THE ABOLITION MEETING AT WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4290, 13 August 1875, Page 3

THE ABOLITION MEETING AT WELLINGTON.

[By Electric Telegraph.] [from our special correspondent.] Wellington, Thursday. The meeting last night here was a complete surprise to the Government. It had been called by the Mayor and a few others at a few hours' notice, with tho view of snatching a decision in favour of the Government proposals, but, short as the notico and wet as tho night, fully COO peoplo attended, thoroughly representing all classes of tho community. The Mayor (Mr. Moorhouse) occupied the chair, and expressed his gratification to see the citizens of Weliington> assemble in such force at a very short notice to discuss the important and interesting question. He explained that he called the meeting, at the request of Mr. John Pliniracr, who had represented it to be the wish of a large number of tho citizens. Tho reason that such notico was given was because Lho Hall was disengaged on that evening only, for some time to come. He denied being influenced by any political motives. The people, by now, had had time to think over the subject. He believed the present politi-i cal feeling was in favour of allowing every municipality to work out its own salvation ; and he hoped soon to see each independent of the other excepting only in obedience to..one common law, with full power to borrow, as much as desired, leaving the amount a m*ro mercantile question with tho lender; and the only restriction being tho approval of. the ratepayers, to whom each proposal should bo required to be submitted. Such a course offered the best security against the colony being involved by over-borrowing. Ho held strong political opinions, and was an,, adherent of the present Ministry; but it .was for no sordid or self-interested reasons. He was glad to see that tho Wellington citizens recoguise their duty to tho rest of New Zealand, by attending to express their views on this great question, on which every small hamlet in the colony had already spoken its mind.

Mr. H. Wallace said a resolution had been placed in his hands to move. It was as follows : —" That this meeting approves of the bill introduced by the Government for the abolition, of tho provinces throughout Now Zealand, and trusts that it will be carried without delay." Ho should not have supported; the abolition te bo confined to the North. Island ; but as it was to include tho whole colony, he thought it was tho duty of the citizens of \\ ellington to shew their sense of tho matter by a vote for or against. Ho would not go into the history of Provincialism. No doubt it had done good service in the past, but now he was convinced that the time had arrived when it should be done away with. When the present Constitution was brought beforo tho Imperial Parliament, Earl Grey wrote to Sir George Grey, expressing his opinion that the provinces ultimately would merge into municipalities, while the functious of tho General Legislature would be increased. In the early days there were no means of rapid communication between the different places, hut now there were telegraphs, roads, aud railways. Thus the original object Sir George Grey had in view in forming the Constitution had disappeared. Provincialism had served its time, and now it had become a scramblo between the Provincial and General Governments for the loaves and fishes. WTiat now was needed was a strong Central Government in Wellington. The Provincial candle had nearly gone out when Dr. Featherstou left, and it was only the Public Works policy which had kept it going since. If it wero allowed to continue, the progress of the country would be retarded. The effect of the Government measures would be to increase the city revenue, and thus to lessen tho rates, besides giving increased political privileges.

Mr. John Plimmer seconded the resolution. He was one of the oldest inhabitants, and had watched Provincial Institutions from the first, and he believed that if they had been done away twelve or thirteen years ago, the public estate would not have been squandered as it had been, and tho country would not have needed the present loans. They had now to choose between provinces and public works. They could not have both, and Provincial Institutions were raising a crop of pensioners and paupers. Would it not be better for only one Government to have the power of creating these pensioners and paupers, than ten ?

