ABOLITION OF PROVINCES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4289, 12 August 1875, Page 3

ABOLITION OF PROVINCES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT BILLS.

PARXELL MEETING. A i'ublic meeting of the electors of this district was held last evening, in the Parnell Hall, to consider the bills at present before the General Assembly for the abolition of the provinces and the substitution therefor of local Governments. The meeting was convened by tho chairman of the District Highway Board (Mr. H. Brett), and was very numerously attended, the public hall being filled before the time announced for the commencement of the proceedings. On the motion of Mr. Allender, seconded by Mr. Brett, Mr. James Baber, C.E., was called to the chair.

The Chairman read the advertisement calling the meeting. Ho said each man had strong political opinions upon the above subjects, ne hoped the gentlemen addressing the meeting would keep as closely to the point, and be as brief as possible. (Cheers.) lie would be happy to receive any resolution if auy elector felt disposed to propose one. (Hear, hear.) There was for some time an apparent disinclination on the part of any of the electors to make any proposition, and there were some calls for an adjournment. There were loud calls for Mr. Dargaville, who enterod tho hall during tho pause. Mr. Dargaville thought that cither the convener of the meeting, or those who requested that the meeting bo convened, should have come prepared to carry on the business. (Cheers.) Mr. Moss was loudly called, but he did not respond. Mr. Brett said ho was requested to call the meeting by about a dozen gentlemen, Mr. Caleb Wood was one, Mr. AlTcndcr was another; both gentlemen were present. (Cheers and laughter.) A voice : I suggest that Mr. Brett should give us a song. Mr. Caleb Wood explained the circumstances under which he joined in the request. Mr. Brett said Mr. Wrigley was another who joined in the request. Mr. Caleb Wood naid when the Newmarket meeting was proposed he was spoken to on the subject, and he replied that so important a constituency as Parnell should have a meeting of its own. Mr. Wrigley explained the circumstances under which ho joined in the requisition. He said the first proposition was to hold a joint meeting of the districts of Eden and Parncll, to be held at Parnell Hall if possible ; but the hall could not be obtained on the day intended. A meeting was called for Newmarket and adjourned.

The Chairman explained that tho business of the meeting was to consider the Abolition of Provinces and Local Government Bills.

Mr. lluoilF.s said his idea in the first instance was that the meeting should have been held iu the Parnell Hall. He would occupy the meeting but a short timo on tho actual business of tho meeting. Hβ believed that the time was come for the abolition of Provincial Governments. He believed those Governments hail done their work. They had certainly done 80 in this part of New Zealand. The fact was that Provincial Governments had gradually thrown tho work they were appointed to do upon the shoulders of others, while they retained the means of doiug that work in their own hands. The Provincial Government had got rid of the responsibility of the harbour; they had carried out a policy for the organization of road districts, and they gave over to the people the privilege of taxing themselves. One of the fruits of their operation was the education tax, with which they were all acquainted. (Cheers and groans.) Therefore, they saw the Provincial Government denuding itself of it 3 duties and responsibilities at the same time that it kept up its staff of ollicers. (Xo.) As to the Local Government Bill, it was a very long bill, and it would take several days to get up the details of it. It contained provisions for grouping the existing Road Boards, and statutory obligations by which they would be bound. There were provisions by which the roads should be made at a proper width. There were several improvements, for instance, all the members of tho Board in any district would not go out of otlice at once. That they did so was a mistake in the Provincial Bill. Another improvement was that the proxy system was abolished. (Cheers.) Then there was to be a nomination of proposed members a week before the election. In order to commence the business, and give the meeting some vitality, he begged to move, " That this meeting approve of the Abolition of Provinces and Local Government Bills." While making this motion, he was not propared to approve tho whole of tho details of the changes proposed. They required much consideration. But he approved of the principle involved in those bills.

A considerable pause occurred, but no seconder could be found. Mr. Staines mounted the platform. After some time, the chairman declared that the resolution had lapsed for want of a seconder.

