The Platform.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 426, 10 April 1880, Page 6

The Platform.

MR LEVIN AT THE ATHENAEUM. + On Tuesday Mr. W. H. Levin, one of the members in the House of Representatives for the City of Wellington, addressed the electors at the Athenreum. There was a very large attendance, the hall being quite full. On the motion of Mr. John Maginnity, Mr. Paul Coffey took the chair, and briefly introduced Mr. Levin. He said he should not detain them by making any speech, but would at once call upon Mr. Levin to address them, and he was quite confident that they would accord to him a patient and impartial hearing, as well as to any other gentleman who might wish to speak. (Applause.) Mr. Levin, who was received with loud applause, said he had met them that evening in order to explain some of the most important events which had taken place during the last session of Parliament. Some comments had been made on his not having addressed them before. He need hardly say this was not the result of ingratitude or discourtesy, but was purely the result of a number of circumstances over which he had no control. He had had a good deal of both private and public business since the end of the session, and had besides a good deal of family anxiety. At one time he had not thought he should be able to address them at all, but he was quite sure that even if that had been so, they would not have judged him harshly. (Applause.) He would now refer to what had taken plaue in the House. They would remember that before the last session of Parliament the Government were defeated by a majority of fourteen. The elections were then proceeded with, and the question was whether they were to be ruled by Sir George Grey or to be constitutionally governed. For himself, he preferred the latter course, but he had promised his support to Mr. Hall only on condition that Liberal measures were placed on the Statute Book. The Grey Government were again defeated, this time by a majority of two, and Mr. Hall then formed a new Government. Two of Mr. Hall's supporters immediately withdrew their support and went over to the other side, and then took place a series of manoeuvres, which opened the eyes of the country as to our financial position. With the going over of the four Auckland members the real work of the session commenced. He was bound to say that he considered the explanation those gentlemen had made justified them for the action they took, and possibly they might yet give more conclusive reasons for their secession from their party. One of the first Bills passed by Parliament was the Triennial Parliament Bill. This was a somewhat different Bill from the one containing the name of Sir George Grey. That Bill was amended and was now law, and by it the present Parliament would cease in February, 1882. A number of the members thought its length should be three years, but he had not been of that opinion. Following this Bill came the Qualification of Electors Bill, which also became law. (Mr. Levin proceeded to explain the character of this measure.) By the Registration of Electors Act, which also passed, the method of registering became very much simplified, and was available all the year round. He thought they would agree with him that those three measures were of great importance, as they conferred upon the people privileges which were possessed by few communities in any part of the world. It was a source of satisfaction to him that he had been able, in a very humble way, to assist in securing such laws for the country. (Applause.) He trusted they would take steps to place their names upon the roll, and put the best men in Parliament who could be obtained. (Applause.) The lesson they had just learned ought to be of benefit 'to them, and he b rT * they would, in the future, be able to control their finances as wisely as possible. This brought him to the question of figures, which would show them the necessity for caution and economy for the future. Few anticipated the revelations disclosed by the Financial Statement. For fifteen months they had been left in ignorance of the real condition of their finances. In the face of severe depression, the late Government pursued a system of profligacy of expenditure, and when they left the 'Government benches they left behind them a sea of financial trouble. (Applause). Many of Mr. Lowe's remarks, when criticising the action of Lord Beaconsfield's Government, would apply very aptly to the Government of which Sir G. Grey was the bead. (Mr. Levin proceeded to read an extract from a speech fey Mr. Lowe). The present; Government had shown that the debt of the colony was twenty-seven million one hundred and thirteen thousand pounds, and that one million five hundred thousand would have to be annually remitted Home for the payment of interest and sinking fund. Major Atkinson estimated that there would be a deficit of £797,000. This was mainly due to the falling off in the sales of land. The Government had then made proposals of a change which were acceptable to the House, which resolved that the deficiency should be made up by the issue of treasury bills. It was stated at the time that Major Atkinson was putting a false issue before the country. He (the speaker) believed at the time that the position was overstated ; but he now found it had been understated. According to his reckoning there would be a deficiency of £480,000 on the current year's estimates, but he judged that there would be a saving of £230,000 ; but for all that there would be a deficit he believed of £1,050,000. This was a very unsatisfactory state of things. They had got out of their difficulties this year by adding the deficit to the national debt, but this could not be repeated, and in the future they would have to go in for rigid economy and more taxation. And this brought him to the Property' Tax Act. While admitting the

