The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1842, 26 April 1884, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. Here shall the Press the People's right maintain, Unawed by influence and unbribed by gain.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 1881

Few political speeches have been railed ac so much as that which the Premier of tho Colony delivered to his constituents at Hawora the other day. To tell the truth, the address was very weak, and altogether unworthy of the reputation of Major Atkinson. That Mr Montgomery and other dear lovers of the Ministerial party should have jumped into the breach which, the Premier's seeming carelessness left open to them was to be expected. The opportunity so presented was not to be resisted by an Opposition really in search of something to say. Mr Montgomery crowed prodigiously, and his followers cackled complacently, taking it as a settled thing that the Premier's utterances

had effectually damned the Ministry, and nmdo tho way for tho succession of a Cabinet from the great Liberal Party. But the faults of the Haweva speech were faults of omission ; they are to be ascribed chiefly to the Premier's constitutional inability to " open the case." Major Atkinson^ strong point is his ability to resist an attack rather than to make one. Though his nature is not without a certain element of sturdy aggressiveness, his genius would shine more conspicuously in the defence of a Rorke's Drift than in a Balaclava Light Infantry charge. He is never so happy as when he is fairly put on his mettle, with his back to the wall, and with odds in front of him. Hence it was thai the Hawera speech was so tame, tie had nobody in particular o fight, and had wisely determined to let the dead past bury its dead. The Premier delivered a speech of a very different sort at Dunedin on Thursday night. In this all the leonine qualities of the. old campaigner came out forcibly. But during the interval the aspect of affairs had entirely changed. Mr Montgomery, as we have said, had been blowing off steam, and the politicians of Otago, assembled under the mgis of the Honourable William Hunter Reynolds, had been breathing threatenings and slaughter against the Government. Here was the golden opportunity for the Premier. His determination whs taken at once, and he boldly invaded the stronghold of the enemy. That the meeting in the Queen's Theatre was the largest j seen in the Otag.in capital for some time, was to be expected ; that it was packed by the admirers of the Constitutional Association is more than probable, seeing that the reporters tell us there were many interruptions; but the result can hardly fail to strengthen the hands of the Government, whose financial policy, at all events, will henceforth wear a different aspect in the eyes of the people of the South, so long disciples of such apostles of selfishness as Mr Montgomery and Mr Macandrew. We have not room to give anything like a full report of the speech, but it will be sufficient for all practical purposes if we incorporate tho salient features with this article. Major Atkinson commenced, after a few preliminaries, by quoting' Mr Montgomery's opinion, that he (the Premier) was "a hollow financial sham," and straightway proceeded to enlighten his audience concerning 1 the fiscal policy of his Government. The people of Dunedin — we are now quoting from the Press Association report — had been surprised a good deal about the proposed constitutional charge of Government, and had been told that the present Government was one of extravagance, and that they spent large sums in the North Island while they neglected the South, lie would begin by directing their attention to the expenditure of money raised on loan under the Immigration and Public AVorks Act since 1870. The sum borrowed had been 19^ millions, and he would tell them how that sum had been spent. Up to March 31t,t, 1883, they had spent two millions on immigration, and in his opinion if they had spent more in that way, they would not now have to complain of so much depression. They had spent about 17 millions on public works, generally on these items : Railways, 10J millions ; roads, 2 millions ; public buildings (including schools) £1,200,000 ; land purchase, ; works on goldfields, i:56,000 \ telegraph extension, £460,000. Of the total sum, they had spent £6,900,000 in the North Island, and £10,350,000 in the South. Now, taking the mean population in both Islands, the proportion should have been £6,5.50,000 in the .Vorth Island, and £10,700,000 in the South. This omitted all consideration of the Maori population so that, on a population basis, the North had got about £300,000 more than its fair share out of a total of 17^ millions. How could expenditure be more tvenly distributed 1 Ho pointed out that the great object of the Public AVorks scheme was the construction of a trunk lino of railway from one extremity of the colony to tho other, and reminded them that while the South Island possesses its trunk line, the North as yet possessed only a disjointed system. Much, had been heard of wasteful expenditure, but the total amount expended on what are called political railways was only 3 or 4 per cent, of the whole expenditure. He defended Sir Julius Vogel from the accusation made by Mr Montgomery that Sir Julius had told him lie had spent a million and a-half in buying support for the Public Works scheme. What Sir Julius did say was that the Provinces, finding the general Government could borrow so much cheaper than they could, had brought so much, pressure to bear that he had been forced to extend the scope of his scheme. He claimed that the expenditure on the Public Worts of the colonj^ had been wise and proper. Last year on the railways of the colony they had carried forty-five and a-half millions of tons of goods a distance of one million miles. The cheapest possible cost of moving these goods by cart would have been two and a-quarter millions. The actual cost by rail was a little over half a-million. In such indirect advantages alone the whole of the interest paid on the public debt of the colony was more than covered. They had carried on the railways of the colony last year forty-two millions of passengers the same distance, whose carriage if moved by coach would have been well over two millions, whereas by railway it was a little over half a-million. In reply to the charges of corruption that had been laid at the door of the Government, fre said, th. a.t before hp took