Mr. Staines moved, "That this meeting views with alarra the proposition to abolish the provinces without an appeal to the country, by means of a general election, and protest against the proposed Abolition of Provinces Bill being passed by the Assembly, whose term of oflico is expiring, and which does not represent the peoplo of the colony." (Cheers.) Ho said all would recollect the efforts made to secure the services of Sir George Grey as successor to tho late Mr. Williamson. He (Mr. Staines) did his huuiblo part to secure that object. Having done that he thought tho peoplo who placed Sir George Grey in tho position ho occupied rank cowards if they deserted him. In the words of the resolution lie had proposed, he contended that the people of the various coustituencies should be consulted before such important changes were made. (Cheers.) Mr. Bhett seconded Mr. Staines'e resolution pro/ornut, and handed to the chairman the following telegram from Mr. Header Wood :—"iNatnre of bill not understood. (Hear.) Debates will make all clear. No money for endowments. No legal power to abolish. (Loud cheers.) Will contest Parnell against all comers." (Loud cheers.) Mr. Calkb Wood was proud to witness the manifestation of opinion upon the resolution Bubmittud by Mr. Staines. Everyone should be proud of tho stand Sir George Grey had made. Sir George Grey was a man above most men in the colony, and came forward from retirement to defend what he thought was tho public welfare. He had no saw-mill to run. Ho was thoroughly independent. He was above all expectations from any change. If the General Assembly promised money liberally, the question rose, where were they to get it from •>. If the colony were out of debt the position would have been a magniliecnt one. What a difference tliero was between Auckland and some of thuSouthoru provinces. They had between £300,000 and £-100,000 of revenue. Auckland had, perhaps, £SOO from land fund. Auckland would be the sufferer, aud the people ought to support such a man a» Sir George Grey in his defeuco of the province. He doubted very much of the power to give or to continue the promised payments;

Mr. KmnY said the question was one of great importance—a question of moment.

Hβ endorsed the opinions expressed by Sir George Grey ; he was a patriotic man, not influenced by any hopes that a General Government, or any other Government could hold out to him.

Mr. Daroaviixe ascended the platform, and was received with loud cheers. He said it was not his intention to have taken any part in the present proceedings. (Cries of "gammon.") The reason he had not felt inclined to take any part in the present meeting was, that as ho purposed to contest the eeat for Parnell with Mr. Reader Wood at the next general election, it would be unfair to take up any position that might be construed as hostile to their absent members. He had, however, an amendment to propose to Mr. Staines's resolution. He believed that the motion in the first instance made by Mr. Hughes had fallen through from some unexplained but accidental cause. He felt that he had a cause to submit to tho electors of Parnell. He was absent from tho meeting preparing the amendment he was about to move when Mr. Hughes was moving his resolution. He would at once read tho amendment he now proposed. It was as follows :—" That, in the opinion of this meeting, the provisions contained in the Abolition of Provinces Bill, aud the Local Government Bill now before Parliament, are generally such as to merit the approval of this constituency, aud it is highly desirable that both bills should be passed into law during the present session ; and that the chairman be requested to communicate the above by telegraph to the hon. tho Premier aud the hon. member for Parnell." He believed this amendment would be in accordance with the views of the meeting. (Cheers, hisses, and uproar.)

Mr. Dargaville : " Hear me for my cause, and be silent, that you may hear." (Shakespeare.) (Loud and prolonged cheering). As to Sir George Grey, that eminent man had no greater admirer in the colony than he (Mr. Dargaville) was. He believed that there was a distinguished political career before Sir George Grey, whatever might be the fate of the proposed measures. It was said that the Assembly would act illegally to pass these bills. He differed entirely from that view. It was objected that the measures conferred the large land funds to the Southern provinces. He contended thatthoy empowered the General Government when it became necessary to apply the land revenues to the colonial purposes. This aspect of the question was proved by the attitude of some of the Superintendents towards these bills, they expressing their own fears very intelligibly by their opposition. This power which it gave the Colonial Government over their land fund was precisely what those gentlemen feared. Who were opposing the bills ? One was the crafty tactician Macandrew, who knew that the land revenue of his province of Otago was in danger. The same might be said of Rolleston of Canterbury, and the sturdy beggar of Wellington, Mr. Fitzherbert. Those who objected to the bill on the ground that the land fund would be continned to the Southern provinces, were confuted by the action of these men. He held that the land of a country was the property of the whole people of that country. They all came to New Zealand to form a part of the people of New Zealaud. But he also belioved there was in Auckland a considerable landed estate, and from this source there would yet accrue a considerable revenue. Within the last year or two nearly 4,000,000 acres altogether of land had been purchased to form this estate. It was said that a good deal of the land so purchased was inferior. Ho had, however, been assured on good authority that a great deal of it was good average land, so that even supposing the worst would happen, even Auckland itself would yet be possessed of a considerable land fund. As to the conduct of Provincial Institutions, it was no use having resort to sentiment. In these days sentiment had no influence on politics. The whole conduct of political affairs had become a question of finance. Ten years ago Auckland had means, resources of various kinds, and money. What hail become of them ? What had the people gained from them ? Provincial Government had become an intermediate body, without power. The people should not desiro to have it as a mere buffer to the central Government. The days of its power to do any good had gone by. Then as to the passing of the bills during the present session: he did not think that any good was to be obtained from delay. The country, thanks to the electi io telegraph, was thoroughly informed. There was no doubt as to the character and direction of public opinion. Delay would be rathurprcjuclisial than otherwise. If there were noadvantages to be gained by delay, then it would be unwise to postpone the Parliamentary decision of this <juestion. The only ellcct of such postponement would be another year's turmoil and nnsettlement. They had had quite enough of that. The time was now come to adopt a wise and politic resolution. (Cheers.)

