upon fclic result of the recent Ministcria 1 crisis. Ho fouiitlsinco, however, that he was mis* ( rtken, as it was an uncondii ional dissolution, If the election luul only baen for 18 months, he would have retired in favor of Ml- Ilaleomn:?. ITo regretted, ho had not in Die [ fir.-if, pl.i.-fl (•.<;>. i. -JtiU o<l ihom, liii( though', li* \ n'Oiild |i?avi; liioiu {(> dojidi' whether ho was : |to f'jiu'j l'unvjrd. lL was known some time ! ago both himself and Mr Halcombo inteuded to stand. They were mot to consider if it was desirable ho should adhere to that determination. If they thought it desirable ho would ilo so, (Applaus?.) At the same time, the onus must bo upon them, He lefc it to them, in ease the result might not be quite so satisfactory as they hoped. It was desirable a local man should bo returned. Mr Johnston was likely to stand, and it was said if two candidates stood at the north end) the votes miijht be split, and they would lose the election. Regarding that, he would point out that I he (Mr Snelson) would probably take Mr Johnston's votes, but not Mf Halcombo's. | Hi- had not. come with a political programme nor an electioneering address, as ho wanted to know first if they thought he should stand. He would like tho Chairman to put tho question to the meeting. Mr Dalrymple thought Mr Snelson should not put the onus on tho electors. He thought — Mr Dtingan rose, and said Mi' Dalrymple j was simply raising a quibble. He thought it came with veiy bad grace from him. Mr Dalrymplo said it was not a quibble It was — [ll ere Mr Dairy mple's voice was completely drowned, and he was compelled to rc&umo his scat.] Mr Halcoinbe, on being appealed to, said he was quite in the hands of the meeting, The Chairman ruled that Mr Hu'combc should be heard before tho question was put to the meeting, "Shall Mr Snolson retire." itR UALCOJTKE'S ADDRKSJ. Mr Halcoinbe mounted the plntfoim amidst loud applause, and said he had come at the invitation of Mr Snelson, who suggested ho (Mr H'llcombo) should place his viewa fully before the electors, and then allow them to decide whether or not he should retire. He intended therefore speaking at length. He thanked Mr Snelson. for allowing him the first opportunity of speaking, as he fully recognised that it gave him a £i*eat advantage, and might possibly lead a number of persons to conclude it would I be lv tter f or Mr Snelson to retire in his favour. He would divide his romarlcs into three parts. First— General questions of Colonial polities ; second— Questions espacially affecting Manawatu; third— Matters relating to him personally. Dealing with the first part — Colonial — he would remind them of the present position of the country, and why a dissolution had taken place. The Government was beaten in Parliament by the largest majority that over ousted a New Zealand Ministry, not on quostions of policy, but purely on the grouiuU of administration. That large majority had decided they were utterly unfit to govern the country. He agreed with that. When the Ministry came into office they declared ! themselves strongly in favour of reform, and professed themselves determined to advocate a more Liberal policy than had ever been put before the country. Their three chief points were — Triennial Parliaments, Manhood Suffrage, and Representation upon a basis of population. They brought in a bill affording manhood suffrage with a residential qualification. Daring its passage through the House it was imeuded and a clause inserted giving dual votes to the Maoris— one for their own special representation, the other on the European rolls. This clause tho Lig'slative Council struck out, and because the Government could not gain their wish on that point, they dropped the Bill like a hot potato. Then the Triennial Parliaments Bill was brought in. not by the Government, but by a private member, and lost, whilst it was distinctly asserted that had the Governm.ent'made a ministerial question of it they could have carried it through. Thus those two leading elements of their Liberal programme were dropped, and when they again brought down the same stale dish of policy this year, the House said, 'You don't mean it," aud ousted them. Hcsraiding the representation upon a population basis, they had brought a measure down the other day, affirming the principle, and insisting that the country must be allowed 25 per cent. le3S population to a member than a town. He would give hU own opinions upon these three great questions. Regarding the franchise, he had always held that when a man gave some material guarantee that he intended to make his home in the country, thut man had a right to a voice in its politics. He would insist on a twelvemonth's residence, as ho thought six months too short a time. He favoured triennial Parliaments, as, owing to the changing conditions in a young country, it