office ten millions out of the total of twenty millions hadbeon borrowed, and the amount that he wis responsible for borrowing or for recommending to be borrowed, was less than six and a-half millions, and of that two millions were not yet raised, so that less than four and a-half millions was the amount he was responsible for. Now Mr Montgomery's friends, while they had been in office, which was a about a third of his term, had asked authority to seven and a-half millions, and this sum had actually been raised. Speaking of the prespnt depression, Major Atkinson said his Hawera speech had been misinterpreted. He had been accused of saying there was no depression, but what he did say was that there was no depression which should make us doubt the financial soundness of the colony, or that it affected the spending powers of the people to any appreciable extent. He did not go about whining and groaning ; he believed in the colony and its resources ; he believed the people would rise to the occasion and sweep away the present depression. Trade was bad because they were borrowing too largely and spending too lavishly. The fault of the Government was not that it was a wasteful and extravagant Government, but that it was an economical and careful Government. Here the speaker was greeted with hisses and applauso. When they were spending about two millions a-year trade and traders increased, and everything flourished ; now, when they had curtailed borrowing, the traders had still gone on importing quite as much as before. Wool and grain had also fallen in price, and in Otago he was told a good deal of money had been lost in speculating in goldmining. Speaking of the remedies proposed, they were told they ought to stop borrowing, but that would land them in greater difficulties than at present. Another remedy proposed was an alteration of the Constitution. He saw that in Dunedin they had formed what they called a Constitutional Association. What it proposed to do was to decentralise the Government with the view of increasing the powers of the local bodies. Now lie claimed to have done more for local government, than any other man in New Zealand. What was proposed by the person opposed to him was that there should be so many more centres to exercise the powers which the General Government at present exercised. It seemed to him that a better remedy would be to renew their faith in themselves and their country. Turning out the Government, altering the Constitution, and stopping borrowing, though very heroic plans no doubt, would not answer the purpose. What they would have to do would be to work and economise. They should endeavour to produco more, and turn their attention away from speculation in mines and land. 110 declared that the stoppage of immigration was the cause of the decrease in wages. After referring to the railway tariff and the" Civil Service, Major Atkinson concluded by saying- that the jn'osperity of tho colony depended on the people themselves — on the working classes. They had political power, and it remained for them to use it in a proper manner. They should watch over the interests of the great country they were helping to make. Above all, they should watch their publio men. They should record their votes, not in accordance ,with personal motives, but in matters of principle. If they did that thero should be no fear for the country at all. The speech seems to have made a considerable impression on the audience, and though it is not to be expected that the Provincial leopards should change their spots, it is exceedingly likely that the number of Government supporters in the Province of Otago will be larger at the general election than it was a week ago.

We have previously referred to the necessity at present felt in Cam bridge of a public magazine, where dealers in explosives — and almost all the principal storekeepers are in the line — could temporarily lodge their dangerous goodi, such as powder, dynamite, &c. We have been informed that it is something astonishing the vast quantities of dangerous explosives which may be found in some of the business houses arranged side by side with the ordinary stock-in-trade. In case of fire it may easily be conceived what the effect of this want of proper provision on the part of those concerned would be. For some time past a few of the stores have had the use of the Government magazine attached to the Constabulary barracks, but now as this will shortly be removed even this source of accommodation will not be available. Possibly few^of those dealing in explosives are aware of the law bearing on the matter. Sub-section 7 of section 65 of the " Arms Act, 1880," says: — " Any one being a dealer who shall have er keep at any one time more than 501bs weight of gunpowder, and not being a dealer shall have or keep more than lOlbs weight of powder in any place other than some public magazine shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and shall be liable for the offence to imprisonment for any term not exceeding two years, or at the discretion of the judge to a fine of £500." According to this we think there are not a few in our midst guilty of a misdemeanour and liable to a penalty of £500 or imprisonment to the extent of two years ; though we do not think ifc is at all likely that the penalty will be inflicted in either form, it is certainly possible, and there is nothing like being prepared for possibilities. Wo think that the town board should take the matter in hand, as a public magazine should be an appurtenance of the town. If representation^ Mpre

made to the Defence Department it might possibly spo its way to hand the present magazine over to the board ; and if this cannot be secured those concerned should take the matter in hand and erect one at their own expense — which would not be very much — on some suitable and convenient site about the township.

