MR. CROWTHER, M H.H., AT THE CITY HALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10132, 15 May 1896, Page 6

MR. CROWTHER, M H.H., AT THE CITY HALL.

Yhterdat evening, at the City Hall, Mr. W. Crowther, M.H.R., addressed the Auckland City electors. The weather was most unpropitious, and the attendance was therefore not as large as would otherwise have been the case. Still, the attendance was very good. The Mayor (Mr. J. J. Holland) presided, and amongst those preterit on the platform were Mess:*. C. E. Button and F. La wry, M.H.R.'s, Trenwith, Warren, Sticbburj, Higgins, Hodgson, Graves Aickin, J. McLachlan, etc. 'Some little delay occurred at the outset through Mr. Crowther having left books, etc., to which be d aired to refer, at home. The audience, however, kept in very good humour, and Mr. Crowther bad on the whole an excellent hearing. The Mayor briefly introduced the speaker of the evening.

MR. CROWTHER'S ADDRESS. Mr. Crowther, who was received with applause, apologised for having kept the meeting waiting on account of bis having come from home without his papers. After acknowledging the reception accorded to him, be said he did not expect to see such a large audience on a night of that sort. They could not, however, help the weather. Appearing as their representative, ho was desirous of giving the fullest information, without reservation, and to explain his action, and what were the probabilities for the future. The electors were well posted by the newspapers, by the departmental papers and Hansard, and it was their duty to watch what wasgoingon. Parliamentary life, he said, was not so easy as was supposed. The duties of members were so uncertain that, however anxious one might be to post himself on the whole surroundings, he could not possibly do so. Many and many a time be had wondered what satisfaction there could be, and what necessity there was for such a scramble-for Parliamentary life. That life was not divested altogether of self-interest—such had been his experience. A great many members sought the position for the promotion of gome object they had in view, an object which sometimes could not be accomplished in any other way. Following the records of past Parliaments as far as ho bad followed them, that had been very visible. He had been reading during the current week one of the planks in the platform of the National Association, that set forth that the Association was anxious to secure members who did nob enter Parliament for self interest. It was his experience that this was very seldom done.

A BRIEF REVIEW. Passing to political subjects, Mr. Crowther said be had been looking over the programme of subjects on which he would address his constituents. But when he had got to 23 or 24 he foaod be was bat at the very beginning. (Laughter.) It would be impossible, therefore, to deal with every subject; gome, however, be would touch on briefly. He intended first to deal with the question of party Government, or rather Executive v. Party Government. On this be had strong convictions, viz., that party Government as answerable for a great many of the sins committed by Parliament. It created a great loss of time and very seldom gave satisfaction to the majority of members. Then as to Bank legislation; there had been a Banks Bill in 1894, but the banking legislation of 1895 was in his estimation a very much more important measure. That being so he would devote a considerable amount of attention to that subject. Another point on which be would speak was that relating to local industries. Auckland, at any rate, was growing very vast in that respect, ana as an old citizen be was very proud of the position the city of his adoption was taking. (Applause and interruption consequent on the removal of a drunken man by the po'ice.) Proceeding, Mr. Crowther said he should also touch upon the matter of railways, and the Midland Railway arbitration. Then would come the question of loans conversion. Incidentally hero he said bo might mention that last session the Danedin Corporation had got a Bill passed in the House authorising them to convert their loans. But during the last few years money values had continuously been falling. (A voice ; "It did not come my way.") " Well," said Mr. Crowther, " money«is just like any other commodity; it travels where there is merit. (Laughter.) Merit and enterprise in a colony like this should never fail to find their fair share of money. (Applause.) Continuing, Mr. Crowther said the Dunedin corporation bad a very large Sinking Fund; they had about £150,000 sinking fund, and £600,000 loan. Their idea had been, if they could go to the market, get this loan converted, and liberate their sinking fund, they could do some very important works in their city, and that, generally speaking, that city would be benefited. While it might possibly bo that their debt might be increased by the conversion, they were quite witling to put up with that. But money bad got so much cheaper; 3 per cent, was now a good rate of interost for loans such as the colonies were seeking to secure. There was a vast amount of difference between going to the London market for a loan and to convert an existing loan. The Dunedin people found tbey could not satisfactorily convert, for they would have to» give £120 for every £100 they had to convert, because people bad to find equal security to replace the old loan. The Dunedin people had to abandon the idea, and were now going to Parliament next sosiion for power to borrow £50,000 instead. He mentioned these facts because Auckland was ono of the most important centres of the colony, and there wm a very strong impression, that it was to become more important every day—these things therefore were of interest.

