THE SUPERINTENDENTAL ELECTION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 6, 7 June 1873, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE SUPERINTENDENTAL ELECTION.

MR MACANDREW'S HUSTINGS SPEECH. The nomination of candidates for the Superintendency took place on the terrace of Government buildings on the 4th, at noon. Mr James Bkown stepped forward land said : Gentlemen, you are this day called upon to nominate a gentleman to hold the office of Superintendent. I have no hesitation in j saying that the person whem I am about to propose for your approval and for that important effice is by far the best man in Otago; j — (cheers)— and understanding that Sir Macandrew — (cheers)— is to have opposition on this occasion, you will permit me to urge upon every elector in the Province to come forward and place him at the head of the poll. — (Hear.) I have very much pleasure in proposing Mr James Macandrew as a fit and proper person to hold the office of Superintendent.—(Loud cheers.) Mr James Black : I have very mv c pleasure in seconding Mr Macandrew's nomination ; and in doing so it is unnecessary that I should say one word in addition to what has already been said. Mr Macandrew's abilities as a politician are well known, and I have no doubt the action he has taken during the late crisis will meet with the hearty approval of the majority of the electors in the Province. —(Cheers.) Mr Macandrew, who was received with loud cheers, said : Gentlemen, my political opinions and proclivities are so well known, and have so often been before the public, that I deem it unnecessary to parade them on the present occa»ion. — (Hear.) At the same time, perhaps, I may be allowed to trespass upon your patience for a few minutes, while I refer to and indicate the general direction in' which I should endeavor to influence the public policy of the Province. As regards the present political situation, as you are aware, I have very fully and concisely, I may say, entered upon it in the Address, which, together with certain official documents appended thereto, has been very widely circulated. — (Mr Joseph Mackay : "At the Government expense.") — The official documents are circulated at the public expense. — (Mr Mackay: "And the private ones too ; that is, your manifesto.")—l say, sir, it is a lie ; the private ones are not. — (Cheers, and a Voice: "Bravo, Mac !") — Gentlemen, this is the style of opposition brought against me now. As to the political situation, I think that it is unnecessary that I should go over it again. I shall therefore state very shortly the direction which I think our public policy ought to take. Well, gentlemen, I should say that no man is worthy of being called a statesman — at all events, a Colonial statesman — unless his great object is, and he uses his influence towards getting a regular accession of industrial population to our shores. — (Hear.) I believe that any statesman is unworthy of the name, unless his aim is the attainment of that object. I believe that this Province is capable of affording comfort, if not affluence, to millions of people — to far more than are likely to be brought into it in our day, or in that of our great-great-grandchildren, — (hear) — and, gentlemen, in order to induce a suitable immigration to these shores, we must, I believe, bridge across by means of regular steam communication the 16,000 miles of ocean which divide us from the Mother Country. — (Cheers, and a Voice : "Panama and Frisco.") I will come to that by and by. My attention, gentlemen, has been directed towards this object for some years past, and I am very hopeful that within a very short time we shall see it successfully accomplished. — (Hear. ) I am very happy to say that my urgent representations to the Agent-General some time ago, all but caused the steamship Great Britain to come here direct : and if that arrangement had been carried out, it would have been the precursor of a direct steam line between Liverpool and Otago. (Cheers.) It, however, fell to the ground! (A Voice: "It's all bunkum.") Perhaps there are many here to-day who will recollect that I was the humble instrument of connecting thisi Province and the Australian Colonies by ateam — (Cheers) — with the advantages

