SUPERINTENDENCY ELECTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume X, Issue 3644, 16 July 1873, Page 3

SUPERINTENDENCY ELECTION.

MR. H. H. LUSK AND THE ELECTORS. Last evening a crowded meeting of the body

of the Auckland eleotors was held in the Mechanics* Institute, for the purpoße of hearing the political viowa of Mr. Lusk (Provincial Secretary), as a candidate for the office of Superintendent of the province. The meeting was announced to take place at 7.30 o'clock, but long before that time a very large crowd besieged the doors of the Institute. At tho hour advertised, the room was crowded in every part. There were very few gentlemon on the platform. One of the first persons to take his seat was Mr. George Staines, who was received with loud cheers. Ho was followed by Mr. Greenway, who received a similar acknowledgment. Mr. Hurst (Goldfields Secretary), upon hia entering, was received witli groans. Mr. Luik entered immediately after, and met with a like reception. When the noise was somewhat subsided, Mr. Westwood, amid loud clieers, proposed Mr. George Staines aschairman. Mr. Greenway seconded the motion. (Cheers.) —Mr. W. L. Rees said he was about to Becond the motion that Mr. Staines should take the chair. He was quite sure that Mr. Staines would do his duty as chairman with perfect impartiality. Mr. Litsk, on coming forward, was received with groans, hisses, and general uproar, which lasted for several minutes. A chair was handed to him and he took his seat. The uproar was again renewed. Ho rose a second and a third time to address the meeting, but was met with noises, groans, hisses, and confusion.—The Chairman askod for a hearing several times, but he was totally disregarded. —Mr. Westwood asked leave to propose a motion, but the Chairman ruled that he was not in order.—Mr. Bettany thought tho meeting ought to hear Mr. Lusk, who had shown considerable perseverance. He was sure Mr. Lusk had a Bkin thick onough to bear with such conduct.—This speech was followed by langhter and renewed hisßes. There was evidently a determination with a portion of tho audience not to hoar Mr. Lusk uudor any circumstances, and a regular stamping of feet began to be organised,— Mr. Kirby jumped on to the platform, and asked for .English fair play. (Cheers, groans, and hisses.) —Mr. Olphert said the meeting had given a most emphatic demonstration of their meaning, and it would promote the cause that, all had at heart. (Cheers.) He would, however, ask for a fair hearing for Mr. Lusk, so that it might not bo said any justice ho had a right to was denied him. (Cheers, groanß, and hisses.) —Mr. Lusk came forward, and esßayed to speak, but every word was met with a howl. He was quite prepared to stand there until they woro more composed. (A howl.) Thoy had given proof enough of how they would behave. (A howl.) There was a number of persons present who had no interest in the matter in hand. (Groans.) —Mr. Henry Isaacß next endeavoured to assuage the temper of tho meeting. He trusted that this meeting would be no exception to meetings hitherto held in Auckland, which were orderly. The meeting might bo opposed to Mr. Lusk, but let him be heard first. Thoy might condemn him afterwards if they would.—Mr. Lusk again essayed to speak, but he was again met with groans, hisses, and noises.—Mr. Lusk said, " You are under a mistake. (Uproar.) You fancy you are punishing me. (Groans.) Just give me five minutes." [Cries, "Not half-a minute."J —Mr. W. T. ,3wan came forward, and' said, " I want to t this meeting. (Groans.) Thoße sounds are quite familiar

to me." [The scene lasted (i"ir upwards of kalf-an-hour.] —Mr. Black askou* Mr. Swan to give way to him, and he woula* endeavour to got a hearing for Mr. Lust. Swan retired. After sorno further obae^*?® 1 - 1 ' 0 " 3 from Mr. Black, Mr. Lusk again tried to addross the mooting, but could not b 0 heard.—Mr. flees came forward in answer loud calls, and said he was awaro that ther L ■were many opponents to Mr. Lusk in conseI quence of the Education Act. (Loud cheers.) But it was not like Englishmen. [Where do you come from ?] He (Mr. Eees) came from Gloucestershire. [A Voice : Double or single ?] (Cheers and laughter.) He asked ; as an Englishman, us an elector of the province, as one desirous of knowing what Mr. Luak's opinions were, to hear him. It was not English. It was. unfair, un-English, and unmanly to condemn a man unheard. (Cheers.) —Mr. Lusk endeavoured to speak, but could barely be heard by the reporters. He wanted to speak to the meeting about the education tax. (Groans and confusion.) — Mr. John Mason came on the platform and

tried to address the moeting, but he was greeted with the most indescribable noises. He continued gesticulating in dumb show for some moments, not a word being hoard, amid groans, howlings, and hisses. — The Chairman again asked for fair play. At thi3 time the confusion had lasted for an hour.—Mr. Lusk made another at-

tempt, with a like result.— The Chairman said it was not fair to him to refuse to hear Mr. Lusk. He, as chuirman, had a right to expect that the meeting would keep order.

