MR. J. D. OSMOND BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 6062, 22 April 1881, Page 5

MR. J. D. OSMOND BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

» LBY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Waipawa, Thursday. Mr. J. D. Ormosd, M.H.R., addressed a meeting of his constituents in the Town Hall this evening. There was a moderate attendance. Mr. Rechab Harding was appointed Chairman. Mr. Ormond commenced his speech by saying that he postponed meeting his constituents earlier because he expected the Premier or some other Minister would have t?iven some indication of the future policy of the Government. However, the only speech made was by Major Atkinson, which was mainly confined to a lengthy discussion of the property tax and of the future policy. He gave little indication of the future policy of the Government. Several unimportant Bills were indicated, which was all that was named as likely to bo introduced in the coming session. The one idea apparently was that Parliament should devote the chief part of its time in putting the finances of the colony on a sound basis. Referring to the last session, Mr. Ormond said it was a session in which a vast number of Bills were introduced, but little practical work was done. This was accountable for in several ways. Mr. Hall was capable of a large amount of work. Ha might be said to be composed of Blue Books and statistics. He expected every one to exhibit the same ' capacity for work. This was the cause of such a flood of Bills, most of which could not possibly pass. There were several measures of a non-political character, auch as the Fencing Bill and Impounding Bill, affecting large interests, and o£ the greatest importance; but they could not be passed, because the Bill which would suit Canterbury would not suit Auckland, or the requirements of Hawke's Bay bush settlements. This caused great difference of opinion, leading to lengthy discussions. However Parliament might ' devote itself to these subjects, it could not deal with them so well as the old Provincial Councils, where each community, knowing its peculiar requirements, framed measures suited to those . requirements. There, was another reason for the waste of time in Parliameut. All local measures, however unimportant, had to pass throngh Parliament. An alteration in the constitution of the Domain Board in Otago, for instauce, would require a special Act of Parliament. Otago members would fight for the. whole evening over the Bill, themore important questions going to the wall. Thus we had grown into the fashion of relegating to Royal Commissions work properly belonging to Parliament. The incon-. venieuco of the present system was thus strikingly shown. Last session the Ministry selected a numbor of public men to act on these Commissions, and thus it came about that, often having seats in the House, they became in a similar position to Ministers, replying to questions which should properly bu put to Ministers. If this practice of relegating everything to Commissions were continued it would strike a. blow at constitutional Government. Three of those Commissions reported last session on the West Coast railway, and the Civil Service. He ha-1 no wish to undervalue the work done by them. He admitted that good resulted, though he did not agree with everything they recommended ;: but all of them, especially the Railway Commission, had practically . assumed functions, which should be performed by Ministers. Referring to the Judicature Commission, he said it was. one which was much needed. The Commissioners had not repotted yet, but something, of their probable" recommendations had leaked out through the columns of . the Press. They would all'agree with him in thinking that the question was one of the utmost public importance. It weuld ; be understood that the Commission was composed of some of the leading lawyers, judges, and .one or two laymen. The Government did a great public sei-vico in appointing the Commission. The object of the appoiutment was to inquire into the manner in which the business of the higher Courts was conducted, .and make such recommendations as to, obtain a simplification of the procedure, and get rid of technicalities. In his opinion, nothing more was required than to reform the practice of the Courts. The plaintiffs had often a great deal of right on their side, but often absolutely failed to get justice through some technicality in form. That state of things caused great grievance to the country, and if the Commission helped to simplify the Court, it would confer : a : .great benefit. He would almost go the length of thinking that, with the present forms of the Courts, justice was difficult to get, especially when people had insufficient money to obtain it. He looked with great hope to the results of the Commission. The subject was firstdrawn attention toby the legal profession through Mr.Trayers, he believed, by criticising. in a rather free manner his brethren. The profession were not to blame for the present state of things, which was the fault of the system. He did not know how it became public, as the report was not published. But it seemed it had been stated that'we are to be indebted to the legal profession for any likely changes, and that the Judges are opposed to them. This was to be regretted, as the Judges should lead the way in reform. He hoped that when the report came it would be found not to be j so. Attention should .'also be given to the. lower Courts, so as to allow justice to , be more readily obtained. There was just as much ground for complaint there a3 in the higher Courts. They should be able to obtain direct justice there without the possi- | bility of the plaintiff failing through a technicality or a legal point. He could not take up a newspaper