Mr McGuire, at Opunake.

Opunake Times, Volume II, Issue 69, 1 March 1895, Page 2

Mr McGuire, at Opunake.

About 120 electors met Mr McGuire in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening, when he delivered an address on the results of the past session and also contemplated legislation. Mr G. W. Rogers, Chairman of the Town Board, presided, and introduced Mr McGuire.

Mr McGuire, on coming forward, was greeted with prolonged applause. He expressed pleasure at meeting them that evening. He had to congratulate them on the establishment of a newspaper in the district since he last addressed them, which was well conducted, and was bringing the district into prominence. (Applause.) OPUNAKE -JETTY. He deplored the disaster to the jetty, and considered that -the Government should have taken immediate steps to reinstate it, as it was through the fault of the Government Engineer that the disaster eventuated. The district was removed from the railway, and as the Government—having assumed control of the railways—intended to make reductions in the rates for the benefit of settlers more favourably situated, the least they might do was to rebuild the jetty so as to give settlers in this district a means of cheap communication with the rest of the colony. He had not brought the matter forward in the House, because he understood there were other people in the district who had friends in the Ministry with whom they were in communication, and he thought any action he might take might hamper their efforts. (Applause.) NEW PLYMOUTH HARBOUR. In referring to the late election, be said he would rather have seen five country members than six returned, as two wrongs did not make a right, and New Plymouth was entitled to an elective member. New Plymouth had not acted fairly in not dividing the district into ridings, and no doubt Lad themselves to blame for their disfranchisement. If it proved true that the land fund and rates could be used for any other purpose than paying interest, it would be very hurtful to the scheme of conversion which he had in hand, and it would be good-bye to any assistance. He did not think such a construction could be placed on “ The Harbours Amendment Act, 1891.” He contended that, according to the special Act under which the land fund -was given, as an endowment, and the rate raised, this revenue was “earmarked.” He induced the Government last session to introduce a Local Bodies Loan Conversion Bill, which, if passed, would enable the Harbour Board to change their debentures from 6 per cent, to 4 per cent, and thus reduce the annual charge for interest from £12,000 to £BOOO per annum. The laud fund amounted to close on £BOOO, which would then be sufficient to meet interest, without the necessity of striking a rate at all. For the sake of producing an effect, it had been stated that the land fund and rate could be used for works on the harbour, and be warned them of the harm such statements would do. He had been connected -with the harbour from its inception, and no one had been able to trip him up yet with regard to any statements put forward by him in connection with it. He was the first to point out that the Government had robbed the district of 200,000 acres of laud out of its endowments, and had convinced the settlers, the House, and the bondholders that this was a fact, and, if restitution were made, there would be a sinking fund cf £130,000. He had got a committee ot the House, which recommended that the Government should take over the assets aud liabilities of the Board and relieve the people of the rate. He was sorry there was no newspaper in Opunake at that time to rouse the people like it had roused them over the election. It must remain to be seen what effect the present rousing will have. The Government had offered to set up committees since, but he would accept nothing less than that a Judge of the Supreme Court should adjudicate on the matter in equity and good conscience. This the Government refused, saying that it would be a slur on the House to delegate its powers in such a manner. In -the meantime the bondholders had notified the Government that unless restitution were made they would boycott any further New Zealand loans on the London market. He read letters received from the Council of Foreign Bondholders bearing this statement out. (Applause.) LOCAL BODIES. The Government had promised to introduce a Local Government Bill next session, but what the people wanted was more money. In remote districts, where there was no railway communication, the arterial roads should receive assistance from the Government. Such a measure as that would have his support. Ho considered it was cruel ou the part of the Minister of Lands to place people on lauds without providing them with facilities to live there, by means of roads and bridges. At present 40 per cent of the settlers were being driven off their sections through this cause, aud more would have to go still unless something were done. The Minister of Lauds made a great parade of how many settlers he had put on the laud, bat it was a cruel thing to put them on ayd.in the coarse of a couple of years have them driven off again. It would bo much better to let people of means settle the land than be carrying on this kind of bogus settlement. The manner in which the Government treated the old soldiers was quite sufficient to show what a sham their professions on behalf of the struggling settlers were. They would not pay thirds to local bodies on account of scrip, Which he looked on as dishonoring their own paper. (Applause.) NATIVE RATES. He must congratulate the district in