(Cheers.) If they would not hear Mr. Lusk, he would put a resolution that Mr. Lusk be heard. (Cheers, groans, and hisses.) —Several of tne previous speakera again came on the platform, but met with a similar reception. Mr. Lusk said he would make a speech whether they would hear him or. not. In spite of the interruptions, the unmanly conduot—the foolish, suicidal conduct—of "a few men, he would be heard. (Cheers.) He would leave it to those who could hear him to report to others what he had to say, and once beinw reported, let it stand on its own merits. He came forward as a candidate for the Superintendenoy because he believed he could serve the province. He would servo them, not-

withstanding their conduct. Several of them .aid that they knew him well. They ought to know him -well. He was m a position for three years that they ought to know him. He had been connected with everything that had been done. Of the things done, the education tax was not the least. (Groans, howls, &c., &o.) He had had charge of the greater part of the matters conducted by Provincial Government. He had had to do with roads. [An altercation at this time occurred between Mr. Lusk and the Chairman, who appealed to the meeting whether he had done his duty.]— Mr. JRees said that the electors were injuring the cause they had at heart, by injuring Mr. Lusk. By such conduct, they would bring the good sense of the community about him.—Mr. Kirby again tried to address the meeting amid the wildest confusion on all sides.— Mr. Lusk resumed : Then as to the Education Act. He made the Education Act. He was not ashamed of the Education Act. Something was wanted to teach such people as came there to howl. He had nothing to do with the tax, whatever he had to do with the Act. He framed the Act. Ho merely wished to tax people according to their means to pay for education. It was a very proper tax, being proportioned to the means of those who had to pay it. But it pleased the Provincial Council to alter his mode of levying the tax and the amount of it. (Cheers.) He stood alone in the Provincial Council to oppose the unjust form of taxation. His plan was to make those pay who were able to pay, and to make no man pay more than was within his means. (Cheers.) The education tax was not his. Ho proposed that the man who had the big house, and the large income, should pay not one pound, but three pounds, and that the men who lived in small houses should pay ton shillings a-year. He was prepared to go to election for Superintendent on the strength of what he then did. (Cheers and hisses.) For three years he had the charge of most of their provincial affairs. (Ironical laughter and groaas.) He would defy any man to say there was any want of diligence, or that he spared any ability he. possessed. Ho was the first to cut down his own salary. (Cheers.) Ho cut down other salaries. He had saved £5000 to the province in salaries alone. He stood fearlessly before the people of the province. He did not think that people with small brains and loud voices were the people of the province. He would appeal to what he had done, as an earnest of what he would do. It was said that provincial institutions were decaying. They were taking a j good deal of time to decay. When he (Mr. Luak) came into office they had £135,000 to expend. Next year it docreasod to £120,000, the next year it sank to £108,000. This year it would be about £70,000, and in another year it would be as low as £55,000. [A Voice : Mr. Dargaville says there will bo only £15,000.] Mr. Lusk: He knows nothing about it. It took £33,000 to pay for departments of the Provincial Grovernmeiit, police, gaols, lunatio asylums, waste lands, enginoers, and goldfields departments. Next year, unless some windfall should como in, there would be only £16,000 or £17,000 for expenditure on departments. A good deal might be dono with that sum. He had as little doubt that money would be well spont. If things were to go on as they had been only throe or four years would elapse beforo there would not be money enough to pay for the departments. The money must bo had for the necessary works of the province. It was a wise man's business to prepare for events. (Cheers.) What were they to do when they had no money from outside Bourccs ? It was no use having a man for Superintendent who did not know what he would do when in office. Ho was one of those who was in favour of the Auckland Corporation, and he supported the proposal to release the city loan. What he now wanted was that every part of the province should be in as good a position to carry on its work as the Corporation of .-iuokland. He would be in favour of, ho had indeed advised that the Thames townships Jahould be created municipalities. But there was a need that the conntry districts of the province should be placed in a position of self-govern-ment. (Cheers.) When that should bo dono they would be in a position to do without Provincial G-overmnent. Tile Highway Boards had done their work well, so far as they extended. It was now coming to be a matter of importance that they should have further extension, lie would propose something like the following: Let them take ono member say of each Board of trustees, to represent their district at a county council, who would be able to look after main roads, and maintain tho machinery of Government at very little cost of time or money. If elected Superintendent — (groans) — he intended to be elected—(groans and cheers) —he would propose such u, Bcheme which might bo the beginning of local govern - ment throughout the province. Ho would not detain them by going minutely into these proposals. He gavo the outline to show that liis experience of Provincial Government had borne its fruits. Ho had been able to see what the strong, and what the weak points of Provincial Government were, ne thought tho Highway Boards would bear testimony, that department had nover been better managed than during the last three years. At the Thames he had had a larger audience than that, who received what ho had to say kindly, and they woro satisfied. (Groans.) They allowed that there never was a Provincial G-overn-ment which had dono so much as tho Provincial Government under Mr. Gillies as Superintendent. Tho only thing that tho present meeting seoinod to know about was the payment of £1 a house. (Groans.) They did not know who their best friend was. (Groans and laughter.) They thought their friend the man who eamo there to howl against direct taxation. Thoy might depend on it, direct taxation was the working man's easiest tax. If tho payment of £1 had awakened them so to their political state, he was glad of that. He believed, indeed, that it was a tax unjustly imposed, but it would ultimately ba a public benefit. The tax was framed by the men they sent to tho Council. They would, henceforward, bo alivo to who was to represent them. Tho real fact was, that his work had been spoiled by others. (Cheers.) They had given an enthusiastic

