MR FERGUS, M.H.R., AT QUEENSTOWN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1645, 2 June 1883, Page 19

MR FERGUS, M.H.R., AT QUEENSTOWN.

Queenstown, May 30th.

Mr Fergus, M.H.ii. for Wakatipu, ad dressed his constituents at Queenstown this evening. He said that whilst it was with a cettain decree of pleasure he met his constitnents, he could not but regret the many changes which had taken place in their midst. He had to lament a number of firm old friends whose days of strife were now over, and who had gone to swell the great majority. Likewise did he grievo to know that many honourable opponents had travelled over the same track, among whom there was none moie respected than Ins lar.e political antagonist, Mr A. C. Thomson. After referring to Mi Thomson's personal qualities, ho said he did not think there had been in the whole of New Zealand a contest fought out on more friendly terms than that in which they had eugaged The speaker went on to say that he was pleased to know that, notwithstanding the season ot depression which had descended on the Colony, and while commercial matters in the large centres of population wero in anything bui a rosy condition, the commercial industrieb and general financial condition of the Lakesdistrict was good, and that, too, without any bolstering up by public expenditure, but by tho development or tho inherent wealth of the country. The agricultural prospects never looked better than during last harvest ; the mining industiy, in spite of the many obstacles thrust in the way, was vigorous ; and the influx of tourists had been greater last year than ever hitherto. There was only one thing that gave him any anxiety, and that was tho rabliit plague. It was a curse which had destroyed m a great measure the carrying capacity of the runs, had impoverished niat^ of the smaller wool-growers, and if not taken in hand firmly all round by settlers, squatters, and the Government, would ultimately load to the abandonment of a great deal ot the roughui grazing country. Legislation had been attempted on this subject, but only temporarily ; and he was afraid that other and more drastic measures would have to be employed crn they could conscientiously say they had trampled the plague under foot. Still he felt couh'dout that they could cope with the evil. It would be quite unnecessary for him minutely to trace the eveuts of the session, but he would briefly allude to some of the milestones in the session's highway. One thing which struck him first on his arrival in Wellington was the absolute good-feeling which seemingly pervaded all tho members, doubtless engendered in a great measure by the relief occasioned by the end of electioneering strite ; and also with what tender solicitude the political fledglings were watched and treated. As they knew, he was returned as an independent, but with the firm intention of giving the present Government a fair trial, as whatever their faults might be, he at least thought them to be honest. The first fight of the session took place on the election of Chairman of Committees. He had steadfastly declined to view this as a party matter, and therefore cast his vote for Mr Thomson, of Clutha. He was not bound either one way or ether, and he voted for three reasons : he knew Mr Thomson as an old Otago settler, as an old and and honest politician, and as an old Chairman of Committees in the Otago Provincial Council. His acquaintance with the nominee ot the Government was merely from hearsay, and a good deal of that was not veiy favourable; besides which, all things being equal, he thwtight it but right that some of the plums should fall to the lot of the South. He was perfectly satisfied now, however, with tho way matters had gone, as he was sure it would be hard to find a bettor or abler Chairman than the gentleman who at present fills the position in the House. It hud been flung in the teeth of members that a good deal ot the time of their stay in Wellington was uselessly wasted in talk. Well, he must say that there were about half-a-dozen men iv the House who took a most unconscionable amount ot time, aud seemed to delight in hearing their own \ oices ; butat the same time it was hardly possible to avoid at the commencement of a new Parliament a certain waste of time for settling down. Neither the Government nor the Opposition_ knew who was who ; and again, the Opposition were iv a state of continual torture le.st the " old man eloquent " should rise some night in his wrath and smite them to fragments. He had no doubt that had the Government taken strong measures, they would have come out with a larger majority than was ultimately obtained. It bulk of laws passed was any criterion of work done, there never was a harder-working set of men than those who last sat at Wellington. That a good deal of sound, practical legislation had resulted he hardly thought anyone would deny — legislation, he thought, which would tend to the advantage of the Colony. Among the more important measures was the Loan Jiill. It would be folly to say he was entirely satisfied with the manner in which loans wero apportioned ; but that the Government, from their point of view, had done fairly, he thought was beyond doubt. That a greater sum should have been apportioned to Central Otago in all justice was undoubted ; still the position of Government was one of extreme difficulty, and we might have less to complain of the ostensible appropriation than of the extreme apathy in the expenditure thereof. Much money in the past had been wasted on political and nonpaying railways and through engineering blunders ; but it was absolutely necessary that the main arterial works should be steadily pushed on, taking care on tho one hand that expenditure should not create false prosperity, and on the other that the Colony did not suffer through tardiness in their completion. The pvenent Government could not be charged with having lndg< d the Colony in wifficulcms through their having pubhed oil public works, especially tho OiAgo Central Hue. Another measure- of no little importance was the Land Act Amondmont Act. It, contained a number of admirable reforms in ln.nd legislation, also provisions for a trial

