SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 43, 20 February 1902, Page 2

SIR JOSEPH WARD.

TBIP UP THE WAIIIOA RIVER

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

DARGAVILLE, Wednesday

Sir Joseph Ward and party visited .the upper reaches of the VVairoa this morning- in the steamer Ethei. The Minister was accompanied by Messrs \V. Spiers (chairman of the Hobson County Council), E. Harding-, T. ISassett, S. Dodd, J. Dennin (councillors), H. Hammond (county clerk), Capt. Smith (harbourmaster), James Stewart (of the Northern Union Company), and J. Stailworthy. The weather was fine, and the trip up the river was much enjoyed by the Minister, who was greatly impressed with what he saw. It had been intended to proceed as i'ar as Tangiteroria, one of the oldest mission stations in the colony, but the tide would not permit, and after following the river for 30 miles, the party returned to Dargaville. it had been intended to visit Mr Dennin's vinery, but time would not permit. WANTS OF THE DISTRICT.

The wants of the district were put before the Minister by Councillors on the steamer. Mr Spiers, Chairman of the County Council, brought up the matter of the removal of the harbourmaster, who is also Customhouse officer, from Pouto to either Aratapu or Te Kopuru. Mr Mitehclson pointed out that the services of Captain Smith were more urgently needed at the latter places mentiontioned, either of which would be more central for shipping wants than Pouto, at the Heads. A special reason for the removal was the growing import trade from Australia. Sir Joseph Ward promised to bring the matter before the Minister for Marine. He saw no objections to the change, and would endeavour to have the wishes of the district carried out.

Mr Harding introduced the matter of altei-ing the electoral boundaries. He stated that at present their population was divided into three electorates, Hokianga, Bay of Islands, and Waitemata. The greatest population in the district was in the Wairoa basin, and their interests were not in common with the electorates to which they were at present joined. What they would propose was that an electorate? should be defined, starting with a line from somewhere near the Maunganui Bluff, going across the sparsely-populated district, and possibly following the line of the Mangakahia River, right round to Tangiteroria, and then down to another branch of the Kaipara, between Matakohe and Mankahia. The Minister promised to bring the matter before the Electoral Boundaries Commission, which was just being completed. Mr Mueller (who was present) was a Commissioner, and he would no doubt give the Commission the ideas of the district. He thought the Commissioners should visit the electorate, as well as others similarly situated, and he would endeavour to have that done. He quite endorsed the policy of bringing together in one electorate those who had interests in common.

The party reached Dargaville at about noon, and there the Minister was heartily welcomed. Mr F. Jb\ Davy, on behalf of the residents, received the Minister and expressed the pleasure of the residents of the town at the visit. In the afternoon Sir Joseph Ward went through the Kaihu Valley by train, and witnessed the felling of some kauri trees in the Mitchelson Timber Co.'s bush. He was entertained at a banquet by the County Council in the evening, Mr Little, of the Commercial Hotel, Mangawhare, laying out an exceDent repast. SPEECH AT DARGAVILLE.

The Dargaville Hall was packed in the evening, when Sir Joseph delivered an interesting addess. The lion. E. Mitchelson presided. Sir Joseph, referring to the finances of the colony, dealt with the question of the amount paid for interest and sinking fund out of ,the Consolidated Fund, as shown in the statistical records of the official Year Book. ?Ie said he did so in consequence of criticisms that had appeared in the Wellington "Post" and Christchurch "Press," relative to some remarks of his concerning this nvatter when speaking at Greymouth. Both papers had fullen into a mistake, probably due to the word "taxation" having been telegraphed instead of "interest." A reference to the statistical records would show clearly that it was the interest table that he was dealing with when he stated that from 1895 down to 1901 the position was now greatly in our favour. He tools the figures from 1806 to 1901, and in those years the loan rate of interest hud gone down from £& 8/4 per head to £2 5/6, and this was due to the conversion of the loans upon which higher rates of interest had been previously paid, and the lower rates for which they had been specially converted to get the advantage of. Although a premium had to be paid in the case when loans were converted, it had been shown to be well worth it, and it had favourably affected us as regards the annual amount pai£ in interest and sinking fund. Anuuier course which had helped was the increase of population, which, though* it had not been great during the period to which he hau referred, had still helped to diminish to some extent the rate per head that was paid. At all events the fact remained that although the colony had increased its loans considerably for various purposes, mostly reproductive, the annual rate of interest per head had fallen as indicated by him. He thought it a matter for general congratulation that such was the case, and he could not see that any good was to be obtained by any attempt on the part of anyone who disagreed with the Government or its policy to T^pon the facts as stated, and which were obtainable without reference to him) make out in this respect that our position had not improved.