" HONEST CONVICTIONS." Passing on, Mr. Crowther then referred briefly to tho colony's indebtedness, and said if time permitted he would speak on' prohibition. Whatever his opinions might be, he was honest in them. (Hear, hear.) He was not there that evening to say anything he did not believe on that question or on any other. Taking a brief glance at the land policy of the Government, he said he would go oh to deal with State fire insurance. That was a question which had beon taken up, apparently by the Government, for treatment during the next «es sion. Ib arose out of the fact that a conference of insurance companies bad been held last year in Melbourne, and the rates bad been raised. In bis (the speaker's) opinion, and he thought in the opinion of most other people, those rates had been raised too much at a jump. (Hear, hear.) If the companies had raised it a lesser sum for one year, and then raised it again the noxt, it would not have been so disagreeable. As ib was it all came at once. Several of his acquaintances had bad their rates raised from 7s 6d to 15s, and from So to 18s, which seemed altogether unfair. Wlftle the payers of rates were quite ready to pay the companies fair interest for their money, and for the risks run, the companies should consider the amount of money annually expended in the maintenance of fire brigades and other appliances necessary for tho purpose of putting out fires, thus saving the insurance companies' funds. If the Government, the municipalities, and insurance .companies would put their heads together, and settle tho mattor of bearing a proportion of risks and responsibilities, lie aid not think there would be any necessity for the State to talk about entering into the business of State fire insurance. (Hear, hear.) Ho thought the local bodies could manage it very much better, and much more economically. He had been a long time connected with the city and a great many of its institutions, and he believed the Auckland City Counci could manage fire insurance very much better than the State could, from Wellington. (Applause.) 'Educational matters, he went on, was an important branch. There was, too, the native land legislation. In 1.874 an Act was passed by which the natives could only sell to the Government, thus placing native owners who bad land and means in a position that they could not sell their property to pay their juib debts. Last session that Act was amended, and now it was provided that if a native tribe, or a native, had enough land left, he or they could sell the rest to Europeans, under certain restrictions. Then they came to the Asiatic Bill.'' That was a subject which had been dealt with by the Ladies' Conference. " (Laughter.) Now his opinion was that the Chinese were here to stay. (A Voice: "They are the.right dolour.") No, said Mr. Crowtber, they are not. (Applause.) They are a plodding, persevering |

people, and the penalty of £100 would not keep them oat. The fact was, that when they got to this colony they did so much better than they could in their own country that in a year a Chinaman could more than repay the £100, and then afterwards make £100 a year, and more. So that if they inflicted £100 penalty, or, as they tried last session, to make it £50, it' would not prevent the Chinese difficulty.

TEACHERS 1 COURT OF INQUIRY. The next question was the Teachers' Court of Inquiry. That, in his opinion', wa?»one of the best measares introduced last session, and alter what they had noticed during the last few days, they could not fail to see the necessity for such a measure. If the Board was to worry any teacher, they might make matters so disagreeable for him that be would throw up bis appointment in disgust. But now he could go to the Court of Appeal, composed of three impartial men, against any substantial grievance. The next subject to which he should refer wag the Family Home Protection Bill He was nob able to make up his mind whether it was a right Bill, although he voted for it. (Laughter and interruption.) Its object was to insure that a man's family should have an interest in his property. His (Mr. Crowther's) version was that a man should not be considered to have anything until he had paid his debts. (Applause.) The matter, however, had its bright side. A roan might expend all his means, although it had not been decided whether it was the best means of protecting worthy mothers and children. The more he (tho speaker) thought of it, the more he was in favour of the measure, for they had amongst them men—no, not men—(A Voice: " Brutes.")—who would turn their wives out of doors, and ill-treat and ill-mo their children, " No," be said, " they are not brutes. Lions and tigers protected their young, and can anyone claim to be a man who turned hie wife out of doors and ill-used his own children?" (Applause.) He (the speaker) was in favour of a Bill which would protect the' wives and children of worthless men. (Renewed applause.) The next question was prohibition; would it stop drinking ? He did not think so. There was no doubt the liquor traffic was responsible for much, but thero were other causes for many of the evils attributed to it.

