MR M'CAUGHAN AT RIVERTON.

Western Star, Issue 351, 22 May 1880, Page 2

MR M'CAUGHAN AT RIVERTON.

On Wednesday evening Mr M'Cauglian, the member for Riverton, addressed what is said to be the largest political audience ever brought together in Riverton. The large ball was well filled with electors, many of them coming from a distance. Mr M‘Caughan arrived in Riverton by (he mid-day train, and was met on the platform by a number of prominent supporters. During the afternoon various local requirements were brought under the notice of the member, amongst which ir ay be mentioned (ho necessity of some proiLion being made for increasing the revenue of the Harbor Board, completion of the Orepuki railway, the construction of a tramway to the Longwoo t, the securing for the Riverton High Scho il a portion of the revenue of unallotted reserves for secondary education, all of which he stated would receive his b st attention at the ensuing meeting of Parliament. A few minutes past eight o'clock the proceedings were commenced by MeT. Daniel moving that the Mayor (Mr das. Reid) take the chair. Messrs Hirst, Daniel, and J. Taylor accompanied Mr M'Gaughau to (he platform. The Chairmtn rernarke I that he felt proud ir. being calle 1 upon to preside at such an important meeting. Ho was an opponent of Mr M'Oaughan when the letter was seeking election, but since then his actions on behalf of the district had induced him to alter his opinion. He believed that threefourths of the residents of Riverton voted against Mr M'Gaughau, but the tide had now fairly turned ia his favor. M'Caughan’s action in the House he thought would be approved by everyone, while the step he took in leaving the late and joining the present. Ministry was deserving the praise of all who had the it terests of the colony at heart. Anyone acquainted with the state of the colonial finances at the time the Hall Government came into office could not but admire the firm stand they took in setting their face against extravagant expenditure. The Chairman then introduced

Mr M'Oaughan, whoso rising was the signal for applause. He again gave the reasons, logically and forcibly, for voting against Sir G eorg Giey,the principal of which, were the discreditable condition into which ho allow'd the colonial finances to drift, his autocratic conduct towards the other members of the Ministry, his weak and vacilating mi ive p hey, and his chronic state of open rupture with the Imperial authorities and each successive Governor. His action too with regard to the unemployed was most deceitful. While hundreds of hunger-stricken men were parading the quays at Wellington ho sent home for 4000 or 5000 {migrants to swell the ranks of these unemployed, and at the same t me receiving deputations of the latter, and promising them relief. He (Mr M'Caugl.an) did not pretend to bo a friend to the whole human race ; his creed was to b« a friend to himself first, and the human race afterwards. Sir George Grey professed to serve the poor man, by making the rich man poor and the poor man rich. Ho (Mr M'Oaughan) made no such profession, but endeavored to make himself rich and then extend a helping hand to the poor.---(Applause). While holding such an opinion o f ' Sir George Grey, the other members of the Ministry were men who commanded his eonfldence, and it was one cf the most painful positions ho was ever placed in when be felt it is his duty to assist in turning the Ministry out solely on account of Sir G. Grey. Mr M'Oaughan then referred to his action in supporting Mr Moeandrew, and after the defection of the four Auckland members, ultimately giving in his adhesion to the Hall Government, the members of which lie said, possessed his full confidence —the audience signifying their approval of his action by enthusiastic cheering. The action of a certain section of the press in the colony, which was largely subsidise 1 under the Grey Government in the shape of advertisements, was severely condemned for its interested support of that party. When the Hall Government came into power that state of things was discontinued, and every newspaper was now treated impartially in respect to its share of Government advertising. The newspapers whose revenue suffered in consequence of the change were clamouring for a return to the old order of things, and had denounced him and all honest men in the assembly for opposing Sir G. Grey; but he treated such denunciation with contempt, and considered the interest of his constituents of paramount importance. Mr M'Oaughan then explained the circumstances that had prevented him hisiting at an earlier date and more frequently the different portions of the electorate, since the rising of Parliament. Important private affairs bad necessitated a visit to Australia, and on his return to New Zealand he had been seriously considering the dangerous state of the colony, the result of his study being the proposals contained in his printed address, which no doubt the doctors had read. He claimed credit for originality in issuing that address, and thought it well at times to go out of the beaten track in dealing with such matters. He referred to the insinuations that had been iroculatol that the address did not emanate from himself, but bo characterised such as being utterly unfounded, and slated that no ouo had seen it until it was put into the printer’s bands. The financial state of the colony was next adverted to in an intelligent and comprehensive manner, and the imperative necessity of retrenchment was pointed out. The discontinuance of subsidies to local bodies, abolition of tho education vote for three years, the imposition of a beer tax, and the rcirnposition of tea and sugar duties, were bis proposals for putting the colony on a sound footing. Unless retrenchment was resorted to the people had not yet tasted tho extreme bitterness of taxation. Sumo people said sell the land, but who, he asked, would invest in land in snob a poverty-stricken and over-taxed country. The present was tho most critical time in the history of the colony, but if only careful financing was observed for the next two or three years, the colony could stand any test after that. He impressed upon the laboring classes the fairness of bearing a share of taxation. If the burden of taxation was laid upon the shoulders of employers, the result would bo that their enterprise would bo damped and labor would become more scarce. He illustrated this idea by a reference Victoria, to where Mr Berry had saitl lie would make the rich man poor and tho poor man rich, by taxing the rich man (o tho bursting point ; but all that individual had succeeded in doing was to make