reception to another candidate. . (Cheers, and ories, "He is a gentleman.") Mr. Luak: Then hear mo as a man. (Cheers.) The gentleman (Mr. Dargaville) gave you his views. That gentleman said Provincial Governments were going fast down bill, and if vou put him in he would make matters all

iht when jour rovenuo went from you. Tha g en tl emaa Ba id what was wrong was the admit. '^ Btrat > on °f the Government. That gentleman them they must get rid of some "vry departments. lie said they were _ n „„. upon clerks that were not Jnr.t»rl Ti ' lat gentloman showed ho knew no thine at all *b° ut it. [Cries : Tell us what you are going t. > /o.] What Mr. Dargaville proposed was to > a l r^'^ lth f£ partment, Executh 'I'department,l'department, and £6000 worth of clerks. .V 0 cIo^ s w ?f° » Mr : Dargaville's imaginaU on ' / Jle - y belongeo to the departments ah ' e mentioned. He could not do away with i "Gill hvice over, Hf wanted to do away with t Hi believed that a Superintende S'_ a < to do away with his Executive. ? , Exeeutivi was the great barrier to the a. fi 1 0 u '- e w ° a Superintendent, and he shou. an ex tremely good man who could bv 1 entrustec with such powers in the Province of- Auckland (Cheers.) But Mr. Dargaville coulu. 1 not . dl away with the Waste Lands Departmen. wltl ' out doing away with every record of tith 3 .f nc right in the province. There would be end fj coufuaion. There were at present 715,0*. acres in the hands of the Provincial Govern

inent, —most of it good available land. Was that to be done away with ? How was the Waste Lands department to be dono away with , Then, -the Engineer's department. In the goldfields alone there had been some £15,000 expended in the early part of thisyear. The cost of that department was £750. Did Mr. Dargaville know what ho was speaking about when he addressed them ? Was he

making fun of them? Why the breath of life to the province -was the roads and works. Would they do away with them ? What hope was there for the plaoe if they were to do away with the

Roads and Work*? When they had na need for- roads and works tliey miehfc do away with the Provincial Governments. The gentleman (Mr. Dargaville) who had addressed thom, talked of a change in tha form of government. [A Voice : Quite time J He talked of the Superintendent holding office for two years. But Mr. DargaviUe knew that the Constitution Act provided fous years as the term of office. He would have tha members of Council reduced to nine. This, ~ . c °uld be done, would soon prove a "ng. It would be easy to get the members in but most difficult to get them - U '77 J f WOu possibly become a "Tammany ring before long. (Cheers, hisses, groans, &e.) They would be placing a man in a position of irresponsible power. (Cheers.) What was the meaning of a Council voting itself down 11 f - y \ oUr n mne members. That would be a kiud of "happy despatch" that any body could understand. It would simply be an absurdity and a piece of importinenoa m a Superintendent to ask the Council to make him dictator. He attributed these errors to ignorance, and riot to an intention to deceive. But there was one recommendation which he was sure had a very powerful effect. It waß a most disinterested recommendation— one of great magnanimity. Mr. Jjargaville was going to give up the spirit trade. (Loud laughter and cheers.) But Mr. DargaviUe was going to stick to the rest of his business* He would tell tho electors that the province could not be governed with the fourth or fifth part of any mail's time, however cleTec he might be. Mr. Gillies was a cleverer I man than Mr. Dargaville (uproar), and it required the whole of Mr. Gillies* time. The Superintendent had not power to grant spirit licences. He could only do so with the consent of his Executive, and Mr. Dargaville would do away with tho Executive. But & Superintendent had power to grant licences to cut timber, to cut flas, and dig gum. The three branches of Mr, Dargaville's other business were timber, flax, and gum. (Cheering and uproar.) Ho would

