THE PREMIER'S MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1887, Page 3

THE PREMIER'S MEETING.

Opinions- «f tlie Press

(BY TELEOKAPH—OWN OORRESPOXDEXT.)

Duxedix, this day. The "Daily Times" says:-"The reception which the Premier met with must, have convinced him of the unpopularity of Iris Government and thek taxation policy in circles into which the malignant influences which he conceived to be generated in ' the lobbies of the House' can scarcely penetrate. There was an almost painful want of applause after the most carefully prepared appeals to popular feelings, as well ius the encouragement given to the very disorderly interruption, which , , if somewhat rude, was quite unmisbalceably the feeling of tho masses on the doings and proposals of the present Government, and the unsatisfactory nature of the apology and explanations ottered by their chief. Of anything like personal hostility to Sir Robert Stout there was no trace, but this only made the general ' tone ' of the meeting, if we may so express it, more significant. The long list of figures meant to show, that the Government had been economical' were received, as well they might be, with a stubborn scepticism as to their bringing out anything like the equitable truth, and eventually no one was deceived by the attempt to show that the new taxation asked for was not really new taxation. Not even the announcement, which the Premier reserved to his last sentences, of a further instalment of retrenchment, drew any sign of approval or satisfaction, the meeting being, with good reason, of the opinion that it was no mere modilication of the taxation proposals that was required, but their complete withdrawal. No parts of the address fell more flat than the frequent attempt to conjure with the old Grey watchwords. Democracy is a xcry fine thing, but there is nothing for ib to do just now in this impoverished country, whereas there is a very pressing need for retrenchment and avoidance of additional taxation. The democratic tendency of the education system may be a good reason for preserving it, but it does not go the length of prevenfing its being pruned, and the preparation for the great "industrial war" must be postponed to the necessity for living within our income. The Premier's Protectionist utterances found few friends on the platform, bub were received with remarkable indifi'erance by the mass of the audience, whose whole minds were bent upon retrenchment, and who were not to be put off with the most ingenious excuses of extracting more taxation. If this attitude is maintained, not only to Ministers but to Opposition leaders as well, we shall nob despair of the reorganisation of the administration upon a permanently lower basis of expenditure. Our necessities, indeed, form our opportunity. The public administration alone has not shared in the economies of the community. We still allow colonial affairs to be managed as if New Zealand was flourishing like a" green bay tree. The Government, like each individual in the colony, must henceforth cut its coat according to its cloth, and bring its requirements within the income provided; That is the lesson which taxpayers have to teach the politicians during the next . two months, and the beginning made' last night is not unpromising." The '' Star " expresses disapprobation of the unseemly interruption to which Sirß. Stout was subjected. It points out that noise is net argument, and if the electors are to discharge their duty properly at tho present serious junctore of affairs they will -do~well to 1 lrsten-and learrrfrcmr tlTecanctldates for their suffrages what extent of confidence can safely be reposed in them.

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