Manata Mutual Improvement.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 31, 16 October 1894, Page 3

Manata Mutual Improvement.

A CORRESPONDENT.) : . tig|pitnais r Mutual Improvement held-their ordinary weekly on Friday evening. last. Besi<%| the members .of the .Associating there'were three members of. the Kapopga Society Messrs “ Astbury, Hejhuningway, and. Prendergast—who came to debate the subject of Freetrade v. Protection also Mr A. Milne (who had been cbosen as adjudicator by the'two societies).,, Messrs-McCaul and Dl stow of the, QtakV h > Society, and,Mr S. Breach, of Opuhabe, etc. K. Law, vice-president, occn pied the;.Qhair, and stated the subject for debate, and the regulations which were to guidethoso taking part. The. challenge emanated from Kaponga Society, who had also named the subject (along with others) tq_ be discussed ; the Manaia Society, choosing it from (lie list, and the Kaponga Society choosing the side of Freetrade.. IJe would therefore call upon Mr Astbury to open the debate. Messrs Kelling, Scott-Smith, and Bennett represented the Manaia Society in the cause of Protection. ‘Mr Asfbury r s arguments were' based on the .assumption that, as N,&w Zea-;. land was for the people, wlio were an aggregate of individuals,' the greatest amount of benefit to the largest num here would certainly result in ' the greatest benefits to' the colony, and these He showed by facts were secured by Freetrade. Mr KeHing followed," taking the benefits to accrue to the laboring classes by the adoption of Protection, and' showing by, statistics how this would be secured.

Mr Hemmiugway, in a' thoroughly practical speech, showed how the duties were paid by the people, who were the consumers, and consequently paid the Customs duties indirectly. Mr Scott-Smith followed with a proposal of a “ moderate tariff,” giving illustrations of how Protection would work in favor of the New Zealand manufacturer.

Mr Prcndergast, in a neat speech, replied to the arguments adduced by their opponents, and summed up iu favor of Free trade.

Mi* Bennett, as the last speaker, traversed the whole of the Freetrade arguments, and concluded a capital debate, showing that as New Zealand was for the people so also was Protection.

Mr Milne then explained the system on which he should, make his award, viz., by points for style, elocution, and arguments, and in summing up the number of points for each side he found Freetrade had 26 and Protection 2o points; he should therefore give his award in favor of the Kaponga Society representatives. " Votes of thanks were passed to the speakers (special reference being made of those from Kaponga), and the chairman. This ended one of the most interesting and'harmomouß evenings the Association have’ had during the session. The keenest interest was taken in the debate throughout, each speaker being accorded quite an ovation at the conclusion of his address. This concluded the meetings'for this’ session.