without reading of some case in the Magistrate's Court being so dismissed. These tilings should not be allowed to interfere with justice. ■ This question was well worthy the attention of every representative. The speaker next referred to some events of lastsession. Onequestion prominently brought forward was the charitable aid in maintenanceof hospitals. Major Atkinson had also indicated among his subjects one which would be legislated upon next session. It was one of great importance. The Government proposal was to raise money by vote, and in the end, though not just at first, the ratepayers would have to control the funds. Many of the members urged that it would be a great reproach to a young colony to impose a poor rate. We could not shut our eyes to the fact that there were poor and sick amongst U3 who must be provided for.' Ho did not think that these should be left to be relieved by charity. They had a right to demand relief, and sentimental feeling about a poor law should be pul; on one side. He therefore thoroughly agreed with the Government. Mr. Stevens introduced a Bill, which received partial support from the Government, proposing to set apart reserves of waste lands to supplement the wants here, and he thought this proposal was worthy of consideration. The next point touched on was the financial measures of the Government. It was to him a matter of the I greatest possible regret that he felt com- ' pelled to differ from those who were his political and private friends, but ho felt compelled to state those differences, some of which still existed. The Treasurer brought down an amendment 'of tin! - Property Tax, with an explanation that he and his colleagues believed that the tax was unpopular. The speaker believed so too, and he was still opposed to it as from the first. Major Atkinson proposed certain exemptions, which he thought would assist to make it popular. He proposed to exempt

personal property, which meant furniture, books, and other things specified, but it was soon seen that such exemptions were in favour of the wealthy classes. He did not know if tho Government had sufficiently considered the measure of the exemptions of different kinds that were proposed. From all aides of the House were made efforts to keep taxation from . those whom each member represented, whicli i if complied with would have robbed the Bill ■ of its principal features, and leave it without I any inside. Though the Bill' was one of policy, it was yet put off from day to day, and nothing was done to it till near the end of the session. He considered the beer tax a very fair tax, and supported the 3d because it was not so likely to affect the consumer as the Gd one. He briefly referred to some of the Bills giving small additions to the revenue. The most important policy Bill brought down by Government was the Local Public Works Bill in the early part of the session. The subsidies to the local bodies were discontinued and this Bill was introduced to meet the requirements of the out-lying districts. The subsidies and the 20 per cent, of the land fund were rerepealed, and the Bill proposed to make provision instead thereof. It proposed in the first place to double the rating power of local bodies, and instead of a shilling they would be allowed to levy two shillings in the pound in the future. The borrowing power was also . alteredj and the local bodies allowed to borrow money at any rate of interesf they could get. The assistance Government proposed to give was, that the Crown lands should be allowed to be rated, but they were to be rated at a fixed sum, but not in the proportion borne by the settlers' laud. Also it was proposed to allow local bodies to tax native lands, with this peculiarity, that although the lands were to be taxed, the money was to come out of the revenue which the settlers provided. It was held that the native 3 were not in a position to have taxation enforced upon them. They were to be taxed, however, where they held lands in boroughs, but the product of that would be infinitesimal, as the natives held very little lands in boroughs ; and, in addition to these provisions of the Government, some were provided for. Out of the proceeds of the land sales a sum, not to exceed £50,000, was to be set aside and made a fund, out of: which the rates on Crown and Maori lands were to be paid. It was also proposed to establish a fund by loans, out of which local bodies could borrow money for bridges or roads, repaying the same in payments extending over a number of years. When the. Bill was brought down he expressed his dissent from its principal feature.' He disagreed with the mode proposed of paying the taxes imposed on native lands. As to the £150,100 mentioned as to be got from the waste lands, he remarked that it was to be administered by a Board in Wellington under certain regulations. The measure was not received with favour by any portion of the House, and although one of the principal measures of the Government, if not the jnain one, the Bill never came on.;for actual consideration. When the Government found the provision they had proposed was not: satisfactory, the Bill was practically dropped, but not till the Government found out that the opinion of their own supporters was against it. It was the largest financial measure the Government' brought down. It was lost sight of, and no provision had as yet been made for the future of the local bodies. The only other important point about the financial proposals of the Government was economy in the public, expenditure. The estimates submitted were he thought extravagant and excessive, and ho did not hesitate to say so. ■ He found that the great bulk o£ the party, would not take any prominent part in remonstrating . with. the Government, as Sir George Grey had a motion condemning the financial proposals amounting to a want-' of-confidence motion, which, if passed, would have caused the Governor' to have sent for the Premier. But he felt it his duty to insist upon greater reductions, and in tins he was supported by Mr. Saundere and Mr..Reader Wood. The Ministry proposed to effect a saving of £50,000. He told them they could' save, another ..