CAPT. PORTER'S ADDRESS TO THE Electors of the East Coast, LAST NIGHT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 862, 13 August 1879, Page 2

CAPT. PORTER'S ADDRESS TO THE Electors of the East Coast, LAST NIGHT.

Ik accordance with a notification, published m both the local journals, Capt. Porter appeared to adctress the electora. Soon after the Advertised hour the hall was well filled ; and before the candidate had terminated his few preliminary remarks, which! was intended to introduce the business : of the evening, there was not standing room inside the building. . , Mr. John Townley,' m the Chair, commenced the proceedings by reading the advertisement calling the meeting. He said that ..they all Knew that the Parliament was dissolved, and that it was necessary to elect a member for their district, and it was ' for them to decide who was the best man to return as such. They had very recently been agitating for a re-distrioution of seats, so that the interests of Poverty Bay might be represented m the House by a resident m this locality. They had now that opportunity 'of returning their own member. It was believed that Gisborne and the Poverty Bay districts could return a member if the electors m an united body did but work together, and were they, by whatever means they had m their power, to support but one candidate. Formerly they had found it a difficult matter for local men to come forward to represent them, but theyhad now four m the: field. However, they would have an opportunity of .judging now as to who was the fittest candidate. He would now call on Captain Porter to address the meeting. 'Captain Porter, m coming forward was received with very general applause, and proceeded to address the meeting as follows : — ln rising to address you I feel the responsibility of the position m which I have placed myself, and m coming forward to represent your interests and those of the entire district 1 1 must give you the reason for doing so, and also of addressing you at such an early date. The reason I have of coming before you to-night to express my views is because 1 may; possibly be . Called upon to leave Gisborne m a few days on private duties, and could not therefore attend the meeting contemplated by some who were of opinion that one should be held at which: several or all of the candidates might address you. If it is at all possible I will be then present, but m the event of any delay, I might not have the opportunity of appearing, but I am confident that though I may be absent, I will receive fair justice and impartial and honorable treatment at your hands. (Cheers.) I will be guidodih my actions by the general voice of the public. My sole inducement m coming forward is the good of the people, and on behalf of the long unrepresented district of Poverty Bay, I claim your support. It was my honest conviction that your district should have a representasive. It is simply with the view to serve our common interests that I venture to announce myself as a candidate, and as such I come before you perfectly free and unfettered. Ido not come before you pledged to any man or party, but with independent views, and prepared to maintain them. I leave myself at your disposal. You may return me or throw me out, and I shall be satisfied to abide by your decision. I take it that the present dissolution of the House is not the result of any particular policy submitted to the country, and rejected by a majority of its representatives. There has been no party cry raised, and we go to the country without being called upon to decide any party question, The Ministry had been defeated without any important measures having been introduced, and thus, I am of opinion, that it is not a question, of men nor of measures on which the electors were now required to consider, so much as the question of sending men to Parliament to represent the interests of the different constituencies. If there had been any broad policy laid down by the defeated Government, they could then take sides. It was difficult now to do so, and therefore I come out as an independent candidate with perfect