that have resulted from it.— (Renewed applause, and a Voice : " But you were ruined by it.") I do not know whether I shall be arrogating very much to myself, when I claim the paternity of the Panama and San Francisco lines ; and should we succed in getting a direct steam line from the United Kingdom, I consider it would be of infinitely more importance than all the others put together. — (Hear.) And further, if we succeed in that, I shall be disposed to retire on my laurels, and die happy. —(A Voice : " Politically, I mean.") Yes, politically. Another subject to which my earnest attention will be devoted, is the providing of adequate means of education throughout the Province, and to some provision for training suitable teachers. We do not need to be told that in a country like this, where the sovereign — I shall be told I am talking bunkum, by some friends behind me — powensinthehands of the people, it is of the utmost importance and consequence that means of education should be brought within the reach of all— (hear)— and also that the social status of the schoolmaster ought to be elevated above what it now is. I believe that those who engage in the important work of training the intellect and moulding the character of the future men and women of this country, ought to be regarded as being in the category of the highest civil servants. —(Hear.) And I think they ought to be paid accordingly; and with this view I should be disposed to provide tfeat school districts which may desire to pay their teachers adequate, shall be permitted to do so by means of a local rate, provided always that no such "rates shall be levied unless twothirds or three-fourths of the ratepayers deaire it. — (Hear.) I believe that, if some proposal such as this is adoped, it will lead to very great emulation amongst the different districts as to getting high-class teachers ; besides, it would offer prizes for the profession which would induce men and women of ability to enter upon the scholastic profession.—(Hear.) Well, gentlemen, I should like to say a few words upon the subject of railways ; and seeing that I am trying your patience in keeping you in the rain, I will promise that I will not detain you long. — (Cries of "Go on.") Had the late Provincial Council proceeded to the actual business of the country, instead of spending somewhere about a fortnight in discussing the question as to whether or not there shall be two Kings in Brentford,— (loud laughter)— for after all that is 1 think about the size of it,— (Hear. ) I say, had the Council gone on with the practical business of the country, instead of discussing this miserable, wretched question, proposals would have been submitted, which, if approved of, would have had the effect of opening up simultaneously with the railway to Dunedin the line from Mataurato Clutha; and T believe proposals would also have been submitted, which, in the event of the General Assembly not doing so next session, would have resulted in the line between this and Moeraki being undertaken by the Province. In addition to that, definite proposals would have been submitted for the purpose of constructing light railways in various outlyiDg districts throughout the Province : districts which I believe |are capable of affording homesteads for hundreds — thousands I may say, of an industrial population, both mining and agricultural. Although, perhaps, not many of you may know these districts, I have travelled over a great deal of the Province, and am well able to form an opinion upon its capabilities. Amongst others, it was intended to construct a light line from Kiverton to Orepuki, from Riverton to Otautau, and from Winton to the Nightcaps, to open up the coalfields discovered there. Of course, you will understand that I am now talking to the Province as a whole, for 1 know what I am saying will go forth to the electors throughout the Province. In addition to those I hare enumerated, proposals would have been submitted which, if approved of, would have resulted in a light railway up the fertile valley of the Waireka. which is capable of producing millions of bushels of the finest wheat, to be sent into the markets of the world. In addition to that, proposals would have been made for a light line up the valley of the Waihemo, which, no doubt, would ultimately have found its way into the districts of Mount Ida and Strath Taieri. When we find that in these districts it is absolutely necessaiy

even now to have metalled roads, I say tnat no Government that sits here will be worthy to keep its position, unless it strains every effort for the attainment of this fui an -f ** ifc is found Practicable to make light railways into those districts, they are tar more economical and much less expensive m maintenance than metalled roads. - (Hear. ) lnese, then, were some of the proposals which tne present Government had hoped would have been carried into practical effect before now, it the Provincial Council had just gone on with the business of the country. While upon this subject of railways, I may mention, as you are no doubt all aware, that the General Government have just concluded a contract for the construction of a branch line from Tokomairiro to Lawence. I regard thiß as an instalment of the line which will be ultimately extended into the heart of the Otago goldfields ; and, gentlemen, if elected Superintendent now, as I have no doubt I shall be— (cheers)— and the General Assembly does not make provision for the extension of the line next session, I shall be prepared to submit to the Provincial Council when it meets— which will be after the sitting of the Assembly— proposals for its extension. —(A Voice : "Where is the money to come from ?") We have a large landed estate, and I hold that we cannot do better with it than set it aside for the purpose of rendering it more available and accessible, and enhancing its value ten thousand ! fold— (Hear.) Yon may rely upon it the success of our railway system depends upon the simultaneous construction of railways throughout the Province, and it is a wise policy to press on in this direction. Although as Superintendent I have no interest m Dunedin more than in any other part of the Province, yet I may be allowed to say that Dunedin, the commercial capital of the Province, is especially interested in pressing on these lines, which more or less will ultimately converge oa Dunedin, and I say the sooner the better. \ great deal has been said as to the construction of a Harbor Trust in Dunedin. Well, gentlemen, I confess that had the operatious of the dredge for the last few months been carried on as they have been for the previous two or thrse years, I should have been very much inclined to advocate the formation of a Harbor Trust : as it is, since the steam dredge has been handed over to the Harbor Department, which ought to have been done long ago, a great deal more work has been done than before. Responsible Government took a different view to the present Government on this subject; and had the thing been in the hands of the Harbor Department all along, there would be greater good effected, and in all probability the application for a Harbor Trust would never have been heard of. -(A Voice : "That is all bunkum.") I am prepared to show that within the last three months, during which time the dredge has been under the control of the Habor Department, that it has been doing more work than it has done for the previous year or two. —(Hear.) There is no doubt whatever that the period is approaching when some modifications of our Provincial Governments will take place, and so soon as our land revenue departs other means will have to be found to administer not only the harbor, but many other public departments throughout the Province; but until then lam inclined to think that the harbor will be administered just as well as it is; at the same time I am perfectly satisfied that it is a wise policy to look forward to a future time and to get an endow* ment from which to administer without encroaching upon the general revenues of the Province. The proposals which I indicated in my opening address to the late Provincial Council would, I believe, have resulted in from L15,0J0 to L 20,000 being realised which I hope to see handed over to a public trust to administer. If that is done, I should say all Jetty and Harbor Dues ought to be abolished. Although there are some of the objects which I desire to see accomplished, I need not tell you that there is another body to be elected by you which must go hand-ia-haad with me— (laughter and cheera)— or ( with it, which is one and the same thing, in order to accomplish any of these objects. What I earnestly wish to impress upon you is this : what on earth is the use of electing a Superintendent to carry out these or any other objects unless you elect a Provia-

