Mr Buxton at Geraldine.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5031, 12 June 1889, Page 2

Mr Buxton at Geraldine.

On Monday evening Mr 8, Buxton, mem* her for Rangitata, addressed his constituents in the Oddfellows’ Hali, Geraldine. There was a large attendance, the hall being crowded.

Mr W. 8; Maslin, chairman of the Geraldine Town Board, occupied the chair. Mr Buxton said he would first explain the reason why he had not met them before going to the last session of Parliament, which was partly through pressure of private business, and leaving his farm at Rangitata to his present abode. Some persons say that private business should not interfere with public duties, but he could not well have met the electors of Geraldine without injury to himself and family. There was one thing he wc uld mention, and that was a matter that he should have brought before them in regard to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, brought before the House during the last session. He had been requested by this part of the district to vote against the Bill, and by North Rangitata to vote for it. He was in that position that he could not possibly vote right, and he could not possibly vote wrong, and he came to the conclusion that he would vote for the second reading of the Bill, and when in Committee of the whole House, as far as the Waimate Hospital clause was concerned, he would vote against it, but for the Ashburton Hospital clause. The Bill, however, did not pass and was still in abeyance. His own opinion was that it would be beat for every outlying district to have a cottage hospital in its own immediate neighbourhood. It was hard, for instance, that a patient at Peel Forest should have to be conveyed all the way to Timaru. Be might be dead bef&e he arrived there. In regard to charitable aid there had been lengthy arguments and debates in tbc House. Id his opinion tho question of charitable aid was one of the greatest importance and interest. He believed that tho poor migrated to the towns, but the rich did so also and should help to support them. They hadfar too many hotels m the town—they made the poverty. Men went into them with cheques, of which they were soon relieved, and went to their friends for half-a-crown to help them back to their work again. Another class of people, the poor and wandering, that caused a heavy tax on tho outlying districts, was the swaggers who went about from station to station, and many of the large farmers and ' stationholders had frequently five or six of 1 them of a night, who went to them for meals, and they would be hard hearted indeed if they | did not help them. Some provision should be made for them by Government. Many of the poor would not work if they could get it, whilst others would only be too glad to get work at low wages. People did not like to see otiicrs starve, but the outlying districts had a‘ heavy lax laid on them. In regard to Bible reading in schools, he noticed there was a sad want of something of a moral character. He was at a banquet in Wellington where there was a largo number of youths from 15 to 20 years of age. It was a pitiable sight to see many of them with their hats on one side of their heads, and with cigarettes in their mouths. In spite of the Major, tho Speaker of the House, the Minister for Education, and others being present, they could not be kept quiet. They were the most unruly, youths he ever saw. He put this state of things down to the want of the Bible in schools to a very great extent. He saw there was no real good sound reason given why it should not bo read in schools without comment. It should be simply read. It would thus cause the youths to reverence the Bible, and their superiors. He hoped to see the day when the Bible would be re-introduced into the public schools, but not for the children to be taught religion there. A measure of vast importance to the colony was tho Land Act Amendment Bill, and there was but little fault to find with it, every clause was commendable. On the whole it was a good Bill, and he did not see that it was his duty to oppose it, for according to his opinion it had been a success. It provided three different ways for people to purchase land. First, by paying cash ; second, by perpetual lease ; and third, on the deferred payment system. The first had not been taken so much advantage of as tho other two, and to his gratification the perpetual lease had found the most favour with the people. On the cash principle 63,G44 acres had been purchased, on tho perpetual lease 210,863 acres, and on deferred pajment 47,441 acres. That quantity ofland liad realised £461 for eush, £825 on the perpetual lease, and £336 for deferred payments. The perpetual lease was the most acceptable. Most men liked freeholds, but they could not have them unless they had the cash to pay for them. There was one reason why the perpetual lease system was so much preferred, and that was that people had so little cash. ‘ They were .anxious to get on tho land, and they accepted the terms rather than go without a homo. The perpetual lease system was the most favourable according to his opinion, and tho best measure that Mr Rolleston ever brought down to tho House, and ho (the speaker) only wished that tho whole of tho land in New Zealand had been taken up under that system. He next spoke of the Native Lands Bill, which had caused a deal of trouble iti the House. It was to enable the natives to settle on and dispose of their own land. Ho considered the Bill a great blessing. The natives held seven million acres of land, of which three millions wore of the best quality. If that land were occupied by Europeans and industrious natives, it would bo a blessing to the country. In regard tq