machinery of this Act was capable of improvement, he felt that it was a necessity, and was a fair tax upon all classes of the community. It was said the amount to be raised was in excess of our requirements, but as a proof that this was not so, they had only to consider the figures he had put before them. He had voted for the property tax, because he believed it placed the burden on the shoulders best able to bear it, and he had supported the Bill so that they might get out of the fool's paradise that had existed for the last few years. Mr. Hutchison had accused him of an act of which he was innocent in regard to this tax. He had told them that Mr. Levin had been opposed to the halfpenny tax, and yet had voted for it. It was true that he had voted with Mr. Dick, and it was true that the halfpenny tax was defeated ; but he could tell them that, in all the divisions, he had consistently voted against the Government, as the pages of Hansard would show. (Applause.) The House sanctioned further Customs revenue, and it was hoped that these two sources of revenue would enable them to live within their means ; but this could only be done by the most rigid economy. They were all too fond of preachiDg economy rather than of practising it. (Applause.) But even members themselves did not go into this matter in the way they might do, as was proved by the action of the House on the honorarium question. Some of the members however thought they should show a little self-denial, and a reduction of 10 per cent, was carried. But the Government, by the wish of a large majority, put the original amount on the Estimates again, and it was carried, and the money put into the members' pockets. The Land Act was a more liberal measure than any which had hitherto been in existence, and would, he believed, lead to the honafide settlement of the country. It was to be regretted that some of the best lands were held by capitalists, but he believed they would yet be broken up and come into the possession of the smaller settlers. But he should not be in favor of settling the people on any but the best of land. (Applause.) To settle them on poor soil meant a life of misery for them, and a heritage of woe for those who came after them. He was in favor of the Government obtaining lands from the natives, but he was not in favor of private traffic with the natives. They did not wish to see a Minister denouncing the system of private individuals buying land, and then when he went out of office, becoming himself the paid agent for the purchase of such lands for such people. (Loud applause.) On the question of district railways he had told the Government he should not support them on that question, and he had held back from the compromise that was finally made. On this subject he believed the Government had been unjustly censured. As honorable men, having made the promise to afford relief, they felt bound to keep their word. (Applause.) He had hoped to see the Redistribution of Seats Bill passed, but there was not time to do this last session. He hoped the Bill would be passed next session, and that Wellington would no longer be deprived of its rights in the question of representation. They had an improvement in the management of the native lands, and in Mr. Bryce they had a thoroughly reliable and trustworthy man who had already effected a saving of forty-five per cent. He trusted the native difficulty would soon be got over, and that the Government would acquire a large area of native land. (Applause). He anticipated the happiest results from the Commission now sitting, and he was sorry that the action of the Government since the session had closed had been, on this question, harassed by public writers. .The Commissions were sanctioned by the House, and the Civil Service Commission was appointed in accordance with a promise the Government had made to look into abuses with a view to their removal. As the recess was only of four months' duration, the Government had no time themselves to act in this matter. He did not believe in the country being governed by Royal Commissions, but he believed that under the present circumstances the Commissions were necessary. He trusted the Civil Service Commissioners would hand in a report which would be of great benefit to the country. Ihe Civil Service should not be regarded as a relief for the destitute when all other sources of {employment were closed. (Applause.) In many instances he thought the personnel of the Commissions might have been improved upon, but the Government had had great difficulty in getting gentlemen to act. He had the honor of being appointed one of the members of the Industries Committee appointed last session, and he trusted the action of that committee would stimulate and encourage local industries. He would now proceed to say a few words on matters of local interest and importance. Luring last session the Te Aro Reclamation and Wellington Harbor Board Bills had become law. It had been stated that the Harbor Board Bill had marred the Te Aro Bill to some extent, but he failed to see how this was the case. When the Bill came before the "Upper House it was subjected to a severe ordeal, and it was stated that the Crown Grant prevented the erection of wharves and dock, as no ingress or egress could be obtained to or from them, and the clauses with regard to the dock and wharves were accordingly struck out. The Harbor Board Bill was favorably regarded by the whole House, and he believed it was by the citizens as a whole. (Applause.) He was hopeful that the Bill would do much to benefit this city and the surrounding districts, and would establish Wellington in her rightful position as the prime commercial central port of the colony. He trusted that any little feeling that might have been engendered in the civic mind would be dispelled. In six weeks the House would meet, and it should promptly carry the measures that had been promised last session, and enquire into the whole question of their domestic legislation. The same common desire should be evinced to—if necessary—force the Government to economy in the departments, to a careful dealing with the small funds

