The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER, 6, 1867. PUBLIC MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 209, 6 September 1867, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER, 6, 1867. PUBLIC MEETING.

A puhlic meeting took place yesterday evening at the Provincial Hall to consider the proposed financial scheme of the Government, to protest against increasing the colonial debt, and to urge the necessity of a total revision of the colouial expenditure aud taxation. The meeting, considering the very short notice given, was numerously attended, the Hall being wel*' filled. On the motion of Mr C. Elliott, Dr Irvine was called to the chair, and stated that the meeting was called pursuant to au advertisement which had appeared iv the local papers, and which he read. Dr Irvine said that he had only been asked to take the chair since his entry into the HaU, and was not therefore prepared to make a speech on the occasion, but the cause Avhich had brought them together spoke home to every bosom, and as a very short time would elapse before the Budget would be discussed, he hoped that the country would make good use of the interval, and speak out boldly. He then called on . Sir C. Elliott to address the meeting, and expressed a hope that, as everybody was anxious to be at home writing their letters for the mail, the speakers would be as brief as possible in their remarks. Mr Charles Elliott expressed his regret that the meeting had unavoidably been called at so short a notice, and his gratification on finding so many present that evening, explaining that unless advantage was taken of the mail going next day to Wellington, there would be no chance of conveying their sentiments to the Legislature for the uext fortnight. He presumed that all had made themselves conversant with the financial scheme of the Government, what increase they proposed to make to tho present colouial debt, and what taxes they were now paying or would be called upon to pay; and he would remind them that every man, woman, or child in the colony was paying fiom £5 to £6 per head per annum in taxes, an amount unparalleled in the history of the world, compared with which the home taxation was insignificant. Mr Elliott then made a lengthy and eminently practical speech, reviewing the various features of the financial scheme, and concluded — after desigating it is a scheme contrived to purchase votes aud to keep the Government in power by propitiating Auckland and Otago, as full of dishonesty, and oue against which the people should raise their voices throughout the colony — by reading the following resolution — " That in the opinion of this meeting, the financial scheme of the Government, as enunciated in the Budget of the Colonial Treasurer, is vicious in principle, and calculated, if persevered in, to prejudice the credit of the coloDy, and to impair its prosperity." The resolution was seconded by Mr J. H. D'Albedyhll, and carried unanimously. Mr D. M. Luckie, who rose to propose the following resolution — "That this meeting views with alarm the proposal to increase the debt of the colony, and thereby augment the public burdens, when policy . and justice demand that the expenditure of the colony should be kept within its ordinary income," spoke at some length, attributing the present dulness in business in great measure to the extravagance of the Government, and reminding his auditors that he had never ceased, Cassandralike, to prophesy the certain results of the policy which each successive Government for the last four years and a half had adopted,- and of the false hopee held out by Mr Stafford on his entry bpoo office, and concluding by advocating, as a remedy, direct taxation, aa being far preferable to the present system, with an income aud property tax, which would obviate the evils of absenteeism. The resolution was seconded by Mr Barlow, and also carried unanimously.

Dr Giles, haviug read the following resolution—"That, looking to the exceptional character of the present customs revenue, ami to the fact that it may at any moment collapse through a considerable body of diggers leaving the colony for a new goldfield, it is the duty of Government to revise both the expenditure aud taxation of the colony while the revenue is in ita present condition, in order to effect a large reduction in taxation, and prepare for tho change which the history of all gold-fields teaches us to expect in New Zealand," made a very telling speech, exposing the gross inconsistencies of which the Government had beeu guilty, especially with reference to the recommendations of the Civil Service Commissioners, arguing the necessity of economy and-retrenchment, quoting Mr J. C. Richmond's assertion that the present tariff was unsound, and that a trenchant reform was requisite, and disclaiming all intention of placing auy unnecessary difficulties in the way of the Government, who would ultimately have to appeal to the country ou these points. Mr Graham seconded the resolution, which was carried on a show of hands nem. con. Mr R. Burn moved the fourth resolution —"That this meeting is oi opinion that a Financial Reform League should be established in New Zealaud for the purpose of watching the colonial taxation and expenditure, and protecting the interests of the people; and that a Provincial Committee for the Province of Nelson be appointed, witb instructions to communicate with other provinces with the view of forming branches of such League throughout the colony," and said that it was plain that, unless this resolution was carried, no effect could be given to the previous ones, stating that a reform in the present system of taxation mu3t be effected, and such a one as would show the House of Representatives that the people were in earnest. This resolution was seconded by Mr B. Jackson, and carried without a dissentient voice. Mr dements, who moved the following resolution —" That the chairman do forward a copy of the resolutions passed at this meeting to Oswald Curtis, Esq., M.H.R., at Wellington, with a request that they may be laid before the House of Representatives," said that that body would see that Nelson, sleepy as it was, was wide awake to their moves, and asked why Auckland, whilst so confident of a return of her prosperity, did not leave her debt to be paid at some future date, instead of allowiug it to be wiped out, as the Government proposed ? The resolution was seconded by Mr M. Graham, aud having been put to the meeting, was carried unanimously. Mr Pitt, M.P.C., on rising to move the sixth resolution, said that he had no intention of taking part in the meeting when he entered the Hall, and it was therefore fortunate that the resolution confided to him did not require much to be said on the subject, which should be agitated over and over again through the length and breadth of the colony, until the object sought for was obtained by the people. Mr Pitt then read the following resolution—"That the following gentlemen be requested to act as the Nelson Provisional Committee of the New Zealand Financial Reform League, and to take such measures as they may deem necessary give to it practical operation: His Honor the Superintendent, the Speaker, Messrs Parker, M.H.R., Baigent, M.H.R,, Wastney, M.P.C., Akersten, M.P.C., Pitt, M.P.C., R. Burn, M.P.C., Drs Irvine and Giles, Messrs H. Curtis, C. Elliott, Hunter Brown, D. M. Luckie, Barlow, Shepherd, B. Jackson, Clements, Thornton, Lightband, M'lntosh, and Graham, with power to add to their number. The resolution having been seconded by Mr R. Lucas, was put to the meeting and carried unanimously. This concluded the business, and a vote of thanks having been given to Dr Irvine for his valuable services as Chairman, the assemblage, which was characterised by the utmost unanimity, dispersed. We regret that our space will not permit us to publish in full the various speeches delivered on this occasion, for they, one and all, evinced a thorough practical acquaintance with the grievances which the meeting was called to discuss, and relative to which but one opinion appears to exist in the community.