DR HEWMAN AT PETONE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1106, 12 May 1893, Page 35

DR HEWMAN AT PETONE.

Dr Newman, M.H.R., addressed a meeting of electors in the Oddfellows' Hall, Petone, on Monday. Mr John Allender was voted to the chair, and there was a good attendance, the hall being well filled. Toe chairman having briefly introduced the speaker, Dr Newman addressed the meeting. In the course of hia remarks, he referred to the LATE PREMIER, who had recently passed away after a very lingering illness—an,illness whioh he bore In the most heroic fashion, because he (Dr Newman) knew that long before he died he must have felt he was very seriously ill. But bis pluck was wonderful; he administered his departments right op to the very end, and in a letter which Mr Ballanoe wrote to him he said he was so muoh batter that he hoped to be in bis place of Parliament next year. Within three weeks their Premier was dead. It seemed to him, although he had always been a member of the Opposition, that the Colony had suffered a very great loss by his death. Mr Ballanoe had during his long career, both while . in and out of .offioe, achieved a really great amount of knowledge of politics both in and outside the Colony, and it was veiy much to be deplored that his death had occurred at a time when he was in the full ripening of hia powers, and when for many years at intervals he might have been able to give the Colony the benefit of his moat valuable services. As regarded THE NEW PREMIER, he had not muoh to say. Time would show how he would shape in his new position, but he felt sure the party who elected him were right in choosing him. It seemed to him that a man who had fought for his pjrty and toiled for it had a right to expect the leadership, and it should not be given to a fair-weather politician who simply hoped at the last moment to come in and seoure the spoils of offioa. It remained to be seen how Mr Seddon would shape. His (Dr Now man's) own belief was that ho would strive to do his beßt for the Colony as most members had, besides which be wa3 a very earnest and very active man. There was a rumour that Mr Seddon was acting as a kind of dummy for someone else, but those who believ.ed that would be very muoh mistaken. Mr Seddon know his way about, and was not going to play dummy for anyone else. He had got the freehold of the Premiership, and would keep it. (Applause.) LOCAL MATTERS. The speaker then referred to looal matters, saying that the only Bill passed last session which affected Petone was the Drainage Bill. The Bill as it was amended by the Upper House might not be altogether to their liking, but all other similar Bills were similarly treated, and he contended that it was really useful, inasmuch as under it they would be able to carry a drainage loan, which was not the oase before. Only those who voted with regard to the loan were counted, and he believed that with a well • thought out scheme thoy could carry a loan easily if they were united in their methods. As regarded the drainage, he thought it was greatly needed in a low-lying place like Petone, as the system of drainage at present employed was very likely to affect the health of the plaoe. He hoped they would soon have a town as well drained as other towns In >ew Zealand. In regard to other local matters, Dr Newman referred to the fact that births could now be registered at the Lower Hutt, instead of only at Wei. lington, and also spoke of the telephone charges, Baying that the oharge of Is for messages simply killed the business. He had seen the Postmaster. General, and hoped soon to have the charges reduced and a telephone bureau estab. iidhed. The question of the wharf was referred to, in regard to which he expressed the opinion that Mr Ferguson had killed the soheme by kindness. However, new soundings and estimates were being made, and he hoped something definite would shortly be done in the matter. He also re. Marked that if Petone ever had electricity or gas they would not let it pass into the hands of a foreign company, who would simply run «t for their own profit, but that they would •keep it in their own bands and enjoy the if any, themselves. In other parts ,of the world all the large towns were run. «ing these things themselves, and be thought