was better for tho representatives to comu frequently before their constituencies, to see if they were still in agreement j if not, it was better they should be divorced. Hie representation upon ajpopulation basis, he thought the only dangerous part of the Government programme) because it would give undue preponderance to tho floating population in the towns. The country population was permanent, — that in towns was not. He woulil insist that the basis required for (owns should be at least 50 per cent, greater than in the country. If this were not done, lar^e towns like Wellington would acquiro undue preponderance. Uegarding finance, he would remind them that when Major Atkinson made his last financial statement tsvo years ago, he said that the couiitty needed political rest, after the agitation which had taken place over the change in the constitution, and because tho Colony was now vevy largely indebted to the public creditor. It w.is therefore necessary to carry on public works quietly, and so see if the new system would work well. He (Mr Halcombe) thought it would have been well if those warnings had been attended to, instead of cries beiug got up of reforms t'uore was no intention of can-ying out. If political rest had occurred, the Colony would not now have been on the brink of danger both as regards war and finance. The Colony was preserved from war, through tho good sense of Te Whiti. (Hisses.) They disagreed with him perhaps, but he believed T<3 Whiti had restrained his people from war to prevent them being destroyed, and to appeal to our British love of fair play by allowing his people to go unresistingly to prison. During the last two years there had been changes in the taxation. Sir George Grey wanted to relieve the working man, and give him a j free breakfast table, whilst he would put the weightof taxation on property. Mr ßal lance, as Treasurer, was to carry out tnese ideas. How did he give a free breakfast table ? He took off the grain and flour duty, which amounted to £10,000, but on the other hand ho increased the taxation of those little luxuries tho working men had enjoyed, by openingthe ports of the colony to the free trade of other countrios, thus seriously handicapping agriculture and farming. The small duty of £190 was taken off bacon; a small amount ofl£ tools ; whilst the insignificant

•sum of £101 was t.ilcou off building miterials. This;] include.!, of cour.-ie, timber And what was tho effect <■£ that remission of tho duty ? Why a lar<ro import tr.idrc i.i Californian timber and Oregon pine had sprung up, to tho serious detriment of tho New Zetland timber trndo The duty of 2s per hundred feel, which had been taken off, resulted iv the market being flooded with foreign timber. That ditty just enabled the sawmillers (o meet the imp'jrte'l article, and retain the advantage, whilst tho romis sion would in tinm compel o:io-hn!f of (he niiUs fro shut. up. Tho HlVci. on tlti- ills' rifit • \vjii.--h wm< (••> ;i I ir.r.' (•vi'-ni: «i"|i--u-I'r':t upon t!ii.' timber tnJusn/v, wjs \\r.«': sori , ous, and a'l this trouble was cuusod by the remission of £lGl ! Surely that showed Mr Eallauca was not; as a Uoloni-d Treasurer, to be trusted. The duty was also taken oft' cart axles, photographic materials, steel, and perambulators. jXet these remissions were to procure a freo breakfast table ! But the largest remission was upon fencing wiroj and this amounted to • £o!i00. Hdrd wad inflousistence with a vongeance, for whilst the Premier spoke against men o .vning large blocks of land, he yet enabled them to erect their fencing at a much cheaper rate. Tho poor man was no better off. Neither his sugar nor tea was ouo penny cheapois Ho no\V canto to <he L-ind Tax. This lie strongly opposed. The laud \Vas already taxed a j heavily as it would bear, consistent with the opening up of the country. Yet they were told this was only the thin end of the wedge. The land tax was calculated to completely destroy tho profits of the fai'nler. It Was also wrong in principle. Still further, the land had boou assessed at fictitious v.ilnea. \ The principle in taxation was to gain the ! most money with the least expenditure. It j was expected the land tax would realisu .£IOO,OOO, but it had alemdy cost £30,00 \ and not a penny of.it was collected as yet, j and the cost would bo even greater before j the money was paid into the Treasury. He would show how the land tax woubl affect them. Supposing a raau by thrift buys a | piece of land worth £2,0 10, an I leaves half that amount on mortgage. He pays ones shilling in the £ as County rates, another j shilling as Highways rates, and another j for Land Tax. Thus ho paid 6s p pr t >r an- \ num became of his £1000, — that is, nearly one third of tho total annual valua of the land. Thf.n, again, farmers were put to great trouble and expense to ascertain the j value of their assessment, and speaking of that, ho believed the appeals would cost the country another £30,000. Ho also found from an Order in Council that if a man soil his land, the seller had to fill up a form siyiug he had sold, the purchaser had to say ho had bought; the whole had to be sworn before a J.P., and a 2s 6d stamp affixed. If this were not done, the original owner would bo liablo for the tax for three more years. Great abuses had also been created by tho tax. It had b:en asserted in the House that some of the Government valuers had beo:> filling up the forms for uneducated people at a charge of .