ABOLITION MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4297, 21 August 1875, Page 3

ABOLITION MEETINGS.

PAPAKURA. In accordance with an advertisement addressed to tho electors of Franklyn, the electors resident in Hunua, Papakura, Wairoa, Pukekohe, Paparata, and Maketu Highway Districts, a meeting was held at the Papakura Public Hall yesterday afternoon, at 3 o'clock. There were somo 40 gentlemen present, including Messrs. Dargaville, Rces, Troup, and Lusk. The proceedings were not altogether orderly throughout. The city gentlemen, however, had the talking almost entirely to themselves, and by themnot a few of the interjectory <ind " interruptory" remarks were made. The addresses of these gentlemen were a repetition of those made by them at other of the recent meetings, and outlines of which have already been given in these columns.

Mr. J. Crawford was called to the chair, and made a few prefatory remarks. He waß sorry to see so small an attendance; but if the numbers ware small, there was certainly a great amount of intelligence. He asked for a fair hearing for both sides.

Mr. J. S. Wilson (Wairoa) proposed the first resolution, "That this meeting is of opinion that the Abolition Bill now beforo tlio General Assembly be passed during the present session." He said they had in this province long been looking forward to tlio sweeping away of the provinces, both North and South ; but just as this was about to happen a mighty gladiator entered the arena, and under his withering influence even the Provincial Council had rescinded a motion they had previously passed in favour of abolition. Sir George Grey was now the horo of the day, just as General Cameron had been in his day here, and Auckland was now bowing down to that hero. It was, however, for the ont-scttlers to take a more calm view of the position, and to consider what good they would get from abolition. The Provincial Government could hero bo well done away with. Who, ho asked, was the Superintendent and the Provincial Treasurer? —why, Mr. Vincent Rico did all the work. Sir George Clrey, if the province is abolished, will still have good work to do, although they could not refer to him as " His Honor." There was too much of tlio "Jump-Jim-Crow" spirit about the Auckland people. The days of the provinces were numbered, and there was no good staving off the evil day. All they wanted to know was, what they were going to get in its place ? But why make the delay on the very eve of our wishes being carried. For several years tlie Ito.-ul Boards had been doing their work with the aid of the General Government grants. This aid would still continue if the Provincial Government were swept away, but if we were to allow our "champions" to talk for another twelve months, tliev probably would uot get any money at all. If the provinces were not immediately abolished, Sir George Grey would have again to act the "sturdy beggar" on behalf of the province. There was a talk of an autocratic Gorernment, but it was Sir George himself who wished to take up the position. He (Sir G. Grey) should now be aware it is the wish of the people to do away with tho provinces ; indeed, it was doing Sir George Grey a good turn to sweep away this province : it would lift him out of a most unenviable position. In the out-districts educational matters were of great importance. We have been badly provided for by the Provincial Government, but under a uniform measure the colony would be better oil' and would secure a better class of teachers. In conclusion, lie thought that if the residents of the district had been left to themselves, if the city " talent" had left them to themselves, they could have discussed the matter very comfortably, and have coino to a decision upon their own account. (Cheers.) Mr. J. B. Hay agreed with the resolution cordially. We had had Provincial Governments long enough. He thought wc would be a great deal better oIT under tho General than the Provincial Government. At least they would get something, l'or instance, if they raised £'MO, the Board would get, under the £2 for £1 proposal, .WOO, and that was equal to what they had obtained for more than twenty years from the Provincial Government. The reason why the Auckland Government had been so economical was because they had no money to spend. He thought it was all the better that tho bill should be passed by a dying Parliament, as by March next we should obtain some idea of the working of it, and they could then obtain from those who presented themselves for election pledges to secure the necessary alterations. Judging from what he could hear amongst the settlers, they were generally in favour of abolition, and of it taking place at once. (Applause. ) Putting ofT the evil day was considered nonsense. On the subject of education, he said abolition would necessitate a great measure for the colony. They could not, however, expect every evil of Provincialism to be remedied at once.

Mr. Cossky made a complaint of want of publicity of the taking place of the meeting. Tho out-settlers had not had any means of knowing that the meeting was called. He declared himself an Abolitionist in every sense of the word. Tho Provincial Government had robbed tho provinces, aud had not assisted tho Road Boards. It could not do so, for the reason that it had no money to do so with. It was time, therefore, that the provinces were abolished. Although ho was an Abolitionist, he might refer to the fact that five years ago the members of the House of Representatives were elected upon the Provincial ticket; aud it might be as well, therefore, that the next Parliament should be elccted on tho abolition ticket. It was also a serious thing to hand over our rights to anotherparty, and if we are to have a nomineo head could we not find an honest aud trustworthy man amongst ourselves? He would, however say, "Don't make any changes until you are sure what you aro doing." It was no compliment to receive tho £2 for £1 collected, for the money was their own. It would bo got out of tho province. Referring to the Legislative Council, the speaker said he objected to that body as being class legislators who made land laws to suit themselves. His idea was that they should get as much for the province as possible, and that therefore delay was advisable. Ho knew some of tho proposals were baits, and ho did not want to be caught by them. Therefore he would say, be cautious. Mr. M'Lellan did not agreo with Provincialism. Supposing tho £2 to be a bribe, would it not be better to get it from tho General Government direct rather than allow tho Provincial authorities to have tho handling of it, to bo returned to the Road Boards with all sorts of restrictions placed upon it. Ho was not one of those who had fault to find with the Provincial Government in tho matter of education. Ho gave tho most unqualified praiso to the Provincial Government for their efforts in that behalf. Abolition, he considered, would bo the best thing for us, and by that means only would we stand any chance of falling in with the prosperity the Southern provinces enjoyed. At present we were always begging and squealing. _ The people would pay more attention to politics if there I was only one central body to watch. At I present tliey were distracted with the