b iin^ given to the system of leasing, after tinsimilitude of the nationalisation creed. Tho pcweut provisions unfoitunaLely applied only to lands on goldfiold*, but fortunately it would likewise be given effect to on the Native run* in tho North Islaud. Ha could not say he was a convert to the now doctrine ; but still ho was inclined to think the measure worthy of a. trial, and if it succeeded in putting fresh settlors on the land it deserved well of the_ country. The Roads and Biidges Construction Act he likewise thought calculated to be a benefit. Since Abolition the interior had lutfered much through the inability of local bodies to overtake the work allotted to them, and it was absolutely imperative that aid ■ihould be given to enable them to fulfil their functions, more especially as the Colony was reaping the benefit from the enhanced value *vhieh expenditure on roads and bridges gave to Grown lands. It was a pity that populous and wealthy counties should be obtaining so much of this vote, as primarily it was l<»«igne.d to a^ist the needy, It still had been productive of good, and he looked .van homo liuuu anxiety lo .-ei> now it operated luring tho coming year. Tho Crown and Native lands rating measure was also a more equitable way of adjusting taxation than we had hitherto had, as the capitalisation value of ..he land was a fairer basis of tax.ition than nhe annual rental. Prior to Abolition, a great deal of parochial work fell on provincial councils, and it was urged by advocates of Vbolition that this would ' be done by the proposed counties, and that the work •vould bo much better done by the simpler organisations, and with no chance of them coming into conflict with the. Colonial Legislature -a thing by no means rare under the old system. To a certain extent this had been accomplished, but there was a growing tendency to throw a great many illegitimate duties on the Colonial Parliament — duties which he had hoped to see performed locally. He should have been pleaded to soo some of tho county councils enlarged, although this could only have been done in several instances by amalgamation of two or more counties. He was sorry, however, last year to see facilities thrown 'in the way of counties being dismembered instead of amalgamated. This had been taken advantage of, and if further disintegration went on counties would degenerate into nothing beyond road board*, in which case extension of powers would bo impossible, and our centralists chains moro firmly riveted fhan ever. Therefore ho looked upon the measure as a piece of injurious legislation. With regard to the action of Government during the recess, he considered they had been too lax in pushing forward public works, moro especially those affecting the centre of Otago. It was simply .awful to sea the laggard pace of progression of tho Otago Central railway. Considerable discussion had arisen of late as to the conduct of Native matters, but the policy pursued by Mr Bryce was no doubt lound, as a recent peaceful exploration of the King country amply demonstrated. They had no doubt heatd of Major Atkinson's -cheme of national insurance. Whatever their vi«ws might be on the practibility of the •■oheme, the thanks of the community wore due to tho Major for hisendeavourstoelueidatea difficult problem. At the present moment it took £27,000 of public money to relieve the distress of the Colony, in addition to sums raised by private benevolence. Of the foregoing wutn the Colony contributed to Otafo 63072, and to Canterbury £1.2,700. It was scarcely fair to say the Colony had to contribute all the latter amount to Canterbury, as hitherto the Government had deducted half that amount from snbsi dies to county councils and boroughs ; but now that subsidies were no more the Colony would have to contribute the whole of that sum, as _ there wero no organisations capable of taking up the work performed by benevolent institution committees in Otago, and the disbursement had grown so large in Canterbury that the benevolent wero afraid to undertake the work. It was not to be supposed for a moment that those in Otago who put their hands in their pockets to relieve their own poor wore going to submit to be buidened with all tho destitution of Canterbury. Leaving the practicability of Major Atkinson's scheme out of the question, he was afraid they would find that the fact of its being a Government department would havo a prejudicial effect upon the people, as cases of sickness would not be so closely looked into as by private benevolence. Instead of promoting thrift he was afraid it would be a nursery for poverty. Reform in the Upper House was a subject also demanding attention, but he was not prepared to support the. abolition of that Chamber, as from experience it was found a wholesome safeguard against hasty legislation. He was iathei inclined to favour its election by largo disliioU, and lor,), period not Ics.s than .sewn ye.irs. lio had placed before them shortly the legislation of the pa<«t, and for the future would b<> ever glad to work harmoniously with them for the benefit of the Colony and district in particular. He trusted that the same good- fueling which now existed would continue between himself mid constituents in all parts of the district.

Atter a few questions had been asked and answered, Mr Daniel (county chairman) proposed, and Mr J. Fraser seconded, a vote of thanks to and confidence in Mr Fergus, which was carried by acclamation.