POST-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2818, 4 October 1883, Page 2

POST-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

MS DABGAVILIiE, M.H.8., AT AUCKLAND OITY WEST. [Br TBLE3BAPH.] ACCKI.AND, Oct. 3. MrDargaville addressed his City Weit constituent! to-night at the Theatre Boral. Thero was a large attendance, and tbe member wbb well received. Mr DarftnTiile said be would at once proceed to remove any lurking prejudice that might remain m their minds owing to the unfair manner m which hi> recent quarrel with the Colonial Treasurer had been put before the publio by Government organs. He dercribed Major Atkinson a» a profession^ politician of come 20 years experience able and unscrupulous. His chief weapons m the House were vulgar raillery and coarse invective. These, together with the consciousness that the golden wings of a great political bank were spread over and around him, and that three-fourths of the Press of the Colony were m his interest, made him co ineolent and domineering that many of thfl Opposition members even trembled to speak before him. There should be no moaly-mouthed sentiment m dealing with ench a man, and even the observance towards him of the more refined courtesies of debate would be about as incongruous as taking one's hat off to a mastiff. The charges of political corruption wero then referred to. The late Attorney-General's (Mr Stout's) opinion and the Solicitor-General's opinion were read, to show that the loan to (he Bank of New Zealand of a quarter of a million, without security, for two jears, wa? illegal. The fact was not yet generally known that the Government had during the last hours of the session m question hurriedly passed through both Houses a Bill legalising that and other similar transactions. These were claimed as triumphs, and aj a vindication of hii (the speaker's) accusations rejpecting that matter. Mr Dargaville then referred to the grossly unfair treatment of the ControllerGeneral, a high officer of Parliament, by the Troasurer, m respect of the illegal payment away by the latter of £19,200 m June last, and also m respect of the Controller's memo to the House pointing out that a member of tho Ministry held £SOOO of public money m his (the Minister's) own name m the Bank. The speaker then referred to certain disclosures made before tba Publio Accounts Committee, having reference bo other finanoial transactions of the GoverBlent, and the offairsof the Insurance Department, especially dwelling on the fact that lifter action had been taken on the 20th June, m the Home, by a member of the OppoiiLion (Mr Hutchison) enquiring into the circumstance that so large a sum (£2900), was paid to Thorne, »nd while the House was waiting the proiuction of a certain return relating to the Insurance Department, Commissioner Luckie )n the 4th of July entered into a fresh coniract with Thorne for two years and a half longer, thereby placing beyond tha power of Parliament to make any alteration without iully compensating Thorns. The Treanurer was made aware of tiiii contract at tho time it was being made, Bn<l did not stop it. A report m this outrageous proceeding was prepared by the Chairman of the Publio Accounts Committee for presentation to the House, but it was suppressed by tho Government rote on that Committee. Such things would, never dare to be attempted if there existed m the colony an intelligent and strongly united public opinion. The prea?nt form of Government administration precluded that. Island

was played off against island, and distric BgiMnat dist-ict, so as to enable nny set 0 designing men who supported theGovernmen to work out their schemes and keep them selves m power. To such an ex'ent was thi now going on that he believed it »M leaditi| tho public mind to consider whetlie separation was not, after all, desirable This ha would regard as » grea public misfortune, and with a vie? of rendering it unnecessary and securinj the unity of the colony as a whole for _al time, he thought each island should providi for its political autonomy. Matters of colonia concorn only should be dealt with by thi Central Government, comißting of on< Chamber io Wellington, with the Governoi at its head. Tha duties of the Chambei should include dealing with the public debt external and international defence, customs administration of justice, marriage laws b»okruptcy laws, and all such matters as wer< of common interest throughout the colony. Oc the other hand, our railways, telegraphs and publio works, lands, hospitals, gaols, lunatic gaylums, charitable aid and outlying hirboro, licensing and all such matters of local interest should b« dealt with by the Governments of the respective Islands. The benefits of direct and intelligent public opinion would thereby be secured. The power of the wealthy oligarchy that had kept the present governing family m office so many years, and had hampered the colony with an enormous debt, a grinding taxation and a huge and costly civil servico, would thereby be lessened, and eventually destroyed, to the great and lasting benefit of the colony. In reply to questions, Mr Dargaville said he was not m favor of the abolition of the Legislative Council and having only one Chamber at Wellington. The Council was an useful check on the House of Representatives m hasty ill considered legislation. The following resolutions were carried unanimously: — "That Mr Dargaville deserves tbe best tbanks and confideneo of hia constituents, and of the colony, for his action m the House last session, and especially for his unflinching advocacy of the right of free speech for the representatives of the people." Tbe following resolution was about to be put when an alarm of " Fire-bell " broke up the meeting: — ''That with a view to securing and preserving the unity of the whole colony under a better administration of the Government, it is desirable that there should be a reform of the Constitution, providing political autonomy for each of the two Islands of tbe Colony." Three cheers, however, were given for Mr Dargaville, and three for Bir George Grey.