Potone should do the same. He 'predioted that Petone would grow a 3 Wellington increased, and that they had a great future before them. (Applause.) SOCIAL LEGISLATION. Leaving local matters, he referred to the social aspect of affiirs, in whioh regard he said the Bocial condition of the people was now muoh more a matter of consideration to Parliament than in the past. All Parliaments all over the world were prepared to grapple with the social problem, ar.d he believed chat more and more Parliament would devote ilsilf to oadng the troubles that affect the various sections of society. As an example he mentioned the Half Holiday Bill, remarking that it all the shop aesiafc ants, civil servants, warehousemen, &c, had half holidays, every human being was entitled to the same privilege. He thought the Half Holiday Bill of last year was certainly a step in the right direotion, and another question to be considered in the future by Parliament was that of pensions for old age. That subject was now being considered everywhere, and he believed a proper solution of the difficulty would be arrived at in time. The scheme he believed in was that whereby a man could insuro againßt three things—siokness, a pensiou for old age, and payment at his death. They had various charitable institutions in New Zealand, and he believed that by grafting and adding to these institutions the proper scheme would be found for the provision of old age. (Applause.) Then there was the question of boy labour; and he remarked that people were trying to put a stop to this by not having children. (Laughter,) He quoted from the report of the Registrar General of New Zealand, which showed that while New Zealand was growing bigger the birth rate was gatting smaller, and that 1600 fewer children were born in the country last year than there were irno years ago. As long as Parliament introduced measures which relieved misery and trouble they would be doing right, and it was the tendency of the legislatures of the world to legislate for the good of the people as a whole. The Conciliation Bill, if it ever beoame law, would, he believed, be very useful if altered in some respects, and he oould not see why labour disputes should not be better and more satisfactorily settled in a oourt of law than by the present system. If the Minister for Labour brought in a similar Bill next year they might get a very useful measure pub on the Statate Book, (Applause.) THE POLICE OF THE FUTURE, Last year the Government brought down a good bill of fare, but nothiug had come of a good many of the proposed measures, No doubt Governments did make too many promises, and as they could not carry them out a great deal of dissatisfaction resulted. They wanted a much more real and alive policy, and they must, above all, consider the question of increasing the material wealth of the Colony. Everywhare there were orowds of men out of billets, and any policy whioh would open up and enrich the country would be of the greatest servioo. He would take up first the questions of r'ecip l rocity and of the opening up of the back country. In regard to reciprocity, he referred to the shrinkage of the trade with Australia on account of the latter's protective tariff; it was the same with Tasmania and New South Wales, and yet it was very important that Australia should be open to them as a market. There was the trade with England certainly, but rates were going down there, and then where would they be? The scheme of the future was intercolonial Ereetrada, and Protection against thereat of the world, and he would ask theai whether they should not pay a considerable amount of attention to this question, whioh would shortly come into prominence. He had hoard that Mr Cleveland was going to allow New Zealand wool toentar America free, whioh wou'd be of the greatest benefit to them. He referred to the advantages to bo derived from rociprocity with Australia, and then went on to mention the question of opening up the interior of this Island. The Government were dawdling over their publio works policy, as evinced by the fact that the To Aro railway took over two years to oonstruct. They wanted a policy of rapidly closing the railway gaps; ths JSketahuna-Woodville line should be at once completed, as it would open up very valuable land ; and the North Island Main Trunk railway was aIBO dawdling on in a mosS irritating manner. The PURCHASE OF NATIVa LAND 3 was also going on too slowly, and yet that was a most important work. L3t them go in for buying these rich Native lands and colonising them, and the wealth of their country would soon be increased. They should buy them up as quickly as possible and offer them to the people, orowds ot whom wereoagertogettbom. Largearearsof Native land were lying idle, which was most detrimental to the interests cf the country, j They seemed to hove forgotten the policy of civilising the country, which was so clearly the aim of the early settlers. Tint waß the policy whioh would make New Zaaland hum again, and do away with almost all the social problems, and yet the oountry was stuok up because Ministers would not see the importance of it. There was no necessity for compulsory taking, the Maoris were willing to sell, and they need only take care to leave enough for the Natives to live upon. If this land was bought the wealth of the country would be ino ; more meat and more milk could beobfc&in-d, &ud everything would be much more pleasant. He hoped they would not Bee much more of this dawdling, and no Government would be worthy of the name whioh did not pursue the polioy of quickly buying np and settling this Native land. Tnere was such a demand for small settlements everywhere that the land would quickly be taken np, and they had the most liberal and progressive land law which anyone could possibly conceive. (Applause.) No one could doubt that if this land was bought and settled the North Island would have a tremendous aareer of prosperity. It was time they woke up and devoted themselves to suoh a polioy. There cculd be no standing still, they must progress, and they ought to resolve that their undeveloped resources should be devoloped, their waste lands settled, and this age of

colonisation marked with some great work of improvement. (Applaiiße ) Replying to a question, Dr Newman said he thought the taxation of the necessaries of life should be reduced after these lands had been opened up. Mr Robt. Brown proposed a vote of thanks to Dr Newmm for hia address, and a vote of confidenoe in him as the member for the district. This was seconded by Mr Barlow, and carried with only two dissentients.