-fiJ. If returned, he would raise his voice against the land tax. He believed that if economy were practised, there would be no need of further taxation. It was only necessary now, because of folly and extravagance. Tho general revenue last year increased by £463,00;), notwithstanding the fact th.it large block* of land iv the youth had been held back from sale, and no Maori land disposed of, whilst considerable sums of money had been paid away in the acquisition of new territory. No increase in taxation w ; is wanted, with good administration. Tae railways of tho Colony were now paying five-eighths of the interest upon the £8,000,000 spent in their construction, and as further loans were raised, they would return an even larger per centaga of profit Large sums of past loans had been spjnt in water-races, and other .unproductive works, but if the new loan were spent on the trunklines of railway, every million would bring in a corresponding return. If moro taxation were required, it should b.i on property generally, and not on one class like land. A3 to loans, the Colony was fairly embargo J on the loan system, and cjuld not stop. Even if it could, it would not be good policy. Our resources only needed capital, and while there were at least £60,000,000 in the Bank of England in hard cash, wanting investment, our true policy was to borrow for expenditure U|)O!1 reproductive works, but we must be careful so to invest our loans as to decrease our burdens. He thought so far the North Island had not receive 1 its fair share of expenditure from loans Tho Government in 1878 humbugged the House by promising a railway from Taranaki to Waikato, and one and a-lialf millions were voted for it. But there was a Sco tchman in the Executive, and, like a canny Scot, lie took advantigJ of tho position, and i said, " I must have one and a-half millions put down for the South Island." Now th-jy found the money voted for the South was spent, whilst they could not get even the paltry £15,000 voted spent on tho railway from Wellington to — -to —to — \lanawatu. ( \ppiaU3'\) Tlie Q-oviiranunt must ha»o known they had no char.cc of making th-s T'irauaki-Waik ito line, and they should not have allowed tho one and a-half millions to go to the South Island. Ho had seen the South Island, and he predicted for this West Coast a far greater future than ho Soul I: Island would attain. Even Mr Macandrew upon his recent visit had expressed his great surprise at tho magnificent resources of this part of the country. He referred to the native quistion, and said it would require our able -it and best men to get the Colony ou> of the mesa into which it had drifted. They never would liavo a coalition of the two races until they swept away the secrecy of the Native Department. It must be open to criticism as were all other departments ct the Government. Whilst thov played tast-and-loose with the natives, and treated the v as children, they would never succeed in establishing a permanent peace. They must be treated as the Europoin in taxation and in law. We on our part must rec^ni-ie ; as we agreed to in the Treaty of Wtiitangi, that they are the misters of their owa land. He would favor a schema empowering tho Government to settle ths native land, a id hand over to the Maoris tho proceeds. He thought no onu in tho Colony could settle the whole mutter satisfactorily. The Department must ')e no longer secret, but open to Parliament, and the natives must be treated tho same as Europeans. Why should they be treated differently ? If a European" owned land, and the Uovernm jnt wanted to run a telegraph lino, a "ailway, or a road t'trough it, they did so; but with tho natives' land they could not without distinct permission of tho natives. This should be clone away, and both races put upon an equal footing. Me turned now to tho second part of his address, — matters affecting especially Manawatu. Chief of those was the railway. He never could understand by what means the name was changed to the " Wellington- Foxton " line. It had been said because of the name, the junction was fixed at Foxton, but he scouted ouy such idea. The welfare of the country, economy of management, and prospective returns, required that the line should run into Palmerston. There was room between the sandhills and the mountains for a population of many thousands of people, and it was a disgrace to the Government and the Public Works Department tha*"- the survey was not completed. Tho flying 1 survey of tho line from Palmerston to Paikakariki