£200,000. For this -he:was severely condemned by the Premier, Mr. George McLean, and others, who declared it was impossible. The justification for his belief was found in Major Atkinson's speech, when he stated that a saving of £252,000 had been effected. He (Mr. Ormoud) believed, it. was possible to make still further reductions by combining offices in sucli towns as Napier, leaving the efficiency of the service unimpaired. The Government had recently sent down, Messrs. Seed and Batkin to report on this matter, but he did not expect much from the two heads,of department, who -n ere not the most likely men to recommend sweeping reforms. Looking back, he did not in any way regret the course he had taken in conjunction with Air. Saunders and Mr. Wood, which he believed made reduction ■ possible, but he disagreed with . the indiscriminate reductions of 10 per . cent., which seemed to him calculated to. get rid of the best men, leaving the worst in office. He next spoke of the native policy of. Mr. Bryce with some parts of which he agreed, and the other parts he disagreed with., The Bill pro-' posing to stop all sales of native land except through the Waste Lands Board, he believed would have put a stop : to settlement. His view was that the greatest possible facilities should be given for the acquirement by Europeans of native lands, so that they might be brought into cultivation, and made to bear their share of taxation as well as increasing the productive power of the colony. At present some eleven million acres in the North Island were absolutely idle, and contributed j nothing to the burdens of the country. Then I he disagreed with the action of Mr, Bryce, in his apparent wholesale abandonment of the liens of the Government on lands. When he (Mr. Ormond) for a time, during the illness of Sir Donald McLean, had the control of the Land Purchase Department, he found large areas on which Government advances had been made. These he and his colleagues carefully divided into classes. The first was of lauds of which the greater part of this purchase money had been paid, and which were convenient for settlement. These they proposed to stick to. Tho second consisted of lands in impracticable places, which were left for future dealing. The third land was that of . which only a small part of the purchase money had peon paid, or was unavailable for settlement. He thought Mr. Bryce should have followed a similar plan, instead of throwing over large areas, fairly belonging to the people. But he was thoroughly at home with the Ministers in their dealings with the West Coast question up to a certain point, and that point was, when the letter was sent to Te Whiti, by the advice of Ministers, asking the prophet to meet the Governor. Ho thought that was impolitic. It was additionally unfortunate that the letter should have been sent to him by an officer of the Imperial army. He (Mr. Ormond) knew that these had created in the minds of the Maoris a belief that there was power behind, and more powerful and apprehepsive than the Government of the colony. I After referring to the result in somewhat sarcastic terms, Mr. Ormond went on to deal with Mr, Bryce's proposal to take a force to arrest Hiroki and Te Whiti if the latter had sheltered McLean's murderer. He said he would have heartily supported the proposal, which was a fitting conclusion to the i previous action on the West Coast, had not

the Governor's letter to Te Whiti been previously sent. He did not believe that there would have been any risk of war, and he claimed to know something of the matter. But it would have taught Te Whiti's deluded followers that the law was more powerful than he was, and put an end to tile fanaticism he inspired. But after the Governor had treated the prophet as almost a separate power, and sent an officer armed with almost the authority of an ambassador, it would not do to resort at once to force. It would have been equal to a breach of etiquette on the part of the colony. He then proceeded to speak of the future of the colony and the proposed legislation. He said that, judging from Major Atkinson's speech, next session was to he a very brief one, and Parliament would be confined to dealing with the distribution of seats, charitable aid, and the licensing question, if Ministers had their own way. Then there was to be a period of political rest, a phrase which Major Atkinson had once used before. These matters all required dealing with, but there were also others of even more importance than they. He read that the redistribution of sets was necessary, and thought that a too rigid adherence to a population basis would give undue power to town populations. Other things than mere populations should be taken into account, and he had reason to believe that the Bill which Ministers would propose would take precedence of these other matters. He did not think Ministers would be strong enough to carry their Bills. They were not strong enough to carry the policy Bills of last session, and he did not think they were stronger now. He anticipated that the Bill would have to be referred to a committee chosen from the House, and in that way a difficulty might be got over. Coming to taxation, he strongly condemned the property tax, as calculated to press too heavily upon improving settlers, and to drive capital from the colony. Major Atkinson's speech was chiefly a. laboured defence of the property tax. At New