East Coast Election.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 1001, 19 November 1881, Page 2

East Coast Election.

Mr- Locke at GisborneMu. Locke addressed the electors in McFarlane’s Hall on Thursday evening last. The Hall was moderately filled, and the audience good humored and attentive. Mr. Townley occupied the chair, and introduced the candidate with a few prefatory remarks. Mr. Locke on coming forward was greeted with cheers, on the subsidence of which he said—Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen : It is with much diffidence that I come forward to address you after the previous speakers. I feel lamat a disadvantage, and, to a certain extent, nervous, but 1 shall endeavor to do my best. I shall endeavor to confine my remarks to the locality in which we are. Our present difficulties are the subjects that should occupy our attention first, and I believe that if we work together we shall, united, be able to remove them, and at tain that position, to which we are entitled, and for which you have worked so patiently and hard.

Like the other speakers I declare myself a supporter of the present Government. 1 have known most of them intimately for years, although that goes for nothing in asking you for your suffrages. I think they have done their duty fearlessly and well. I’hey found the colony in a state of great depression when they took office, but now, owing to their successful administration, money is flowing into the country, and confidence is restored. As regards Native matters they found in the King country a source of much trouble and anxiety. Tawhiaho expected the Government to run after him, but now he is running after them, and pleased as a child would be with the railways, and other works he sees established. He treated them with contempt, but now that he sees Te Whiti, and Hiroki, the murderer, in gaol, he is altering his conduct. The Government have gained an honorable and bloodless victory on the West Coast, and are entitled to the support of the colony. (Applause). I claim to support the Hall Government because I am a Constitutional Liberal. I look upon the present Government as a Liberal Government. Previous Governments did not do anything to promote the prosperity of the people. The Hall Government brought down certain measures which have redounded to their credit. Amongst others I may mention one to do away with the law of entail, which cannot work for good in a colony like New Zealand. We know the ill effects of this law in ihe old country, and the Government are to be congratulated on their attempt to remove from the colony the possibility of lands being locked up, by entail, for generations. You are, most of you, aware that 1 have known this district for some years—since 1864. 1 look upon myself as one of the earliest settlers, and hope to make this my permanent home. The reason that I have not resided here before is no fault of mine. The difficulty in not being able to get the land titles settled is the cause of it. And that brings me to the first question I wish to address you on, viz., the land titles. It will be necessary to do this before we can expect people to come and settle amongst us. We should have the large estate held by the Government consisting of half a million acres of land cut up, roads made to them and through them, and a system of small farming inaugurated.

As to the harbor. Unless we accomplish this work we cannot expect vessels to call at this port to take away our produce. We cannot compete with other parts of the Colony to draw commerce to our shores. I regard it as a Colonial work, and one that cannot be undertaken by local endeavors. There are 146,000 acres of land round the town which, as the Lincolnshire farmers said, is the richest land in the Colony. The lawyers can tell you what complicated titles are. The Supreme Court is the only present process to deal with this question, a process which is cumbrous and expensive. 1 can see but three ways to settle the question of titles. First: To wait for a year, and have a Bill prepared, providing for the appointment of a Commissioner, with power to hear cases and make awards. I was under the impression that, until Judge Richmond decided differently, that the Native Land Court Judges had power to adjudicate in this direction, but it appears they have not. I have, in years past, tried all in my power to get the lands subdivided, but 1 now find out I was wrong. The Bill I propose should not be mixed up with others. The Judges of the Native Land Court should sit as Commissioners under a joint-tenancy clause. And as regards the subdivision of our lands, I really do not think there is the great desire that some previous speakers have expressed, for a subdivision of the lands to take place. lam prepared to join with anyone to petition the Supreme Court to send a Commissioner at once, whose duty it should be to determine these questions ; and if this were done, I believe that, in six months these 146,000 acres would be put right. I challenge anyone to meet me on this platform, or elsewhere, and prove to the contrary.

The other plan 1 propose is a Bill to provide for the sub-division of the lands. Between this and Tologa Bay there are many thousands of acres held under joint tenancy. I think