freedom to take either side. When the Government was chosen and appointed, it was time thereafter to take aides as an opponent and supporter of the Ministry. I state that my views are liberal, and that I shall assert these views especially m matters affecting your wellfare. Having been amongst you now a considerable time, you know that I have advanced my claims to be a liberal not without grounds." I have not on. any account offended one of you m any matter, and I have steered a course free from all dissensions. I shall ever mean to act so, and endeavor to unite men as friends. If I have made enemies, I say I don't know it. There is not a single man here can say that I am a conservative or heard me express any but liberal „ views, and throughout m all my duties I may claim to have acted impartially and conscientiously. lavill now, as briefly j as possible, explain my views on the different questions of importance before the country, and the first subject of my address will be that of NATIVE LANDS. I need' not get out of my depth while on this matter. You must admit that necessarily I am conversant with it, from my long experience m connection with Native and Defence office. It was an all-important matter, and affected this district more deeply than any other m the colony. There have been great evils resulting from the conduct of Native affairs, and this was especially the case when large votes were appropriated and the expenditure unaccounted for to the country, save m a general way. This, no doubt, Was accounted for by the defective legislation then existing, and it was admittedly a difficult matter for legislation to deal with, (hear hear,) much of 'the money was spent to no purpose, and wastefully applied. Men had gone into the House, and have striven to correct the errors consequent on these defective laws, and had failed m doing so. Measures bearing on this subject, which were there brought forward,, were not successful m dealing with the difficulty. They had to contend with a state of disaffection throughout the country, and avert if possible a war. The whole of these evils from beginning to end sprang from the war with the Maories, and had reference to disputes, about land. The satisfactory settlement of these claims by courts of law, was the only real remedy. If they received proper attention, and once for all were finally disposed of, we shall be nearer the end of the Native question. It was this which led . us into the ditiioulty ; and I trust that my knowledge of this subject will enable me to speak on it, and very materially assist m the solution of it. Direct private dealing with the natives should cease, and all sales should be conducted through the Government. This is an important matter affecting you ; and, although 'native lands should be thrown open •to competition, it should be within certain limits and restrictions. I would not give the Government the sole preemptive right to the purchase of native lands. They should only assist m enabling the lands to be surveyed, and the titles to be investigated and decided upon, leaving the acquisition of such lands to public competition, at a price remunerative to the parties disposing, and giving them every reasonable inducement for the extinguishment of their titles. • The Government should, however, set aside reserves which should be inalienable, m order that the natives should, for the future be provided for, and should not be made paupers and thrown m a state of destitution on the community. It was their duty to make these reserves, and certain laws and provisions for the natives. It was necessary: td acquire and profitably occupy these lands, and •it was no use leaving them m the hands of the natives unutilized. Let the Government assist m the surveying and settlement of titles, and put them m the market bo that they could receive the highest price obtainable. The Governwould then be responsible for the title, and there would be no fear or hesitation on the part of capitalists m investing, whioh they would if there was a responsible; head to deal with. The uuseourlty of title to land was the principal cause of all the difficulty and trouble with which they had to contend with m this East Coast district. The greater number of titles were unsatisfactory, and the tenure to most- of the land unsecure, and it was the interest of every elector to: have this question satisfactorily adjnsted. Men m Gisborne, and through out the Colony, were anxious to invest m land but were, on account of the present state of affairs, deterred from doing so. Even m many cases where there could be no dispute sales could not be effected. The reputation of bad titles was not altogether well merited ; but the impression was established, and I have no doubt until removed by a speedy means, it will continue to influence capitalists m their investments much to the detriment of every one m the community. It is quite clear that we have many disputed titles, attempts had been made to assert claims to land m occupation, leading to a breach of the peace, and the rights of the subject have been trespassed upon. In the absence of a special Court to investigate such subjects, they could never decide matters m dispute. A special Court should be established, and sit until every title m the distriot was indisputably settled. If I had a voice m the settlement of this matter, I would, without any delay, bring it before the House, and endeavor to have such Courts established, and get the Government to give these Courts complete, authority to adjust all disputed .claims according to law and equity. I would have the Court presided pver m each district by a Judge, and assisted by Native Assessors. Then, there is one j more matter — that of the division of Native lands and sub-divided titles. This could be managed by the Court if provisions were made m the Bill introduced, a& also the question of reserves and all else relative to titles to Native land. One of these special Courts should come here- and sit until all doubtful cases were disposed of. I will now come to the question of PUBLIC WORKS. . This was one m whioh every one m this district was interested m, and one that affected every person here. The shameful manner m which it had been neglected! brought the matter home. to everybody. The. Colony has now borr rowed to the extent of £25,000,000, and expended it during the last ten years m Public "Works. Every- other district has received a benefit from the loans m

