MR. F.J. MOSS, M.H.R., AT NEWMARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7004, 29 April 1884, Page 6

MR. F.J. MOSS, M.H.R., AT NEWMARKET.

Mb. P. 3v'"Mos3, M.H.R. for the'Parnell j district, addressed a meeting of the electors at the Newmarket Public Hall last night. J Xtie attendance at first was rather small, but it subsequently swelled up and made a good meeting. Amongst those present were Mr. i Speight, from the Thames, at>, elector from Waipa, and several from Auckland electorates. On the motion of Mr. W. J. Suites, Mr. P. G. Clayton was called to the ohair, and after a brief reference to the most important political questions before the public, especially the railway tariff, he introduced Mr, Moss, who was received with applause. Mr. Moss said that this was the first occasion on which a member for the district had called a meeting in NeTmarket. They had always been .called for the ParnellEaU, but the district had aomuch Increased in population and extent that it struck him that it would be deairable to held a meeting in Newmarket HalL He hoped this meeting wonld be the hrat of /a good many, when their representatives would address them. Proceeding to speak on political questions, he said it was extremely likely that there would be a dissolution soon. What was, it might be asked, the cause of all the politioal exoitement ? It was the deficit in the revenue. Had it not been for that they would have gone smoothly on in a fool's paradise. So long as they had plenty of loans and money there was a deadly apathy. They saw schools erected, railroads and roads constructed, &c. ; but now this was passing away, and keen activity, especially in the South, was the result. Referring to tho necessity for retrenchment, Mr. Moss said that railway tariff was the' first. The Government had no right to come on the people for their maintenance by taxation until they, had made every .effort to make the railways payable. He had been in opposition to the present Government since is came into existence, but the Canterbury members were supporters of that : Government .through thick and thin, and turned on them simply because the railway tariff was raised. Then, if a want of confidence was proposed, and Canterbury was with the Opposition, he asked what ought their member to do in the event of a vote of want of confidence being proposed when the Honse met I If he supported it he wonld simply bo made use of by the Canterbury members. The question of tariffs would never come before the House, and be said that unless the Opposition had a definite policy he could not support them or accept ths aid of the Canterbury members on suchaground. It was an open secret that forsome time pastastrong effort was being made to unite Canterbury and Otago, and with this view Mr. Macandrew nad "kept Mr. Montgomery to the front as leader of the Opposition against Sir George Grey. They were led to balieve that the North was existing on the South, and the North believed they were being robbed by the South. It was supposed that the abolition of provinces would have done away with provincial jealousies, but the contrary was the result. Then there was rivalry of a generous sort, but now there was a bitter fesling arising, which was far more dangerous to the colony than anything that arose out of provincialism. In regard to retrenchment, he 'believed very little wculd be done, and instanced the actions of the Stafford, the Grey, and the Atkinson Government. He alluded to Mr. Swanson'a motion to reduce the estimates by £50,000, bat Major Atkinson said it was impossible, and made it a Government question, and it was lost. To retrench, he (Mr. Mobs) recommended that they should strike at the root, and reduce the number.of representatives from 140 to 70, for without that they could not retrench. The obstacle would be the - fight over the Public Works expenditure, no district being willing to give "up its representation. After referring to the expensive artfl cumbrous departments, and how their places were to be supplied with funds, Mr. Moss said the reply was they were at present got out of loans, but when loans ceased to be raised, would, he asked, it not be more reasonable that they should laise their revenue j aad spend it? Out of this the question arose as to the strong possibility of a local government party arising, without which thecountry oould not bs properly governed. These were, he held, the only means of retrenchment. Mr. Moss then addressed himself to the question of the debt of the colony and taxation, and to the question of opposing borrowing in the present depressed times, which he thought would be a mistake. He then referred to the Public Works policy, and the increased debt of the oolony, recommending a return to local legislature till they were at the point where this great policy commenced. On the native land question he opposed the policy of the Government in macing wards of the natives, and instanced the Thermal Springs mistake. The objection to that was that large blocks fell into.the hands of private ■peculators, but that was the least objeotionable phase, for they must deal eveDtnally with those large purchasers if they stood in the way of the country. In regard to the outcry of bursting up large estates, Mr. Moss referred to the history of England for the last 500 years to show how the land had been monopolised. On the question of education Mr. Moss dwelt at some length, urging that it should be free, secular, and compulsory, and expressed a hops that in time to come the high sohools would be free to those passing the requisite examination. He obfeoted to the proposal to pay fees. He did not believe that an education was complete without religions education, but it was ntfcerly beyond the power of the State to deal with religious education. That should bo the duty of the clergy. He would not detain them by going over the ground he had traversed in Parnell, but thjsy might ask him if he was prepared to follow the Opposition as it existed. He had been attached to Sir George Grey's section of the Opposition for the last six years, and had acted consistently and faithfully, bnt in the session coming on he wonld ask them to leave his hands untied and free. No one knew what to expect, or what parties would be. The Opposition was disorganised, and more than ever disorganised by the action of the Canterbury. members. Then the Government was disorganised j and its members unable to get 3 vote of confidence" from their own constituents. He spoke strongly in commendation of Mr. Mitchelson, and concluded by saying that he asked them to leave him to take the course he might deem best, waiting to see what combinations might arise before be joined any party which might unite to carry on the business of the country on the principles whioh he had laid down. He hoped that when they -met again, which might be soon, he would be able-to give a good ,account of his conduct in the complications which would arise. (Cheers.)

Tn reply to questions, Mr. Moss said be was prepared to urge 'the Government to remove the Newmarket railway station to a more fitting place. He would urge the Government to provide a footbridge over the railway bridge at Kyber Pass Road, and the removal of the unsightly fence along the railway station. Mr. Moss also answered questions re dealings with squatters' lands in Canterbury. He would snpport aland tax instead of increasing Customs duties. He was in favour of triennial Parliaments, and payment of members at a fixed honorarium. This, he held, was one of the things that should be fixed by law. He would oppose any alteration in the present Licensing Act, and in reply to a question as to why persons in connection with the liquo'r trade were prohibited from sitting on the licensing benches, while those holding extreme temperance views were admitted, Mr. Moss said that in the one case the people were interested, and in the other people' were only upholding their opinions. It was for the electors to judge and see that people of extreme views were not the people to administer the Act. He was opposed to cumulative voting for the election of school oommittees and to all fanoy voting, and was in favour of manhood suffrage for licensing oommittees. Oil the motion of Mr. Hooo a vote of thanks and confidence was accorded to Mr. Mosb unanimously. Vi • In replying to. the yote'of confidence, Mr. MOSS drew, attention to, the necessity of all rigiutering thoinselvea as voters, and to the aJrrangementß Vfhioh 1 were made for that pnraoooi or — A vote of thank* to the 'Chairman terminated the proceedings.