Mr. James Wiuui.ky seconded the amendment. He was surprised to hear read the telegram from Mr. Reader Wood. The language of that telegram was very different from the announcements that gentleman had made to the electors of Pnrncll in that hall upon a former occasion. Mr. Reader Wood now told tho electors these bills were illegal. Me believed that the passing of these bills was a step in the right direction. It was the (irst time that tho doctrine had been enunciated by tho Government that the land revenue was the property of the whole colony. It was the first proposal the effect of which would be to briug tho land fund into the colonial chest. What had Provincial Councils or Governments done? They had left behind tliem no large works. When Mr. Vogel passed the Public Works Bill the Provincial sj'stem became non eat. There was no further use for it. ihe Provincial system taxed and kept up toll-gates, or maintained slaughterhouses in a disgraceful state for the revenue it got out of them. It tinkered and talked about the Highways Act and the education tax; and if it had not been for these two Acts the Provincial Council of Auckland would have had nothing to do. If this bill passed it would be the first step towards complete and efficient local government. The Local Government Bill was simply a permissive bill, and it was suited to ths wants of the country. (Cheers.)

Mr. Rhodes ascended the platform and was greated with uproar. He said eight Superintendents must bo followed by redtapeisin. He told tho meeting the age of Sir George Grey., and knew where he was born. These announcements caused extraordinary amusement. He never knew any good of Provincial Government for anybody, except those who received its salaries. If the bills were already passed they could not be worse off than they had been under Provincialism.

Mr. H. H. Lusk next presented himself, and was received with mingled cheers and cries of " Adjourn !" He believed the majority of the peoplo did not understand these bills, and Mr. Dargaville appeared to understand them least of all. Mr. Dargaville ■would want to know a great deal about these bills, and about general politics, before he could succeed in taking the seat from Mr. .Reader Wood. He (Mr. Luek) had already declared in favour of the abolition of provinces, but not iii favour of such an abortion as this bill was. It was a gross deception, and lie believed the Local Government Bill would bo utterly unworkable. Moreover, he believed it would be illegal to pass those bills in the manner it was proposed to pass them. He did not think the Assembly had the power to pass them. But many things unlawful were done in so-called representative assemblies. Ho, therefore, did not attach the same importance to the objection on this ground. If it was to be done, the General Government would not be deterred from doing it by any ground of illegality. He objected to these bills because they were a step towards taking away the only safeguard that remained for the people's liberties. Sir. Dargaville was a recently-converted abolitionist. Mr. Dargaville cheered with those who howled at him (Mr. Luak) when he gave provincial Institutions two years to hve. Mr. Dargavillo had bomethiug to do with Provincial Coun-

cils; he (Mr. .Lusk) had something to do with the poll tax. The difference between himself and Mr. Dargaville was that he (Mr. Lusk) was not afraid to avow what he had done. What was proposed to be done by this bill * It gave the people liberty to tax themselves. That was abont all it did give them. If it were said they were to have two pounds for one, where were they to get it ? And if they got it, what hope or security had they that the payments would be made from year to year ? Was Mr. Dargaville himself aware that there was actually a deficit of some £300,000 ? How could they give who had nothing to give, and were puzzled to meet their own engagements ? No doubt the people would have to tax themselves first, and look to the Colonial Government afterwards for what they could get. If this bill were passed, the effect would not be got rid of duting the lives of the present generation. If there was anything good for the province of Auckland in these proposals he would be disposed to favour them. But he saw in it every kind of evil, every one of these evils more centralising, more unjust, and more confusing than any complained of under Provincial Institutions. There was a great deal of paper and no money in the Xocal Government Bill. (A voice : " Then it is not a lawyer's bill.") By the Abolition Bill they were required to do away with the institutions under which they had lived for twenty-two years.

Mr. Dakoaville : You would have them " lingering" out.

Mr. Lcsk : Mr. Dargaville is too fond of pumping in a hurry. But the fact was this, —that they were to abolish these Provincial Institutions, whethertheyliked itornot They were not to bcasked whetherthey liked it. If it was said that Provincial Governments had not done all that was expected of them, how did that come about ? What was the fact? Was not every available source of revenue they had dried up by the interference of the General Government ? Pound by pound, shilling by shilling, penny by penny, was taken from thera, until they were left high and dry, having been deprived of all powers and all means any longer to carry out the objects for which they were intended. Was that to be cast up against the Provincial Governments ? Those who found fault with Provincial Governments should have told their hearers that. Did not every person in the colony know that the Colonial Government was not either fair or just or incorruptible—that there was a great deal that was unfair, unjust, and corrupt down there ? He objected to the proposed bill because it was dishonest on the face of it. It was a proposal to cheat one section of the people to aggraudizo another. Was it for this mess of pottage the people were to sell rights? (Cheers.) He did not know that they would even get any of the pottage, but they would surely be left with the mess, as had happened before. (Loud cheers.) Were they to leave their liberties in the keeping of a dozen persons in a chamber in Wellington 1 If Mr. Dargaville should pin his faith to a rag like that bill, he must go to another constituency. (Cheers.) Mr. Dargaville had told them that it was past hope with the Provincial system. Perhaps it was, and he had taken up with this, which was despair. (Loud cheers.)