TAXATION. Dealing with the question of taxation, the Minister pointed out that the Year Book showed that the taxation had gone up from £3 10/10 in 1895 to £3 19/6 in 1901, an increase of 8/8 per head, which, if taken upon the mere statement of an increase, was misleading; that was if it was attempted to be shown that the Government had by legislation increased the taxation of the people. On the contrary, they had reduced the Customs tariff very considerably, and up-

on railway and postal charges there had been enormous reductions. He had stated before that Customs, which formed a large portion of the indirect taxation, had been increased by the fact that merchants had greatly increased their imports, and if the incomes of the people were greater they would of course pay more in the shape of income tux. Naturally, therefore, there had been a larger amount under these two heads. This was, for statistical purposes, called the taxation per head, but it would be an illogical and unfair deduction for anyone to say that, because of the increased activity in the business world, the increased importations and also the increase in the people's incomles, and the increased amounts under the heads he had mentioned, that there had been an increase in taxation. Tn reality, the increased activity in trade and the natural increase in the Customs revenue would surely be the direct cause of the increase under the heads he hauTmentioned. ft REVENUE.

Speaking of the revenue for the past ten months he said the railways showed au increase of .£II7,'JO'S, and that up to date the total increase in all departments was £150,000. This was satisfactory in the extivme. He mentioned that capital \ allies in the North Island had, from 1891 to IS9B, increased £14,240,000, and in the South island during the same period the increase had been £ 16,370,000. OVERSEA TRADE. Replying to the criticisms that had been made with regard to the colony's exports and imports, he pointed out that the exports in 1901 were £12,881,424, and in 1900 they were

£13,242,011, which was less than a three per cent, decrease. The fall in the value of wool and kauri gum alone was sufficient to account for that. It showed, however, that the resources of the Auckland provincial district were very considerable, as their exports which were affected largely by kauri gum were only £130,000 Jess than the previous year. The imports had increased to £1,170,350 in 1901, or about .11 per cent, The activity in trade at Auckland was again shown by the fact that its increase was £340,000. The imports for the colonly were not so high in 1901 as the exports for the. same period by about one million. He pointed out that our increase of imports was not necessarily a cause for anxiety vvlien compared with the decrease in the amount of our exports. There, were .two reasons. The first was that there had been a heavy fall iv two or three of our staple products, in audition to which there had been considerable activity iv the settlement of the country, and, unlike some of the older countries, where the settlement conditions might be said to be of a fixed nature, it would from time to time be found that internal conditions, not having any significance of a detrimental character, would arise, and our imports would be extended. For instance, in the Auckland uTstrict alone last year the laud revenue was greater than from any other district, and amounted to £321,355. i TOURIST DEPARTMENT.

Referring to the Tourist Department, Sir Joseph Ward s;iid the Government had done much with the intention of helping to bring about a flow of people from other countries to our shores. He instanced the immense advantages gained by Italy and Switzerland in this respect. In the former country some ten millions were annually spent by tourists, and an enormous sum, ecjual if not greater than that spent in Italy, was expended in Switzerland. The Government were doing their best, especially on the railways, to attract tourists and make their tour through the colony as comfortable and inexpensive as possible.

At the conclusion of the speech Mr E. Harding moved a hearty vote of thanks to Sir Joseph for his speech. An amendment expressingl confidence in the present, Adminisl ration and expressing the wish that it might remain long in office was accepted by Mr Harding with pleasure and was carried by acclamation.

Sir Joseph Ward left this morning for Helensville, where he will deliver a speech this evening, and will afterwards be' entertained at a banquet.