left at their disposal. Of himself, he would say that in reviewing his actions during the past session, there was nothing he regretted. (Applause.) He had endeavored to the best of his power to fulfil the pledges he had made to the citizens of Wellington. (Applause.) He had been instrumental in placing the government of the country in the hands of conscientious men, who would carry out their duty without fear or favor, and who would so resuscitate it that it would become, even in their days, one of the nations of the earth. (Loud applause.) They required strength, self-denial and determination to overcome their difficulties. With these they must win the day ; but they must show that they were bold, and above all, selfreliant.

Mr. Levin sat down amidst loud applause, having spoken for an hour and a few minutes. The Chairman asked the electors if they had any questions to put to Mr. Levin. Mr. NIAS proceeded to address the meeting, before asking Mr. Levin some questions. He wished to know if he had considered how they could add to the population of the country ; but not a pauper population. The speaker was about to inform the meeting of the contents of a letter he had received from his cousin, when the [electors made very decided tokens of disapproval. Would the Government give immigrants of the class he had mentioned any inducements to come out here 1 Would Mr. Levin support the principle that Crown land should only be sold snbject to improvement and occupation ? Mr. Levin, in reply, said he did desire to see the Crown lands of the colony occupied, so long as they could be properly occupied. (Applause.) He believed that every rood of land which would carry people should be occupied.

Mr. Orb. asked whether it would not have been well to get a promise from the Hall Government before supporting them that they would carry out the West Coast Railway.

Mr. Levin said one of the reasons he had voted against the Grey Government was bacause they would make so many promises which they would not keep. He would not stultify himself or sell his vote by promising such support to a Government on such conditions as the construction of a particular work. He did not very well see how all the works they asked for could be performed, although he would use every effort to have the West Coast Railway pushed forward. Their present difficulty would be all the greater if they entered on fresh works before they had realised their position. Mr. Nias again rose to ask a question, when some confusion took place on the score of precedence. Mr. Ork wished to know if the plural voting did not destroy manhood suffrage. Mr. Levin replied that there was manhood suffrage existing, and if Hansard were referred to it would be found that he had voted against an absolute plurality of voting. Mr. NIAS asked if the hon. gentleman would he support a measure for limiting the amount of land to be purchased by one indidual.

Mr. Levin said he had answered the question in his speech. Mr. Nias asked if he would put a stop to selling land by auction ? Mr. Levin replied that until he saw something better he should not say he would oppose this system of selling land. Mr. Nias asked if he thought that subsidies should be continued to Road Boards and other local bodies ?

Mr. Levin read an extract from H&nsard, in which Major Atkinson bad stated that the Government would next year recommend that such subsidies should be withdrawn.

Mr. Edwards proposed a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr. Levin, which was seconded by Mr. Madely. The motion was put, and carried unanimously, amid loud applause. Mr. Levin thanked the meeting, but in no empty way. He really believed they meant that they had confidence in him. (Applause.) He should continue to pursue the course he bad chalked out for himself, without fear or favor, until the time when they considered they could be represented by a better man, and then he would be perfectly willing to resign the trust they had reposed in him. (Loud applause.) On the motion of Mr. Moeller, a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the proceedings terminated.