RECIDIVISTE QUES. TION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 184, 1 July 1884, Page 2

RECIDIVISTE QUES. TION.

fvVAR BETWEEN ENGLAND AND [ FIiANCE EXPECTED.

. Age Specials. HfcNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.) at the Bluff.) Jane 17. both Earl is

MR MACAU I'IIUR 15IHF0RE HIE ELECTORS.

Mi* I). 11. Macarthr.r addressed the electors last, evening m the Town Hall, when a lar»e number were assembled. Mr Snelson occupied tlie chair. The chairman m opening 1 the proceedings said : — " Gentlemen, I have been asked to take the chair for Mr Macarthur at this evening's proceedings as he puts before you his views on the several political questions, as a candidate for your support m the coming election. We want a man of his sort at the present time, and I have much pleasure m recommending him to your vote-i, at the coming election. He is a man of great ability. A thing occurred this very afternoon, which I might mention as a proof of his practical experience. We had a. little meeting of our roaci board, which had previously applied for a graut of money, which, however, proved to have Leen done m an illegitimate manner. Bub Mr Macarihur at once saw our error, aud pointed it out to us, and, by going to the expense of a tew telegrams, wo were thus enabled to put our application on a proper footing, which we should not otherwise have done. Now this is just to show the use of havinga thoroughly practical and experienced man to take our public matters m hand, for through his kindness I think wo have saved the votes under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act which are now likely to be given to the district, but which otherwise would have fallen through. I think the idea that Mr Macnrthiir will not be a suitable representative because of his position as Agent to the Corporation, and benanse of his being a resident of .Feilding, is a false one. I believe he will fairly represent the whole of Palmerston, and think that if you elect him he will represent yoa well. I ask you for a patient hearing. This is a meeting for business, and I trust you will allow it to proceed without interruption. I know there is another candidate, and at the proper time, you can also give him a quiet hearing. Mr Macarfchur will now address you himself. Mv Macarthur then coming forward said he proposed to deai, first, wilh the general topics of the colony, and then with local topics. The latter would consist chiefly of- the Gorge railway, and the Fitzherbert road, after which any ether matter, whether local or otherwise, could be dealt with by questions, according to whab those present wished to know. But before proceeding to these he would make a fow remarks with regard to this electorate. He did not wish to cast a slur on the late member, but he would say that their position had been unsatisfactory. If a local man of one-tenth the ability of Mr W. W. Johnston were to represent them they, would not now have to he taking steps to have the Gorge Railway constructed, for it would have been done by the State long ago. However, this difficulty had been seen and deplored for many months past. They had put an absentee member m, but' now an equal difficulty was brought forward when people said that no local man could represent the whole district fairly. When, some time ago, he heard that a dissolution of Parliament seemed likely, he intei'vievred two or three representative ¥ men of Palmerston, and offered them his support, but they asked him (Mr Macarihur), to come forward instead, and he accepted their offer of s«p*.p;>rt, and therefore he was before them that evening to place his views before them, Messrs Linton and Snolson were, he might .*ay, the two gentlemen referred to, and if they had either of them consented to stand, for this district, he was sure they would have been well supported by the elect jrs; but since these gentlemen would not consent to stand, ho did so, and he hoped that m the future no Welliugton lawyers or politicans would be allowed to make a pocket borough of Palmeraton. (Hear, hear). First, he would say he did not intend bringing forward any of those schemes to bring the colony out of its present difficulties which some were m the habit of propounding, but he believed that his opinions would be found to run m the same groove with that of most of the electors. EDUCATION. As regards education, Mr Macarthur said we were all interested m seeing our children educated, and he was m favor of the system of secular and free primary education, and would stick to any Government which would take such steps. He maintained, however, that we mu*>t regulate education according to our means. Our resources were at the present ti't-e very low, and he thought that the expense of higher or second ary education could and should be saved. Those who reaped the chief benefit from secondary education, were chiefly the inhabitants of large towns, and he maintained that it was not the duty of the State to provide" this, but rather let those who took advantage of it pay lor ir, especially as m most cases they were well able to do so. Another question how ever arose hero, upon which it was difficult to get full information, which was with regard to tlie education reserves arid endownmenta which are set apart for this purpose. He did not know whether the Slate might not be under pledges as to these. If the State had power to take back the reserves set apart for general education and devote them solely to primary education, he thought they slioald do so ; am) if he found this could be done he would certainly snpporb it. With regard to fees, he thought that scholars who had passed a certain standard should make some payment, and thought the col • ony would not be able to afford it if surh fees were not made payable after scholars had attained a certain standard. This was not an originality of his own, and ho did not claim it as such, but he merely expressed his opinion as to the advisability of it. Another proposal was that the age of attendance or school age of children should be raised frora five years.-to seven. This the speaker did^^jj agree with, for the capitatiou^fl^H S those would, be takcn^^^^^^H schoolgwould sufferj^^^^^^^H

