NEW ZEALAND'S PROSPERITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 26, 31 January 1902, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND'S PROSPERITY.

SPEECH BY SE J. G. WARD.

\ BRIGHT OUTLOOK

GREYMOUTH, January 25

The largest, gathering ever seen in

Greymoir?h took place on the occasion of Sir Joseph Ward's address at the Opera House last evening". ' _Js Worship the Mayor occupied the ciiair. A large number of ladies were present, including Lady Ward. Sir Joseph was heartily received. 'Te .said "since Ms last visit many hanges had taken place. He referred to the deaih of the Hems. Jas. J>>rr and Bonar, who had always [ taken a prominent part in local politics. It was well that all the people of the colony should be acquainted with, the progress tiiis part of the colony was making1, so that the people in other parts could see why money was spent on the. Coast. If they had a sound basis oi: finance to start with then there was' no danger. When they remembered the great works that were in progress they must look at the valuable assets. ■ This colony was in a very sound condition. The indebtedness of the colony wan said to be increasing, but they overlooked the progress of works. Over two millions had been expended in purchasing land for the good ol the people. A loan of over a million had been paid to local bodies, which was for the good of the people. The money was spe-'.t in making our roads, streets, and bridges. Two millions nine hundred and thirty thousand had been spant in advances to settlers.' There was also an amount for sinking fund set apart. This had come out of the ten millions of increased indebtedness from 1891. The colony had an immense security, and the people had reaped the bene- | fit Some men had paid for their ; lands as high a rate of interest as 10 and 15 per cent., nml now they could gc\ Ji it at 5 per cent. This had been the means' of increasingl the weports and doing good .to all classes of the colony. An argument had been put forth" that the" rate of taxation was increasing. Nothing of the sort. Since 1805 the rate per head was £2 10/3. and it had steadily decreased until it now stood at £2 5/6. The Customs revenue had increased, but this was due to larger imports, which pointed out that' more business w^ being done. The Customs and laud and Income tax had increased, which denoted on advancement and success. The value of the landed property advanced since IS9I something like ?/) millions sterling. The- colony was progressingl very rapidly, and there «vac a future before the rising

generation. The purchase of private csiates amounted to about 3;"0.0"iO acres, which had cost something1 like £1.544.000. The revenue derived was £72,781, the interest paid being £f>9.of>r>. The rrofi + for the year ending October, 1901. was £13,692. A f:.'■ re of five acres was not a bad arei fOi- one man io hold, but when yon fmnifl men owning acres it, vr.« out of the question. Tf things ha-1 been allowed to fro cm they we uld have found themselves in a like T ontion to Ireland. (Cheers.) Si'^e the Government had taken office tli^y lihcl onven back to the people in railway concessions £4.200.000. The ann on<l effort of the Government should be to legislate to help all classes of tf.e community. The railways had done a great deal for the farmers. The cher.n money ha-1 fpfnsed new li.'o into the farming industry. They bhti been accused of having too many inspectors, but who had raised the Irgh standard of their products bnt the inspectors. They could now sell any product that, bore the mark of the Government, for it was well known that the articles had been thoroughly tested and passed They could hoid their own against any country—Denmark or the Argentine —in the matter of produce. The Government had given away last year -C 135,000 in reductions in Customs duties, and still people said the Government were increasing- taxation, and pointed to the heavy departmental expenses in the Colonial Secretary's Department, which amounted to £75,000. This was due to the Royal visit. This would not occur next year. It cost £20,000 to take the census of the people of the colony. This item was included in the above. There was an increase of £30.000 put on by the Educational Department for the increased payment of teachers' salaries. The Railway Department had increased £142,000, but one hundred miles of railway had been handed over this year, besides fixing up the carriages for the public convenience. The Defence Department had the protection of about £170,000,----000 of private property. This department showed a big- increase in expenditure, but fhis was necessary, owin«- to the stand the colony had taken in helping Great Britain. They must take steps to protect their shores. When the population had increased to as many millions as there were thousands at present the jealous eyes of the Powers would likely be turned to our shore, and anyone taking- exception to the increase of £39,----000 for defence purposes did not know anything about the matter. When the concessions on the railway aud Customs were granted the people were afraid that the financial position would be weakened. Up to December 31, 1901 increases were shown in ail departments. The total receipts in all departments were £4,211,612, and for the same period of the. previous.year £-1010,620, an increase or £18l,uuu. There were still three months to run, and the increase, would be a good deal greater. Yet people said that the colony was not. advancing. The total amount authorised for public works expenditure had been spent in eight months, and it was the duty of the Government to stop works after that vote was spent. He had been told to stop borrowing. They must borrow to carry on productive works and finish the . railways. now in course of construction. Ihe penny postage had been introduced, md the loss at the end of the financial year would only be £20,000. In another year, in his opinion they would not lose a penny by the reLction. -When lie Workers' Con,

pensaticra Act was passed 'there was a cry against the Government, especially by the farming community, but matter had been misrepresented. T\e law was a good aud humane one. In New Zealand for the past two or three years a wave of Imperialism had passed over the colony, and they had given their men and money to uphold the flag, and the people at Home' will see that it floats over a loyal people. He really was convinced that the position of the colony was perfectly sound. The way to arrive at the matter was to put receipts and expenditure together and see the position. He felt sure that at the close of the year the forecast of the Colonial Treasurer would be verified. If the helm of the colony was carefuify handled the people would have'assets as valuable as any country in the world. (Loud cheers.)

The speech was listened to with great attention, and was punctuated with cheers. A vote of thanks and implicit confidence in the Ministry was carried with cheering.

Sir Joseph Ward goes to Hokitika on Monday, where he will be banqueted, and stay several days. In the course of his speech at the banquet be said Mr Seddon was the greatest man in Australasia.

Sir Joseph Ward expects to be in Auckland about the middle of February, and will spend a fortnight iv the district visifii^g the- North of Auckland.