MEMBERS BEFORE THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1897, 12 June 1890, Page 12

MEMBERS BEFORE THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

Mr H. S. Valentine, M.H.R., in addressing his constituents at Gore,' on the evening of the 3rd, gave the present Governmenfccreditforimproving the financial position of the colony. He did not join in the cry against the Railway Commisbiouers, and considered that the investors of something like £14,000,000 spent on railways, who were the real owners, looked forward to the time wheu they would pay substantial interest. However much conveniences might be desired, they could not shut their eyes to the duty they owed holders of bonds. After defending the comnrissioners and their management at some length ho referred to the land question, expressing regret that the Fair Rent Bill had been thrown out. The future progress and prosperity of the colony depended upon the settlement of the land, and under the present system settlement was proceeding rapidly. He thought there was a good deal in the views on Jocal government put forward by Sir Robert Stout. Greater powers should bo given to county councils. He considered New Zealand had everything to gain and nothing to lose by going in for federation with Australia. He would not favour any radical change in ihe Rabbit Act. With reference to the proposal by Mr Fergus to buy up largo estates, he would oppose it if it meant that the colony should increase its indebtedness, and he would also oppose borrowing for further

railwny construction. A vote of thanks aud confidence and a pledge to support Mr Valentine was passed. Mr Macarthur, M.H R., in speaking at Fielding, pointed out the danger to the colony in dealing with the present or future indebtedness of local bodies. He showed that out of six millions of local bodies' debts, county councils and road boards owed only £320,000, principally to Government — under Government Loans to Local Bodies Act — on exceptionally easy terms, so that Mr Fergus' proposal was totally in the interest of harbour boards and municipalities. With regard to acquiring and roading lands by debentures in the colony Mr Macarthur pointed out that, whereas Mr Fergus' first proposal was ac attempt by means of a colonial guarantee to reduce the rate of interest to local bodies to 3| per cent, from the present average of 5£ per cent., his second proposal involves the absurdity of the same Government borrowing in the colony for itself at 5 per cent, and' upwards. Mr Fergus' idea of Government, with 20,000,000 acres of Crown land for sale, buying up bad investments of mortgage companies at fancy prices was condemned, also his reference to a bursting-up tax as a possible alternative. He approved of the continuation of the primage duty for the school building fund rather than borrowing for the pur° pose. Mr Macarthur expressed a profound disbelief that any such policy as that set forth by Mr Fergus had been agreed to by the Cabinet. Votes of thanks and confidence were passed. The Christchurch Protection League has adopted a set of test questions to be put to candidates at the general election. The executive council will endeavour to get the Protectionist party to adopt the questions throughout the colony. Chbistchttbch, June 6. Mr W. B. Perceval, M.H.R. for Christchurch South, addressed his constituents to-night. He contended that the United Canterbury party had carried their programme to a large extent. He was opposed to borrowing, but feared the colony was drifting towards another loan. He would be true to his party, but believed that an Executive selected from the best men in the House to carry out views of the majority in Parliament was preferable to party government. He accepted unreservedly aud gratefully the surplus which has accrued in the year's working, but was not satisfied with the economies of the Government, which had not been systematic, but the outcome of panic. He advocated a system of local government as the best means to , check undue expenditure. Referring to Mr Fergus' speech, he said the credit of harbour boards should not be bolstered up at the expense of the colony. The proposal to i3sue debentures for the purchase of Native lands was a most pernicious form of borrowing, as it could only be done at a high rate of interest, and it was foolish to suggest that the Government should borrow money to buy up large estate 3 for settlement. The colony must insist on a vigorous policy of land administration to secure the settlement of the people on the soil. He considered there had been no improvement in railway management, as the commissioners had irritated employes, harassed the farmers, and overtaxed the merchants. A vote of thanks and confidence was passed unanimously.