ELECTION FOR WAIPA.

Waikato Times, Volume IV, Issue 239, 20 November 1873, Page 2

ELECTION FOR WAIPA.

NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES. The nomination of candidates to serve in the Provincia Council for the district of Wiupa took place on Tuesday, at Ngaruawahia. Major Mair, the Returning Officer, said it was scarcely necessary for him to remind them that there we'rn two uiembeis to elect to serve in the Provincial Oouucil for the district of Wai pa. He would commence the proceedinj»B by leading the writ. After having done ao he called upon the electoij. to propose candidates. Major Wilson q.ud he robe to pto pose as a tit and proper person to serve in the Provincial Council a gentleman who iv as well known to them, and who was a resident in their mulflt, with inteiests identical with their own. He wu not likely to mix himself up with any clique or party, and he felt confident that in the event of his return he would do all in his power to advocate the intere«U of the Waikato settlers. Ho begged to proposo Henry Byron, Esq., as a fit and proper person to represent them in the Provincial Council. (AppUuse). Mr George Edgccumbo said be had much pleasure in seconding the proposition. He believed Mr Byron to be a man ot steiling abilities ; ho would not go in pledged to any line of conduct He thought that a meeting of electorc should Ins walled, and Mr Byrou requested to represent tho\iewa of th« meeting. If returned, he frit confident that Mr U>ron would do all in his power to watch over the interests of U»e elector*.

