THE MATAURA ELECTION.

Southland Times, Issue 3289, 4 January 1879, Page 3

THE MATAURA ELECTION.

•erjHppRESS BY MR A.KINROSS. 7 . ' a St____ti n :,rbt Mr A. Kinross, one of the ioSM&ttsV the v^cany caused in the reilH&n 0 f Mataura, by the elevation of l ■ t0 the Legislative Council, ad[icalK a meeting of electors in Ramsay s ' s -l_____jf There was a very moderate attend-, N_____Rnd Mr Crisp of Appleby was called. --^.Krhainiian expressed the pleasure it ; IBed him to occupy the position, and >vl__By introduced the candidate //• '-> S-MPkiiiross at the outset of his speech r.s__»i.t-d the smaUness of the attendance ll_____fi-ecent holidays, and added that it Ih'l_H|ther a discouragement that there ls itP__tt_ not be a greater amount of interest ftr^___fclii politics than there /appeared to he ls^^B_n'"ht. Though "-the attendance w-as 1,: -^____Phc hud no doubt it included many--3 I^Klsof the right stamp, ancl with tlie 1 c l___E_rcc of the press he avouUl be enabled: views before those wlio were f^Bfcnl. The meeting had been called t^lßa hall because the time was short, ia__Btlie portion of the place of meeting cll_____entnil for all.. the suburban rmimciike^Hes They were aware that there was 'fl'lKier gentleman who had already an'himself as a candidate— -that was nt<^B& an fc s . To some extent lie proved to aa^^Kj' t j ie same side as himself,- .'so that lie i^l_H|iaeed in a rather awkward position. llucb - pleasanter for to *'^^^____P entirely to his political principles, l^B|ithis occasion, seeing there \veretwo •J|^Blates professing si nilar principles, lie •dl_____fifniake some : resference to his own g^fcfiervices, to show them that he had -7______l|ter claim on their "support than Mr ewMjfs w ho was a comparative stranger, iefMjj ll( i hitherto taken no part in public Ja^____§t° st of tnc old coloulsts knew tliat * ?e ' :|f^Bjf)eaker, had at one time taken an ''l^Bfpart in attending public meetings, tl^Bf "dressing them on the political topics TS^Mgeaay. P* e observed from the meetsfj^Hlt the Bluff which Mr Shanks adfl^Blc] that he claimed to be called a > i_____fici^ n because he was a member of the hl_Hi»y Council and Road Boards, and '^____P )OC - ies o£ that nature - -Ke : (Mr Kiri9%^mf had been a member of such bodies, b|^B|j; he had clone nothing more he would . *f|__BP liiinself a politician. These bodies •''^■considered to be entirely non-political.-body was one which made laws, Pj^Rh which the principles of responsible y^Harnment were earned out. Only those I^Khad taken part in politics could be I^R|d politicians, and during all their J^Mles he had never at any time read a J^Krt of a political speech made by Mr J^Bnks, who, he contended, therefore was !___■! politician. He (Mr Kinross) had '|^B_?a member of the Southland Provincial f^Kici], which was a political body, and Ktj^Be law^s like the House of Represent>xj^mik, in 'which he was endeavoring to of^Biih a seat. He came before them as a °I____PP politician, ancl Liberals said that 7J^B*Kvished to see all parties have a voice -H^Re making of tiie laws. That was the J^Bs to which he belonged — tiie class of 7|^B_iators who were encleavoring_to obtain '!__■s rights for all, and sought to secure J^B^everyone who wished to obtain a f^Bie in this new lancl tlie privilege of •j^Bpning a freeholder. (Applause.) He Q :^Hisince he had taken an active part in g^Hjtc life, been what was termed a strong n|^B§' man. He looked ahead, ancl asceri^^Ked what was the proper course to purJ^^Hand having once determined on the he did not waver in the carying g^Hjjfcmt' but stuck to his party. He had 'd^Bgympathy with politicians wishing Jj^Haclopt middle course. It had always gratifjing to him to have confidence leader of his party. If returned, he •f___E_a have tlie pleasure of following a J^Hrjleman in whom he bad thorough conThere were some who could not j^Hfpathise with Sir George Grey, but jj^Bg were those who had not the same sf^Hfal mind. He, liowever, thorougiily J^Ked with thel liberal sentiments ex•^^Ked by Sir George Grey, and would •^Bf his earliest and hearty support to him. 3^B|ll' times, ancl under all circumstances, I^B&uestion of settling the country was an I^Bp-tant one, and although at the, present i^Kf there was not the same necessity for |^B|aking a prominent position as there j^Bf before the land law- was passed which f^Ke deferred payment, still