GOVERNMENT BY PARTY. Mr. Crowther then proceeded to deal ' with the question of Executive Government as against Party Government. During the session there were 15 or 20 committees of tho House to do executive work, each committee consisting of ten members or more, bub three out of ten constituted a quorum. The chairman of each committee was nominated by the Government, and they might bo sure the Government was not going to nominate anyone who was not a strong supporter. That was why so many petitions wore not satisfactorily answered, or not answorod at all. Sometimes a member was on ten of those committees, and the chairman on each had a deliberative and casting vote. The committees made out recommendations, but if they did not meet the approval of the Government, no more was heard of them ; and in a great many instances they never were heard of at all, till the gentleman who presented the petition made inquiries retarding it, But as a rule be got no redress.

FRITTERING AWAY TIME. The proceedings of the House commenced at half-past two, with prayers, and then came the farce of asking and answering questions, which occupied the wholo of the afternoon. In few instances were these answers satisfactory. No system could be less fruitful of good results. He would give two or three instances. One question asked by Mr. G. W. Russell, and answered by the Premier, had been put from the 26th June to the 28th October. That question had been in reference to the treaties, the Bill for which came up tor the second reading. It had all been arranged and perfectly understood that the Bill was to be thrown out. But a gentleman from Canada was sitting behind the Speaker's chair, and something had to be done to pacify him. Consequently the Colonial Treasurer made a long speech in favour of the treaty ; after he had sat down not a single member spoke; tho division was called, and the treaties shut out. That was one of the modes of doing business in connection with party Government. Yet another instance : Mr. G. M. Smith asked a question with regard to old soldiers, and when he could not get a satisfactory answer moved the adjournment of the House, which wasted the whole afternoon. This, again, was attributable to party Government. Then as to the unsatisfactory method of answering questions. Ho (Mr. Crowther) himself had asked the Minister of Railways if he could see bis way so secure the services of Mr. S. Vaile, or other railway expert, bo as to lessen the loss of time, and strain upon Ministers, in answering questions. A week before there had been twenty questions on the order paper in one day, in reference to the management of the railways. In answering, Mr. Cad.nan said be could assure him (Mr. Crowther) "the strain was not very great." " Did he," asked Mr, Crowther, " give mo any information on the question I had just asked." (" No," and laughter.) The information elicited by questions, went on Mr. Crowther, was always evasive, and meant nothing. In the evening at 7.30 the galleries wort full; then if the Government could not get on with their work they said that such and such a member was talking to the gallery, and certainly there were members who would waive their opportunity to speak till the galleries were full. Passing on, Mr. Crowthor quoted other instances of waste of time, and, reading from Hansard, re marked, "Thatis the kind of stuff we have to listen to of an afternoon," and if answers were satisfactory they were not given offect to. For instance he had asked the Minister in the early days of the session what proportion of tho £25,000 allocated to the North Island Main Trunk Railway had been exponded, and would the Government make hasto to get the railway completed before the winter ? The l'remior replied to this that he could not, without transgressing the forms of the House, answer the question, but the rails hud arrived from England, that they would be laid and the other works gono on with. Could he (the speaker) tell from that answer how much of the £25,000 had been spoilt (" No," and laughtor). He could have said he was not satisfied and moved the adjournment of the House. But he did far hotter. He went quietly to work, and now he was pleased to say the rails and ballast had been laid, and before long the railway would be through the tunnel. (Applause.)

