PUBLIC MEETING.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 69, 8 October 1872, Page 2

PUBLIC MEETING.

A itEßTixo was held in Ngaruawahia on Saturday lft-t for the purpose of considering the policy of the Stafford Ministry, as enunciated in the financial statement of the' Hon. Treasurer, Mr. T. B. Gillies. 'There was a very good attendandance of the settlers, considering the short notice given and the very wet day.

Major Wilson was voted to the chair. He read Ihe advertisement convening the meeting, and in explaining its object said, with regard to grants to Road Boards he would read an extract from the speech of Ihe Treasurer as reported in the Waikato Timks. " lie did no propose to again support Road Boards getting loan, for he believed that the members of the Boards themselves recognised that by such aids they ga-ined merely temporary benefit at the cost of constant future taxation." He had no hesitation in stating that the-assertion was totally unfounded; neither the- chairman nor members of any of the Boards thought anything of the kind. He was at a loes to understand on what grounds Mr Grillies could have made such a statement. The money granted to Road Boards had been most economically expended, no large stair was kept; in fact, the whole of the money was spent on the works for which it was granted. Unless the assistance of Government is continued, the Boards will hardly be able to keep the roads already constructed in repair-—they will not be able to build a single bridge. They' had been given to understand that the grant would be continued for two or three years, and on the strength of this understanding works had been commenced —bridges, . for instauee, had been e-ected--and if the grant is taken away it will be impossible to complete the earthworks, the bridges in consequence would of course be useless. As regarded the return of the confiscated land, it appeared to "him that it would be an act of cowardice, it would be practically admitting that we are unable to- hold it. The natives knew perfectly well when they entered on the war that they would lose this land. Eewi at the present time owns land somewhere-in-(he neighbourhood of Kawhia, and he believed that it was only the fear of losing it that had kept him quiet. It appeared to him that the suggestion to return the land was very like offering a premium to the k : ng natives to break out again. In reference to tlie bill introduced to grant power to the Road Boards t< borrow, (he power to rate having been reduced to : •;: ;v;ni!it: fev had no security to offer. The whole rate for- instance from the Newcastle Board for this year will be from £70 to £75. Formerly, if the power ha-1 been possessed to borrow, £50 or £60 illicit hnve been got in advance to complete some-nece-sary work he-fore the next rates became-due, but now of course this was impossible. He thought he h:i<l explained the object of the meeting, it now remained for the meeting to discuss and express their opinion on the questions he had alluded to. He w<mid '""all on Mr Bvron to move the- first resolution.

Mr Brrcox said he rose with considerable diffidence to move the resolution that had been placed in his hands. It was intended to express-entire disapproval of Mr Gillies' statement as regarded Road Boards. Tlipsp grants were given by the last Government on condition that the money was expended on new works, this natu'-ally had a tendency to open up new country, and make land at present wit of reach accessible to settlers. We have no. power in. ourselves to make these roads, in fact without monetary assistance we could do nothing. The Government intend to make extensive railways, and yet they begrudge a small sum to construct roads which would act as feeders to that railway. The loan was sanctioned by the House on the understanding that it was to be expended, or so-.ne portion of it, in increasing the population. Mr Gill'es' statement is opposed to this idea. Unless new country is opened up, there is no land on which to loc-are immigrants. The Government took office pledged to economy, he would like to see it carried out, but he would suggest that they first strike at the high salaries of the officials in the highest branches of the service, and reduce the overgrown c'vil service and native office, it would then be time to come amongst the- settlers to add to their burdens. He would now move the resolution;: " This meeting i= of opinion that the course proposed to be taken by t he Colniiial Treasurer in. refusing aid to Road Boards is calculated to inflict irreparable damage on the districts in the Waikato. To construct an. expensive railway and refuse all assistance to the roads which must act a.s feeders to that railway is a sure way of rendering that railway useless, and it is an undoubted fact that the settlers themselves are utterly unable to make these roads. If the course is persisted in it will most probably compel the greater part of the European settlers to leave this- said,, comb Tied with the restoration of the unsold confiscated lands, will virtually hand over the whole- Waikato country to the Maoris. Mr Httme seconded the resolution. He said that Mr B-n-on had left him very little to say ; he quite agreed with the two previous speakers in thinking that the stoppage of the grants to Road Boards would put a stop to the development of the district- As

regarded the return of the confiscated hinds, he considered such a step would ruin this part of the district. The settlers already located would have a number of bad neighbours, and no end of trouble would arise. This district was Wing seriously h-ld back by the refusal oJ," the to'throw the land rcma'uing'TU their hantle into the market. He had much pleasure in seconding the resolution, as he considered that it expressed the opinion of the settlers, and that Lbeiropirion was correct. The motion waa then put and carried unanimously. Mr UcTCiiKK moved the next resolution.—"This meeting is of opinion that the power to borrow money proposed to be granted to the Boad Boards by the Colonial Treasurer will, so far a-s this district is conconcerned, be utterly useless, in coihsequmce of the restrictions as to taxation at present in force." He said that it appeared to him that the Treasurer was off his head. He hnd acted in exact opposition to the promises lie had made wheu soliciting; election us Superintendent, and as a member of the House , . He (the speaker) had been forestalled by those- who had spoken before him, and consequently bud not much left to say on this subject.

Mr Ctiffxky seconded the resolution, which was carried unanimously.

MrlfAUKis said he was'gkd to find that the settlers had shaken oh" some of their u-pa-thy on political matters that has so long characterised them. They were just beginning to take an interest in political itll'airs, and to express their opinion upon them. He considered that if the policy sketched out in the Colonial Treasirer's speech were carried out, it could wot fail to prove most destructive to the colony at large, and to this district in particular. If any portion of the land were returned to the natives, they would soon want that which has been improved by the hard work and money of the settlers. He would like to know who had authorised Mr Gillies to make the statement he had made with regard to the opinions held by the members of Road Boards. He agreed with the Chairman that the whole thing emanated from the brain of the Treu-mrer himself. The position the public should take with regard to him should be tin's, "If you like to carry out the wishes of the people you shall remain where you arc ; but if you do not choose to do so, we will hurl you from the seat on which you sit." He concluded by moving the third reso-lution—-"This meeting desires to express its utter want of confidence in. the Ministry iu at present constituted."

Mr Newell, in seconding the resolution, said Mr Gillies I consider a tune-serving man, and no man of this description , is entitled to the confidence of (lie public. He-had therefore great pleasure in seconding the resolution. Carried unanimously.

It was moved by Mr T. V. Fitzi i atktok and scfoiulvil by Mr llaiirts, and carried unanimously —"That tlie.se resolutions be at once forwarded to Major Jackson, Member for the ■ Waikato, with a request that he will do all in his power to forward the opinions therein embodied "

The representative of this journal at this stage )f the- proceedings stated that lie had received a ;elegmm from Wellington announcing the defeat of she Ministry on the previous evening. The announcement was received with three cheers. After which a vote of thanks to the Chairman was passed, and the meeting separated.