they would .still learn practical habits, which ho thought a good training for what they would bo required learn afterwards. 'I HE LAVD. Everyone know that there were various new theories regarding the laws uf the holding of the land. "Progress and poverty" was a book everyone was familiar with, and most people had read H>nry George's work on the Nationalization of the Lund. Well, these theories might be very engaging, but there was a failing m each. Now, m every man there was a curtain instinct to acquire a freehold, and that instinct was a noble and a natural one. Jt was that instinct, which had populated our colony of New Zealand. Any action he might take would not be lo assist m sell em ps for nationalising the land, because he thought they would be un advisable. Mr Rolleston's scheme was a partial nationalising of the land, that is to take away all land and let them out to Crown tenants. Mr Rolleston's idea was to issue perpetual leases, (a voice, hear, hear), but he (Mr Macarthur) did not like these theories. If they all admitted what he had said with regard to freeholds, they would not like them either, and moreover the danger would be that leaseholders would complain to the Government at some future time, that they did not like leaseholds, and the Government might be worked, and they would grant the freeholds to some of their supporters. He was opposed to land being sold for cash. It was only a way of ruining many men. They all knew that this had happened on the Waimate Plains. Neither did the speaker believe m selling lands by auction. The billot i«< the fairest sj'stetn. If land were leased it should be with a purchasing clause, and thus a settler going to reside on the land would have a certain amount of means to work it with, instead of paying it away for the purchase of the land. In England at the present time thero was a strong tendency to disintegrate large estates, and m this country he believed there was the same tendency for land to get into smaller blocks. He would let the land be sold on the easiest terms possible. The advantage, as said before, would be that men would have all their capital to work the land with. He did not think the State >hould attempt to desire a revenue from the sale of land, but only to get as much for it as would pay the expenses of survey and purchase, and road making, and this is the system which he believed contained the germ of the true settlement of the land m New Zea-* land. RAILWAYS. Mr Macarthur said he believed m a non-poliiioal Board of management of the 1 ail ways. We could get men from America, and make them onl7 removable m a similar way to Judges of the Supreme Court: There should be certain direct laws to prevent the raising of tariffs. The bad management of our railways had been the chief cau»e of the fall of the Atkinson Ministry. Lasb year they reduced the tariffs at Canterbury just too late to be of any service to farmers, whoso produce had been already sent away and was safe m the hands of the merchants and storekeepers. This year, on the contrary, the tariffs were raised, and just at the time when they would be used by the farmers, who had also sold their wheat according to the cost of railway carriage. The rise m the tarifts thus hit them very he sympathised with them, and thought ihey were perfectly justified m crying out as they had done, and he thought the Ministry were deserving of great censure. As regards selling oar railways, he waa not m favour of such a scheme, for if companies held them they would be bound to make them pay a dividend, and if they didn't pay, to raise the freights at once, until they did. It was all very well to say that steamboats would reduce the freights by opposition, but if that were the case, then no company would give more than a small sum for the railways. So it would not work, m his opinion, any way. He expressed himself m favour of further borrowing 1 , provided that the money was spent upon the Main Trunk Line of Railway, but would like to see a more extensive survey made, so as to be quite sure of obtaining the best route. The Gorge railway was also a work that, m his opinion, was worth carrying out. In the South Island, the line from Canterbury to the West Coast was not one that the State should undertake. A Commission had been sent to report, and their opinion was that that line of railway, if made, shewed no possibility of paying expenses, and it had been recommended' to force the Government to construct it, as, otherwise they would never be induced to make it. The South Island had had a large slice out of the publio loans of the Colony, and they evidently wished to have still more. One of the chief railways he would support would be that through the Gorge. ROADS AND BRIDGES CONSTRUCTION ACT. The speaker could not say he thought this scheme quite a success ; although the Manawatu District had got a considerable amount of. money through it, and hoped to get still more ; but the chief deficiency m the working of the Act was caused by a want of funds. Major Atkinson had shewn him (Mr Macarthur) a draft of the Bill, before it was passed, and he then expressed an opinion that the measure would prove unworkable. The applications which were subsequently made were enormous, and those bodies which applied for money under it for roads, only gob about one-fifth of the amount applied for. Last year Manawatu only got .£9OO, although we applied for very much more. In dealing with mam roads the Government only required the local bodies to -.supply one-fourth of the total amount, whereas for othi«r roads, the Government would only grant one-fourth, and the local bodies had to supply the remaining throefourths. Thus, fora grant of .£IOO for a niain road the local body would inquire to find £25 ; whereas for dis■jl^liroads thejocal bodies had lo find and ]>;iy the