BANK LEGISLATION. He came now to a very important question, that of bank legislation. In 1894 the Bank of New Zealand had been lent £2,000,000. Prior to that, however, in 1893, they had been deceived when it had been stated that the ussots were coming out well, while the least doairablo properties wore being got off. In 1894, it wai said if the Government did not lend the £2,000,000, the Bank doors would have to be closed. "Could auyone," he aekod, "conceive deception of a deeper dye?" There was great diplomacy in politic*, and the Premier and tho leader of the Opposition had frequently to say things they did not mean. (Laughter,) But Capb. Husaelllaid they had been hoodwinked and deceived all through, They had been deceived, and another £3,000,000 had been got out of the country. What did the country got for it? They had ( the eqtatos, but they had not the good estates—the Bank had those. Of the money lent, £1,000,000 was supposed to be liquid. But it was lying, not earning enough, and it wtts decided to lend £150,000. In 1895 £2,700,000 was advanced, and not only that, but debentures were issued to the extent of £500,000, for which £500,000 worth' of shares wore .taken. That meant that in the year mentioned tho colony had become liable for iho Bunk to the oxteno of £3,200,000 odd. Wus that not a justification for those members who took a stand and voted against the Bill ? (Hoar, hear,) He had voted against it, and hud been considered cruel for it. Continuing, Mr. Crowther next dealt with tho amalgamation of the Colonial Bank with the Bank of New Zealand, and said that the greatest expert* had declared that tho colony had paid £78,000 for the goodwill. . Then as to tho composition of the Assets • Board, there wore three members appointed to this body at a salary of £1200 a year. One of tho members, the chairman, resided in Dunedin, another was Mr. \V. Frazer, and the third was the Premier. It had been assumed that this would be divided in this way: £600 or £700 a year to the chairman, who would look after. the correspondence and the detail work, the balance to . be divided

between the other two as a kind of ad-1 visory board. (A voice," Bribery.") Well these three gentleman got the £1200 a year,, and a fight early and late had to be maintained, or else that would not hare been enough. Mr. Frazer was" reported to have said that the Bank was now free from all debts. • Yea, the debts were on the shoulders of the colony. It was said the Bank was the colony's. It was. Bab it and the money was managed by somebody else. It was said that Ministers bad too much to do. If the Premier had his bands taken up with things of this sort something bad to suffer. Having accepted the position of Premier and given hitherto satisfaction he (the speaker) could not see why he should undertake such duties.

WATOHINO THE GOViiRN'MKN?, There was no Government more closely watched than the present one, and the members were also closely watched, at least that was his impression. And his desire and his opinion was thai) every thing should be done aboveboard, and that the public should have the fullest information, i He had a word to say in regard to local , industries. There was a great stir at home on this subject, and in regard to the Uganda railway, the Marquis of Salisbury declared that the railway was demanded, as an opening of new territory for the pro duce of Great Britain. The Marquis urged promptitude, in order that they' might not lose the market'. Mr. Crowther here quoted from the Scientific American, showing that Germany was cutting out Great Britain in the iron industry. Here in this colony they paid higher wages than they did in other countries. They lived more expensively, and the Co3fc of production was greater than in other countries. In New South Wales there were branch boot stores and factories established for the sale of Japanese products which were sold for one-third less than the cost at which they could be manufactured in the colony. Then they had American lumber threatening their timber trade, and if they were not .smart in looking after their own interests they must suffer They must protect, nurse, and cherish their own industries., They were in a position to maiutain them, but they wanted to be careful in regard to j the manufacture and keeping down the cost. Taking it altogether, notwithstanding the high protective tariff which could not be raised for the present, at least, they would have to exercise the greatest prudence and ho hoped the occasion would not arise for bringing up the tariff. In regard to the tariff the Colonial Treasurer said that he hoped he would never have to bring up another. He (Mr. Crowther) believed what tho Hon. Mr. Ward said was true, for he believed if the Government had insisted on their tariff they would be turned out. (Cheers.) The amount of telegrams and the number of letters received showed the Government that it was necessary to revise their tariff proposals. The tariff on Bannelette and boots had to be reviled. Ministers called a meeting of their supporters, and seeing the tone of the House and the nature of the messages received by the members, they backed down and said flannelette should remain as it was. But then about the boots. There was a great ado about this and another meeting was called, resulting in another come down, for the Government gave way, and it resulted in their obtaining another lease of life, which ho believed would last until after the next election, at all events till the close of the next session, He did not think the next session would be a long one, for members would want to get aw;iy to fight their elections, and unless the sofsion was made short, Ministers would have a very uncomfortable time. Referring to the Opposition, he said they had only been nagging and killing time. If they had been in earnest, ha wondered why Mr. Fraser, or Capt. Russell when he addressed a large audience in Auckland, did not give them some information more than he did, for he was one of the Parliamentary Committee and had information which the other membors of the House had not.

