PRESSIONAL SPEECHES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8283, 16 June 1890, Page 6

PRESSIONAL SPEECHES.

SIR -G. M. O'RORKE AT ONEHUNGA. Sib 6. M. OTlobkb, Speaker©! the House of Assembly, and MJFLR. for Manukou, addressed a meeting of his constituents at the Publie Hall, Onehunga, on Saturday night. There was a good attendance, and Captain Yates, Mayor of Onehunga, presided. The Chairman said, in hi& introductory remarks, that Sir M. O'Eorke had now been their member for thirty years, and they must admit that he had done all he could for the district. Had it not been for him, that objectionable by-law introduced by the Railway Commissioners, prohibiting traffic on the wharf, would not have been removed ; for that they owed him a debt of gratitude. Sir G. M, O'Robkj:, on rising, was received with applause. He said it had been his custom for many years, before going to his Parliamentary duties, to have an interview with the mayor and councillors of the Borough of Onehunga, to ascertain whether there were any measures in the interest of the borough which they thought it desirable ho should promote. On this occasion it was not their intention to ask Parliament for any measures in the interests of the town, and ho (Sir G. M. O'Rorke) seeing the way in which certain measures promoted by the townspeople of Onehunga had been treated, approved of the course adopted by the Council of not asking anything from the present Parliament, and to wait until there was a reformed Parliament. It was but right that he should explain his reasons for making those remarks.

AUCKLAND MEMBERS AND ONEHCNGA BILLS. Onehunga required but little assistance from Parliament, but when they did him the honour to elecb him three years ago two matters wero entrusted to him. One of these was a Bill for the introduction of a water supply, and the other was that suitable provision might be made for the interment of the dead. No two measures were more simple in them nature, and more necessary, and but for the inisrepresentatives of a city not many miles distant from Onehunga they would have been passed. These city representatives, instead of supporting the measures for the benefit of Onehunga, banded themselves together to oppose them. The senior member for the city, and another Auckland member first raised objections, and the member for Ponsonby, an ex-Mayor of Auckland, went to their side. The measures were such as he at least, as as exMayor, should have forwarded, but the central figure assured Parliament that in laying out the town of Onehunga the springs were reserved for a water supply for Auckland. The member for City North chimed in, and the ex-Mayor of Auckland, who ought to have come to the front, and supported such a measure in the interests of the inhabitants of the town, proposed an amendment that Onehunga should only get a proportionate share of the water, and that the rest should be reserved for Auckland, and that for every gallon Onehunga got, Auckland should get ten. Mr. Peacock proposed that amendment, and when it was rejected, not at all abashed, he said that Onehunga might dam the springs, erect pumping plant, etc., but that Epsom, Onetret; Hill, and other districts might also come down with their machinery and then pump away. These were the two propositions brought down by the ex-Mayor of Auckland for the purpose of promoting a water supply for Onehunga. (Laughter.) On that occasion aleo he (Sir G. M. O'Rorke) had to bring forward a motion which should have enlisted the sympathies of all, as it was on the solemn subject of providing for the burial of the j dead. Seeing that the law was an obstacle to opening as a burial ground the reserve set apart for that purpose some nine years ago, and from which the borough was deriving a revenue, all they asked was that they might be allowed to borrow £1000 on the reserve in order that they might purchase another site for a cemetery outside the borough, which would be for the benefit not only of Onehunga but the surrounding districts. To this the same opposition was shown by the Auckland members, but the House would not tolerate it, and the Bill was passed. In the Legislative Council it was also opposed by one member, whose special mission it seemed to be to watch that no benefit should be derived by Onehunga or anything done in its interests. Last year tho Borough Council adopted another course, and a measure was submitted to him whereby the promise of a cemetery at easy distance should be fulfilled. But these same Auckland members, although without the support of the member for Ponsonby, all at once were up in arms to oppose it, and venerable members might be seen rushing about for Mr. Seddon and others to protract the debate and talk the Bill out. Mr. Seddon, however, refused to put his hand to the work, and Mr. Thompson, the member for City North, had to take up the stonewalling. These were tho tactics adopted by the Auckland members on such a solemn subject as that of obtaining a place in which to bury the dead, and they talked against time for two hours, until the time came for other Bills to be considered. He would dwell no more on the factious opposition shown to the interests of Onehunga, but this justified the mayor and councillors of Onehunga in not asking anything from the Parliament as at present constituted. THE REPRESENTATION BILL. He would not dwell on the opposition shown to the Representation Bill, which was kept going till near the Sabbath morning. The matter was one which did concern them much here, and he received no telegrams from his constituents on the subject. It was really a contest between the large towns and country, and it was finally settled by a concession being made to the country. THE EXTENDED ELECTORATE. It would be time enough to explain by-and-by the position they were placed in by the alterations in the boundaries of tho electorates. They were now joined with Otahuhu and Mangere, and the Manukau electorate extended nearly to Papakura ; but by-and-by, after the dissolution, would be a more convenient opportunity of refering to this matter. THE OBJECTIONABLE WHARF BY-LAW. The Mayor had alluded to the objectionable wharf regulations. He (the speaker) was about to leave for Dunedin to attend the University Senate when he was told of it, and he thought it an act of tyranny on the part of irresponsible commissioners to interfere with the vested rights of tho town. He was embarrassed as to whether he should wait or proceed, but he pressed on to Wellington and waited on the Minister of Public Works. He did not wait on the Commissioners, who were then in Wellington, for he did not expect justice or the semblance of justice from them. He knew Mr. Maxwell well enough not to wait on him, but he was glad to see that the mayor and council of Onehunga had an opportunity of i waiting on Mr. McKerrow, the Chief Commissioner, in Auckland. He knew that gentleman well, and wished lie was in bettor company than that of Mi. Maxwell and his other colleague. (Cheers.) He watched the matter carefully, and felt a tingle of pleasure in Dunedin when he heard that Mr. Nelson, of this town, was prepared to head a procession to protest against the wrong inflicted on the town. He was glad to see the matter peaceably settled, for it looked as if it was the intention of the Commissioners to provoke a a breach of the peace, and although glad ib was settled, if he had been present he would have been inclined to support Mr. Nelson. (Cheers.) RAILWAY MATTERS. Referring to the rumour of a railway strike, he said it was not for him to say a word which would precipitate such a course. He read of strikes with great pain, for they raised to his mind thoughts of the troubles which they brought, nob only to those engaged in them bub the troubles and afflictions which they brought on their families ; but while he read of them with an aching heart, still a man's manhood made him impose on himself and his family temporary hardships for future benefit. It was gratifying to notice that the greatest and highest people all the world over recognised that the welfare of the great mass of the people depended on the settlement of this question, and he thought it would be a good day for the world when labour and capital met to fix the times and terms of labour. He had no desire, a 8 some had done, to pose as the friend of the working man. When he heard such claptrap spoken he thought ib 1 his duty to huasclf. that be should be