loiivc it lo the local bodies to discern wllicli were dirftne.l. ;'ud which main ro;ids, also iliat it was a mistake to allow i l)i> forming of roads to depend so much upon the laud fund. Last year only about L7OOO was handed over to local bodies tor expenditure, or about, ono fifth of what was applied for. If olecle.d he would endeavour to get those Acts amended iv the way pointed out. NATIVE AFFAI'S. He said he quite agreed with the firm policy shewn by Mr Bryce to the Natives, and believed that by shewing them that they must conform to our laws they were better off and so were all of us. The real matter of importance was regarding the selling of Natire Lands, without allowing i he native owners to be robbed. If Government had never given up their pre-emptive right, the settlement of New Zealand would have been far i more advanced than it is at the pre« sent time. FHDERATION. It seemed to the speaker that the objection to forming a Federal Council was purely a matter of expense. Federation was he thought a valuable thing to have. Sir George Grey had said that Federation was an attempt to curtail the powers of the Legislature, but it seemed to the speaker to be just the reverse. It dealt with such matters as the prevention of the influx of criminals. Divorce, the protection of patents, and other similar matters would also be brought before the Federal Council. Nor. did he think the votes w ould bo given unfairly, for there would be a system of division thit would prevent the' weaker colony from being entirely over-ruled. The chief objection to it was the expense. INSULAR SEPARATION. Mr Macarthur expressed himself as opposed to the two Islands being separated, and he believed the cry had been taken up simply to bring pressure to bear on the Government. NATIONAL INSURANCE. He thought this scheme was Quixotic and impracticable. If the measure was brought on, he, if elected, would not be prepared to support it; if it were carried, he thought it would be a calamity to the colony. ECONOMY. The speaker was of opinion that the present expenditure m connection with the Civil Service Department, could be largely reduced, and he would favor any such reductions. PARTIES. All candidates were asked what parties they would support. Since issuing his address m the papers, Sir Julius Yogel had came forward a great deal, (applause) and he had strong reason to think that thero would be a coalition Ministry formed between these two parties. He believed he would be glad to see such a coalition, and would support it. He would not be prepared to support any Government which was headed either by Sir George Grey or Mr Montgomery. Sir George Grey was eloquent but not practical, and Mr Montgomery was incapable, aud ho had very little faith m him. He did not believe that any Ministry could relieve the depression, however. The foreign markets controlled our prices to a large extent, and hence the depression. He did not believe m Governments taking the credit of good times upon themselves, like a Tory Ministry at Home who invariably claimed the credit of it if thero was a good harvest. [At this point a rotten egg was thrown through the window.] Hr Hawkins .suggested that six special constables be sworn m to keep such disgraceful proceedings down. The Chairman appealed to the good sense of the meeting to preserve order. The speaker, resuming, said the present Government had not done sufficient to stimulate new industries. If our markets went down, trade diminished accoidingly. He was no advocate of protection, howevei , as ho thought our local markets did not require protecting. THE GORGE' RAILWAY. The speaker was formerly of opinion that the junction should be at Bunny thorpe, but since Palmerslon had been so rapidly" settled, he now thought the junction should be ; at Pahueidton. When the present railway was being made Mr Snclson and he had tried to get the whole of it done, but the answer given was that there was no money, available. They then, more lately, asked Mr Mitehelson to construct the railway' as far as the Gorge. • Mr Mitehelson had said iv reply that he would endeavour to have some money put on the estimates. They, Messrs Macarthur and Snelson, took the Minister's promise, but he niighl never have the chance of performing it, now that his Ministry had been turned out of power. He noticed that Mr Mitehelson had made some contradictory statements to the Woodville settlers), m reply to some questioning. But whatever Ministry succeeded to power, he, (Mr Macarthur) would take th is matter especially, m hand, and do his best to get the Gorge railway actually completed. THE CENTRAL LINE. Theroute through the Oroua Valley was of importance to Palmerston, but of moTC especial interest to Feilding. He would urge for a thorough explanation of this route, before any other was taken up m its stead. He did not wish to affirm that this was the best line, he believed it to be so, but he. sauted it to be thoroughly explored and proved. FITZHERBBRT ROAD. It had been said Jthat that he (the speaker) had done hia utmost to prevent the road being made from Fitzherbert to the Gorge. Now, this road runs for a very long 1 way through one single ratepayer's property, and the Board were asked to have it constructed without asking Mr Cotter's consent or permission. Now, the Manchester Road Board had no funds to do the work ; they would apply for the money by means of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act, but 10 do that the Government would require that a special rate be struck ; and Mr Cutler's property would be taken on^o the district taxed, m fact would