RAILWAYS. There was a gentloraan in Auckland who was very conversant with railways—Mr. S. Vaile. There was no chance of Mr. Vaile becoming munagor of the railways at present. The railways were being worked, and had been for a number of yoars, at a loss of between £200,000 and £300,000 a-year. That was not to bo wondered at when they were paying about £2 15s per cent., while the colony was paying 5 per cent on the coat. Mr. Vaile, however, had issued a paper lately in which he said that, the rolling-stock and especially the passenger carriages, during so many years had docrensed in number. That was trus, but) it should be remembered that a large number of small, inconvenient, uncomfortable carriages had been converted into " bogie" carriages, which carried twice the number the old ones did. As to the Midland Railway arbitration, Mr. Crowthcr said the Hon. J. McKenzio had claimed that the Government had saved tho country £1,700,000 through the Midland Railway arbitration. That was surprising seoing the Government had brought in a bill to give the company £618,000. Credit surely was due to the members who had ... opposed that. (Hear, hear.) The Premior and Sir Robert Stout, had been in the Midland Railway business for 10 years and knew ill about it. He (tho speaker) thought they had put their heads together and had managed the arbitration business to tho satisfaction ol the colony. The railway was now in tho hands of the Government. It was one of those inconvenient railways about which there would always bo agitation. Just as Aucklunders weroagitating to get their railways finished. There was the Central Otago railway, which would also have to be done. VYhab did that mean? (A voice: More borrowing.) Yes, it would mean rnoro borrowing, and when money could be gob so cheap, he was not quite sure but whai there might be justification for it, if a profit could bo made. If railways were wanted; if local bodios were to continually " nag" at the Government for roads and bridges, the money would have to come from somewhere. The revenue would not meet it. Sinking funds, conversion moneys—in fact, every item had been used up, and there wore none loft. (Laughter and applause.) Ae to tho colony's indebtedness, some said it was £43,000,000 or £44,000,000. Mr. Ward said it was £40,000,000. Assuming the latter to be the case, the Government had some assets. The Cheviot estate was a valuable one, and the estate at VVhakatane was also valuable. Some of the land at the latter was very valuable, and thrifty, economical, hard-working men had gone upon it.

PROHIBITION. Speaking on tbe prohibition question, Mr. Crowcher said there had boen a good deal of wrangling lust session in connection with the business. Ho was quite prepared to see the present Act givon a fair trial. It was nob advisable, ho thought, that when a Parliament had passed an Act one session, before it came into operation to give notice to amend it. (Applause.) There would be no ond to anything otherwise. The speaker then went on again to epeak of the proposal for State fire insurance, and while ho admitted that prior to tbe raising of rates, these rates had been altogether too low, yob he thought the business could be very much better managed locally, In conclusion he said Auckland members had been twitted that they did not get a fair share of expenditure. From a return he had he found that during a period of tea years the expenditure per head had boen as follow Auckland, £7 ; Hawke's Boy, £8 Wellington, £9; Taranaki, £1; Marl' borough, £3; Christ/church, £3 ; W'ostland (tho Premier's home), £ls(laughter); Obago and Southland, £7, So that at any rate Auckland had had a fair share. Mr. Crowther shortly afterwards resumed his seat amidst loud applause, having spoken for over two hours.

Questions having been answered, On the motion of Mr. Hodgson, seconded by Mr. Hkioins, a unanimous vote of ilmnko, convoying also high appreciation of past services, wan passed, A vote of thanks to the Chairman concluded the proceedings.