the Fair Kent Bill, it was of great importance to the colony, but it was thrown out of the Upper House. It was looked upon as a necessary measure, and had been asked for for several year’s. When it passed the Lower House, and went into the Lands Committee, they so mutilated it and struck out so many clauses that it was entirely spoilt. He, however, lived in the hope that it would be reintroduced and become eventually one of the laws of the land. It appeared to affect certain individuals. Harbour boards, county councils, and their friends were opposed to it, but ho could not see why, except on selfish grounds. In the Upper House gentlemen held land, and they were afraid that land would be brought to far too low a rental, but what was fair between man and man must be tight. Many persons built on land, and expended large sums of money on it, and it was only right that they should receive fair rents for them. The sum of £IO,OOO had been asked for labour settlement where Crown lands were not obtainable, such as near Geraldine, Ashburton, Temuka, where the labouring classes could have five or ten acres wherewith to support their families. It would have been a useful measure if passed, and would have been at least a trial of great importance. Men were leaving the colony who would otherwise have remained could they have but obtained land to settle on and get a homo. The resolution to spend the £IO,OOO on labour settlements was lost, 30 voting for it and 32 against it. If one of the 32 had voted on the other side there would have been a tie, and the Speaker would have given his casting vote in its favour and it would have become law. Ho did not say this to pander to the working men, but he always endeavoured to do that which was right to the whole colony. In reference to the Otago Central Bailway Bill, ho was one who favoured the Bill, for he had formed the opinion that it would be a good thing for Few Zealand to have the line constructed. His reason for supporting the Bill was that there were a groat many pick and ehovcl men in the colony who would bo glad of employment, who had been and are still leaving the colony because they could not get anything to do; besides if the line were constructed it would open up a large tract of country. Ho would now mention a matter of great importance iu regard to the number of members who should constitute the lower House, and he knew he should be called to account because he was, when seeking their suffrages, ju favour of seventy members as sufficient to represent the electors of the colony, but when ho heard the debates during bis first session, and also the last, ho was more than ever convinced that he had made a mistake, and had altered his views, as he considered it was against the interest of New Zealand and playing into the hands of the Tory or Conservative party. It would be better and more economical to allow the number of members to remain as they were, for if reduced to 70 it would place the affairs of the colony in the bands of moneyed men. Those who could afford to contest an election would succeed, and a great number could not afford to contest it if the number were reduced to 70. Coming to the railways Mr Buxton said he considered that they were in a very unsatisfactory condition as far as their working in that district were concerned, and were a source of general complaint. Ho had taken every means that lay in his power to get the commissioners to alter their decision in regard to the matter, but without avail. He expected that there would bo an outcry, but be never thought the new arrangements would be so inconvenient as they had turned out to be. He very much respected Messrs Maxwell and Hannay, but he considered that the powers vested in them should be taken out of their hands. He thought they should bo approached and requested to alter the present arrangements for surely should study the people’s wishes and conveniences. During the two sessions he had been in tba House, he had done tha best he (could both for his constituents and the whole colony. Ho did not say he was the most able man they could have sent; he could see before him men who were more able than himself. Ho con sidered himself their servant, and was willing to act in accordance with their wishes. He would do his best both for rich and poor alike, and ho would always thank them for their advice on any subject. They never had a man to fear them less or respect them more. He then passed on to the tariff proposals of the Government which were such that the Opnosition could not well object to them. He believed in a moderate and fair protection. Uhey should protect the capilalist. If men came to the colony with thousands of pounds and erected manufactories whereby a large number of mon were employed they should be protected in their industries. He, however, resjiected the opinions of those in favour of free traded but free trade, to his mind, would bo an injury to our young colony. . They needed protection on a fair and oven scale so that capital could be employed. He voted for the Government on their tariff proposals, but bo should have voted against the duty on tea but was informed that if such were carried the Government would stop the subsidies to local bodies. He thought that would bo an injustice to the districts and ho voted for it. He had been blamed for voting for a duly on binding twine, but he considered that the manufacturers of binding twine in the colony had a right to be protected, for they improved the quality and needed protection. If this were not done farmers would have to pay dear for that article. If the Government had been ousted on these proposals it would have been an injustice to the colony. Many of his colleagues were men of high principles, and he was proud to belong to such an opposition party; but ho would go with the Government when they did right, and against them when he thought they did wrong. The general outlook of the colony he considered was much better than it was last year, but he thought that if another Government stepped into power the figures would show up even much better than at the present time.' The outlook was favourable in regard to the prices likely to be obtained for grain, wool, frozen meat, and other articles for export. The colony was still in a dangerous position, but they would eventua'ly right themselves. They had all been extravagant, going ahead too fast, but they need not be at all disheartened. He would give them now an opnortunity to ask him some questions. Mr Buxton was asked several questions by Messrs Aitken, G. Tayler, R. Hammond, M. Burridge, B. R. Macdonald, J. Cunningham, and rhe Rev. G, Barclay, all of which were answered to the satisfaction of those present. A vote of thanks for his address was proposed by Mr Hammond, seconded by Mr G. H. Patrick, and -carried amidst considerable enthusiasm. The usual vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.