these lands should be subdivided. The Government hold some thousands of acres, and J think they should be inspected by Government, and arterial roads made through them, and all the portions fit for settlement cut out for the purpose of deferred payments. They should be cut up into sections varying from fifty, to one, two or three hundred acres, and leased for 50, 100, or 999 years if you like. We will suppose that the land is valued at 20s an acre, and a selector takes 100 acres. That represets £lOO. Under the system I propose he would pay 8 per cent per annum for it, during the currency of his lease, which would go towards works, and keeping roads in repair in his district. I think a great mistake has been made in not providing large “ commons ” from our lands in this colony. If we took to the old country, we find yeomen, and small farmers where properties are contiguous, enjoying the rights and privileges which these commonages bestow, and I think it is a pity they have not been instituted here, as I am certain large benefits would accrue. I prefer this mode of leasing lands on deferred payments to giving them away under the Homestead system. I hear that the not worked well in the North. I disagree with Captain Porter’s proposal, and would not consent to aid small farmers with grants of public money. A good deal has been made, by the other candidates, about the Otago and Canterbury leases. I find on reference to Hansard that it has been already decided not to renew these leases. They will fall in to the Government next year, and these lands will be cut up and sold on the deferred payment, system. The greater portion of them is mountainous and not unsuited for any purpose whatever. I have heard a good deal said about? the New Zealand Land Company. I wish to explain my connection with it. When that Company was formed I predicted that it would not float I was encouraged to support it by promises of a most exhilirating nature. I took no notice of them at the time, but when my friends told jne they had invested their money in it, and had taken up shares, I altered my opinion. I was offered a seat on the Directory, and consented to take 10 shares, five of which I have given to a friend, and five 1 hold myself, so as to enable me to attend the Company’s meetings, and keep an eye on their proceedings, and if possible to prevent them pursuing a wrong course of action, and bring further stigma on our land doings in the district. 1 think this course is better than merely talking against the Company in the street, or on the platform.

This brings me to the question of local bodies. I think Provincialism is not to be heard of again. That form of Government was good enough in its day, but it is unsuited to the present circumstances and condition of the Colony. The time has arrived in which it is necessary that a more local, or a less centralising form of Government should be possessed by the people. If the new Provinces Act had not come into force, there would have been no necessity for the Counties Act. I think the system of Counties and Hoad Boards, acting together, works well ; but the Counties should have more power given to them. It is in the power of the people to take up which they please—the Road Boards or the Counties.

Referring to the rating of lands, I would remark that if the Crown and Native Land Rating Bill had passed last Session, a revenue of some £3600 would have accrued to the Cook County alone. I cannot understand how anyone could oppose it, or some such measure, so as to make Government and Native lands subscribe towards the expenditure of which they receive the benefit. I consider all lands should be rated. There are about 500,000 acres of Native land, and about as much Government land in this district, and if these lands were rated greater improvements could be effected.

I shall support the Property Tax, as I hold that every man should pay according to his wealth. It is not true, as stated by Mr. Gannon last night, that the absentees have been reached under the Act; but I think an alteration should be made so as to make them pay for their properties, which they, in a measure, still escape. Those who live at Home in ease on incomes derived from this colony, should be made to pay the tax. It is an alarming fact that enormous incomes are drawn by absentees, and I believe that something like £BO,OOO or £90,000 is drawn, in this manner, by residents in the Home country, derived from property in Hawke’s Bay alone. I think the Government made a mistake in reducing the Property Tax to a halfpenny in the pound, and for the reason that while large pro-perty-holders benefit by the reduction, others, differently circumstanced, have still to bear their tax through the customs duties on the necessaries of life. With regard to the breakwater, I see that those who opposed our late member looked upon the undertaking as one of a colonial importance, or they would have supported him. I must say I regard it as such, and one which I believe, if properly placed before the House and the Government, would receive their support also. Our exports last year amounted to some £60,000, and the imports to £95,000 ; 231 vessels visited the port, representing 89,000 tons ; and the duties re-

ceived in the same time were £8,807, and if all the dutiable goods that come here were duty paid at this port, the revenue from this source would reach £15,000 a year. The Government and- the House should be reminded that the colony —of which the East Coast Electorate forms a part, and subscribes its share of taxes—sends home some £150,000 as interest on loans, not a penny of which has been spent in this district. Other places have their railways, and the benefits of the public expenditure, and I certainly think we are entitled to a consideration in this respect, and ought to have the attention of the Government. One of the causes of the continued neglect of this district is that from the commencement of the Public Works Scheme southern men have always held the portfolio of Minister of Public Works. Mr. Ormond was a Minister, residing near home, certainly, but it cannot be said that the district benetitted materially from his administration. These facts show that the district has never had that consideration at the hands of the Government, which its importance as an integral part of the colony warrants it in having bestowed upon it, and which our future member must put it in a position to demand. I am of opinion that a circuit sitting of the Supreme Court should be held in Gisborne, and that a Registry Office should be established here. From statistics I find that all round, £5OOO was collected here in stamps alone. At present we have to send our deeds and other documents to Napier and Auckland, and it is calculated that the expense of the agencies for this work costs the settlers £3OOO a year. Every search costs at least a guinea, and to obtain a certificate of title costs at least three guineas. My observation hereon leads me to conclude that something like £3OOO a year would be saved to the Colony, and much anxiety and vexatious delay to the settlers, if my proposals are given effect te. I hear there is a case from this district, now before the Supreme Court, in which fourteen lawyers were originally engaged. Now there are eight, whereas, if the Supreme Court sittings were held here, there would be only two. I remember, too, that Napier had the Supreme Court there when its inhabitants were no more numerous than Poverty Bay is now. 1 am of opinion that with respect to the administration of our waste lands, the Boards should be elected. Previous speakers have said that we could not be trusted with the administration of the waste lands, owing to the influence that local prejudices would be brought to bear. I disclaim anything of the kind, and I was surprised to hear one of the candidates (Captain Porter) say that he was not sure he w’ould not be susceptible of a like influence himself. I repudiate such a doctrine, for I am convinced there are just as honest, honorable, and right-minded men in Poverty Bay, as is to be found in any part of the colony. (Applause.) I am in favor of encouragement being given to our Volunteer forces, especially those in the country districts, while, except in the larger towns, they ought not to be taken from their own districts. We did not know r if the troubles on the West Coast would reach us here or not; if they had we should have wanted our local men to protect their own homes and district. Our Volunteers should be encouraged to become good marksmen, to the attainment of which end I think prizes should be given by the Government. At the Cape of Good Hope, during some of the recent struggles with the Dutch settlers, it was a known fact that the Boers lost but two or three men in one engagement, while we lost some 3000 or 4000, and I attribute it entirely to the superior prowess of the former as marksmen. I am opposed to insular separation, or separation in any shape. The colony must remain whole and any attempt to disunite it must be met with a firm opposition. I know that Sir George Grey in Auckland, and Mr. McAndrew in Otago, are working hard for the purpose of separation, but I hope and trust they will not succeed in their endeavors.