possessing such “an able and energetic member as-Mr McGloin in the County Council. A numben of communications had passed between them on the subject of native rates, and it was shown that rates on native lands should be paid to the. Council. Mr McGloin was entitled to every credit for lus action in this matter. He (Mr McGuire) had induced the Government to bring in a Bill for it in the first instance, and also one providing for divisional' fencing between European and native lands, both of which Acts had been passed. Natives used the roads, aud in future would have to contribute to the local revenue. On the other hand, the natives were not well treated. At Eahotu the position of the native owners of a block of land was brought under his notice. A sum of £295 had accrued for rent, which these natives expected to receive, but the Public Trustee put in contra accounts —for surveying, £lO7 ; advertising, £113; costs in the iniquitous proceedings in Mr McCullum’s case, £45; commission, £2O; and accrued rates, £116; thereby bringing the natives some £9O in debt. The item of rates had been stopped from the natives, but had not been paid over to the local body. (Applause.) LOW PRICES OF PRODUCTS. The low prices for our staple products were telling very severely on the settlers. Wheat was very low; the bottom had fallen out of the flax industry, throwing thousands of men out of employment; wool was at the lowest price knowrj; and frozen meat was at a very low ebb. The collapse of numerous financial institutions had no doubt effected us very severely. The greatest drawback, however, was want of confidence and the hampering legislation indulged in by the Government. The people could not turn round now but there was an inspector to watch and question their actions. A blacksmith shoeing a horse became a factory, and subject to an inspector: a woman making a shirt became a .factory; in fact, the late legislation was most extraordinary, aud it affected enterprise of every description. Imports suffered through this stagnation, aud people were forced to economise, the consequence being that there was a shrinkage in the Customs of £600,000, or £1 per head of the total population. Our exports also had decreased £900,000. Of course the Government had nothing to do with the low price of exports. (Applause.) DEPRESSION. The depression was not caused by the scarcity of money, as there wer* larger reserves of gold held now in the various national banks throughout the world than had ever been known in the world’s history, and the annual produce of gold was something, enormous. From 1851 to 1870 the annual produce of gold was 27 millions ; from 1871 to 1880, 23 millions; from 1881 to 1890, 19| millions ; for 1892, 24 millions; for 1898, 26 millions; and for 1894, 28 millions, the largest on record. What became of this ? It was not earning any interest. Money at Home could be got on good security at 1 per ceut. He was satisfied the worst of the bad times had passed, that produce'would rise, and prosperity once more shine over New Zealand. (Applause.) ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. This measure, he believed, would b* a beneficial one to struggling settlers, and he had assisted the Government to make it law. It was not the intention of the Government originally to make it of much benefit to small settlers, but be and a small band of true Liberals who were in the House succeeded in getting various amendments introduced into it, until he now looked on it as a useful measure. It was a great pity that Education Reserves’ tenants and West Coast Reserves’ leaseholds were excluded. In order to make the measure a thorough success, they must have thoroughly honest valuers appointed. On these would rest the whole success of the scheme. If the valuers were not competent and reliable, they would likely find some gentlemen wishing to take a trip Home, borrowing £2500 apiece, and forgetting to return. (Applause.) LAND BOARDS. He did not see why Land Boards should not administer the Education Reserves and also the West Coast Reserves. The Public Trustee, who might be a good financier, really knew nothing about land, and a Land Board, composed of practical men, would be the proper body to deal with these matters. It would be highly beneficial to have a uniform system, so that every tenant would be on a like footing. It was absurd to have a Crown tenant placed in such a position with a lease that he has no means of getting relief except through the Bankruptcy Court. (Applause.) CONSOLS. The Government introduced this Bill because they stated the people desired a safe investment. They had the Post Office Savings Bank, which had the Government guarantee, but the Government wanted a million of money to finance with. The use they made of the scheme so far was to print £150,000 worth of Consols, take them to the Bank of New Zealand, and get sovereigns for them, costing 4 per cent., and hand them over to another Bank at 3i per cent. _ What can possibly be the result, but disaster, if the Government deal in this manner with one of the millions borrowed to bolster up the Bank of New Zealand. (Applause.) SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. He detailed the circumstances of favoritism shown to Colonel Fraser, who was of the “right color,” aud compared it with the treatment meted out to Major Brown in his old age, who was of the “ wrong color.” PARTY GOVERNMENT. The present system of party by Government was a wretched one. It permitted of all sorts of abases, which were very undesirable for the welfare