the rich man poor, and the poor man a groat deal poorer. Mr M'Caughan said he was grieved upon a visit to Victoria, to see such a deplorable state of affairs there consequent upon such a policy. A tea and sugar duty to the extent of 4s Gd per head of the population would give a revenue of £IOO,OOO, and ho advised the people to submit to such a tax. The enormous proportions of the civil service and the political poWt>r which it wielded were next adverted to, and the speaker announced his determination when ho reached Wellington of asking for a committee of men who had never been in office with a view to retrenchment in every department from Auckland to Stewart’s Island. The management of the railways was also condemned, the speaker giving it as his opinion that a change was requisite in the present arrangements. Mr M'Caughan resumed his seat amidst applause. The Chairman then stated that Mr M'Caughan was prepared to answer any question that might be put to him. In answer to Mr Daniel, Mr M'Caughan said he had endeavoured to get the present useless harbo-' reserve exchanged for a similar area of land that would be of some marketable value. The Government promised to reserve a piece of land in the vicinity of the Nightcaps, pending inquiries being made. The Minister of Public Works had visited the district since last session, and would doubtless have learned for himself the necessity of some provision being made for improvement of the port. A question put by Mr Daniel with regard to tlie completion of tin Oropuiti railway elicited the reply that a largo sum had been put upon the estimates for that work—ho did not recollect how much—and he had no information other than that the amount would bo expended. The vole he said did not lapse on 31st March ; in the case of votes not expended before that, date, the custom was to replace them on the estimates again when Parliament met.

Mr M'Caughan also state 1 that lie would be hippy to endeavor to get tho immigration cottages at Oiautnn set aside as a reserve for the Wallace and Fiord Hospital. Mr J. Taylor: What about the Chinese quest ion P Mr M'Caughan was not aware that there were grei-ter r.u nl e'fl coming to the country than let cr o. In the present state of the labor market, if i h -y came in greater numbers, lie would be inclin'd to adopt restrictive measures.

Replying to Mr Tartar, Mr M'Caughan said ho looked upon tho property tax us a necessary evil at the ] r sent time. IF, however, the present or any other Government would adopt ii< proposals, a property lax, which was most expen-ire to collect, could be done without by substitu'ino an income tax. In reply to Mr Srni h. Mr M'Caughan said it would g'n him pleasure to assist the settlers in getting a tramway built up Ihe Waimatuku Flit to Jacob’s R;ver, the farmers guaranteeing the interert on the sum necessary to construct the line Mr Crockett asked Mr M'Gaughan’s opinion of the bankruptcy laws —were they not too lenient towards dcb'ors? Mr M'Cnughan sail tie was not acquainted with the Bankruptcy Act, but he would make it his duty to enquire into its provisions, die hud not lost any money through bankrupts, and he did not intend to become insolvent himself. Mr Taylor: Are you in favor of women’s suffrage, Mr M'Cauglian? (Laughter!. Mr M'Cauglian: No. I like the women well enough in their own place, but not as p diticiana Mr J,’W. Hamilton, as an elector of Riverton, said he was pleased at being present that evening. He opposed Air M'Cauglian at liis election, but after watening bis actions closely during the late session, and bearing bis address that evening, he had co op.etely c.ianged his views with regard to that- gentleman. Ho m ived a vote of confidence in Mr M'Caughan as the represen alive of the district. Mr R. Jffizlett se, on led (die motion, and remarked that Mr M'Caughan had done good to the district in the pa t, and was likely to continue .6 do so in toe future. Mr M 1 Can'ban replied to Mr J. R. Mills that he w iu.d be in (aver of doing away wall subsidies to loctl bodies in preference to levying increased taxation. The motion by Mr Hamilton was then put and carried unanimously, the audience cheerng at the result. Air M'Caughan briefly returned thanks. Mr Hirst, MH.B. lor Wallace, to whom Mr M'Cauglian referred to at an earlier stage as being likely to know more about the Orepuki railway than himself, stated that instructions had the other day been sent down fiom Wellington to the Public Works Department to Love the working plan of the next section of the Orepuki railway sent on previous to tenders being called for the wsrk. The meeting then broke up. after a vote of thanks to the Chairman and three cheers for Mr M'Caughan,