MR PHARAZYN AT GREYTOWN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 251, 29 August 1879, Page 2

MR PHARAZYN AT GREYTOWN.

There was a very large attendance at Mr Pharazyn's meeting in Wednesday ev en " ing, the Town Hall being perfectly filM Mr H. Udy, sen, took the chair, and having stated that the previous meetings had been most orderly, he hoped that the present one would not be an exception, and that MrPharazyn would receive a fair hearing. He wished to mention that after Mr Pharazyn had addressed the meeting, any questions might be asked, after which, anyone wishing to speak, might do so, but to give the meeting a fair chance, the time would be limited to ten minutes, with the exception of any candidate who wished to speak

Mr Pharazyn, who was received with applausa, then addressed the meeting, but from the previous very full report in this paper, we do not give an extended account of his spoech. He felt complimented by tiie very large attendance. He had been attentively listened to in Carterton and Masterton, and he did not think that Greytown would disgrace itself by any manifestations disagreoable to him. He stated that he spoke somewhat at a disadvantage, as ho should necessarily have to repeat the same as they had read in the papers. He wished to state that the report in the Daily was a very good report, but the report of the Standard wa« only a caricature of his speech. He therefore wished them to understand that they should take the Daily report as the right one. He knew that by some mistake, these things sometimes happened in print; ing offices. He did not profess to be a good speaker, but he had made it his business, in the Carterton and Masterton meetings to give a serious character to what he said; some people might laugh at this, but it was possible that what he said at that meeting might affect the fate of New Zealand for years to come. If the

result was to return two candidates opposed to to tlio Government, those two votes might oust the present Ministry, and if two supporters of the Government were returned, those two votes might keep the Ministry in, so that it was a serious business. He wculcl not speak too long, but confine himself to three points, General Government, Provincialism, and local subjects. Thequestionbefore thecountryatpre sent was whether the present Ministry aro to remain in office or not. They should look at New Zealand as a large financial company. If they were members of a company, and the Directors were not using the funds properly, why they would turn them out and get others, The Government had been condemned by the largest majority that had yet put out any Ministry for maladministration. The Upper House also almost unanimously condemned them, and one whom they all respected, the Hon. G. M. Watcrhouse, did so in the most bitter terms, and he (Mr Pharazyn) stated that they were perfectly right in doing so. He did not believe in quibbling, and lie emphatically pledged himself to oppose the present Ministry. He would not say a word against Sir George Grey, no doubt he was a great man, and to a great extent desirous to benefit the human race, as he says, but he had bad associates in the Ministry. Sir George Grey's Government came in to supersede the continuous Ministry and had he been in the House, he believed he would have voted against that Ministry for maladministration, and he would turn out any Ministry that would do so. Then he was objected to on the ground of his unpopularity; he could not see that he was unpopular, He had worked on committees, he had been eiected Chairman and President of different societies, and he could say that he never had an angry word with any member of any committee. There was a distinct issue between him and Mr Bunny, and he hoped he would win. -(Mr Bunny : " No, you won't").— He objected to plumping, and expressed the same views as Mr Beetham as regarded the Opposition, although they were not working together, and he hoped every one would give two votes. It was a question for or against the Ministry, and if they believed in him he hoped they would vote for him and get all they could to vote for him, and if they did not, let them do their best against him, Mr Pharazyn, who had been frequently applauded, here sat down amid loud cheers.

Mr Brodie wished to know if lie were returned would ho stop free immigration ? Mr Pharazyn said lie thought he had been misrepresented at Masterton on this question. In the present state of the Colony he would oppose free immigration. They could not help themselves, but they would find that as soon as immigration stopped stagnation would set in and a reduction of wages as a consequence. In answer to Mr Hush .lie stated that in connection with the Local Option Biil, in place of nominees, the matter should be left in the hands of the ratepayers as regarded a new license, but not as regarded old established houses without compensation. He would take a great interest in this subject. Mr Greaves, of Masterton wished to know if Mr Pliarazyn if he did not secure the vote of the " Local Optioners" by promising them something? Mr Pharazyn: "No; °I did not; one party came to me and asked my opinion on it, and before he expressed any opinion I replied, and my reply was satisfactory, Mrttrcaves here commenced a statement, but was ruled out of order by the Chairman.