of the col ny. As an instance, the

Government held such absolute power over Magistrates, who administered in the S.M. Courts that, without any warhiug, a teh gram could be sent cancelling any Magistrate’s appointment. They need not even send a telegram, but gazette the suspension, • and throw a man with a fanvly depending on him out of employment. This sapped the independence of the Bench, and was most improper. These Magistrates should hold office during good behaviour, like Supreme Court Judges. (Applause.) manawatu kailway. He quite agreed with the Government in giving notice to the Manawatu Railway Company that they intended to resume that section of the railway, as it was the key to the whole northern system. It was a mistake in the first instance ever allowing the Company to build the line, but that was past, and the only thing to do now was to regain possession on the best terms possible. (Applause.) LEGISLATION. The present state of the Statute Books of the colony was too cumbersome, and the laws should be codified and couched in simpler language, as the mhltitudinous Acts ancl amendments led to great mistakes and confusion. (Applause.) POMOHAKA, CHEVIOT, AND HOROWHENUA PURCHASES. He went very fully into the history of these purchases, to which he was adverse. He always advocated the purchase of native lands, and owing to his scheme 250,000 acres of native lands in the Taranaki Provincial District had been acquired for £20,000, and were now being quickly settled, thus contributing to the revenue of the various local bodies. Against this, 7000 acres of Poraobaka were purchased for about a similar amouut, which is proving to be a bad “ spec.” The owner (Mr Douglas) had let the land for 7d per acre, but the Government had acquired it at a higher figure, weighted it 15s an acre for improvements, and leased it at 8s 6d per acre, which only represented 4 per cent, on the purchase money. He was opposed to acquiring properties from private individuals, whilst the Government had millions of acres of Crown lauds to settle, and whilst native lands could be acquired at 2s 6d per acre. They sbpuld settle their own lands before going on the London market to borrow money to acquire private estates which were contributing to the general revenue, as well as paying local rates and taxes. (Applause.) CO-OPERATIVE WORKS.

This system was being very much abused. Cases had cropped up in which men had taken works and then re-let them, being able to sit down, smoke their pipes, and let others do the work. [Mr Guy: “We must get Seddon up, and he would contradict this.”] Mr McGuire: No doubt he would contradict it, but it was a fact all the same. The system, however, was bringing the Government into disrepute, and whilst he agreed with the Government helping people in distress, by giving them relief works at little less than current wages rate, he did not agree with them encouraging a lot of hangers-on and crawlers. (Applause.) DAIRY INDUSTRY ACT. This was a very important measure, and he had done his best to get a port of shipment for this district. Such a port at Opunake with increased shipping facilities would be of immense benefit to Ibis district. (Applause.) LAND AND INCOME TAX. The Government had added two millions to the debt and were running the Ship of State on to the rocks fast. Did they think the Government were acting in the true interests of the colony in collecting the Land Tax twice during last year ? The majority of settlers do not care about this because at present it does not touch them, but they will likely find the exemption limit reduced, bringing thousands of them within its scope when the exigencies of the colony’s finance demand it, and then they will have cause to regret their apathy. The Government sought to set class against class, and said let ns go for those 40,000 tax payers. Making them pay up before customary time forced many of them to borrow the money at 7 per or more, when the Government could have procured the money for themselves at 3£ per cent. Taking the money thus prematurely from tbjse men forced them to curtail employment, and fully 40,000 men were thrown out of work and sent ?fc%£h ewags on their backs. (Applause.) REVENUE FALLING. The revenue was falling and a deficit seemed a certainty. To try and ■tem the current, the Income Tax was, now to be collected before its time, but this was only robbing Peter to pay Paul. A time was approaching when they would require money but could not collect these taxes; confidence in them would be totally lost and they would go down and down like the fallen angels never to rise any more. (Applause.) ADVERTISING, This is a matter which has been greatly abused by the present Government, as a rule. Apparently it had been laid down that unless a paper praises up the administration it is put on the black list and no Government advertisements are inserted in it, although it may be able to give the best publicity to certain subjects in the district in which it circulates. (Applause.) GOVERNMENT APPOINTMENTS. The Premier aud Minister of Lands had thoroughly abused their position in'the matter of making appointments. Several had been appointed to clerical situations, who, he was informed on good authority, would not be able to pass the 4th standard with any sort of credit. (Applause.) ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE. Under the present system Government was essentially a one man administration. If the Opposition carried a

vote of no confidence the mover of the !