and they would then ask Mr Uotler Lo vole for for a special vote, to make their road for them. This of course that gentleman would not do, aud very fow would. Then, again, such a road would entail some six miles of fencing which was a very serious matter, so that Mr Cotter would have to pay this rate to make the road, and fence it off, when made, which would be very hard indeed on the ownerof any single property.Thon i again if this side of the river were taken m, the people there would, he was sure, do exactly the same '-/hing*, and vote against the special rate**- ; The only way to get the work done was for those whom it directly benefited to do it themselves ; and this was the fairest way, and the Man- „ Chester Board would not attempt to ... stop them. The remedy was if they wanted it, make it. If they had been so very anxious for it why didn't they say they would make that road last year? Perhaps they had spent the money near their own " doors. (Hear, hear). Afterwards, .a „ motion was brought forward to make it a county road. Ho was charged'" with not assisting this movement^ but he could hardly be »o inconsistent as to go to Government with a petition praying for suspension m one hand, and present another at the same time asking a road to be made a county xoad. They argued thfttQfV: this had been done there was a clause m the Act which would affect it. He had asked Cr Sly what had been the reason for so much being about this road. He replied it w<s a matter ot sentiment. He had aoked Cr Walker, and he said it would leave them m a better position when the county was suspended' if they had it gazetted a county road. This was the best reason he had received. But the matter now lay m the Manawatu Road Board's own hand's, which now had just the name, powers as a board as the oounty foimerly had. PERSONAL MATTERS. If elected, Mr Macarthur said he intended to re-s'gn his position aa chairman of the Manchester Road / Board, because* he thought it not compatiblewith the duties of a Member of Parliament to hold such office. He had a few more more word! ■ '=to say on personal matters. It had been said of him " Oh, Macartbur is a Feilding man and he will represent th at district and not - Palm erston." But there was a material guarantee that this would not be the case, for he would m three years' time be before them again, seeking reelection, when, if he had not represented all places alike, he would beJn danger of losing his seat. The electors then* had a material guarantee that he must treat all parts of the constituency alike. Ho had represented several - districts m local bodies many tirars, and never had been afraid io go back to the electors, aud had always been returned at the head of the poll and with a large majority. He had a stake also m the district, Every man wishing to become a representative should have a good stake m the district he represents, otherwise ruinous measures might be introduced at any time. Also, ho was a local man, and. Manawatu had enough of being represented by "Wellington absentees.. Ho thus concluded Ma address •■— l repeat that before \E came forward I consulted two men who could them-' selves either of them have gone into the House, and at their special "re- v quest 1 stand a8 a candidate for the , Manawatu district to represent yoa m Parliament. I ask you to placed your confidence m me, and I promise that you will always be able to call me to task. (Applause). The Chairman ' then askecfc" ,any elector* to put any questions to. the candidate that they wished to bring forward. After that was concluded--,., he would ask that those who would be willing to form a. committee to stay behiud. As yet thero bad been no committee, and no active steps had: > been taken, beyond the very influential requisition which had been so largely : , signed, and which had been published ; m the papers. __...__i- — *~ Mr B. Newcome thon questioned the candidate with regard? to his action} ; m not supporting the matter of thi UJ Fitzherbert Road, and asked was it noc Mr Macarthur's duty to takoaiL; poll when that district requested it. Mr Macarthur said lie could easily ;^ reply to that question. . There had been a committee formed to deal with that matter arid lay it before this 1S : Council. He -ha-J to abide' by tnS decision of that body, and was not free to act- of his own free Will/*- '■' although chairmin« (Hear hear.) MrNewcombe : Have you not been opposed to the making of this road for - the last eight or nine years ?_ Mr Macaithur : The block of land "' now owned bj Mr Cotter wasiowner* ly the property of the Provincial Engineer, and an attempt was once made to divert tho grant which had ' .. been made for the Gorge Bridge, to form that road ; but I sftid, if you. wish to lake this money and spend it on that road I will defeat the in-* - trigne. ' ; ' - ; '-''■'' *"" Mr Newcombe then touched' upon the Kairaranga-Bunnythorpe road,, „ , the plans of Which had been prepared m Manawatu. ' Mr Macarthur produced papers-***^ shewing that his assertions were triwf, '."■ He said that when the Oroua County 1 ' was formed they had promised siiS-' ' pension and they had completed it. ' " ! They also told Taonui and Fitzherbert that although they would be a County L (Jouncil, they could manage their own affairs. ' - . Mr Newcombe, beiug perfectly irrepressible, asked the date of "Mr Macarthur's first becoming a membeir ~ of the Mana watu County Council, to* v/ which that gentleman replied 1876^ and Mr Newcoinbe touched on Mr ' Halcoml>e and other minor questions which seemed rather irrelevant to the ; question. : '' Mr Macarthur stated that Kiwitea at that time had its own represent*- A tive who should have brought motions ' forward, and not he. Mr Snelson : Abolition came just fl at that time, caffd 1 the grant of LSOOQ^B was consequently not made. . . . .— y Mr Newcombe : i—beJieve^it has \ since came out that our claim lapsed, has jit not 1 „- Mr Macarthur : I don't know. ;T Mr Newcome :j£^~-«auJ tor.) ■kg

