J. W. JOHNSON'S ADDRESS TO THE Electors of the East Coast, LAST NIGHT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 865, 16 August 1879, Page 2

J. W. JOHNSON'S ADDRESS TO THE Electors of the East Coast, LAST NIGHT.

At the time appointed for the meeting the Hall was quite full. Mr 0. D. Berry was voted to the Chair, and opened the proceedings' with a few brief and pertinent remarks explaining the object of the meeting, and requesting those present to give Mr Johnson a fair and impartial hearing. Mr J. W. Johnson, on rising was cordially received. Ho said that the last time he had the privilege of coming before a Gisborne audience was when he was returned as a member of the Auckland Provincial Council. It was then time for something in tlfe interests of the Poverty Bay district being done, and that was the first step in the right direction, and they got something by it, though not all they wanted. At the present time there was a dissolution of the House, and another opportunity was presented of advancing their interests and the claims of a district which had been long neglected. The electors had a choice of men to send to Parliament, and in returning one they must remember that he would most likely be their representative for five years. Any action on their part should be well and seriously considered. He had been asked to come forward at the request of many friends, and he had come to the conclusion that it was his right and duty to ask the electors if he was a fit person to represent them. It would not be any benefit to him to do so. But if oue could be of any service to his country, and of any use to his constituency it wasfhis bounden [duty to come forward and allow them to judge whether he was a fit person or not to represent them. They had*a voice in the election of a member for this constituency, if there was no divided action on their part. It was properly two constituencies with separate and distinct interests t —those of Tauranga and Poverty Bay — but they had been shuffled into one. [ There was no doubt that they should be I distinct electorates and each ought to be entitled to a member. As it \vas they had now to submit to the bidding of the Bay of Plenty. He thought that the member returned should look after the interests of both places alike, and that it was only fair that now. they should be represented from this end. They might certainly return a local candidate now, although there were four out, as there would be a split An the Tauranga votes. If they were to win there ought only to be one candidate to run at this end. (Hear, hear.) He would ask voters not to pledge themselves as yet, but to reserve their votes. (Hear, hear.) He had not asked any one for a vote, as he thought if under the circumstances any were promised to a candidate it would be quite fair to break the promise. He would now, as briefly as possible, give them his views on the various questions before the country. With regard to the Representation Bill, he considered that it affected them to a great extent. They were undoubtedly entitled to return a representative, and he would endeavor, U returned, to obtain this representation for them. He did not regard the Electoral Bill submitted to the Government with any favor. They had a franchise at present equivalent, to' manhood suffrage. He would support a lodger's franchise, and surely there were not many in this district who were not entitled to be on the roll under the lodger's franchise. The Bill before the House would not give increased representation to what was now existing. It would be six of one and half-a-dozen of the other. There were certain restrictions, such as a term of residence and other qualifications, in the measure proposed by the Government. He did not think they were sincere in supporting their ; bill it was all buncombe and a mere election cry. The present act was sufficiently inclusive, as in 1876 an amendment was made permitting every ratepayer to be a member. That almost included everyone. Having expressed these views on the subject, if they did him the honor of returning him, he would not support the Bill for manhood suffrage, and it would simply be a waste of the time of the House to discuss it. With reference to the land question, he mis?ht say that the whole policy of the Government should, be directed to the promotion of settlement in the country, and getting a population distributed throughout the Colony. There were several ways of settling it. They had Waste Lands of the Crown, and Native Lands not yet acquired. He would urge most strongly on the Government the throwing open of all lands in their possession, not only here, but throughout the North Island. Some could be sold by auction and some on deferred payment. He was certainly in favor of selling them on deferred payment. He was also in favor of special settlements. ' There were many in England of the right class who would, if they had inducement offered, settle on these lands, and would be a blessing to the country. If a scheme of special settlements were introduced, there was no doubt that many even with small capital would come out, and these were the men wanted. One fault he had to find with every Government in power, was, when they got land they locked it up. In this county there were" more than 60,000 acres of land, now in the hands of the Waste Lands Board, lying unprofitable, and paying no taxes. Settlers in the district had to pay taxes for the improvement of this land. There was another matter — the fault of the Government — tho bad tenure to native lauds purchased by private individuals. This was a question 'affecting them far move than any other. There was not a single landowner in the district but what suffered in consequence of this evil. The titles to those -lands being bad, they could not be worked, and the whole country was kept back. Then there was the native tenure. Unfortunately there wns a Native Office in New Zealand, and it. had a good many satellites. This Native Office had done a vast amount of harm to the country. If they had started by making no distinction, "by legislation between the European and Maori, there would not have been any of the evils the y now deplored, and the settlement of the country would have advanced much more rapidly. The natives by what he knew of them, would be far better pleased to be treated like Europeans,and they would be more amenable to the law. A great deal of good could be