Strong expressions of disapprobation were expressed during the above two speeches. Mr. U. J. Duncan, who was received with loud cheers, said : The abolition measures were being rushed through tho Assembly before the public had time to read and understand what affected them so closely. They ought to understand most fully what they were to receive instead of the political privileges they were asked to give up. (Cheers.) They ought to be very careful how they resigned any of their political rights. He only asked that time should be given them to enable them to understand the new measure. (Cheers.) Did they understand it? ("No.") Did tho House understand it ? ("No.") Surely it was reasonable to ask for time to consider ami understand what they were to receive in place of the institutions under which they had lived for twenty-one years. They should pause before they consented to relinquish rights and privileges which, oDce parted with, could not be re-called. (Immense cheering.) Already he saw with much uneasiness the growing power of the governing classes here, and he called on the people to shake oil their apathy, and not allow gentlemen elected for live years to do what they chose with our liberties and rights. He proposed an amendment, "That, in the oxiinion of this meeting, considering the very short time the bill for the Abolition of tho Provinces and the Local Government Bill have been before the public, and tho fact that in a few months the electors will be called upon to elect a new Parliament, it is tho wisest, and certainly the most Constitutional course to gire their opinions uxion questions of such vital imx>ortancc affecting the interests of the colonists at largo in the usual Constitutional way, by their votes at the approaching general election." (Tremendous cheers for several minutes.) Such a response to his amendment rendered it needless for him to say much more, he would only point out that it was proposed to replace the officers elected by the people with others nominated by the Ministry of the day. (Uproar.) That was a most dangerous power to place in tho hands of the Government.

Mr. Travers, who was loudly cheered, seconded the amendment. Ho had been confounded by their Mayor with tho " Barrister of colonial reputation," who was supposed to be framing tho new Constitution. He was asked by Mr. Vogel to draw up a measure to prevido for what was deemed an impending change in tho Constitution, and he consented on purely professional considerations. Mr. Vogel took a statesmanlike view of the subject, and desired a measure which should consolidate local laws and bring about the change without the change being felt by the people as doing violence to their views, or to their existing institutions, or to the Constitution of the country. Mr. Vogel was anxious that tho people should not have to encounter tho difficulties into which they were sure to be plunged if the existing system were abolished without making due provision for what was to succeed it. The history of countries possessing sound and safe forms of Government shewed that their Constitutions were allowed to grow up gradually, and were not suddenly created. When a Constitution sprang up suddenly it was very apt to crumblo to pieces with equal suddenness. He had been from tho first a consistent opponent of Provincialism, but he thoroughly endorsed Mr. Duncan's argument that before they gave up their present political privileges they ought to see that they would get equnl political privileges in return. Tho present Government measure did not abolish Provincial Institu tions. These institutions would be kept on by tho General Government, but without any elected Councils or responsible officers. He was not in favour of Provincialism, but thej should retain their present institutions

hntil they knew* they 'would get equal privileges in thoir place. Besides, it was proposed by tho • Government measure to retain the provinces for eight menths longer. Thon, why not postpone the change itself for that period, and in' the meantime place all the particulars before the country, and shew how they intended to- carry out their proposed system of finance. The public should not trust to the promised subsidy of £2 for £1 raised on rates,, or they ran a risk of famng like the dog who saw in the water tho shadow of the bone he carried, and, trying to secure both, lost the substance and the shadow. They should not trust to such promises op.figures till they saw how they could be made good in practice, and where the money was to come from. He had travelled over the province of Wellington, and did not believe that even Ota"o possessed so fine tracts of country. Everything throughout the country indicated a proper and efficient administration of the public revenue, and lie challenged anyone who had travelled through the province to deny this statement. Rivera were bridged and roads made, and, in Bhort, he was satisfied that if tho tribunal of the people were appealed to they would say that the Wellington Provincial Government had done its duty honestly and well. Let tliem pause before committing themselves to a change of which they knew nothing. Let those who brought such changes mature and explain their plans. Let the people not be caught by clap-trap, but vote according to their careful judgment. It was because Provincial Institutions had not worked so well elsewhere as here, that the cry had been raised, "Away with them," but his hearers should not join in that cry, unless they knew why. It was the duty of Ministers to place tho whole subject before the people iu a. statesmanlike way, and they had not done so. (Cheers.) Again, the Government had announced their intention to extend the franchise, and moreover, since the election of the present Parliament some 30,000 or 40-.000 people had come into the country. It was not fair that this large number should bo denied-by a dying Parliament a voice in what concerns them so nearly. Thopewple ought to be able to express their opinion, not by a meeting like the present* which, although representing all classes of the community, was not the whole country itself, but by that of the whole community at the hustings and the ballot-box. Let them, wait until the measure had been explained in a statesmanlike way, and fully discussed, and until they really knew what they were about.