Plymouth, he argued that the tax did not press upon improvements, inasmuch as if a man had £100 in ths bank, he was taxed on that, but only on £80 if put into improvements. He did not understand how this came about, unless people in Taranaki were ia the habit of spending £100 or £80 worth of improvement. Major Atkinson had great faith in the simplicity of the audience he was addressing, to make such a statement. Sir George Grey had never heard the last of the claims of Mr. Hall's constituents and country bumpkins. He would not risk a similar cry, but would content himself with saying, that a Taranaki audience must be very simple indeed, if they did not see through the statements of Major Atkinson. He knew very, well that money spent in improvements did not as a rule come from the bank. It was generally capital brought into the country for the distinct and special purpose of improvement. At the present time there was an unprecedented over-abundance of capital seeking investment. This was a bad sign, as it showed that a serious check had been given to improvement. For years he had argued that an income tax was the fairest possible form , of direct taxation. There were only two arguments adduced against an income tax. The first was that it would not produce j enough, and the only method of estimating what the tax would produce, was through the officers of the Colonial Department. Their estimate of the result of the property tax had been wonderfully close. Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Ballance, when in power, caused estimates to be pre- | pared for an income tax which might be presumed to be equally correct.' Mr. Whitaker told him that the estimate showed that a larger amount than that realised by the property tax could be got with an income tax, which was not so oppressive as a property tax. This-was due to the iucome tax catching men not touched by the property tax. The argument was that those who possessed incomes only contributed their share o£ taxation through the Customs. Did not those whose- incomes were derived from property pay equally through the Customs? The only difference was that the latter had to pay direct taxes in addition. He supposed that those who used this argument must really think there was. something in it, but he never could see any force in it. Recently the property tax had been lengthily discussed in the local papers. The' arguments of the supporters of the property tax would have set him against it if he had before believed in it. Any of those who supported the income tax also advocated the land tax in addition. He did not agree with this, but he would sooner see on income tax and property tax, excepting improvements than the present property tax, as he believed it would be better for the colony.. The land, he agreed, should bear special burdens, but he thought that in the near future the land would have to bear the greater, part of the cost of the educational system, and all the burden of the local works. In the withdrawal of the subsidies he next came to deal with the railways. Last session he proposed with regard to railways, which had been much misrepresented, that it was said that he advocated the sale of the railways. What he said was, that if it were necessary to impose another property tax, as would have been the case if the quarter of a million' in the reduction of expenditure had not been made, it might, perhaps, be better to sell the railways, or large tracts of purely pastoral laud. . He never .advocated it; he only said it might be necessary to consider whether something in that way would hot be wise. He even went so far as to carefully say that he had not made up his own mind on the proposal, though he had devoted much attention to it. He did liot think the railways were being worked to the best advantage. No one could pick up Southern papers without seeing that the greatest possible discontent existed, and a large amount of traffic was being diverted from the railways,' especially for short distances. There was a disinclination to grant any facilities to the public. This was well shown in the matter of tho sidings. For instance, Mr. Firth, Ormondville, had asked him to get a siding there, as lie (Mr. Firth) had baen unsuccessful. This was backed by a petition from the Ormandville. settlers. . He interviewed Mr. Oliver, and finally overcame the red-tapcism of the department. A siding was erected, and now it afforded more timber traffic' than all the rest of the line put together. This was not the way to make the railways a commercial success. Coming to the construction, he said he was satisfied with stopping absolutely all work on the main lines, as was now practically the case. Lines, especially those in the North Island, which led to nowhere, must be continued to make them pay. The Hawkes' Bay line, for instance, was cut to Tahrite, 13 miles further. The stock necessary to work the extension as well as the rails were here, but all the vork was suspended. Only the formation was required to be done, and if this section were completed it would tap a most extensive tract of the best quality of totara forest in New Zealand, worth more than all the other totara forests combined. It would give a very large traffic. He complained that the promise given to him about the employment of bush settlers on the extension of the line had not been fulfilled. He obtained the promise that instead of the work being offered to the unemployed, as in the South Island, the contrasts should be let to small parties of resident settlers, who could have worked part of their time improving their own selections, and the remainder on the line. But nothing

