MR. McMINN AT NGARUAWAHIA.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 561, 23 December 1875, Page 2

MR. McMINN AT NGARUAWAHIA.

A MEiTixa wai held at tke School-room, Ngaruawaho, on Saturday tke 18th December, 1875, at the invitation of Mr MoMinn, ro hear that gentleman's claims io be Waipa representative. There wad a much more numerous attendance than at any previous polilioal meeting in the town, and tke caadidale for tuck honors was well received. Mr George Edgecumbe was called to the chair, and in opaaiag the meeting said he hoped that Mr McMina would get a f<*ir hearing, and that the electors would judge impartially as to whether tke present or tue former c&adidate was taont entitled to their euppoit. He also pointed out the eonse^ ucuce of electing proper or improper oandidatea. Mr MoMtnn on coining forward was well received by the electors, and proceeded to giro bis views on the present state of things. Me first stated that he did net regret that the Provincial Council was to be done away with. fie considered they \rere a thing of the past ; they had served their time, and that they should be done away with completely. The general opinion, was, there wai to be a new goternment to com* in with ,Bir George ttrey m[% .leader. H« wai man who did a

great teal of good ; bat be, (fir MoMinn) wu not going to be led by him.. Sin George's policy was to forsa the Proriaoe of into a separate Colony \ but he, Mr McMinn, belwted I»the nnity of tho CoLny, auoting Canada *• an illustration of what an undivided Colony maybecome. He also ssil he believed that Mr Froude*« mission to the Oape was to trj and unit© j,kein uoaer one Government, At a future time, in case of foreign war, the united Colony woojd be able to take ur> a position that otherwj|ff» divided Coloay could not. In renewing the new Road JLct, lie considered it wu not what was waotedjat all. It vm too-#HMMiva in "Us wording's; for instance, an elector jBhjo would choose to be contrary, could wu||ntM district to expend nearly all their rater in the election, by simply making protest* — all of which might k% ftiroloiiflV He the Grnmd Jury system of the old country could be well oarriod out in a new one. Favoritism will always be found under Government like this. For instance, — we md «|ood roads made alongside of a good navigable xivfr; while districts, where traffic was nrost rejoined, were left to their own re* source*. Sneh * system as that of the Grand Jury would give us what we roost want ; i. e^ a great reduction in the expense of the Oitwameat. (Applause.) ' With regard to education, be {Hfce Mr Cox,) betievod in one general system said for out of the consolidated fund, but be did not 'believe in denominational education, although he would give every «pportmaty to clergymen to teaoh those of their {own parttculal creed such Jqsaous as parents thought fil— but would grant no "public money for Che purMce. Ho •knew that the prssent tax was unfair, but would rather there should tie such tax than that the schools should be closed. In Public Works,' he tnongWthattiie'GoveTntoent had done as well as could possibly be ex pected. WoHis were geing on eatisfactorily. Bail ways were made cheaply; but he did note think that the North Islaad had had its share. Sir George Grey deserved thanks for the way he opened up the abuses of the native Apartment to the public eye. ' • JThe piwvincial works now required in the Waikaio wkich be if eleeUd would lay himself off to rapport, was : Ist a road ■ from Ngaruawahia, to Xleundra, next and consequent upon it a road from that one to Raglan, The latter place people could not .get into or out of without the risk of their lives. Yet in that place there were no less than 10 immigrant cottages .built at a cost of some £1,675, for what purpose f That sum would have gone a long way in making a road the most of the way. Now,, for the want of communication, the place is covered with furze and thistles, but be hoped! the time was not far distant when ke would see a coach S times a week from Baglan to Ngaraawahi* (cheers ) Increased taxation was the next thing to be considered, it will take about £1,000,000 per annum to pay the interest on the loans, jtbe question was, now was th»s to be raised ? Sir €r Orey's idea is tai tea, sugar, and flour as if that wm not •ufficiently ioae already. {Sir George Grey's idea is to take these taxes off altogether. Give "" somebod)" bis dae. -Ed W T.} Mi Ma Minn believed in « land tax aod property tax aad a tax en bauk snare« amd asinine shares, His opinion was that no person •homld bo able to purchase lanl without it first baring be«a cold to Government. Jobbery in land transactions had been carried on Co a large extent. On* day the Government bought a block, and it turned cut that only a day or two previously the timber was sold to recover which tkey had to pay the <urn of £20,000, Here again was another transaction. A. member of the Governnt»mt purob«Be4 a large tract from the natives, and next session brought in a bill to prevent such transactions ia future. Mr MtMinn now considered that be kad said sufficient, but would lie hafsj»y te answer any questions tkat might be a»ked, Wcmld yon snpport Ibe land fund «f %he colony as it is on would you consolidate it I* I would have it remain tv it is. 1 wenld not bar • the Ncnih spend what belongs te tke South. Mr r i V FtLcpatrick: On that principle (should we not have the result of the customs revenue spent in the same way. '*■ Mr MoMion : No it is not a paralle^ *aS£ That on which duty i* paid is -used *11 ovor the* ■colony, aot only in the fort «f esttry, bi«L ov«r ike country, Mr H Edgecumbe -. If a property tas was struck who would have to pay it om runs f Mr MfMmn; Ibe holders or tenants. Mr £ Filcpatriek ,• Would Mr McMion support ike present Government? Mr McMinn.: Jfes, urn* of their schemes. The pub ie works, he would, but certainly not the autive department. Mr T T Fitzpatrick : What are your ideas, with regard to the purchase of native land ? Mr McMinn . I would object to any person pnrch&siog until a titie "was -acquired by the G- -remittent. Wiih regard to surveying lands they ftiouid be surveyed i»t> Average s ized blocks, neither into large or small ones, so a s to be wuhia tnerea'-nof settlers Jetting those who win ted mors purchase as ifc«ay blocks as they «hose. Mr T V Fitxpalrick proposed a vote of conHd^nce promising the support of those present, Mr H Edgecumbe seconded i carried by «cclaaialion. A vote ef thanks to tna Chai>man oaadu'led lie business.