Pnan in*ft County Council would opftose a sum of LSOOO I eing spent m district ? or that any man would try and prevent that sum being spent m Fitzberbert? Mr Newcome: Yep. (a voice, That's right— hear ! hear \) After some other questions Mr Newcombe said the Catholics were m numbers about one seventh of the colony, and they were prepared to support .heir own schools. Now sine thy candidates was m favor of free primary education, would he favor a capitation allowance being made to the Catholics for the children which they eJucate and which would otherwise falion the State to Educate. Mr Macarthur: I would not. (Hear, hear, and applause.) I wa.s informed to-day that the Catholics would support the member who ■would vote m favour of such a capi-tation-grant. I should much like the ■Catholic vote, and I hope they may yet givo it me, but I cannot take it on these conditions. (Applause.) You have had a Catholic member fot the last ten years and what has he done for you ? By favoring such a grant, it would be impossible to refuse the same to other sects, and there would be no end to it, and I believe m ieoular education. A voice : We were willing to make roads, but you would not allow us to have the control over them. (Loud applause.) Mr Macarthur: That is untrue. You never offered to, make them* If you had, nd one could prevent yon from doing it. One local body cannot prevent another from making roads. A 3 ' Voic e':. "We offered to do it, and you' Heould not assist. The reason was II believe that the bridge would then not be required over the Manawatn liver. Mr Macarthur : The reason was that you wished to make Mr Cotter pay heavy rates oh the road and swamp him with it, and this was the injustice I would not allow. Mr Newcombe again returned up on (be scene. (Loud laughter and applause). The question was concerning something done three or four years ago, and was replied to. Mr Engles; Is is not right to judge a man's present and future character by his past conduct ? (hear, hear.) When you were speaking m Palmerston you said you thought Palmerston was the right place for the District Court to be held ; but when you got back to Feilding, yon said that was the place for it. Mr Macarthur denied having acted 80. Mr Fergusson : Mr Engles' assertion has -been flatly contradicted, but I mean to appeal to the chairman as to whethter or not Mr Macwthur did make those statements. Mr' Macarthur : I did not deny that I tried to get tbe court for Fielding. "What Ido deny is that I ever came to Palmerston and said I was m favor of having it held here. Mr Forgusson appealed to the chairman who replied tljat he had not a very distinct recollecton of the affair, but was ef opinion that Mr Macarthur did not speak to that effect, if he spoke at all. In reply to other questions Mr Macarthur saw if he were not perfectly free to act as he thought fit he would not come before them as a candidate at all. Mr McNeil : Mr Chairinau is there any better character that you can give a man than to say that ho has workod his utmost for the interests of his district ? I have • kuown Mr Macarthur for some time and a more practical and a more sensible man I never came across, {hear, hear.)