Mr. E. Loomath thought that all appeared to agree that Provincial Institutions should be abolished, and to regard it only as a question of time. He thought they had had plenty of time already to understand it. Ho denied that Wellington owed her prosperity to tho Provincial Government. It was owing to tho high price of wool, and to the expenditure of borrowed money. Tho Government had put the matter clearly before them. He should vote for the original motion. -Mr. James O'Shea supported the amendment, remarking that the new system did not promise any redaction in the taxes, as those on tea and sugar, which pressed so heavily on the working man. Tho proposed change ought to be referred to the country.

Mr. Pearce, M.H.R., on being loudly called for, said ho had attended by invitation, and would express his views. He characterised Mr. Travers's speech as that of a lawyer, who could speak on both sides with equal merit. He (Mr. Pearce) told them last year that, if the Government would extend abolition to both islands ho should support it, and they then applauded him. He then explained tho Abolition Bill, and contended that it would extend the power of all Municipalities and increase their revenues, while outlying districts would no longer be dependent on tho caprice of a Superintendent, but could demand as a right what they now had to beg, cap in hand, as a favour. He always disapproved of the compact of IS.'iG, but the bill made it no more binding thau before. Provincialism had been no friend to Wellington. As they had asked hisopinion, ho told them plainly they ought to support this measure of abolition, leaving the details to the House of Representatives. Tho country was ringing with the cry for abolition, and he should vote for it and do his best to carry it this session.

Mr. Buckley, M.P.C., said be condemned tlin present attempt to rush such an important measure through the Assembly. The House of Commons would not venture to do such a thing. The people ought to have an opportunity of expressing their opinion. Let them compare the working of the Provincial Government hero with that of the General Government, and see ■which did the best. Look at the Jlutt Railway, which was a lasting disgrace to the General Government. Mr. Pcaroe had endeavoured to explain the tirst short hill of 27 clauses, but he hail said nothing about the other bill of 271 clauses. It was natural that he and other men of large means should support the measure, for it gave them very large voting powers. Mr. JetTs said the. Government practically asked the public to endorse their bill, and promised to tell them the amount afterwards.

Mr. T. McKenzie also supported the amendment. It had cost them a great deal to obtain the institutions now so much run down. The people ought to have an opportunity to express their opinion on the subject. They hail a right to do so, and ought not to be deprived of their right. He believed the result of an appeal would be in favour of abolition, but let it be dono in a proper constitutional way. He objected to a nominated head, who necessarily would be merely tho obedient servant of the Ministry of the day. Let them pause before selling their birthright for a mess of pottage. Mr. Gillon, M.P.C., being called on, said ho had been for fifteen years a strong abolitionist, and therefore should support the amendment. The Government Bill was a mockery. It did not give local government, but created what practically were French departments, and instead of electing Superintendents they would have nominated prefects. At present no one really understood the Government measure, and it was absurd that they should be asked to approve what they did not understand. If the matter was considered at tho coming election they would get a better measure in the next Parliament. They needed one code of laW3 and oue statute book for tho whole colony, but this bill provided that all existing laws should remain in force. The bill was a mockery, and he hoped they would not be foolish enough to approve of it. At this point the Mayor expressed his wish to speaK to the resolution, and vacated tho chair in favour of Mr. Andrew Young, but the meeting refused to hear him, and insisted on the question being put. He therefore resumed the chair.

Mr. Hutchinson moved that the meeting adjourn to Monday, but the proposal was rejected by an overwhelming majority. The Mayor being unable by any further dodging to prevent the meeting expressing its opinion, put Mr. Duncan's amendment, which was carried by four or five hundred hands to niucteon.