The meeting then olosed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Auckland, May 4. ' Speaking to a Herald representative, with regard to the re-conatruoted Ministry, Sir Geo. Grey said that Mr Seddon had the largest claim to be allowed to form a Cabinet; and that the Liberal Party must give him a fair trial. Personally, he was glad that Mr Seddon was making an effort to carry on the Government, and he should think he would carry the majority of the house with him. He had every confidence that he would carry out Liberal views. He did not think it would be worthy of Mr Seddon to put himself in the position of having taken tbo Premiership tentativo'y and as a kiud of experiment He had taken offioe as Premier to hold the offioe as long as he hai the confidence of the House and the country. Wanganpi, May 5. At a large and representativo meeting of the Liberal Party last night, 't was docided, aftar discussion, that Mr A. J. Parsons, exMayor, ehould be the Government candidate for the oWanganui electorate. The Conservative candidate has not yet been selected. Dunedin, May 6. The Star says that Parliament definitely meets on Juno 22, and there will be no Ministerial changes till after the general election; that Messrs Pinkerton, Earnshaw and Gourlay are definitely selected for Dune, din ; Mr Lee-Smith for Caversham, and Mr Millar for Port Chalmers. Christchurch, May 9. Mr E. Blake, M.H.R. for Avon, ad. dressed a meeting of his constituents this evening, and received a vote of thanks and confidence, Westport, May 9. Mr O'Regan, a candidate for the Juangahua seat, delivered his maidon address to the electors at Capo Foul wind this evening, .and was well receivod. Ho declared his intention to stand against all comers, and spoke in favour of young colonials like himself entering publio life. He would Bupport the present Ministry, but would not be led by the nose by any Minister. He was in favour of a single fax, and objected to the purchase of the Cheviot Estate. While land waß monopolised labour could not find employment. He favoured female suffrage, the direct veto and no compensation to publicans, and would support State aid to denominational schools, and favoured the CO-operative system of public work?. He was given a voto of confidence by a large majority., . THE ' TREASURER AT INVERCARGILL. (BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Invercargill, May 6. The Hon J. G. Ward, Colonial Treasurer, returned to Invercargill this afternoon and met with a moat enthusiastic reception, the Mayor, the Town Council and a largo num. ber of people beiDg present. The Mayor, in welcoming Mr Ward back, referred in feeling terms to the death of the late Premier, whose 1033 they all deeply deplored. Referring to Mr Ward, he congratulated him upon hia election to the Treasurerahip, and said that the people of Southland had the greatest confidence in his ability to satisfactorily fill the position. They had all known him from boyhood, and hi? career in the past had been characterised by a straightforwardness thoy all admired. He felt sure that during Mr Ward's term of office he would further add to his already well deserved reputation. On behalf of the citizens he wished Mrs Ward and himself every happiness. In reply, Mr Ward said this was the first occasion he had spoken pubHoly Binoe the death of the late Premier, He paid a high tribute to the qualities of Mr Ballanoe. His colleagues and he himself had had a strong affection for Mr Ballanoe, Personally, he had found Mr Ballance one of the most generous and kindly disposed 3f men. He would always have the kindest recollections of the time he had been associated with him. He was in every respect a man of high and exemplary character, and a statesman whose aim was the advancement of the Colony. In the terms the Mayor had used in referring to the late Premier he felt sure he was uttering the sentiments of the public of New Zealand. He would take offioe with somo misgivings, as he was following one who, in the opiuioaof many, was the ablest finan> oier who had held offioe in the Colony, and it was admittedly an onerous task to do thia. He would, however, do his duty to the best of his ability in the new position he had accepted. He recognised the important responsibilities that were placed upon him, and he had no doubt he would receive the hearty co-operation of the wellwishers of the oountry. He thanked them all for their kindly allusions to Mrs Ward, and greatly appreciated their continued kindness towards himself. At the conclusion of the proceedings three hearty cheers were given, and the Mayor and councillors invited tho turn gentleman to the Southland Club Hotel, where his health was duly honoured.