Mr. Wrigley : We want money. Mr. LusK : Want money ? The Remuera Board always wanted a little money. Mr. Dargaville said the telegraph had disseminated information. But it was well-known the telegraph itself was in the hands of the Government. They could do better with the incubus of a Provincial Government for the next nine mouths, than with what this bill would give them. AH that this bill proposed to give was deceptive, and whatever it could givo the people was theirs already. Were they to bo bribed by a promise of their otrn money back again? Were they to be gulled by any such proposal ? The time, said Mr. Dargaville, had come for the abolition of the provinces. He (Mr. Lusk) had declared in favu. , of abolition of provinces in due time. He was, however, never so much ashamed of Provincial Institutions as he was last session, wheu a certain member proposed to put a tax on kauri gum. (Loud cheers.) The people had been shorn for years ;—let them not allow the last security they had to go after the rest. lie thought Mr. Reader Wood deserved honor for standing up and sayin" that he would not be a party to a bill which was a deception and fraud upon public opinion. Why shonld the proposers of this bill hesitate to go to the country, if they were not afraid that the nature of the changes would be discovered—that their deception would be laid bare '! Let the peo2Jle insist upon their members telling them all about this bill before they gave up, perhaps for ever, rights they had fur promises that could not be fulfilled. (Loud and continued cheering-)

Mr. Daiicavili.e claimed to reply to certain personal remarks made by Mr. Lusk, but the meeting would not hear him for a considerable time. He said that Mr. Lusk knew very well that he was a staunch opponent of the education tax, and that he proposed the gum tax as a substitute for the objectionable house tax, as it was not then thought that the General Government of the colony would release them from the responsibilities of public education.

Mr. W. H. Kisslixc! also spoke in favour of the amendment.

Mr. Bernard McDonald spoke in favour of the original motion.

Mr. Stainks having replied, the chairman put the amendment, which was negatived upon the show of hands by a large majority. The original motion wan then put and carried amidst loud cheering. Cheers were giveu for Mr. Reader Wood, for Mr. Lusk, and a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings, which were very lively throughout.

The following notes from the pen of a Paris correspondent will iuterest our lady readers :—After the recent sales of half-a-dozen splendid galleries—of the Corot collection, of the library and autograph collection of M. Guizot—all of which have afforded matter of great interest to a large class of artistic and literary flaneurs during the last three months, we have now had a very curious and interesting sale of fans—that of the late M. Alexander, who had a passion for these elegant little objects, and had collected specimens of thp "Jiiirc" of all the recognised masters of thh branch of art—lsabey, Wattier, Boucher, Vcyrassat, Chaplin, Baron Eugene Lame, Coutare, and others. The designs were considered by connoisseur* as being perfect, of their kind, and the prices obtained in many cases were very high, the total amount taken being but little short of £500. This sale excited all the more interest here from having followed closely on the heels of a curious little volume, by M. Blondel, giviug the history of fans among all nations and at all periods. Some idea of the wide range of subjects found on painted fans may be formed from the following list of the prices obtained for a few of those disposed of at the Alexander sale:—"Boats at Low Water," water-colour, by Isabey, 400 francs ; '"Fishing-boats," ditto, by the same, 410 franca ; " Combat iu Olympus," Wattier, 505 francs; "Views &iu Holland and on the lihine," fice of these, highly finished, being executed on the small surface in question, Ouvrie, 560 francs; "A Breton Wedding," A. Delacroix, 1030 francs; " The Triumph of Venus," by Madame Calamatta, after Boncher, 1360 francs! "Fete in a Park," Karon, 1520 francs ; " A Ball at the Opera," Eugene Lame, and "The Fountain of Youth," by the same, each 1950 francs ; " Pierrot in the Police Court," Contare, 3SOO francs. Among those specially noticeable for their artistic mounts was one in carved ivory, designed by Charles Raiubcrt, garnished with gold and rubies, OSO francs ; another in the same material, with mother-of-pearl, by Kiester, GOO francs ; an antique one, in carved inother-of-pearl, 990 francs ; one in tortoisesbell, inlaid with gold, with a view of Genoa, by Wild, 1100 francs;-another, mother-of-pearl, ornamented with gold, with a miniature of " Love and Bacchus," by Peul Heroy, after Gendron—the design on the rfeverae, "Forest inAirierica," byllippolyte Ballue, 1150 francs.