MR. MACARTHUR, M.H.R., AT PALMERSTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 764, 22 October 1886, Page 30

MR. MACARTHUR, M.H.R., AT PALMERSTON.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) , PaLMEHston, .October 16 f Mr Macartbur, M.H.R., addressed th'e electors here last night. The meeting was a fairly representative one, and the speech was mainly a review of the last sessions work. He strongly denounc;d the Ministry for not pushing through che Representation Bill, and referred to the fact that the Bill was lost by the voles of three Ministers. He thought it evident that the Ministry desired to go to the country again on the same basis as the present, and that next sessiou they would bring down in the Finincial Statement proposals to raise the Customb’ tariff, and introduce a Protective policy. The House was mainly- composed of fret, traders, and the Government would be defeated when they would go to the country on the cry of Protection v. Freetradc without a Representation Bill being passed. He referred to the finance of Government at some length, alluding to the so-callei surplus of £SOOO, which it was shown had been takeo from the sinking fund, while the land fund showed a deficit of £2OOQ. He also referred to the million liability, forgotten by Sir Julius Vogel till pointed out by Major Atkinson. He quoted extracts from the speeches of Ministers, expressing their conviction of the desirableness of pushing on railways, and con • pared these with tbeir actions in de’aying the Gorge line. He believed that the delay in proceeding with the works was caused by the fact that the million of liability forgotten made it necessary for the Government to restrict their ' expenditure till next {year. Be referred at some length to Hospital and Charitable Aid and the Civil Service Bills, and the Midland Railway. He thought the action taken on the latter had removed a Berious obstacle from the political arena, but believed it would be brought on again in the future in the shape of (it request to Government to buy the line. The credit of the Loans to Local Bodies Bill .was mainly due to Major Atkinson, who sketched it out in a speech in 1885. He (Mr Macarlhnr) had also in his election speech advocated borrowing a million to lend to local bodies. He referred to his work in connection wi h this Bill and the Municipal Corporation Bill, and to the graceful acknowledgement by the Premier of his assistance in the latter. In turn, Mr Macarthur acknowledged the assistance he received from the Palmerston Town Clerk, referred to various useful clauses he got inserted in the Counties Act, and touched on the scandals which have arisen in connection with the district railways, Stark, Waimate debentures, and Government Insurance. He condemned the action of the Government in wishing to construct the BUnheim-Tophouse and the Westport-Inau-gahua lines out of the loan before t.he existing railways were completed, aud denounced the Premier’s statement that the Gorge line would be delayed on account of the Wellington-Manawatu Railway, pointing out that the Government can take ,this over at a fixed price without regard to profit. The position at present is that the Government are keeping back important works to cover their own mistakes iu finance. It was his deliberate opinion th{it the present Government is not fit to be entrusted with the interests of the country. A. vote of confidence was unanimously passed on the motion of Mr Linton, seconded by Mr Waldegrave.