done if some cheap way was provided to assist the natives in the survey of their lands, and enabling them to profitably dispose of them. With regard to the Land Tax and taxation- generally, he thought the Land ' Tax '• a most admirable one if it was carried out in a fair and equitable spirit. He could not see why Native Lands were not included ; and it was most unfair to settlers that the natives did not pay the same share to it as their neighbours did. This was a gross injustice. The general taxation was not equally distributed. As to Public Works, the country had been borrowing, and it would soon amount to the sum of £25,000,000. The proper definition of good government was that every one; cftljfes. subjects and every one of its districts should receive attention. One should not su ffer from neglect, while another receives every, benefit. What had they received from the Government t He would answer, next to nothing, while they had to pay their proportion of the interest on the loan. They had to impress upon their representative to have w>me of the borrowed millions expended in this district. He did not need to tell them the works required here. They had but to step out of that door to see the condition of their roads. They had had nothing to make metalled roads, and they were every where impassable. In the South Island, matters were much different, but that was a favoured country, and was attended to by a Minister of Public Works. There they had metalled roads everywhere, and lines of railway throughout the country. He would like to see roads everywhere opened up. He would like now to mention a few things beneficial to the country. They undoubtedly wanted a light railway from Giaborne as far as they could take it in the country. It would benefit the whole of the district ! in many ways, help to metal the roads, and facilitate the progress of settlement in the remoter portions of the country. There was abundance of .good agricultural and pastoral land in the interior, awaiting means and communication, to Ibe advantageously worked. Then they Linust look a little further ahead, and he hoped that this line would ultimately 1 lead to a main line extending to 'Auckland. He did not despair of seeing this line to Auckland. Then there was the question of a harbor. This district had a right to claim some consideration with ; respeot to this work. They were fairly entitled to it, and as a matter of national importance and one likely to benefit the whole Colony, he would advocate it. Unfortunately they could not get the legislature to take the same view as they did, but they must try and make them. If they had more of a national feeling throughout New Zealand, he felt certain, instead of the prevailing local jealousies, that this matter would receive the attention it deserves. A Voice ; What about the education question ? - i ? The speaker said that with regard to that there were many differences of opinion. On the one hand, he said, some were unfairly dealt with by the present aot. However, he would be very sorry to see it touched in any way until it had a fair trial. No doubt there were sects injuriously affected by it, and he thought it a great pity that justice could not be done to all. The questions would be asked what side he would take in the politics of j New Zealand if returned, and to that he would give a straight forward answer. With regard to the present Ministry under Sir George Grey, he must say that- he could not support it (Hear, hear). He would give them his reasons. Sir George Grey was fa man of distinction in the past, and it was a pity he did not remain in the past. He had done the greatest injury that any man could possibly do in the. country- He had raised class distinctions. Mr. Geo. Wilson : But there must be class distinctions. There may be good men in the Ministry but Sir George Grey was not siuh. He in concluding would assure them of this that anything he had said that night he meant. *If they thought he would be of some little service he would ask them to sum tip. for themselves, judge for themselves, and act according to the dictates of their judgment. If they thought they could trust him he would ask them to give him their votes* and send him to the Assembly. Mr. Johnson concluded amidst a storm of cheering. - " . Mr. Keixy then put a question concerning some contract for metalling at Ormond, which met with' the general dissent of the meeting. Mr. Johnson said that if it was the opinion of the meeting he would reply to the question. Cries of "no;" " don't answer him." In reply to Mr. Bromfield, the candidate said he would most decidely press for the sitting of the Supreme Court in the district. It would only bo fair, and save the country unnecessary expense. Mr. R. Cooper : It would have Baved me £500. Mr. Hardy got up to address the meeting, but was ruled out of order. In answer to Mr. G. H. Wilson, Mr. Johnson said that he certainly disapproved of Chinese immigration, and that whatever labor there was in the country should be utilised. Mr. G..H. Wilson : Do you think it necessary to settle a peasantry popu lation on the waste lands and employ them in the construction of roads 1 Mr. Johnson said he was in favor of settlers of thai description, but he should not care, as had been done, to put people on land that would hardly keep a crow. In answer to Mr. Cooper lie said he would not be in favor of Rees's appointment at £5000 a year as judge to settle Native titles in the district. Replying to Mr. E. P. Harris, who said that Mr. Joh-nson had dwelt too lightly on the subject of Native lands, the candidate said that with regard to land not through the Court, the Governmentjshould survey every acre, and divide them into small blocks, and remove restrictions as to'their sale, and as to lands already dealt with, and have defective titles, there should be a Royal Commission with full power to settle these claims according to equity and good conscience. Replying to Mr. Bromfield, Mr. Johnson said he had already voted with the local bodies in favor of the establishment of a registry of deeds office, and with reference to* the Resident's Magistrate's term in any district, he |had I heard that an R.M. if too long in the

district miglifr.be influence- 7 |ta he thought it aid not matter wnether he was appointed %one or 10 years. ■ Replying to Mt Duncan McKay, lie said he could not support any measure brought in by Sir George Grey, because hejthought him insince e iuhis profession of friendship for the working inari. As to the reduction of duties on necessaries, he was inclined to vote for it, but - not with Sir George. Property no doubt should bear the chief strain, qn tax_ati,on. „ He would support a^ill for the re-dis«~ tributidh of seatsV j i "• / In answer to Mr E. P. Harris, he saidiierwas opposed, not so-vmuch' i» portions of the policy, bnt personally to Sir George Grey a3 Premier . of the Colony. He did not look At $he matter in the same light as the 1 person questioning him. Could, anyond have confidence in the Premier after; tarn-' ' p'ering with and altering the map of the Thames- Waikato line, simply to purchase votes. (Cries of not true. It has not been proved.) In answer to Mr S. Stevenson, he said if offered, he would not accept a Government billet. ; In reply to a question, lie said it was a disgrace for members of the Upper House to receive a honorarium, and in the Lower House it should bV done away with, but he would not, however, refuse to take it as long as it lasts. In reply to Mr. Townlby, he said he was perfectly prepared to retire in favor of a local candidate if decided upon by the electors ; but he must consult his supporters before he did so. In reply to Mr. Hughes, re abolition of the Agent-General's office, he could not give a definite answer. He thought there was work enough to employ him. In reply to Mr. Joyce, he said he would not support Sir W. Fox's Permissive Bill. . , A vote of thanks to Mr. Johnson was proposed by Mr. Ferris, and seconded by Mr. Cooper. On being, put it was unanimously carried. •' A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings. '