not criticise any candidate who had not; addressed the ejectors in this place. "When IVTr. Williamson and Mr. Hucfurlane should address thorn, it would be time enough to epeak of thera» He would remind tho

mooting that they would liuvo to pay the interest and Binking fund of the vast sums that vrould be borrowed and spent in workii. 80 far ao the works had gone they had very little of them. Out of .'£6,000,000, for which the colony would be Bhortly liable, Auckland had received about £250,000. But they would have to pay according to their wealth and population upon th® whole sum borrowed. They would not get their rights in this respect unless they got the men of most talent and energy to go in and represent them. (Cheers.) The fourth part of any man's time would not do it. He (Air. Lusk) had doue something to obtain justice for their province. Two yeara ago he urged that of right there should bo a whole million of this money appro* printed to the province of Auckland; but some of their members said they thought the proposal must be a joke. Ho proposed a railroad up to the heart of the Waikato. That was called a joke. Who now were in favour of this ? Their own representatives, who two years ago thought it a j jko. They would now enforce that view with arguments taken out of his (Mr. Lusk's) memorandum. If elected, he would promote these works in the province. He would endeavour to facilitate immigration and settlement with whatever ability and experienca he possessed. He would do his best to insist upon a fair Bhare of theso advantages. He would also bo prepared to propose' the doing away with the obnoxious tax they all complained of, but the way he would adopt would be to ask them to rate according to means and power to pay. The people had been led to believe he (Mr. Lusk) was the author of this tax. (Uproar.) Any man who said so with knowledge spoke what was false. The electors would do himjuslicato believe that ho would not stand there and tell a deliberate lie. There were many mem« bera of the Provincial Council present, and he appealed to them to say whether he had not opposed tho obnoxious shape which the tax had taken. (Cheers.) Ho [challenged every man present to say if that was not true? Xhis clause was forced into the Act against his will. He voted against it. He could not have divided upon the question when he had only five out of forty-four members to baok him. Ho believed the trial of the Act was good for the province, notwithstanding the obvious mistake that had been made. Ha would go in to amend it next year. He did not ask applause from men who would not tolerate a little trouble for the sake of education. He believed that only a few in that meeting had sought to keep his mouth shu' Ho thanked the meeting heartily for having heard him. [Mr. Lugk sat down amid loud and general cheering.] Mr. Wesiwood ; Did you not vote with Dr. Nicholson for the rate ? It has been slated so by Dr. Kidd. Mr. Lusk : Ido not care who stated it. It is false. I invited that gentleman to come here. If he is here I will answer him. Mr. James Maceeadt said Mr. Lusk voted for Mr. Williamson. Was he prepared to say Mr. Williamson was a less eligible candidate in 1873 than in 1869. ! Mr. Lusk said he made the statement in Parnell. He did not then believe in certain reports, but since he had found reason to I believo them, and, therefore, ho believed Mr. Williamson was a less eligible candidate in 1873 than in 1869. Mr. Lusk gave the following answers :—He would be willing to move the Great North Road toll-bar as far from the city boundary as other toll-bars, if provision were made for the maintenance of tho Great North Road. <. Mr. W. L. Hees asked whether Mr. Lusk would pledge himself to propose the alteration of the present rating clause in the Education Act. Mr. Lusk said he would do his utmost to get this one blot on the Act removed. He said he did pocket some of the monev — £300 voted by the colony for classes or lectures. A £50 was never more hardly earned; it took seven mouths of real hard work. Mr. Westwood moved, " That in the opinion of this meeting, Mr. Lusk, being tha aathor of the education or poll tax, we entirely condemn him as quite unfit for the ollico of Superintendent." Mr. Hees was addressing the meeting at great length, when tho gas was-put out, and the meeting separated, at a qurter-past eleven o'clock, without coming to a vote.