of this sort had been done. Settlers -were in a state of poverty. It -was agreed that it would not do for the colony to borrow more money to] continue these lines, Jbnt he thought English capitalists might be induced to do so if favourable conditions were offered. They might lease the present lines under proper condi- i tions as to maximum rates to be charged ! and every care being taken to prevent the interests of the colony beiug injured. If there were any difficulty as to the profits it might perhaps be got over by the colony guaranteeing a mutual dividend for a fixed period of years, as provided for in other cases by the Districts Railways Bill, or grants of lands along the line might be made under conditions providing for the prompt settlement of such land. He had thought f much about tho question, and threw out f those suggestions as possible solutions of a I grave difficulty. The development of the country could never be allowed to stand still. We should make every endeavour to induce capital to come to the colocy, so that another filip might be given to our onward progress, and he believed that if reasonable offers were made English capitalists might be induced to complete the unfinished lines of the North Island, the line to connect the east and west coasts of the South Island, the Wellington West Coast line, and the Napier-Wellington line, as well as the Otago Central Railway, and otkers which might give a reasonable promise of paying. He then spoke of making provision for local roads, and the settlement of the country. The subsidies and the 20 per cent, of the land fund, upon which the local bodies had so much depended, hid been taken away, and loft them very little. The Bill to which he had referred had not become law, nor was it likely to, and thus absolutely no provision was made. The two forms of local bodies, counties and Road Boards, were engaged in exactly the same work, their functions being little else than roadmaking, and assisting charitable aid. Their duties ceased when the subsidies ceased. They had barely enough to subsist on. With., the rates they could raise, the country would soon find they could not afford to waste the governing power by having two bodies to do the same work. He believed that Road Boards ■ would eventually have the charge of the roads. Major Atkinson proposed to distribute funds to the local bodies by an official Board at Wellington, but that would not be satisfactory, as the Board could not have sufficient kuowledge of local wants. There was general dissatisfaction with the want of local government last session. He spoke from the conclusion he had come to on this subject. He had helped to work the abolition of provinces, and still thought that, to a certain extent, the extravagauoy and grab-all policy of eome of the provinces justified it, but he now thought that in working abolition they made a great mistake. They ought to have amended the then existing system so as to make it more full, instead of abolishing it. He believed that they would have to revert to a similar system, but modified. There were many subjects which could be well handed over to local Boards of . Works. To such Boards might be entrusted the waste lands administration and the charge of charitable funds.' I The settlement of the country would also have to be carried out under local authority.. He believed this matter would soon become one of the leading questitns in the colony. It was daily mor.e and. more enforcing itself on- the attention of the people. It was a matter of great grief and disappointment to him to find himself at a difference with the Government on any important points. He believed the question of the railways, and local government, and establishment 'of Boards of Works would be forced on the attention of the Government. He believed tho present Government to be men of sterling character, and. actuated by patriotic motives throughout, and working for the interests of the colony. He disapproved of the tone of a section of the Press, who, finding themselves at variance with the Government, attributed to them motives for whatever they did. He did not believe they had or would be guilty of, and woiildnot bind themselves to, any act of impropriety. -The time had not come when Major Atkinson could get his period of political rest, and he would not get it till tho important matters he had spoken of were dealt with: 'Parliament expired.in February, and it met about June. As the House was at present constituted, the Government were < not able to pass any large measures last ■: session, ■ nor would it be able to do so the ' next session; The property tax had been introduced without the people being able to ' express an opinion. The House should next : session entirely confine itself to passing the Redistribution of Representation Bill and granting the necessary supplies. It should then dissolve and let the people express ■ their opinions. He should advocate that course. The colony had a right to express its opinion. . Mr. Ormond finished amid continued applause. - In reply to questions Mr. Ormond said he could not explain why the Hawke's Bay. Education Board had not obtained its fair share of the grant. He was sorry it had not got it. He thought the difficulty of too high a price being put on the waste lands would be very well met if his proposal that the waste lands should be handed over to a , local Board of Works was adopted, in such as the Board would have a guarantee that the feeling of the people waslieing carried out. Ho would favour the forcing of the natives to pay rates on thoir lands where possible. In some cases they could not do so, but where tho district was settled, and they lived with Europeans, they should be made to do so. Mr. Ben Johnson moved a vote of thanks for the address, and a vote of confidence for his services. ■ This was seconded by Mr. Stanxy, and carried. A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the meeting.