? "'-'■': Catit. Walker made a few enquiries regarding the three miles of road through Mr Cotter's place. Mr Macarthur replying, said that if that tlpad Board wished to amalgamate ley&e|n take, the step required by the ■^Set; he would not oppose them. Mr G. W. Russell pnt a series of irrelevant, and catch questions to the candidate which were duly replied to. Replying to Mr Walker, the candidate thought- local- bodies could distribute money better than the State. Mr Engels'askod the candidate's idea on the, incidence of taxation. Mr' Macarthur was not prepared to commence a lecture on that subject at ihat hour of the evening, but stated that he favoured the Property Tax m some degree because it taxed the wealthy mortgagee who should be taxed, — and -let the man who borrowed the money go free.' The Land Tax was also a good ' measure but it would come heavy on the land which he did not like. "'' .' : In reply to an inquiry about charitable aid, Mr Macarthur said he would be ip favor <>f subsidising local bodies or benevolent institutions. Mr Walker: Do you consider the country able to stand the cost of free primary education. Mr Macarthur : I cannot yet say. Even Yogel, Atkinson and Montgomery, cannot really agree as to what amount of debt we are m. Mr King : Yob favor liberalising the land lav/B and cheapening land ; can you, as Agent for, the Feilding Corporation urgp -such .measures? .■< , Mr Macarfhur said it migh appear so, but he took a broader view_of it, and was free to .apt as be. pi eased. In reply to Mr Hawkins, Mr Macarthur said he JivaTvnbtitt favor of abolishing the honorarium, for its abolishment would give an \unfair advantage to wealthy men. Ho did not however, approve of the transaction of those mem-: bers, who had takejfrthe whole honoraferium for a fowdayffwork. Lintou then addressed the ijd warmly recommended the ctors tipaize the opportunity of reioible a representative as Mr HBr'acarth^rjind concluded by proposing Hl^t vote o£ ciifidence m him as their repaeaentativ This was seconded by Mr Hewitt. An amentient to the contrary was proposed byir Pratt, seconded by Mr Ferguson, th the following result. For the Resolution, 44; for the Amendment^, The Chairiu declared the motion carried, and vote of thanks to the chair terming the proceedings.

Mr J. Or- Wpn, as elsewhere notified, is agaio Candidate for the Foxton .ut. He wki v/Sgin his addresses at the Wellington end of his constituency, and work upward. . It Mr Sheehan^ has now definitely deci|p ded to oppose Mr Ormond for the Napier . seat. • To make room for a pretty full report of Mr Macarthur's speech, other matter has been held over. X general meeting of the Manawatti Club will be held on Wednesday at 8.30 o'clock. '•.•'.: An advertisement m connection with the steamer Jane Douglas appears elsewhere. " ,

Indigestion and Liver Complaints. — For these oomplaints Baxter's ComEound Qujuioe Fills have proved a speci c, acting powerfully on the liver and mildly on the stomttoh. Soldeverywhero, or post free from J^fexter, Cbristchurcb, for 19 or 44 stamps. I