ivir fiuiiid Alany.i pioposed Mr John Kuox. Mr T. H. W". Morns, in seconding the proposition, S'vid ie would leave to Mr Knox tlio explanation of hid political riewa. He felt confident that with Mr Byron ho would do sell in the Provincial Council Mt T. Y. Fitzpatriek proposed Mr T H. Mabin In lomg-so, he . «*U. it w*a unnecessary for him to descant ipem ht« qualifications, ;ia he w.is well knowu to every'v) ly >osh in hto ousiussa and private cipicity His partiality "or the Waikato was »'so well known lie belonged .to no iliijnc orpirty, and 1 e.ng a present resilient in Auckland, lie \vouLl 1)8 al)le to give attention to his duties in the DounuL at comparatively hctle cost and trouble. Mr 11. W Hubert had much pleasure in secon ling. He was consent tli it £ Mr Mabin were returned he would piove ii goo 1 member. . Mi W. Qualtrough proposed Mr Hungerford Roche. Mr J. K. Davi !»on «ecouded. He said he had known him for a number of years, ami believe I hiul to be a steady and industrious mir, and one who had the interests of the district at heart. Mr Byron (who on rising was received with loud and prolonged applause) s.iid, Mr Returning Officer and gentlemen. I do not pretend to great ora;oucal powers, neither do 1 nitend to make a lonx ■ -t speed, but custom reunites that on this occasion 1 should trouble you to listen to me for a short 1 nne The reasou, aa is known to all, that I h'avo preswdted myself lor election is, that I received a nuweroiflly-Wgned iequisition from the electors. Having as much, if not moie leisuie than the majority of my f«lli>w settlers, I felt that it was my duty to comply with their -roquet t, and take upon myself some of the political work of the Province. I do not consider that Provincial institutions are suited to our present requirements, and will support 'any party that will work for their abolition. Before this can be done, however, some other system must be found to take their place. As was suggested by oue of the candidates for the Superintendence', "i thh.k County Boards would be a good substitute ; they would take over the work at present performed by the Provincial Executive : the County Boards to be composed of delegatss from the different Hoard*— the chairmen probably. Such a system would make people take more interest in their own Government. As regards Education, 1 think it should be a colonial and not a Provincial question. The Assembly, bo we vet, hud burked the question setsion after session. Last session what mat bo termed a Permissive Act was passed, rerj •imiUr in iti enactments to that at present in force in Auckland. With regard to our Act, I think, with the exception of the rating clause, it is a good one, and us evidence, I may state that since it lias been m force the number of children attending our schools has more than doubled. I feel very strongly on the question of education ; in the first place it should be secular, as being the only possible means of making it general. In the present state of the provincial revenue I can see no other means of carrying on an educational system without special taxation. The" taxation, however, should be pro rata. Some advocate a denominational system, notably our future Superintendent. I am, as I said before, opposed to this, not because I object to religious instruction, but because its introduction into our system means no education at all. The most important question that the incoming council will have to deal with will be the disposal of the waste lands of the province. The Assembly has set aside £250,000 for the purchase of native lands ; this land will be handed over to the province. Jhe smallness of the provincial revenue will be a great temptation to sell to land jobbers. I consider that every country member should oppose the sale of any land except on conditions compelling occupation and improvement, and no Crown Grants should be issued till those conditions are fulfilled. I think that probably it would be judicious to give land in small quantities to men who would undertake to cultivate and improve. As regards the Highway Act, I think that the rate should be an acreage rate, and that the amount of the rute should not bo restricted. Some sessions past anJAct was passed nominally giving Superintendents the power to pay the rates of absentees ; that rate has been found unworkable ; in the first place, it ii doubtful as to whether Ibe Superintendent could rro>ver; and in the second, Mr Lusk, the Provincial Secretary, stated that no less than £7,000 was applied for in the first year and there were no funds at the Superintendent's disposal for the purpose. lam not clear whether it is within the province of the Provincial Legislature to pass an Act that will enable absentee landholders to be got at ; if it is, and lam returned to the Council, I will do my utmost to get such an act passed. It is, probnbly, not of much consequence whether a candidate for the Provincial Council holds opinions in favour ol free trade or protection. I may as well inform the electors, however, that I am in favour of free trade. 'Inert are few local matters that call for notice. Of course I will do all in my power to get the railway pushed on as speedily as possible. Now that our landed estate is to be increased, and that incraaso must take plnce in the Waiknto, we may natuTally look for more assistance from the Provincial Government than we have hitherto received. I consider that it is of great importance that the native title to land should be extinguished as speedily as possible. In conclusion, I may state, that if returnol to the Council as your representative, that I shall endeavour to represent tho whole of the Wniknto, and will support any measure that I think will tend to its interests, I thank you for the patient hearing you have givrn me. (Loud and prolonged cheering.) Mr Knox said some npology was due from him for having came so late into the field. He would not have come forward bad not Mr Andrew Kay retired. Ha quite agreed with Mr Bjron ott the education question ; be felt that a denominational system was unsuited to their requirements. As regards the Highway Board*, they are unworkable under the present system. He considered that the Waikato had not had expended upon it a fair share of the provincial revenue. There were several grievances that required amending, and works executing, notably a bridge at Ngaruawahia ; and the state of the Whatawhata road was disgraceful. It was said by somebody to be no man's road ; be differed from him, it was their road. Intending settlers came up here, and were told that there was land up the Waipa. They go to look at it and go elsewhere, because it is uselets for a man to attempt to farm and do anything else with land without a road to it. If he was returned he wou'd not attach himself to any parfy or clique ; lie was not attached to John Williamson or to any other man ; he would go in independent to work for the Waikato district as a whole. It was unfortunate that the district should bo so divided in itself. Had Mr Kay come forward, he would not have done so, as he felt that it was no use to' put the country to the expense of a contested election. He was surprised that only Mr Byron of the candidates was present ; the leait they could have done was to show themselves. If returned to the Council, the electors might rely on his doing his utmost to forward the interests of the district (Cheers.) Mr Jones a«ked : Whether in the event of his being returned he would support a bill to prevent the land of the province b*ing alienated, except for legitimate occupation ? Mr Knox : Most certainly. Mr T. Y. Fitzpatrick said that Mr Mabin was unavoidsby absent, but had he known that Mr Kuox was going to address the electors he would doubtless have strained a point in order to have been present. His views on political matters would be published in the Waikato Times. Mr Hammond wished to fuk the candidates whether they were in favor of tho province undertaking immigration in addition to the General Government ? Mr Byron said he wai not an advocate for the province undertaking immigration. He thought that was best left in the hands of the General Government. He would however be an advocate for the granting of land on deferred payment. He thought any money the Province could spare would be better expended in assisting immigrants after their arrival than in bringing them here. Mr Knox agreed with Mr Byron, and would advocate the giving of land for settlement. Major Mair called for a show of hands for the different candidates. The following was the result : — Byron .. -'• 22 Knot 6 Mabin 13 Roche .... 2 Mr Byron moi ci a rote of thanks to the Returning Officer, which was seconded by Mr Knox, and carried by acclamation. The Returning Officer thanked the meeting, and the proceedings terminated.