MR BATHGATE'S SPEECH AT DUNEDIN.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3798, 7 May 1873, Page 3

MR BATHGATE'S SPEECH AT DUNEDIN.

[BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] Dunedin, Tuesday, 11 p.m. Mr Bathgate addressed a crowded meeting at the Masonic Hall this evening. He premised by apologising for the lateness of the meeting. He referred to his own predictions in 1871 and 1872, in addressing them, as to the future prosperity of the colony, which was now but dawning. He said that the events of the session might be summed up briefly thus : There was a long struggle by the party of progress to retain olllce and of the obstructionists to gain it. From the beginning he opposed Stafford's resolutions. The reason assigned by some ill-wishers of the party was that he thought Yogel was most likely to be successful, and he had therefore cast his lot with the winning side. A few days before the division he wrote to Dunedin regarding an extract published by the " Times" that the Ministry would lose by three. It was impossible that he could support mon who would stifle the public works policy. The opposition of Stafford, Rolleston, and Gillies showed a strong hatred to Otago, as was witnessed in the Land Law, the University, the Crown Grants Bill, and Gillies' attack on our lands. In declining to support such men he acted in accordance with the views of his constituents. The Opposition made unlimited charges of corruption, but where were the proofs of them'? After Stafford took oflice, what did the Government he formed do I Did they initiate any new programme or make any effort to lighten our burdens or change the incidence of taxation 1 No. They simply came out in the performance of the work of their predecessors. This was too much for the common sense of the House, who found no startling revelations, no corruption, and no amended proposals He (Mr Bathgate), on Mr Stafford's defeat, was invited to join Mr Vogel's Government. He asked for no favor and received no promise. The offer made to him was solely duo to the importance of the Dunedin constituency. The Government being one of progress commanded his sympathy. The struggle was not wholly to prevent some useful public and local measures passing, and Otago received full attention. Tho result of the session was that 764 miles of railway were authorised out of 5090 miles proposed. There would be no addition to our burdens, because the lines would be reproductive. When the lines in Otago now authorised were completed and in full working order they would yield a free revenue of £59,000 a year. This might be doubted, but he was able to state as a fact that the Provincial Government offered a rent of £13,500 a year forthe Port line, the lessee agreeing to keep the line in repair and pay all working expenses. He considered the Government wise in refusing the offer, for he was mistaken if within three years it did not yield a free revenue of £20,000 yearly.

He compared the direct and indirect advantages of railways. With reference to the railways authorized, the Government intended steadily to pursue the course marked out, and Otago would have a share of 179 miles in all. The Government had been blamed for not pushing on the Brunner line : but if anyone was to blame it was the Provincial Government of Nelson, who were very obstructive. The Government first insisted that 50,000 tons of coal should be passed over the line annually, but the province would not guarantee more than 25,000. ! The Government yielded, and then the province objected, because the line was to be on the Westland side of the river. Every obstruction was now removed, and the Government were doing all they could to develop the resources of the colony. Only those familiar with the work to be done could imagine the trouble and time occupied by the Public Works Department to bring affairs to their present satisfactory condition. The department was worked day and night, and the thanks of the public were due to the Minister for Public Works for the attention he gave to the department. He referred to the construction of roads in the North Island, and in conclusion, he said a few words as to how the efforts of the Government were appreciated by their opponents. In the first place, he might allude to the local scribblers who tried to show that the colony was going headlong to ruin. Their favorite method was to represent New Zealand as a heavily-bur-dened country compared to Great Britain. There never was greater moment. In tliis country the Government undertook a great deal of the work done in England by companies and corporations. To show the folly of grieving over the debt of the colony he instanced the case of Liverpool, which, with only twice the colony's population, borrowed five millions to construct two hundred acres of dock, and borrowed a further five millions to extend them, because they were found to be reproductive. The revenue of the colony in 1861 was £667,000, and it was now a million. Canada, with only twice the colony's exports, had a debt of sixteen millions and three thousand miles of railways, bufc not only had New Zealand a lighter load than England of expenditure in proportion to her population but she had a broader back to bear it. Suppose the burdens of the colony were not actually less than those of England, Say they were equal, still by reason of her greater production she was better able to bear the load. He would test the prosperity of the country by the proportion of her exports to each head of the population. In England the rate was £6 3s 2d per head ; France, £2 18s 3d per head ; and in Italy, £1 14s per head. The colony's exports in 1871 were £5,282,000, 17s ncr head, or three times that of Great Britain. If any lingering doubts remained he hoped they would be removed by the advancing prosperity everywhere visible. Another section of their openents deserved notice. Referring to the speeches of Mr Stafford and Sir David Monro he must say that anything weaker or more devoid of intelligence had scarcely ever fallen fromeducatedlips. They were disappointed to find no indication of social progress, no promise of an amendment of the law * no aleviation of taxation or change in its incidence ; but why did they not suggest the right way of carrying out the policy. He preferred Sir David Monro's unmistakable hostility to Mr Stafford's blowing hot and cold speeches. They did not deal with the present, but wholly referred to the wretched past. He contemplated the speeches as he would geological specimens in a museum. They were curious illustrations of bygone days, but contained no existing vitality. The charges of the Opposition were vague generalities, none of them being definite. If changes were necessary, surely they ought to show how they were to be made. Another favorite charge was that the Government proposed political railways. Never Avas there a falser accusation, and he would prove it. Take the case of Otago, with which they were familiar. At this moment the Lawrence to Tokomariroline was being tendered for. Was that a political railway ? The Government got very little suppoi*t from Tuapeka, but they prospected the line because they conscientiously and honestly believed it was required for the development of the country. In regard to the Winton to Mataura line, Mr Calder was one of their bitterest opponents, and Mr Webster was another, but the Government determined to go on with the line. It was the same with the Queenstown line. Then the Westland water races were heartily supported by their opponents, and believing their construction was in the interests of the colony, the Government gave them their unqualified support, irrespective of the votes of the members of the district. He next referred to the declaration of Mr Stafford, that he would wind up his affairs and leave the colony, and to his altered determination. Mr Bathgate compared him to to Lot's wife aud said he would forever be a pillar of bitterness. Sir David Monro j forgot that railways created traffic. The Bluff line was an iilustration of this. Last month its revenue was £1300 against only £400 in the previous March. Sir David Monro lived in rural felicity* and now represented the most antiquated and stagnant part in this province. Mr Reid had denied Mr Yogel the credit of his policy saying that it was old, but if it was Mr Stafford's why did he not avail himself of the opportunities he had from 1865 to 1869 to bring it forward. In 1865 Mr Stafford prevented the provinces borrowing. Why did he not then advocate the prosecution of colonial works. The policy, if carried out on principles of progress and prudence, and guided by the present Government, would be attended with the most beneficial results. Mr Yogel had honorably won his position, and though most of the other members of the Government were new to their duties, they could challenge the most minute enquiry mto the details of their administration. Each devoted himself to the honest and faithful performance of his duties, and for himself he could say that he was doing all he could to lighten the burdens of the colonists. The expenses of the judicial establishments reached the immense sum of £70,0.00 a year, and since he had been in office he had reduced them by £3000. Whether he remained in ofiice or not he was determined to endeavor to reduce the expenditure considerably,

A vote of confidence in Mr Bathgate was carried amid great cheering, only three hands being held up against it.