ABOLITION OF THE NORTH ISLAND PROVINCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3995, 1 September 1874, Page 3

ABOLITION OF THE NORTH ISLAND PROVINCES.

MEETING at onehuwga.

A meeting of the inhabitants of Onehunga was held last evening in the Choral Hall, Princes-street, convened by the Chairman of tha local Board, in compliance with a requisition of twenty-eight ratepayers of the district, to consider the resolutions passed by the House of Representatives for abolishing the provinces of the North Island.

On the motion of Mr. Armstrong, seconded by Mr. Eastwood, Mr. George Codlin, Chairman of the District Board, was called to the chair. The Chairman said thnt the meeting was called to give the people of the district an opportunity of expressing their opinion upon the resolutions brought into the House of Representatives by Mr. Vogel. He presumed that the occasion would be thought favourable to record their opinion of their honourable member, Mr. O'Rorke. (Cheers.) He did not himself know much of the argument proposed to be submitted to the meeting, but as chairman he must enjoin all who were present to give every speaker a fair and impartial hearing. Mr. Eastwood proposed the first resolution. He thought that it was only proper that an important district like Onehunga should follow the example set by Newmarket, Auckland, Papakura, and other places, and record their opinion of the momentous change which was proposed in the Constitution of the colony. It was remarkable that iin Mr. Vogcl's budget there was not a I syllable to indicate the intention of the Colonial Treasurer to abolish the North Island provinces. What were the reasons given by Mr. Vogel for the proposals he had made ? He said that the provinces were mercenary, but a reason nearer the mark probably was that they had become inconvenient to Mr. Vogel, and because they stood in his way they must be done away with. He said that the provinces, and Auckland more especially, were unable to sustain their own establishments. He alluded to the disgraceful state of the Auckland gaol and the madhouse. But whose was the fault ? Was not Mr. Vogel himself a member for an important Auckland constituency? What had he done to remeriy evils as a representative of this province ? Nothing. Then the second resolution proposed and carried by Mr. Vogel liad respect to the seat of Government at Wellington—shaky Wellington. But was not the removal of the seat of Government from Auckland in the first instance an injustice ? Ii wa-i an injustice in more r,-speots than one. It was a fact which could not be denied that those who came to Auckland -previous to 1864 eamc npoa the strength of Auckland being the se;vc of Government. The prices which people paid for their land or other property, were governed by the fact of the Government being in Auckland. If a man paid £4, £5, or more a foot for land, that high price was exacted because the Government was carried on here. And when the seat of Government was removed, and the value of that property was reduced, that removal was a gross injustice to the people who came here upon the strength of Aucklandbeiug tilt; seat of Government. TLen with regard to the land fund of the South being permanently handed over to the Southern provinces, whose existence was secured for them, —-what right had Mr. Vogel to do anything of the kind ? What right liad the Southern provinces to the appropriation to them of a fund that was the property of the whole colony? He remembered the last meeting Mr. Vogel held in the City East. He ,iever heard so many fallacies uttered in so : hort a time by any mau as by Mr. Vogel. He believed that popular as Mr. Vogel had been, he would before long be equally unpopular,—that those who once applauded would yet hoot at him. He could not understand what reason should induce a Minister to start such schemes as the Polynesian scheme, and like projects. He thought the time was come when Parliamentary chicanery should be put down, and when conduct like tlnvt of George Maurice O'Rorke should be held in honour. (Loud and continued cheering.) He hoped the reception they would give their representative would be worthy of conduct so noble, and a sacrifice so great as his. He thought that the bill in which it was proposed to give effect to Mr. Vogel's intention should be printed and circulated, so as to give the people an opportunity of thoroughly considering it. He moved, '' That in the opinion of this meeting, the proposals embodiedinMr. Vogel's resolutions for abolishing the North Island provinces, wliib; confirming those of the South, are unjust .ind impolitic." Mr. Greenwood seconded the resolution.

XiV. Bilkey said, he was agninst the existence of provinces altogether. rlc would abolish them. Let them look at the facts. They had a Superintendent, Executive officers, ami a large staff. They had £00,000 to spend, aiul to spend it cost them £14,000. lie believed that Mr. Yogel's intention was to abolish the Northern provinces iirst, and when lie should have got rid of the Northern provinces, he would abolish those of the South. He believed Mr. Vogel was a farseeing politician—that lie was right. He begged to move, as an amendment, "That the sooner Provincialism were abolished the better."

Mr. Jackson said the amendment, if accepted by the meeting, would he a suicidal act. The position of the case was that Mr. Vogel's proposals were to abolish one set cf provinces and to confirm others in all their rights and benefits. If they accepted such an amendment, how could they consistently give honor to their representative Mr. O'llorke ? (Cheers.) Mr. A. Wiiytf. thought that the blame of what they were complaining about was mainly with the people, in sending ■ uch representatives to represent He remembered speaking to a frien.i of his whtii some of their representatives passed along. Ilis friend said he had no respect for the representatives, for ho could point to half-a-dozen of them tnat had paid their debts with lialf-a-crown in the pound. He believed that some constituencies had elected the very scum of society. (Hisses, cheers, and cries of question. ) It -ras the apathy of the people themselves that caused all the mischief. He believed the sooner Provincialism was swept away altogether the better. There was a diil'erouce of opinion as to abolishing some and preserving others. He would abolish chem altogether. He thought there would be a unity in the colony as a whole, consequent upon the total abolition of all the provinces, which unity could not exist with them.

The amendment of Mr. Bilkey was not seconded. The original motion was put and carried unanimously. Mr. Armstrong moved the second resolution. He said that Mr. O'Rorke had represented the district for 14 years. He had done things for the district on account of which his name should be held in honour for ever. He had brought down an Act to release the wharf from its debt. His conduct in the General Assembly shewed that his motto was "Death before dishonour." The name of George Maurice O'Rorke ought to be written in letters of gold. (Cheers.) He moved, "That the best thanks of the electors were due to the Hon. George; Maurice O'Rorke for his services as representative of Onehunga in the General Assembly at Wellington." Mr. Sullivan seconded the motion, which was carried unauiniou&iy. A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and after three cheers for Mr. O'Rorke, again and again renewed, the meeting separated.