POST – SESSIONAL SPEECHES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4218, 26 September 1874, Page 4

POST - SESSIONAL SPEECHES.

MR. BRYCE AT WANGANUI. Wastgakbi, September 25. Mr. Bryce met liis constituents at Wanganui last night. Mr. Alexander was in the chair. Mr. Bryce said he had been challenged to meet his constituents in 1871, and had got a vote of thanks, and now some person had hinted similar things. He referred first to local matters. He had introduced the Mayor's Bill because the Borough desired it. He had endeavoured to make the Wellington Mayors Bill applicable to the Colony, but was overruled. In the Foreshore BUI, he objected to the Native market in the centre of the town, and carried his point. He did not press for a turntable in the railway bridge, because it would delay the works and endanger trains. The abolition resolutions embodied exactly his views as expressed in his Shire Bill of the previous session, but was to apply to a larger extent of the Colony. He proved by an extract that he had held those opinions since he held any political opinions at all, and had always taken a prominent part in every movement in that direction since 1850. His Shire Bill had been supported by the largest majority that ever supported a movement. He denied that Mr. Vogel introduced the resolutions to spite Mr. Fitzherbert, and showed that Mr. Wood would have done so if Mr. Vogel had not, which would have placed the Government in a bad light. The Provincial Governments were in no sense local governments and grasped at power that would make the Imperial Parliament hesitate. When the country got settled, it was beyond the power of the Provinces to attend to local matters. In comparing the relative management of the General and Provincial Governments, he instanced the trunk road, which was made twice from General Government funds, and twice relapsed into a bad state in the hands of the Provincial Government. The land management was bad. The estate had been squandered m Wairarapa and elsewhere. They had borrowed money for arrears of survey, and the object was not attained. He knew no settler was enamored with the education system, and thought the General Government could easily inaugurate a better system. The principle on which the Province borrowed was bad. Provincial borrowing was stopped by law in 1866, and Wellington had the doubtful honor of reviving the system in 1871, with the consent of the Assembly. Last year it had more than the doubtful honor of endeavoring to borrow without the connent of the Assembly. It was "get money.no matter how." liven 10 per cent, had been paid. There was nothing to endear us to Provincialism, and its abolition would reduce legislation. He found Mr. Vogel trying to help, and Wanganui might be proud of its position. He asked the few Provincialists in the district to yield. Mr. Fox, the prophet, had yielded, and others might now gracefully follow his example. Mr. Bryce was frequently applauded, and sat down amid loud applause. No questions were asked. Mr. Morgan proposed, and Mr. Duthie seconded the following resolution, which was unanimously carried : —" That this meeting, having heard Mr. Bryce, accords him renewed confidence, and believes that abolition of Provincialism in the North Island will tend to greater freedom, economy, and efficiency in th administration of government."