.showed that the Hue was tin extremely easy ouo, aiul there ought to havo ben before Parli-unent a full statement cf the merits of the two ronl.es. A. strong and underhand effort Uad boon made lo divert the line from its proper course, and it had been said that because <: Foxtou" had boen tacked on, therefore Parliament had nettled the question Ho opposed any siloh attempt, and would sm tliafc a fair and impartial survey of both routes was mado b-jfort the lino was begun. He thought a commencement should br> undo at both en-is, Tho ij-iiintcy bi:Uv<vrj Wi.-lliiig'to i iUul Paiii.Hlv.i- ' riici wivild pri'--<;iil; onfsinfj'H'iug dirilu'lii'^ : ; that b'Awcuu Tain) r>t..'-j an 1 i'.iik.UCHiiki ■ none whatever. IE a start wore made at Palmer ston, sleepor.s could be cut along the lino, as repaired, through tho bash country ; tho rails could be shipped to Foxton, the live pushed rapidly 'on from 'this end, and the sieepes carried on along it towards tho Wellington end. But his strongest argument was, that if it. started from "Palnleraton it Would at once tap a splendid bush conntry, which would make the line from thelirsfca paying one. As they went further South, tlwy would find the same great forests, which wouM enable them to supply the ■Wellington markets, and shut out foreign timber. Every million fdet of timber imported into the country meant 30 men thrown out of employment for a year. Many persons with n .superficial knowledge of the subject quoted John Stuart Mill against protection, forgetting that ho declared that in new countries a Small duty was necessary at first, to enable industries to grow. Tho timber trade needed I his, and with the West Coast Railway opened, lie believed this district could sMC-ossfully compete with all comers in tho Wo'lingtoii market. If returned, he would j advocate that blocks be opened by roads before being offered for sale, lie did not mean all the roads, as work on formation was i a valuable aid to new settlers. Me would I strongly advocate deferred payment blocks 1 being set apart. The present survey system was defective, in that the surveyors were compelled to run straight lines across the coiritry, instead of which he would propose ! that the best possible Itne3 should be selected, and Into off before tho subdivision) survey was 'nade. He now came to the I third part of his address, nnd would briefly touch upon a few personal matters. He did i not wish to appear egotistic, but thought he could put forward reasons to show it was not altogether presumption on his part to offer himself for the high honor of being their representative. He was not a novice in polities, having for 15 years held various public positions, in which lie had done good service in developing the district, lie came to Manawatu 25 years ago, and settled within a stone's throw of the block. He looked constantly ut this rich district, and longed to see it settled. Time went on, and aftsr 10 yoars ho entered the Provincial Council us representative of Manawatu and Rangitlkci. Liter on he became Provincial Secretary, and took part in settling the block. He carried the deferred payment scheme through the Council, and that had so fiu' done more towards settling the country than anything else. After Dr Fealherston weut home he had sole control, and having found the Cabinet lamenting tho arrival nf tvvo shiploads of Scandinavian emigrants, whom they did not know where to place, he thought to turn their difficulty to his advantage, and offered to take the peoplo if the Government would give them work in forming the Manawatu tramway. This was done, and the real settlement of thi f .part of Manawatu began. If he had not employed that opportunity .would nnv other person have taken part iv getting the district settle J? What had passed since they knew. Some persons Wculd perhaps oppose him because he was counected with Feilding. Hut ho was proud of that connection, for despite the prognostications [ of some people, that district h id progre33ed enormously. Therefore ho was proud of what Feildin<j now is. Every thousand people in that part of Manawatu would increase tho strength of Palmerston. _If returned, he would nob need progging with a long pole before doing work for the District. As he had acted in the smaller sphere, so would ha in the larger. Ho had never taken advantage of hi* public posi tkrns, nor wrested them to his personal advancement. In fact, he looked back upon 25 year* in the country, durin ■ which time he had many chanoss, and was almost surprised at himself fcr having refrained from using them- (Laughter.) He