In answer to Mr Renall, Mr Pharazyn stated that the minimum amount to be taxed under the Income Tax should be £2OO. He was not prepared to say how it would be decided what a man was worth, as it was a very diiKcnlt subject, and required a groat deal of consideration,

In answer to Mr Blade lie staUclthat it would depend on the wants of the Colony at what rate per £ it would be fixed, and that lie was not in favor of a maximum as a certain amount of money was required. In answer to Mr Smith, he would certainly support the compensation clause if the Local Option Bill was passed. In answer to Mr Burton Boys Mr Pharazyn stated it would be necessary to amend the Counties Act, and would advocate a Bill to enable Counties to borrow The Government might raise a special loan and place it in the hands of a board so that governing bodies pledging their rates might borrow, not at 8 or 9 percent, but 5 or b\ per cent. Mr Coleman Phillips moved that a vote of thanks be passed to Mr Pharazyn for his able address. He wished to say that Mr Pharazyn would make a very good representative. It was very necessary to return two members who would vote together on all great questions. The North Island people should work together to avoid over-taxation. The North Island is not receiving a fair share of public money, and they had to tax themselves to keep their road open. Millions were spent in the South Inland and the North Island had to be taied. An instance was the Waiohine river, The chairman had told him that £50,000 had been voted for river conservation, and after very hard work they granted a loan of £SOO to the Waiohine for five years, whilst the balance was spent in the South. Mr Kenall had asked at a previous meeting where our me.nbers were. It is necessary to see that gentlemen like Mr Macandrew did not send all the public funds to the South Island. The same happened when the County Council applied for a sum of money to keep open the Forty-mile Bush, and they were toid that it would cost £2OOO odd to keep open the main roads, the reply was that they should tax themselves. While millions were spent on railways, was it right to answer a deputation like that 'J Then Mr Macandrew from his seat in tne House advocated the separation of the two Islands, while the South had received all the money. The colony should not be separated for the benefit of any place. He felt indignant to hear Mr Macandrew advocate insular separation. They should support men who would see fair play. He respected Mr Bunny, and he had done good for the district, but it was necessary to support two men who would work together. Mr Buchanan begged to second the res:lution, he thought that no heavier indictment could be made against any Government than that of proposing insular separation, but the heaviest was against Sir George Grey who stated at a meeting in the Arcade that anew country like New Zealand did not require a great deal of capital. He asked them if they could fancy such a thing, no doubt the low price of products of the country caused depression, but to hear such a statement from Sir George Grey proved he (Sir George Grey) would like to have his hand on the throat of capital. Are we going to stand by and see the county brought to ruin by the Ministry, A statement like that should not be made, and the supporter of such a statement should be turned out. (Applause.) Mr Bunny made a personsl attack on Mr Pharazyn, but did not speak on any of

the subjects brought before the meeting, He next attacked Mr Phillip* and supported Macandrew. Mr Pharanyn replied and was very much interested by the remarks made by Mr 0. Phillips and Mr Buchanan, who spoke as thorough settlers and were bound* to carray weight. He had never been put down by Mr Bunny yet, and when ho had attended Mr Bunny's meeting at Featherston he attended only as an elector, when he heard a vote of confidence he rose and said that they ought not to pledge theinthemaelves till they had heard all the can- ■ didates; that could not be interfering with fjA Mr Bunny's meeting. He than reviewed 'OP£ some ef the actions taken when he was in the Provincial Council. Mr Renall hore rose and in his usual style made a general attack all round ending with an attack on Mr George Beetham. The Chairman then put the resolution which was carried.