cial Council very much upon the same card ? — (Cheers). It is of course unreasonable to suppose that 46 men will be got together who will see every subject in the same lightthat is altogether out of the question ; and I do not think it is desirable even if it were possible, but I think it is quite possible to get 46 men together, the majority of whom will have brains enough,— (cheers)— if I may say so, to see that the Superintendent elected by the people is as much, if not more so, the embodiment of the sovereignty of the people as the Provincial Council itself, — (hear) because the one represents the people directly, and the other represents them at second' band. Some two years ago the majority of the elector* of this Province rejected one candidate for the Superintendency, and elected another; whereas the majority of the Provincial Council set aside that election, and said iC No, we will not abide by the decision of the people; we will have our candidate in spite of you." I think it a very foolish course for wise men to have adopted ; and I hope, gentlemen, that while the Superintendent and Provincial Council will work hand in hand, and indulge in that mutual concession which is the very essence of politics, I hope, at the same time that the majority of the members, as 1 have said before, will have brains enough fco see the real position of the case.— (Hear.) Why, gentlemen, what would be thought of the owners of a ship having engaged a master to navigate the ■hip from Otago to London, via Cape Horn, at the same time getting a ship's company who were determined not to take the ship to London, and made up their miuds to run her up to the South Pole, via the Cape of Good Hope? Now, two years ago, you elected me to take command of the ship, and I say, reason and common sense alike, dictated that, if the voyage was to be a prosperous and successful one, I should at least have some voice iv the selection of the officers. — (Bear ) I aae Mr Stout over there : I do not know what he will say to it : I have no doubt he will tell you that there is no analogy between the ship of state and a ship of the sea ; I maintain however, that there is a very strict analogy between the two on the present occasion. 1 have beeu thrice elected Superintendent of Otago ; and I expect to be elected for the fourth time. (Cheers ) Of that there is no doubt -whatever ; and although the office is not a bed of rose 3, at the same time it is the highest and most honorable position which you can bestow : it is a position -which, if I am returned again, it will be my endeavor to fill more worthily in the future than in the past. — (Cheers,) I again Bay it is nay highest ambition to be enabled to be instrumental in promoting the interests and in developing the institutions of this country— (hear)— a country which I believe is destined to become a very great country yet. Gentlemen, I might go on to compare our present position with many so-called kingdoms and states ; but, 1 may say that this Province will compare in proportion, as respects its revenue, commerce, and general resources, and is quite equal to several British Colonies — (hear)— and the man -who is Superintendent — the elected head of this Province — is of far greater importance than many of the petty princes and potentates of Europe. — (Loud cheers.] Mr Jfc seph Mack ay handed in a written question. Mr Macandrew : There is a question that has .been put into my hands, and it is this : " What price did Mr James Macandrew pay for the insertion of his electoral address iv the Gazette?" Well, gentlemen, I may say that— (Cries of " Oh," and "Don't answer' 5 ) —it is a perfectly fair question— the bill has not yet come in.— (Laughter.) I told Mr Dick, the printer, in the presence of my clerk to make out a separate bill for my Address and send it into me. I hope I will manage to pay it when it does come in. (Laughter, and a voice : " That will do you. Mackay.") J Mr Mackay : What did it cost the Province for posting your circulars in the Gazette ? Mr Macandrew : The Gazette goes free of postage. Mr Mackay : Will you circulate and let the address of your opponent be posted in the same way ?

Mr Macandrew : I should say decidedly not ; but he can arrange with the printer if he likes. Mr Walter : Will you take steps to ascertain whether the statement made in last Saturday's Tablet is correct or not ? Mr Macandrew : I have already taken the necessary steps to ascertain whether the statement of that paper that a free passage had been refused to Otago, because the applicant was a Roman Catholic, is correct or not. I have already prepared a letter to the Home Agent on the subject, and I am under the belief that the statement has not the slightest foundation. It will be recollected that a similar statement was made some two years ago, in regard to which I corresponded with the Home Agent with a like result. Catholics come here as freely as members of any other religion ; and I may say that for some years nearly all the men who have been in my employment are Roman Catholics, and men who have come out as assisted passengers. Mr James Anderson : Seeing that the Province is in such a prosperous condition, would you favor the Civil servants participating in that prosperity ? Mr Macandrew : I presume Mr Anderson refers to the reductions of salary that took place two years ago. The Estimates framed by the Government for presentation to the late Council contemplated a step in that direction. — (Cheera. ) Mr Slesinger : Will you be prepared to support an amendment of the electoral law to provide that candidates shall deposit a certain, sum to be forfeited to the State, if the candidate does not poll a certain number of votes? Mr Macandrew : I am given to understand that it is intended to introduce a measure in this direction at the ntxt session of the Assembly, and of course I shall support it. —(Cheers.)