I consider the Upper Chamber should be elective, but with a different franchise to that of the Lower House.

Education must be free, secular, and compulsory. 1 look upon the present Act as one of the best we can get ; and I am opposed to the Bible being read in schools. Schoolmasters should have nothing to do with teaching religion to their scholars. That duty should be confined to Ministers of the Gospel, who should have access to the schools, during stated hours for that purpose. While on this subject I should like to see another branch of education planted in this district, and that is an Industrial School, in which children, when they leave school, may be taught a trade, and started in life with the knowledge of some useful occupation ; and I should do my best to promote this all in my power. Co-operative factories and associated farming, I should also like to see amongst us, as I am convinced they would greatly promote the welfare of all classes in the community; and would occupy the minds of sbme persons much better than studying Native Land Acts, and endeavoring to solve problems on the sub-division of titles. In support of my view I will read an extract from a letter I have recently received from a settler, who has left Poverty Bay to reside in the South

Island. Properties here are rising in value quickly and a goodly number changing hands at good prices. The Agricultural Company is to have another large sale in November. Dunedin has floated a Frozen Meat Company ; ami Southland, not to be behind, is setting up anX. other. The New Zealand Land Company at Edendale, five miles from here, are making great preparations for a butter and cheese factory—and are importing a thorough-bred. Yankee as Superintendent ; and, most important of all, the kind Government are to begin, soon, forming a railway past our door. These are the things we want here, and must obtain them if possible. Now Gentlemen, J think I have touched upon several of the most important subjects. I have some others on which I wish to speak, and I feel I have it in me, but I cannot get it out (encouraging cheers). Therefore I shall conclude by answering any questions that may be put. In reply to questioners, Mr. Locke said as follows :— I shall oppose any attempt to return to Provincialism. I am not an advocate for the introduction of Chinese. We cannot yet judge if the present poll tax is sufficient to prevent their further influx. I do not consider the time has arrived for the Governor of the Colony to be elected. I agree with the Property Tax as being more equable than either a Land or Income Tax. The former reaches everyone which the latter would not do. I would encourage small farmers, but not with grants in aid from public money. Ido not. want to see the Colony turned into a huge pawnbroker’s shop. I have too much respect for my fellow’ settlers to think they would like to accept assistance in the w’ay some speakers have proposed it. I shall assist in an amendment of the Gaming and Lotteries Act. It is a fact that I hold a run of some 10,000 acres, which I had some difficulty in bringing under the Land Transfer Act, and I shall be very happy to follow the principle I advocate for others, and cut it up and sell it so soon as I can get a fair price for it. I consider the East Coast Land Company was started on wrong lines, three-fourths of its capital being in scrip. The southern people do not know the exact position of affairs. I should like to see foreign capital brought into the place, but it must be in a legitimate and straight forward way. Its all very well for the company to say that they are getting lands for the people. It is no such thing. They will amass as much as they can, and hold on until they increase in value, and then study their own interests. I consider what I have done to keep a check on the company as more manly and effective than in going about the street, or standing on this stage, running the company down ; and I only hold my five shares for the purpose I have before stated. I consider the present Education Act a very good one, and should have a fair trial; and I will support an endowment for a High School in Cook County. All the questions having been answered, a vote of thanks was tendered by Mr. Gannon, seconded by Mr. Ward, and carried with applause. After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting dissolved.