judged by his acts not by lip homage uttered for gain. (Cheers.) PROTECTION* When lie was elected threeyeare ago the question in which be took a deep interest was the protection of the young industries of the colony. (Cheers.) He felt then as he felt now that the utmost protection should be given to the young interests and industries of this country. lb might be said that protection was now granted, but although the number of freetraders was lessened they were not without hope of throwing New Zealand ports open to the world. They had studied tlie question in the light of Bright and Cobden; but they would not look at the sixty millions of English-speaking people in the United States, who were not to be cajoled out of their policy of protection, which had made of them onoof tho greatest nations on the earth, nor would they even cast their eyes on the neighbouring colony of Victoria. They said, look at England. It was trne that for 45 years freetrade had prevailed in England, but for centuries before that, it was one of the most protective countries in the world. She built up her great industries under that policy, and if it took England four centimes to do this, he thought New Zealand might cling yet to protection before throwing open their porta to foreign competition with the industries of the colony. It was said that Protection gave rise to monopoly, but it was outside monopoly which it broke down. He would be a party to Freetrade betweou this country and the neighbouring colonies. FEDERATION. They knew of the Conference which had taken place in regard to the Federation of the colonies. New Zealand had sent two delegates to that Conference to represent them. One of these was Sir John Hall, a gentleman who was a strong Protectionist, and deeply interested in the welfare of the country, and he had as his colleague Captain Russell, a gentleman whose military experience enabled him to understand the advantages of Federation for defence purposes. He had read the speeclies of those gentlemen, and he had to confess that they did not come up to bis expectations. They seemed to be bound by their instructions, and were in the position of having to say to the great colonies of Australia, " Lot you try Federation. Wo would smile if you succeed ; wo will frown if you fail." He hoped this colony would grasp at Federation, feel that they were of the same race as other colonies, and that they should not stand aloof from what was necessary to consolidate a great empire in these seas. It might be said that the delegates were not empowered to commit the colony, but they were not asked to do so— they were asked to send delegates to discuss the scheme of Federation, and no colony was bound to accept it without tho consent of the people spoken by their representatives in Parliament. He supposed the matter would be discussed in Wellington, but it would be a question for the people, and he thought they should not stand by sulky, but regard Australia as of one race with themselves, and recognise that an alliance such as was proffered to them should not bo set lightly aside. They could enter into it on their own terms, and if they did not they might find the markets of Australia closed against them. These were all circumstances which he hoped would weight with the electors when the time came for them to choose their representatives. If they felt, as he felt, that, this country was labouriug under a difficulty, and that they should enter into an alliance with their kinsmen across the water, they should send representatives to give that desired effect. (Cheers). CONCLUSION. With these remarks he would now leave them. He would be absent probably a month or six weeks, and then they would meet to decide in tho interests of the town what would be best under the altered circumstances. He thanked them heartily for attending on such a night to hear him, and the references he made to the altered circumstances of the colony. (Cheers.) THANKS AND CONFIDENCE. Mr. J. D. Jackson, in moving a vote of thanks and confidence in Sir G. M. O'Rorke, sudd that be had faithfully and energetically served them as their representative for thirty years. From what he had said that night, they must feel that his natural force was not abated, and that ho would make a vigorous member for the enlarged district for the greater portion of 30 years to come. (Cheers.) Sir Maurice had often to fight, but he was always victorious, and their vote that night would show their confidence in him, and their desire that he should be the representative of the district in its enlarged condition. (Cheers.) Mr. Shaldrick seconded the motion, and it was carried unanimously. Sir G. M. O'Rorke thanked the residents of Onehunga for this renewed expression of their confidence in him, and hoped he would continue to deserve it, but whatever might be tho fate of the next election, nothing would ever obliterate from his memory the many acts of kindness ho had received from the good people of Onehunga. He proposed a hearty vote of thanks to thenMayor, Captain Yates, for presiding, and this being carried, the meeting terminated.