the construction of railways, and roads, except Poverty Bay* Absolutely nothing had been expended here m comparison to what other and less important places had received. I have ascertained that the total of Custom receipts for the port of Poverty Bay, during 6£ years for duty only on articles of consumption was £59,500. The amount paid into the Land Fund of the Colony, I have not been able to arrive at, but I should suppose that it exceeded £50,000. As against this what have we received ? A paltry £10,000 or £11,000 spent on the Government Buildings, the Waipaoa Bridge, the Wairoa Road, and a portion of the Coast Road ; that' was the sum total of what assistance we have received from the colonial revenue. You are entitled to ask boldly, for the works required. The application made, to the Minister of Public Works re Giflborne and Ormond Railway* had not been approved. Our claims to have that work undertaken . are undeniable, and we have a perfect right to demand a portion of the public expenditure, and you can use no better 'argument than returning a member who will support your cause m respect to the promotion of this work, and the construction of arterial branch roads through the district. A road was required between Ormond and Opotiki, and from thence to Tauranga to .open up and develope the interior* The Government should be urged to make special settlements, accessable by. roads. The Railway to Ormond would only be the inception of a great scheme of communication throughout the extent of the country. [The speaker then referred to the many evils they were compelled to submit to from lack of means of transit, and the high prices charged m consequence. It was essentially an agricultural district, and the' town was dependent on the country, and failing good roads, it could not possibly prosper. A number of other local matters were mentioned m connection with the public works required, among which a scheme for the special settlement of the Motu Block.] With reference to EDUCATION I have always expressed my views m favor of a liberal system and a national and undenominational 'one. I say my views are liberal. They are so m this way : I consider, that while we should have no religious education m our public schools, that there should be limited aid given to . whatsoever denomination maintaining their own schools and giving religious and secular instruction. All creeds were taxed alike, and . I think that if any body from conscientious scruples should Hold aloof from the present system, they were perfectly free to do so, and should be entitled to a limited aid. With respect to TAXATION, I may Bay that I am averse to taxation ; > m any shape it was objectionable. But we cannot get along well without it, and may say, with the American, that the taxgatherer never goes to bed m the British dominions. But though we object, we must have it m some form, and that which presses the least on the springs of industry should be adopted. I am*opposed to a; Land and Income Tax. In the former case, the evil of absenteeism is produced, and we could not oome at the real capitalists- and propiietors. The land held may be mortgaged, and Tisaally was*, to capitalists, 1 and the occupier struggling under very great difficulties ; and as to an Income Tax, it was not fair or just to levy a tax r on the earnings of the brain or muscles of a man. It was oppressive, and fellunequally on the producers m the community. T am, however, iii favor of a property tax, which \s the only means of reaching the. capitalists, and making them contribute to the revenue. [The speaker then went into greater length into the subject, and quoted instances of the injustice re.* suiting from land arfd income tax.l As to # BEPRESENTAION I am m favor of manhood suffrage, qualified by a residence m the district. The franchise m New . was ; almost approaching to manhood snffrage. There were only a few restrictions, which, onoe removed, would enable every male adult to have a voice m the representation of the district m which he may reside. I will support the Electoral Bill which was brought forward at the late session of Parliament, embodying these changes, and m conjunction with this I will strongly advocate TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS. I need not dwell on this subject at any length, as most of you are acquain* ted with history, and know the evils attendant upon a long Parliament. Representatives were more amenable to the people when returned only for a short term, and there were many other arguments m favor of the institution of a Triennial Parliament. I will now come to the question of COMMONAGES. If, m connection with all towns, we had commons, where the people might graze a cow or a horse, without the risk of getting them impounded, it would be a benefit to all classes, and it was a great mistake m laying out townBhips that there were no reserves of any kind laid off by the Waste Lands Board m this district, Their idea appeared to be to dispose of as much land at the highest figure possible, without considering our requirements m any mannor. The system could also be applied throughout the Colony before the lands became absorbed m a few hands. In disposing of the waste lands care should be taken to provide that large estates were not disposed of. The area should be limited and opportunity offered to those with small means to compete. In passing from public to

IOCAL MATTERS intimately affecting you, are those of a Harbor and port of refuge for the East Coast, and the development of the mineral -wealth of the district. With regard to the Harbor, we have several good reasons for urging the Government to provide suitable shipping' accommodation. We had a capacious port, and water of sufficient depth for vessels of large tonnage to enter. But owing to no shipping facilities, freights were high and as an instance. I paid £1 13s freight on goods from London to Auokland, when the same goods cost £2 11s m coming down from Auckland. He would advocate that the steamers be subsidized so that the freight might be reduced. We have every indication of large deposits of mineral wealth m the district, requiring only capital to create industries m oar midst. We hare alao

the petroleum springs. You require to have these fostered by Government aid, and I will try and obtain a bonus. That the springs might be remuneratively worked there can be no doubt. Then there was the matter of Borough reserves, which ought now to receive the attention of the House, as it had long been neglected by the several officials applied to. An artesian supply of water for this town should also be prominently kept m view, and efforts made to obtain some assistance towards this object. These are' several of the matters that will receive my utmost attention. In returning a representative at this election, you must remember that he will go for the whole term of five years. If you want to return a local member, you have now an opportunity which yon will not have for another five y£at& You have now a chance of returning a local man who would force your wants on the House of Representatives. I would, therefore, urge upon yon to be guided by your opinions of the respective candidates before you. If you are determined to put ' forth an united effort for the welfare and good weal of the district, you.cau do so now. (Hear, hear). There will not be another election m twelve months. When the members are returned, there will not be a dissolution for five years. We must take advantage of the present time- In coming before you Ido so at considerable sacrifice. I regret that this election was not. last year. We are. now Buffering from a general depresHon, and m common with you I have also suffered. Twelve months ago I was untramelled ; I am now m the receipt of a good salary, and a very ' large one. I can have no object m sacrificing this large amount, which I shall do m representing you. It is now your opportunity to return your manor for ever sink into a state of oblivion and ruin.

Several questions were put to the candidate, and satisfactory answered. We regret that we have not space for them m our present issue. On the motion of Mr. J. Cuff, seconded by Mr. G.<H. Wilson, a vote' of thanks was accorded to Captain Porter for his address, which on being" put was received with an unanimous " aye. aye." A vote of thanks to the Chairman, terminated the meeting. :