vote was soiit) for and asked to form a Govornmo- t. This placed absolute power in that one man’s hands, as be could ask whom he pleased to join him and they would bo expected to bo subsc.vieiit to him. If, on (he contrary, they had an elective exoculi.e, experts would be chosen, not fools, and in the event of one not giving satisfaction he would be relega’ed to the lower benches and another appointed in bis place. Under the present system if one man does anything wrong the whole Ministry must go out. He was satisfied the change would result in a saving of at least £IOO,OOO a year. (Applause.) CONCLUSION. By means of legislation the Government was hampering every industry and preventing investment of capital which, in its turn, inflicted hardship on the laboring classes. The finance of the colony was getting thoroughly disorganised and soon it would require a clever man to *put it iu any kind of order. When the present party got into power under Mr Ballance the platform was retrenchment, self - reliance, and non - borrowing. Since Mr Seddon assumed power they had gone in for borrowing to the extent of six millions besides one million of consols. They converted loans for the purpose of collaring the Sinking Fund, and generally they had drifted from the safe course mapped out by Mr Ballance. There was a little band of true Liberals in the House who had proved a check ou panic legislation and the time would come when the people would thank them for their services. Mr McGuire resumed his seat amidst prolonged applause. QUESTIONS. Mr-Guy: Did Mr McGuire ever know of a contractor taking a contract for railway construction after obtaining an engineer’s estimate and having to go through the Bankruptcy Court through loss sustained ou such contract ? Mr McGuire: Yes.

Mr Guy : Did he ever know of a contractor taking a similar contract at what was considered the lowest price possible, aud yet afterwards find that he could do the work for about half the estimated cost ? Mr McGuire said he did not know of any such case. Mr Brennan : Where, when, and by whom was the statement made that laud fund and rate could be used for repairs to New Plymouth Harbor until after the interest was provided for ? Mr McGuire said it was the general impression throughout the district, and Mr Maxwell had given him the same information at Stratford. Mr Maxwell denied having done so. Mr McGuire said he gave Mr Maxwell credit for having made the statement in ignorance. The £4,500 arrears and the £12,000 yearly interest must be paid before one penny could be touched for any other purpose. Mr Maxwell: On what principle was the statement based that the country should have five members and the town one ? Mr McGuire said the question was, so simple he was surprised at it being asked. The basis of course was valuation. Mr Maxwell: Seeing that New Plymouth only represented about onsseventh of the rateable value of the district, and that it has now two sitting members, did ho still consider it was entitled to one elective member ? Mr.McGuire : Certainly, It was not likely that a Government which they so much admired would" give all the nominees to the town, but nominees had nothing to do with the question of representation. If Mr Maxwell were called to the Upper House, was that any reason why this district should not have a member in the House of Representatives ? Mr Maxwell: Is it a fact or not that Mr McGuire voted in favor of “ The Harbours Act Amendment Bill, 1894,” which he now regretted having been passed ? Mr McGuire said he was not preprepared to do anything against the Bill, but he now regretted that it had been passed, as he was afraid evil might result from action taken under it.

Mr Maxwell: If the statement that the surplus rate could be used for harbour works would be fatal to the conversion scheme, did he not think his statement that the Government had robbed the district of £IOO,OOO, and that the letter of the chairman had been tampered with, which Mr McGuire was continually reiterating, would also be fatal ? Mr McGuire said the bondholders knew all about this already, and it was impossible to say wbat they would do.

Mr Maxwell: Are we to understand ddiat you did nothing to obtain assistance for the Opunake jetty during the last session of Parliament ? Mr McGuire said he went with the deputation to AVelliugton, when they did not get any assistance, and then, knowing that correspondence was going on between private individuals and the Ministry, he refrained from any further action, so as not to hamper the private negotiations in any way. Mr Brennan : Considering that Captain Bussell and other members of the Opposition assert that the conversion operations have proved a loss to the colony, do you think it likely that this loan will be converted at par ? Mr McGuire said they would probably have to pay a premium, in which case the saving would not be £4OOO a year.' Mr Brennan : Considering that the alleged misrepresentation during the late election consisted principally in the statement that under the amending Act surplus rate could be used for harbour improvement, if a legal opinion were taken, and this was proved to be wrong, and lie (Mr Brennan) having made the statement, were prepared to publicly apoligise for

r, would Mr McGuire hi \ icp.TG>l to

upologiso, provide! ihe legal o; i non proved the statement to b ■ comci '? Mr McGuire said possibly under the Amending Act after interest we.ro paid, if there were a surplus of a thousand or so the Board might uso it. Mr Brennan : That is not the question. The question is, would it be legal to do so ? Mr McGuire said ho did not think any Board would raise more rate than was required to pay interest. Mr Brennan said the country ratepayers made sure of that by returning country members, and to prevent it being done was .their reason for returning them. There being no further questions Mr Brennan proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr McGuire for his address and courtesy in answering questions to the best of his ability, which was seconded by Mr Maxwell and carried by acclamation. Mr McGuire moved a vote cf thanks to the chairman.