various forms of local politics. He thought the colony woulil thrive much better under the General Government.. The cry of delay he conceived to be only a- side-wind way of "waiting for something to turn up." He would say, abolish the provinces at once, thongh he was thankful for their past good services.

Mr. Lusk then occupied the meeting for an hour, during which he reiterated opinions several times expressed, and spoke strongly against the present bill and in favour of delay. The interjectory remarks from the city gentlemen were frequent and not kindly in spirit, and the chairman had some difficulty in keeping the meeting in order. Mr. Thompson explained that his interruptions of Mr. Lusk were retaliatory, II r. Lusk having interrupted him at the Otaliuhu meeting. He asked the meeting to read Mr. ■Stafford's"speech as telegraphed that morning, in which lie (Mr. Stafford) charged Sir George Grey with inspiring the warlike artiele which appeared in the Star of the previous evening, portions of which Mr. Troup read. Messrs. Bucklaml and May, he said, h:ul sounded their constituents upon their opinion of the abolition question, and as a proof that they were desirous for abolition, ho said Messrs. May and Bucklaud would be found voting with the Government.

Mr. Rees addressed the meeting for two hours in the same direction as did Mr. Lusk. Mr. Rees met with numerous interruptions from his opponents, and had some difficulty in obtaining a hearing towards the close of his address. He counselled strongly delay, and a study of the terms of the Act by those who had not yet read it.

Mr. Dargavillk made a speech of nearly an hour iu duration also, during which he designated the arguments of the l'rovincialist party as claptrap, and the speeches of his learned friends, Messrs. Rees and Lusk, as special pleading and not common sense argument. He accused Sir George Grey of failing to raise any objection to the land fund of Canterbury and Otago being retained by those provinces, on the ground of interested motives, the understanding with those provinces being, that they should assist him to carry crut his pet ideas. Mr. Header Wood he also accused of being guilty, as assisting in this scheme, which he designated as most traitorous conduct. Though he liked Sir George as a man, and admired him for his disinterested conduct, his political views he deemed to be most dangerous, and as sure to be fraught with mischiof to any constituency which ho might represeat. The present bill, he thought, was as near perfection as it could possibly be matte under the circumstances. He concluded by asking Papakura 1 to give an impartial decision against the resolution.

Dr. Bodle thought the passage of the bill should be delayed till a new Parliament was elected. He thought tbo new-cliums, who had some stake in the future of the colony, should be allowed a voice in the matter.

Mr. Hamlin -was warmly in favour of Abolition, in the general acceptation of the term, but was opposed to the present bill, as being a delusion and a snare, and as an aggravation of the Provincial system of government. He accused Mr. Dargaville of making deliberate mis-statements, with the object of hoodwinking the meeting. [A statement which brought from Mr. Dargaville a remark that he returned the compliment, and that Mr. Hamlin dared not to say what he had said outside. Considerable interruption occurred, and a discussion afterwards eusned upon the meaning of "the Governor," as printed in the bill. The speaker pointed out, in reference to the question of the land fund, that the Act distinctly defined the position of that.]

Mr. Woodward gave his opinion that ] Provincialism was dead, and created much amusement by recording a vision he had after reading the warlike article in the Slur. Mr. Goodfellow thought the provinces should be abolished at once. If not, he would ask, were they prepared to submit to special taxation for the carrying 011 of Provincial Governments? They wanted a uniform system of laws and taxation. He cordially supported the bill as far as is went. Mr. Ckawkoi-.I) thought it was high time Provincial Institutions were swept away. Mr. Bodle then proposed the following ■ resolution, " That, iu the opinion of this meeting, the Abolition Bill now before the Assembly should not become law until the coustitucucies have had an opportunity of electing a new Parliament. Mr. Lindsay seconded the resolution. Mr. Cossey spoke to the amendment. Mr. Wilson replied briefly to the arguments, and stated that his opinion had in no way been altered by the discussion, The amendment was then put, when 13 hands appeared for the amendment, and 7 for the resolution. The amendment was declared carried, and the usual vote of thanks to the chair was followed by three cheers for Sir George Grey.