that question I^Bist always occupy the attention I^Blthe Assemby. In a short time leases of pastoral tenants would tj^fcve, and certain lands w-ould have to be with ; they could not say finally, but |^K dealt' with to some extent. There JH|e some who took no active part in I^Bpiring tins system of deferred payment, yet took credit for having supported wished to show them that he could y^Mi claim to something more than that. I^Bjbelieved he was the first man who, in jj^Btjtlilancl, spoke publicly in favor of the payment system. He made reI^Rks advocating that system in the ProCouncil of Southland in 1869, ancl ;e tune he made those remarks depayment was not in operation in part of New Zealand. Having seen benefits arising- from the system in he endeavored to promote its inhere. He was therefore ento greater credit in regard to this than those who had given the merely a. passive support. The of deferred payment land was higher that for land purchased by cash payHbt, and he thought this should be. Supposing a man did ■y cash down, yet on tbe other B^ clef en-ed payment settlers engaged to the lancl, wliich Avas far better for i^m country than cash sabs. He would ■pthese reasons heartily support the reof the price of deferred payK|t lancl. He thought also that the term should be extended, so that at the B| °f three years an opportunity would be given to -"dummies" of handing Ker the land to "capitalists. These were ■| only points on which this law recpuired so far as lie could remember, ■he speaker then proceeded to advert, in terms,to the Hon. Mr Stout, and his pleasure at having seen the of Lands attain his present posi- ■|- He believed Mr' Stout would not ■|c done him the honor of 7 appointing ■ to the Waste Lands Board, if he had : ? :>wn ' c was Liberal in Ms , views, would endeavor to do justice .to aU m that position. Hetlien proceeded ■fjfshowhow he proposed to give to. all ■feses facilities for making those lawsMiich they must obey. It was very corriB° *? assert that a :mah should have a m making the laws because he paid ■ptain taxes, and becausehe had property. ■| admitted these were good reasons, but ■pappeared to liim sumcient stress was not Md on the fact that men's live-twere conMJled by those laws as well as their pro- « rt y- The Bill introduced by the present Wmstry proposed to extend the fraihehise H-y mach; that was to say tliat every mail ■pud be entitled to a vote after he had re■ged for a time in: the colony, and for a less »!0d m. a particular district. He thought ■pc were not unfair restrictions. Persons Kbo cameinto the countiy could scarcely be know^-h'ow".- to govern it, ;-dr »iom to appoint 7for thiit purpose. K tn °ught one year's 1 residence in the »ony would ; be sufficient.; The local re■Kence^vas necessary, as there were many »n who wandered about the: country and Br | n ° ' interest i n politicai matters but ■Si _i ' mduced to ; support anyone, ■n M<m ßestrictions, he wouia certainly man witliV a/voice in-the Kr^i-^ those, laws whicfiiihey were ■&Pfef^ :Se would rriateafew ■naiks^,on numherin wliicK yotes m^Ml^A^i ■?&&*«&. aware i_iat -E^l 16 ? ¥ Syßten^' but *^ nim_e_f »ught the :-3j*stem was susceptible of K^ "nprovement, i; Ai^ the^enttirae m?Z P^^^^T n^ered onthebacir MB.?, they; were- hanclea to electors ancl ■P reason g-iyeh £w : ihat-bemghr<k{^ Bl 0 operation AvaS v^ that "it y would ayoifl »ionation. That/object could- only be «eted in: a^ different manner.,/ If : each ■^ tor signed. Mnameai^d aclclressin-a

;■ Hook/that .would :be %ifficie) tj aid - lie could then /have lianided to him tie paper without any mark on it and pi i ccc 1 to exercise his privilege. Such a c< urs '•■ would promote secrecy and prevent per sonation. The speaker then proceeded to advocate equal and fair represeptalion for all parts, of the countiy. Very great inequality existed in New Zealand, and it was absolutely necessary that before a ■ fresh election : took place there should be a redistribution of seats. They were copcerned in. tliis matter in the Mataura dis-: tiict, and he expressed his views as to how he thought it should: be dealt .'with. The late province' of# Southland,'^ AyhiCh : was bounded by >„ the Mataura River, should have four members. He then proceeded to ; refer to tlie Legisi lative Council, and expressed tlie opinion that the system of nominating the members of it was a bad