would have come forward before, ou^ wished to bo first in an independent p isitiou. He referred to the importance of the Muriinotu country, and thought that via Manawatu was the best line to tap it, whilst his personal knowledge of the topography of tho country, would give his remarks upon it a weight they could not otherwise have. In conclusion, he thuukod Mr Snolsoti for his cour tesy, iv giving him this uarly opportunity of laying hi, views b of ore them, and hoped the coutest would be carried on by all parties in an honorablo au:l courteous manner, (loud applause.) The Chairman then asked Mr Snolson his docision. Mi" Hnlcombe thought such a courso would be invidious It would be unfair to Mr SiioLson. Such a decision should ba determined in private. Mr Snelson said his position was a peculiar one. ile was on almost the samo political platform as Mr llalcombe He was not so good a speaker as that gentleman, but hid equally good intentions. He wonld leave it to tho Palm^i'ston electors, and ask them to doeide. If they wished, he would " run " for the sea!-, and do his utmost to get in. Mr A. M'Dmald thought tho meeting should understand if in asking Mr Snelson to stand they were pledging them solves. He had just returned from We'lingtau, and had heard there that the G-.ivci'utnsnt would prefer supporting Mr Snelson, as being likely to opposo them tho least. He thought if the North were divided, Mr Johnston would probably get in. If Mr Johnston were here, ho woul-l-have spokon of a strong reason why he should uot be returned. [A voice— Don't stab him in tho dark] He would urge them to hear six Johnston, and then advise Mr Saelaon. Mr D'ingan wished to inform the mooting that he had " wired " to Mr Johnston, asking him if he intended to stand, but his question was treated with contempt. The same course was still followed up, and the same contempt shown — [loud applause.] Mr Johnston was that night at b'oxtou ; he knew of that meeting, and yet had not put in an appearance. He thought Mr tfnelaon should declare himself. Mr Linton pointed out they were drifting away from the object of the meeting. Mr Johnston had shown great wisdom in keeping away. He had served them faithfully and well, as an absentee member, but now they had two good and well-known local men | before them. It was for Mr Snelson to decide what course ho would adopt. If he | said, (i I will retire," Ur.it was an end of it. I Each town wonld support its own man, but [ the b;i!lot-box would be the true tost. ; Mr Colenun thought the question was , which of the two men should bo supported. Foxton was strongly oi»po<ed to one. [Mr Halcombe — That's inc.] They wanted to

bring forward the man most liko'y to be relumed. Mr Smslson cam-; forward, and said — " Well, gentleman, it; appears to be a difficult question, and thercil'orj I declare niyseif 11 candid-ito. (Loud cieciiug for saveral minuVjs). I rvi'l at once publish an address, aud will meet llio electors at the different centres of population as s nas possib'e." (Cheers ) QUHSUTONS. Mr Mackie — T wish to nak Mr Haleombc if ho believes in the pv-sont: s»li-.n of <vlue.i- I t.ion ; ' Mr li.ilccn'r- —1. bcli'-v- ii i- t * s«r only ' oiic ivu o.ui «:.utj 'j-.il l'.ii'.ly. t'iio io'-.'-ulur system I think the besr, as young eounlries could not stand denou.i..ationai divisions. The secular is the only common platform. [Hisses and applause. J Mr Russell — If returned 1 , will you favor a graduated income tax, s> that incomes from interest mi-yht pay a larger share than those derived from tho employment of capital in industries 5 and so that incomes derived from actual labor might pay less than those derived from tho outlay of | capital merely ? (Hear, hear.) ! Mv Ilalconibe — That is a difllculfc question to answer off hand. I can answer that my Voto would always go so that labor shall be taxed as lightly ad possible. (Applause ) Mr Russell — Would you endeavor to secure part of tho proceeds of the Wellington Reclaimed Laud for this district, that proI perfcy. being a Provincial asset ? Mr llalcombo— Whilst in the Provincial Council, I did my best to prevent that proI porty boin^ seized by Wellington Beach, ! and if (he opportunity presents itself, will use my best endeavors to secure a share of the proceeds for Munawalu. Mr Bruce — Mr Halcombo, can you do J auy thing for Fitzherbert ? i .Mr Halcombe — -I will do all in my power foj outlying districts. An elector — You said my rates were only 6s in Iho £. Let me tell you they were .£lO. (Laughter.) The same gontleman asked — Do you believe in the cattle being slaughtered ? Mr Haleombo— Oh, that is tho cattle on the railway line ? I will support the lino being fenced. Upon the motion of Mr Lin ton, a voto of thanks was passed to Mr IJ.ilcombc. [ The same compliment; was paid to the I Chairman and Mr butkou, and tho meeting terminated.