THE HON. W. HALL JONES AT TIMARU.

Otago Witness, Issue 2360, 18 May 1899, Page 19

THE HON. W. HALL JONES AT TIMARU.

TIMARU, May 9. | The Hon. W. Hall-Jones addressed a crowded meeting at the Theatre Royal tonight. The Mayor (Mr Keith) presided, Mr Hall-Jones spoke of the hard -work of Ministers and of the false charges of corruption brought against them by men who were not above using a Chinaman to concoct a Bun Tuck fraud. He criticised briefly Mv Scobie Mackenzie's recent speech, and then leferred to and explained away some of the charges of corruption. Concerning Cornet Wrigg's New Zealand Cross, that was given on the recommendation of a number of officers, and some of them Imperial officers of high standing. The treatment of Sir Walter Buller had been justified by recent events, Sir Walter having bought at £8 an acre land that he had previously leased from the Natives at 2s 6d. He then dealt at considerable length with the Marine scandal on the lines of his evidence in the recent Supreme Court case, quoting the same documents. He exhibited a photo of the envelope memorandum, and asked if any business man would have acted upon such a thing. It was impossible for the Minister to be behind all his officers to see that they did their duty properly, and in all walks of life there were some who would not do the right thing. The difference was that in a private firm less noise would be made about such a thing than in the case of a Government servant. He (Mr HallJones) had escaped attack before, and even this case was more used to get a slap ' at the Premier than at himself. The fact was that the Premier knew absolutely nothing about Jones's examination. Opposition critics had blundered by failing to distinguish between a certificate of service and a certificate of competency. The Premier had heard of the former, which was refused, but not of the latter. Jones tried to get the service certificate by means of exaggerated records, and Captain Allman advised that Jones was not entitled to it. Then for the first time examination was mentioned by Captain Allman, who suggested that Jones's service might enable him to dispense with a mate's certificate, ' which he did not possess. He thought there was something in the regulations bearing on the point of allowing a permit to be given. On this ho wrote the memo, on an envelope of which so much had been heard, following a habit he had, with the intention of asking the Secretary for Mai rine (Mr Glasgow) for information. As Captain Allman was leaving he said he | would look into it, and he gave him the j memoradum and asked Captain Allman !to let him know. That was in 1897, and he never saw the envelope again till early this year. He asked his hearers if any business man would take such a scrawled note as authority for anything. The matter passed from his mind, and even when Mr Hutcheson spoke of it in the j House he did not know to whom he rei ferred until Mr Hutcheson told him it was | someone he knew. This reduced the case | to two men, and Jones's case was easily | separated. He then demanded all the j papers, and threshed the matter out thoI roughly. The subsequent proceedings were detailed at length, as already published. In connection with this matter the papers ■ connected with between 130 and 140 persons i had been carefully examined, and there was j no evidence of wrongdoing except in some four or five, of which some doubts were entertained, and these were being inquired ] into. In regard to Mr Glasgow's evidence , that he had discussed the matter with him ' t at the time, he said that Mr Glasgow was

a conscientious man, but he must be mis* taken in what he believed had occurred. This was the latest charge of corruption, and those who had commented on it ag such had not taken the trouble to find out what were the circumstances of the case.Mr Hall-Jones next briefly referred to ( the changed relations of the colony and the Bank of New Zealand." Formerly, as Sir George Grey so strongly asserted, the bank ruled the colony. Now the colony ruled the bank. He pointed out the unfairness of the Opposition comparisons of the .colony in 1890 and 1897, as 1890 was an exceptionally good year of high yields and high prices. The complaint of overcrowded lunatic asylums was shown to be unfair, as though some were too full others had- spare room and extensions were in hand. Reform of the Upper House was now demanded because the seven-year tenure had liberalised it. If ever it was made elective it must .not be on the Hare system of large electorates, or only rich men could contest the elections. He described at some length the opposition to old-age pensions and the prolonged stonewalling, and pointed out that next election must, decidt whether the act was to be continued." It was only in force for three years at present, and the electors must not forget that he was in favour of reducing" limitations and the residence qualification to 20 years, increasing the pension to 10s per week, and finally making it universal. He gave some figures relating to land settlement and advances to settlers," and claimed that by these means the Government had really done much to increase the prosperity- of the colony. They would see a vast difference at once if the estates -that had been cut up and settled were restored to their former condition as sheep runs. The' unemployed had been dealt with in a more satisfactory way than ever before, and .generally the results of the Government policy were its complete justification. He was unable to speak of all the subjects he wished to touch upon, and would take another opportunity of speaking before the session. A number oi questions were asked, and the meeting closed with a vote of thanks and . confidence in the member and the Government.