one. However, in in-ta-oducing the elective principle, great care must be ' exercised, or, in seeking to avoid one wrong, they might create a greater.,. To: place the electoral power in the hands ; of the large hincMvners would be worse than a nominated Council, and they must be careful therefore that in any reform in this direction the votes should be accorded to the proper, parties. It was an unfortunate thing that they did hot get the Constitution Sir George Grey intendeclfor them. ' With regard to education, : the speaker said that -the possession of it rendered the elector .all the niorei competent to exercise his prerogative. ; He was very glad an Education Act had been passed which placed education in the hands of every one. He should be sorry to- i see 'anything Of a •.-' -"sectarian 'nature introduced into their: schools, 7 but lie thought there should be a set of class books prepared which would tend iiot only to improve their joimg men in education, but make, them better in Other respects. 7 ■"jVVith regard to the question of the mode by which" the revenue for governing the counItiy mustbe raised he said that.liitherto.itliad | been entirely derived from .indirect taxation, and those land owners escaped whose j property had been enhanced in value by ithe construction of pubUc works. He agreed with the principle introduced by the. Ministry during the last session ot" imposing a land. tax, but he also jthought the Government; acted wisely in ;exempting improvements. To complete this isystem of alteration from indirect to direct taxation, lie thought it was adyisable that in time they should have an. income lax. The principles of taxing incomes was a .good one, and if they could only devise some means of taxing those who derived sums from the country but were non-resi-dent it would have his support. A wise policy was followed in taking duty off tea ancl sugar and other articles of that nature .wliich he considered necessaries and he hoped that next session duties of such a character would be still further reduced. They should, he also contended, endeavor by every legitimate means to promote the establishment of local industries. If none such existed there would be no demand for agricultural produce. Regarding the Chinese question, he said he should be veiy sorry ever to see his countrymen reduced to the same style of living as the Chinese. That race had flooded California, I New South Wales, and some other of the colonies, and judging from appearances, it was only a question of time until NewZealand would be inundated in the same manner. He w'oulcl certainly support any measure that would prevent this colony being over-run with low. Chinese labor. Having shown them his views, lie would merely wish to impress upon the electors the fact that there were two candidates before them professing somewhat similar views. During the last election the very important principle of Abolition w-as at stake. He was a strong Provincialist, and held that by the abolition of Provincial Councils the power to some extent was transferred to the wealthier classes. Mr Shanks had offered his services without consulting the party, but be (Mr Kinross) had done so, and had been advised to stand, and he did not now T intend to withdraw. He thought he was fairly entitled to the support of his party. Mr Shanks, if he had the interests of the party at heart, would retire, and if he did not do so, it would show he was actuated by personal motives, and not by the interests of the country at large. Tlie speaker concluded by thanking his auditors, and resumed his seat amid applause. Mr Kinross, in reply to a question by Mr Rutland, said he thought there should be only one valuation roll in the county, and one cost of collecting the rates. In reply to Mr Stead lie said he was in favor of quarterly sittings of the Supreme Court at InvercargiU. On the motion of Mr Gilbert Brown, seconded by Mr George Webster, the folresolution was unanimously carried : — "That this meeting, having heard Mr Kinross fully express his view-s, is of opinion that for his thorough attachment to Sir George Grey's poUcy, the liberality of his political principles, ancl his past experiences of public life, he is entitled to receive the support of the Grey party." Mr Kinross having made a few remarks proposed tbe usual vote of thanks to the Chairman which terminated the proceedings.