MR THOMSON. M.H.R, AT BALCLUTHA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1189, 12 September 1874, Page 10

MR THOMSON. M.H.R, AT BALCLUTHA.

Mr Thomson, the member of the House of Representatives for the Glut ha distiict, addressed a mee'.ing of his constituents at Barr's Hall, Balclutha, on Monday night. There was a very good attendance, and the chair was occupied shortly after 8 o'clock. Mr Thomson said that in reviewing the events of the past session of Parliament, it w*s not his intention to make any remarks as regarded the Public 'Works policy at the present meeting. That policy had been so far canned out now, that it was impossible to retrace the steps of the country. He might, however, at a, subsequent meeting say something as to the financial consequences entailed by that policy, and point to the sta,te of our national credit on the public market, when it would be found that the price of loans had declined from 98 to 96. His first comments in connection with the past session would be upon the South Sea bubble of the Premier's raising, the Polynesian scheme. Though this matter had never in Parliament gone further piasto illy than its introduction by Mr Vogel, and the tabling of an immense mass »f papers, still, in consequence of the marked position occupied by it in tho Governor's speech at the opening of the Session, as well as in that delivered at the close, he could not avoid noticing it now. It was an effort on tlm part of the Government to create such a visionary state of speculation as had been created by the well known South Sea Bubble Scheme of many years ago in England. The second great point of tho session, and really the most important, because it had led to the new celebrated Abolition resolutions, was the Forests Bill. There could be no doubt but that this measure was only a blind for gotting at the Colonial lauded estate, for the purpose of meeting the financial difficulties which tho Government saw looming ahead. The Forests Bill had been practically defeated, and the result of that defeat, as ho,' Mr Thomson, contended, and as he could prove, was to lead up to the Premier's motion for the abolition of Provincialism in the North Island. Perhaps his constituents did not exactly understand the position of Provincial Government in the North Island, hut he could tell them that that position was brought about by the lowering of the capitation allowance by Mr Vogel, which was felt much moi c in the IS orth than it was m the Middle Island. He would ask them to look at the resolutions of the Premier, as regarded thvjir inevitable consequence to the Middle Island. That inevitable consequence would be the seizure of their landed estate, either to be sold by Mr Vogel to meet liabilities or to he used as security for obtaining loans. It was ull very well to say that tho resolution, pledging the country to the Compact of 1856, would prevent this. That resolution, like tho one which affirmed the maintenance of Wellington as the seat of Government, was merely a bait to catch certain voters. It was nonsense to assert that these two resolutions pledged posterity. It was well known that what one Parliament had done another could undo, and when the time came, Mr Vogel would, if not previously prevented, find a House which vvould do all he asked of it. Under these circumstances, then, there could he no second opinion as to the necessity for the electors of Otago opposing to the utmost the sacrifice of their land fund for other purposes tlun those of local improvement. Mr Thomson proceeded to point out further that even granting the Resolution re the Compact of 1850 was a genuine one, and was one which would prevent the evil they apprehended, there was still another point before the electors— that known as the Constitutional question. Mr Fitzherberfc had brought forward certain resolutions, which aitirmed the desirability of submitting to the people and Parliament, before a decision was come to, the measure under which it was proposed to replace Provincial administration in the North Island by some other form of Government. That was but a right and proper demand. Before they agreed finally to destroy Provincialism in the North Island it was but fair that the system which was to take its place should be laid before them, and they should be given an opportunity of canvassing its merits. But Mr Fitzherbert's resolutions hid been defeated, and Mi' Vogel was now about to press the point at issiio to the utmost in a tyrannical and unconstitutional manner.

Mr Thomson spoke at some length, but the above gives the main points put forward by him. — Bvxice Herald.