PUBLIC MEETING AT MARTON.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4509, 2 September 1875, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING AT MARTON.

(from odr own cob respondents). A public meeting was held in the Town Hall, Marton, on Wednesday evening, for the purpose of taking into consideration the abolition of the provinces. The very unpropitious state of the weather and the flooded state of the country no doubt prevented many attending. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, however, the settlers mustered in considerable force. Mr. W. G. Watt was voted to the chair.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, having read the advertisement calling the meeting, remarked that meetings had been held in nearly every city and town of the colony for the purpose of giving expression to their views, and therefore, although the opinions of the residents in and around Mavton were well known, it had been thought expedient to hold one here too. He trusted that some of those present would come forward and state their views upon the important question that was now engrossing the attention of the Legislature. Mr. H. Lyon then stepped on the platform. He said it was with pleasure that he came before them for the purpose of proposing the resolution entrusted to him. The question of the abolition of the provinces was one that had been long agitated. Eleven years ago it had been agitated at Wanganui, and he might say that since that period it had never been out of the mind of the settlers. They now saw the end coming. Some people might think that a meeting was unnecessary, as their opinion was well known ; but he thought that an honest and earnest expression of that opinion would do much to strengthen the hands of their member. Experience had proved that the provincial system was a bad one. In early days, when communication with the different parts of the colony was tedious and uufrequent, no doubt it was a necessity, and in those days if did good service. But of late years—for the last six or seven, at any rate—it had done them no good. He had often spoken from that platform of the shortcomings of provincialism. He would remind them how often the subject of the Tutaenui bridge had been brought before them. Well, at last they had the bridge ; but it was entirely useless, for there were no approaches to it. Then he might mention the roads. These, for the entire distance that were under local government were trood, but when they came to that portion under provincial control it was a complete wreck, with holes and ruts up to the axle 3. They had recently heard from Mr. Halcombe how they had been treated by the Provincial Government in regard to the Rangitikei bridge, so he would not enlarge on that. Look wherever they might, thay saw mismanagement, or worse, by the Provincial Government. He was astonished to find the provincialists now crying out that the opposite party were centralists. Tney were nothing of the kind, for they had provided for local government throughout the colony. It was the provincialists themselves who were centralists, for everything was done in Wellington. Years ago the question was asked, " Why abolish the provinces when you have nothing to offer in lieu." The question might have been an apposite one at the time, but it was not so now, seeing that they had local government proposed as its substitute. (Cheers.) He would not detain them aiiy longer, but would at once read the resolution :—" That in the opinion of this meeting the measures now under the consideration of the House of Representatives, namely, the Abolition of the Provinces Bill and the Local Government Bill, are necessary for the welfare of the country generally, and meet with the approval of the persons now present. Further, that there exists no necessity for delay in introducing these measures, and that it is desirable that they become law during the present session of the parliament of New Zealand." Captain Jordan seconded the resolution in a long and able speech. He observed that he had never come before any audience with more pleasurable feelings than on that occasion. For fifteen long years they had been fighting against provincialism, and even they Baw the beginning of the end. He used those words advisedly, for there was a large amount of work which would take at least two years to do before the new system could be got into thorough working order. The provinces have different laws on nearly every subject, each having its own, and this different from the others. These would all have to be consolidated, a process which would take at the least two years. The whole gist of the Bill showed that it was only a temporary measure. There was one thing that made him hope that the Bill