" Echoes from the Cafe," in type, are crowded out of this issue.

Inthisissue the death is announced of a very old Cambridge resident, Mr B. Hea<-lip.

The Yen. Archdeacon Clarke will preach at evening service at S. John's, Te Au'Mriutn, to-morrow.

The opening foothall match of the season will be played on Sydney Square, Hamilton, this afternoon, commencing at half-past two o'clock.

The Minister for Public Works will arrive at Te Awamutu by special tram to-morrow on his way to Taranaki over the Coastal railway route.

There being only two candidates for the two vacancies in the Newcastle Road Boaid, Messrs Peter Iwersen and William Washer have been declared duly re-elected.

The certificate of incorporation was issued to the North New Zealand Farmers Co-operative Association at Auckland yesterday.

His Excellency the Governor returned to Auckland from his visit to the Noitb on Thursday. On the same evening he performed the ceremony of opening the annual exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts.

A bazaar for liquidating the debt on the priests' house will be held in the Public Hull, Cambridge, on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday next. On Wednesday night there will be a promenede concert, at which Misses Hunter and Lonigan, and other local amateui s will assist.

The Eev. W. G. Baker will deliver his popular lecture on " The Bible in India," with pictorial illustrations, at Cambridge on Tuesday (postponed from Monday), Hamilton (at the Public Hall) on Wednesday, and Te Awamutu on Thursday. The lecture is highly spoken of, and no doubt will be largely patronised.

The following special messages to to the Press Association dated London April 23rd have been published :—A portion of the frozen meat by the Bntish Queen has been placed on the market, and has realised Gd per lb.—Tho German Government have decided to subsidise a company running a monthly bteam service to Australia.

The Cambridge Public Library Committee has ordered about 1(30 new books, representing an expenditure of £32. Some of the new books are renewals, a nninboi of the best works in the present collection beino: in a veiy seedy condition. The Cambridge Library at its picsent rate of piogres--, will loon be one of the best countiy libiaries in the piovince.

The secretary of the Waikato Cheese and Bacon Factory has received a letter from the consignees of the cheese xecently .sent to Queensland, praising in high terms the quality of tho aiticle, which fully justifies all that had been claimed foi it. This is very satisfactory news, both foi the shareholder of the company and foi the district at lai ge. Doubtless the company h.is laid the foundation of a large and profitable trade with our sister colony.

The Rev. W. G. Baker, formerly a missionary in India, and now advocating the cause of the British, and Foreign Biblo Society, will be in the Waikato dm ing ne\t week. He will preach at S. Andrews Church, Cambridge, to-morrow. He is desirous also of addressing a united gathering of Sunday-school children, and we understand that arrangements are being made to afford him this opportunity. Doubtless many adults will also desire to present.

The members of the Piako County Council at one time had the name of constituting a singularly attentive body, so far as the despatch of business was concerned —they wore the essence of punctuality itself, and the rougher the weather, and the softer the roads tho better seemed to ba the attendance at the monthly meetings. Though some limmbeis had long distances to come, still the greater the distance the better seemed to be the attendance of the member ; indeed, it wa« generally those who had long distances to coino who seemed to bother themselves about being present, and their attention was frequently lewarded by having to wait long after the hour for those who resided in the immediate vicinity ot tho place of meeting. But of late the attendance at the meetings of the council have been very bad, no less than three unsuccessful attempts have been made to get a quoi urn for the despatch of business. We are not at all surpi i&ed at chis, as the reason is obvious. Members who live at long distances from the place of meeting, after going to much expense and inconvenience to be pie-^ont, have had to go home without fulfilling the business of their mission through those membeis who live about the place having failed to ba present. Then the councillor whose punctuality has not been rowaided to day determines that Homebody else will be punctual the neU time, so in his turn caiefully stays away. And thus the business of the county is neglected, and allowed to be indefinitely postponed until bare chance shall succeed in bringing a quorum together. Some members think that whenever they have succeeded in pulling through " that little matter about the biidge over Visional Cieek," or ''the new road thiough Grumbler's farm," which only concerns the little corner of tho district which they represent, that their duty to the county has ended. They should bear in mind that not only do they represent their own particular district, but the county as a whole, and that" they are equally concerned with every other riding as with their own. And by perai.stently neglecting to bo present at the meetings of the council without reasonable cause, they are abusing the confidence which the ratepayers of the county repose in them as councillors. They should bear in mind that if they are tired of the office it is easy for them to retire, and let those better willing to do justice to those they represent have a trial.