MR. CADMAN AT COROMANDEL. Mr. Cadman addressed his constituents in the Caledonian Hall on Saturday night. Although the weather was not very propitious there was a large number of persons present. Mr. C. H. Bennett was voted to the chair, Mr. Cadmak said a country representative was very much at a disadvantage compared with town constituencies, because he had so many places to go, and to travel 300 and 400 miles, while his speeches were not reported so fully as in town. Mr. Cadman reviewed the proceedings of last session, and urged reform in the Upper House. He thought we could do very well with one House, but the Upper House would never consent to their own dispatch. There were only two ways of doing itone was to let them die out, and the other was to swamp them with new members pledged to vote themselves out. Referring to the injustice of the Property Tax he drew attention to the fact that the Kapanga mine was assessed at £106,000, but the Board of Reviewers had reduced that to £17,000. The case of the Coromandel mine was even worse, for there they had got no gold yet, and have to pay about £100 a year for the privilege of sinking money, while in some mines on the Thames they have actually to make calls to pay the tax. This was simply a tax on industry, and enough to drive any foreign capital out of the country. He thought it would be far better to advertise that all mining property should be free until they gob gold. The Govern ment claimed to have made a great saving during their term, but they might have gone still further. He did not understand a marine engineer at £800 a year as retrenchment. Ho thought they could do very well without him. There were to be two extra native land judges, and Captain Russell had been added to the Ministry although it was said one less Minister would no if the House was smaller. We still have the Hinemoa and the Ministers' residences, although there was so much talk about selling them off. A great deal has been made of the expected surplus of £100,000, but a good deal of that was got by probate duties, and by paying a lower rate of interest than formerly. But we have to pay some £300,000 more interest than when the Government took office, for although they professed to bo against borrowing they had borrowed some two millions more and spent most of it. He thought the Miners' Union would be able, when they were properly organised, to deal with the tribute system. He thought owners of land who would not take 10 per cent, should be compelled to man their grouud. He thought every facility by way of protection should be granted to introduce capital, bub two or three years was too much. He would give them 12 months, and if at the end of that time they could show to the Warden reasonable grounds or by a certain lodgment of money, which would be forfeited if the enterprise failed, he would grant more time. There was a good deal of feeding about mine managers' certificates. Last session the examination papers were laid before the Goldfields Committee, and he was sure that no ordinary miner could pass them, and yet they might be good miners. He was of opinion that they should be graded like the teachers in schools, and Said accordingly, and no youngster should nave a certificate until he had served at least three or four years underground. He found the Kauri Timber Company were prepared to open their lands for mining at £2 per acre and five or six per cent, royalty. Well, if that was the value they pub upon their laud it become the duty of the valuers

to value it accordingly, and it was his (Mr. Cadman's) duty to see that it was done. Several questions were asked and answered, and at the conclusion a unanimous vote of. thanks and confidence was passed.