would pass this session. (Cheers.) It was this—the steady abandonment by the Opposition of every position they had taken up, one * after the other. Their first position was that ,- the measure was not necessary, but the voice of the people gave them to understand that it was necessary so this position had to be given up. Then it was unconstitutional, but when confronted by the opinions of the law officers of the Crown that it was perfectly constitutional they found this position untenable, and it was given up too. Their next attack was that at the commencement of the session, the admission from the leader of the Opposition was that the Bill was necessary; but that he was going to introduce a better one. They now, however, heard no more of this "better one," it had never seen the light. Fifteen years ago provincialists admitted that provincialism "must go." But five years were asked to make the necessary preparations, and then another five, and another. They, do not ask for five now. All they want now ia to have the question deferred until after the election, that the voice of the people might be fairly ascertained. But the voice of the people had been heard through the length and , breadth of the land, and in those very provinces in which such could not have been ■ expected had come, from the outlying district strong and earnest expressions of approval of the course taken by the Government. (Cheers.) This cry of the provincialists for the voice of the people to be heard was simply an absurdity. The provinces had never before consulted the voice of the people on any subject. (Cheers.) That was not what they wanted. What they wanted was so to influence the elections by the patronage they possessed as to secure a majority, or, at any rate, such a balance of parties that they would be able to throw the House into a state of anarchy that they might get the question put off for another five years. With regard to the bridges already alluded to, he had seen in the late papers from Home that an ingenious Frenchman had taken out a patent for building bridges of paper. Now, although the Provincial Government did not build their bridges with paper, it was very evident from what they had heard at a recent meeting there that they would build them on paper—and on paper only. (Cheers.) The antiprovincialists never asked men to vote for a measure they did not understand, and as there were some portions of the Bill that were rather obscure, he would endeavor to throw a little light on them. (The speaker then went through the Abolition Bill, giving running comments on several of the clauses.) The advantages of the Bill might be thus stated : Opportunity was afforded by it for consolidating the whole of the provincial laws ; it abolished entirely the present dual system of government; and by it every locality would have the advantage of administering its own affairs. (Cheers.) He would now contrast the revenue of Marton at the present time with what would be the results if the Bill became law. In 1875 the rates yielded £166 Bs. 6d., and the subsidy from the Provincial Government was £l5O ; total revenue, £316 Bs. 6d. Supposing the Bill became law this session, then revenue next year would be—rates, say £l7O sidy from land fund, £170; subsidy from Consolidated Kevenue, £l7O ; and amounts derived from local licenses, taxes, &c, £IOO ; total, £7OO, as against £316 under provincial institutions, a contrast which he thought very satisfactory indeed. (Cheers.) But they could not be sure of always receiving such an amount. They could not expect always to receive endowment from the laud fund, which must eventually, become exhausted. The charges, too, on the Consolidated Kevenue seemed to him to be heavier than the country could bear. The Government, however, knew better than he did, and they seemed to think otherwise. " I/et us hope it will, for then we can have no fear for the future of New Zealand." (Cheers.) But there were some people so opposed to change that they would cling to a system even if they knew it was bad, and the one to be substituted for it much better. With respect to such he could not help thinking that the celebrated lines of Lord John Manners, with a slight paraphrase, were very applicable— Let learning commerce manufactures die. But leave us still our old absurdity. (Cheers and laughter.) There was one little point to which he wished to allude before he sat down. If the measure were delayed until there had been an appeal to the country, there was sure to be many hew members, and these would be trying their prentice hands on the measure. He thought the "old House ..was better able to deal with the subject. In conclusion, he would observe that it would be necessary at the next election to return members capable of carrying the measure" to its end. This would be necessary if they wished to see every place carrying on its own work, under the Legislature, like they did at Home. He should like to see the glorious old institution of the old country initiated here... Some of them of course were not adapted to the circumstances of the colony, but we could follow in the clear course that has brought England to its present position of eminence and glory. (Applause.) The Chairman then put the resolution to the meeting, and declared it carried unanimously. Mr. P. Beaven said he had much pleasure in proposing the following resolution, as he believed in having local government rather than having it administered by a Government 120 miles away. (Cheers.) He moved—- " That the Chairman of the meeting be requested to forward copies of the resolution just passed to the Hon. the Premier of New Zealand, and to Mr. Ballance, M.H.R., for the district. Also to forward the result by telegram to Mr. Ballance as soon as may be convenient." Mr. Batchelar seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously. Mr. Gillett then moved a resolution congratulating Mr. Ballance on his debut in the Parliament of New Zealand. The Chairman said that while concurring iu the resolution, he thought it out of order as they were met to discuss the abolition tof the provinces only. However, he would leave it to the meeting to deal with it as they thought proper. Mr. H. Lyon then seconded the resolution, which was carried. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings, and the meeting separated.