PRE-SESSIONAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1892, 15 May 1890, Page 29

PRE-SESSIONAL.

SIR JOHN HALL AT LEESTON

Chbistchuboh, May 8.

Sir John Hall addressed the electors at Leeston last night. He said he would have addressed his constituents sooner but for his absence in Australia. The last session was disappointing ; it commenced with a prospect of much useful work, but was practically spoilt by successful stonewalling. One stonewall lasted over a fortnight, and placed Parliament at the mercy of an unreasonable and inconsiderate minority. This had been checked elsewhere, and if not dealt with in New Zealand would bring parliamentary institutions into contempt. A fair remedy would be worth a whole session. The Financial Statement showed that the deficiency of £400,000 for 1887 had been converted into a surplus of £77,000 in 1888-9. Besides this, £50,000 had been paid out of revenue which formerly was charged to the loan. For 1889-90 a further saving of £40,000 was shown, and there was an estimated surplus of £70,000, which' had been more than realised. The loan for Public Works expenditure had been so husbanded that over £1,000,000 was left in hand. Such prudent finance was far better than a programme of "leaps and bounds," which would only have landed the colony in further financial embarrassment. The new customs tariff had given good results. It had stimulated local industries, as the coming census would show, and it had yielded approximately the revenue which had been estimated. A movement was nowinitiated for a further increase. This he should oppose, as it would unnecessarily increase the cost of living, especially to the most numerous class in tho community. It would be unfair to the farming interest, which did not share in Protection. If it were carried the farming interest would have a claim to bonuses on their produce exported, as was given in Victoria, which was a mistaken and dangerous principle. The property tax had occupied the attention of Parliament. The Government introduced a bill for removing some of the objections to the tax, but it was practically defeated by a combination of the Opposition and some Government supporters from Auckland, where this tax was unpopular. He believed the chief reason for this unpopularityi was the unreasonable valuations, which were too low in some cases and much too high in others. A land and income tax was suggested. This meant that land was to be taxed twice over and personal property only once. There was no reason why 40 millions of personal property should be thus favoured. He did not like the property tax or any other tax, but it was a fair tax. The electors bad on two occasions given this as their opinion, and would do so again when the question was fairly put before them at the next election. The subject of parliamentary representation had occupied much time and attention." The Government introduced a Corrupt Practices Bill, and a bill for purifying the electoral rolls and amending the system of registration in future. The former, he thought, was unnecessary, and both bills were buried beneath the 6tonewall. The principal measure on the subject of representation was one for introducing a system of proportional representation. It was fully debated, and the principle received an unexpected amount of support. It was only by this system that justice would be done to a democratic principle in government, and a Parliament elected by it would as close a reflex as was possible of the actual opinions of the electors. Minorities should have their fair share of representation. In the last elections in New Zealand large (minorities in Auckland and Canterbury were almost unrepresented. The difficulty in the way of proportional representation was that people imagined it was complicated. Trial elections at public meetings had shown this to be a mistake. He hoped that similar trials would be held in New Zealand. The Government Bill was shelved by the struggle between the town and country members for a readjustment of their share in the representattion. The country members only asked for a return to £he principle which was adopted in his, bill of 1881, which had never been complained of. Eventually they gained the greater part of their claim, and this did not do more than secure to the country districts practical equality with the towns in political influence and representation. He had endeavoured to bring forward bbc question of female suffrage, but although the Government at one time promised him an opportunity to do so he had not obtained it. The question was, however, only deferred. There was no reason why women should be classed with criminals, lunatics, and infants in exclusion from the franchise. They had equal interests in the laws of the country, and in many cases they paid the same taxes as men. Their admission to some learned professions and also to local elections had worked well. Tbe "politics in petticoats" argument would not keep them out. Most of the leaders of public opinion here, as well as in England, were in favour of female franchise, and in the House of Commons there was a pledged majority in favour of it. With regard to settlement on Crown lands, statements were being circulated that the Government discouraged small settlements. To get at the facts he had moved for a return showing what had been done since 1880. From this and from a speech delivered by the Minister of Lands, it appeared that the opposite was the case. The option of purchase had been given in 1887 to perpetual leaseholders. Since the beginning of 1888, three-fifths of the land taken up had been uuder the miscalled perpetual lease, one-fifth on deferred payment, and only one-fifth for cash. Voluntary settlement, independent of Government aid, had largely increased. A further experience of subsidised village settlers showed that in the South they had been fairly successful, but in the north of Auckland, where the majority of theße settlements were placed, they had not been successful. With regard to socalled land nationalisation, it was either enormous robbery or enormous folly. The Railway Commissioners had succeeded in making the railways return interest at the rate of 3 per cent, which would cover a multitude of their sins, but he thought that some of their changes were injudicious. Their treatment of the Lyttelton Harbour Board was exceedingly arbitrary and unjust, and threatened mischief to the grain growing interest in Canterbury. Not much good was to be expected from next session. Much of course depended nn the state of the Premier's health, which all parties — opponents as well as supporters— hoped would prove to be re-established. But with the House about to expire, and with the impending exclusion of 20 of their number ,members thought > would be chiefly given to the coming elections, aud it would be improbable that much useful legislation would be effected. A dissolution before the session would have been unpopular, but he believed it would have been best for the colony. With a new House there would havo been no doubb who possessed tho confidence of the country. If, however, the elections took place in September, when the present House expired, the question must remain in doubt for some time unless a second session were held soon after the elections. He said that the colony was to be congratulated on the improvement of the producing interests during tbe last two years.

The increase of exports was a matter for sincere congratulations. It was larger than appeared from the customs returns, because the customs valuations of our chief staples had been reduced. He had no doubt that the improvement would ere long reach the trading classes, and would have done so before now but for the millstone of debt that was hanging round the neck of the colony, He could see no justification for further borrowing for a long time to come, and would oppose it if it were proposed. Referring to the recent changes in the electoral districts, he believed that the Boundary Commissioners had honestly done their best, but inconvenient boundaries were the result of requiring an exact equality of population. Where there were no diversity of interests between two adjoining districts, such equality was really of less consequence than making the districts compact and easily accessible. In his own case the result was very unfortunate. His district was cut nearly in two, and he would have to part either from one half of his old constituents or the other.

At the close of his speech a motion waa unanimously carried expressing the thanks of the meeting to Sir John Hall and a renewal of their confidence in him, and requesting him to become a candidate for Selwyn at the next election'