MINISTERIAL ADDRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1902, Page 2

MINISTERIAL ADDRESS.

THE HON. W. HALL-JONES AT TIMARU.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

TIMARU, Tuesday.

The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Minister for Public Works, addressed a very large audience of his constituents this evening, and was accorded a very hearty reception. He expressed sympathy with, those who had suffered through the recent eruptions in West Indies, and referring to the Coronation he said it was a great event in the history of our Empire. Preparations as regards local celebrations were being made for illuminations of public buildings and parade of all cadet volunteer corps and rifle clubs. There would be many momentous questions dealt with at the conference of Premiers, but to his mind the most important was that of a preferential tariff. If the Empire stood together in Avar, why should they not stand together in' peace? Referring to the grain duties recently imposed at Home, he said he was of opinion that they were imposed generally to give an opportunity of subsequently granting concessions to the British colonies. Dealing with financial matters, MiMillar's speech came in for some criticism. His statement that the sinking fund moneys were not paid to the proper account was denied. As a matter of fact the sinking fund was regular !y paid in, and there was now to account of sinking fund with the Public Trustee an amount of nearly £300,000.. The expenditure for the year, he admitted, had been abnormal, but much of it would not occur, again. The Royal visit, the mobilisation of volunteers, the visit of Imperial troops, the Tourist Department, the Health Department (both new Departments), Cook Islands schooner, etc., to a large extent accounted for it. Penny postage partly accounted for the increase of postal expenditure. It was true that the expenditure had increased, but the revenue had increased in greater proportion. He anticipated that the surplus next year would amount to between £400,000 and £500,000. Remissions in Customs duties since 1895 amounted to close upon £700,000. The increases in Customs returns were solely on account of tho increased spending power of the people, and not on account of increased taxation. The value of free goods imported amounted to £4,678,481, and that of dutiable goods to £6,665,935. The duty per head upon necessaries of life amounted at a liberal scale to 11/10 2-5 d per head of population, or a total of £458,599. For this 11/10 2-5 d people received education, police protection, defence, subsidies for Charitable Aid Board, and the services of the Labour Department, which had been of immense advantage to the people in providing employment and settling labour disputes. Referring to the Public Works Department, he said that the progress made during the last few years in land settlement meant a very large increase in public works expenditure, as producers must be placed in a favourable position as regards competition. He admitted the North Island had perhaps some cause for grievance, but not at the hands of the present Government. There were at present 18 separate railway works in progress. On the lines under construction the expenditure for the year had been as follows: —Kawakawa-Graham-town, actual amount of vote . for the year £13,990, construction and permanent way £16,825; Helensvilie-North-wards, £13,990 and £25,049; PaeroaWaihi, £18.655 and £24,998; GisborneKaraka, £18,055 and £17,381; Strat-ford-Kawakawa, £11,193 and £20,825; Marton-Te Awamutu, £149,236 and £184,561 (north end £74,618 and £96,168, south end £74,618 and £88,393); Blenheim-Waipara, £41,973 and £65,824 (north end £15,856 and £19,091, south end £26,117 and £46,738); Midland railway, £93,271 and £66,391; Otago Central, £93,271 and £103,273; Heriot extension, £4664 and £4056; Catlin's-Seaward Bush, £11,193 and £8091; Orepuke-Waiau, £11,193 and £16,456. Referring to the increases in public debt he said that it was simply a matter of business. If the business were, extended the capital must be increased. The expenditure last year on pubic works amounted to £2,143,452, of which £1,333,940 was spent upon railways, a large portion being on additions to existing lines; roads and bridges, £402,260; buildings, £145,599; contingent defence £146,875; purchase of native lands, £18,261; telegraph extension, £31,728. The gross public debt on March 31, 1901, amounted to £49,591,255, while in 1891 it was £38,830,350, being an increase in gross debt of £10,760,895; but ts £6,913,736 of this amount was direct interests-earning and produced a profit, he said it was not a fair comparison to compare the New Zealand public debt per head of population with t^at of Great Britain. In New Zealand the Government owned all the railways, and went in for many business undertakings which the British Government did not. Referring to the dismissal of men from the various works, he said it was gratifying to find that there were very few unemployed in the colony. In fact, it was a very difficult matter to obtain men for farming work. As to the question of purchasing Ihe Manawatu line after the Act was passed last session, he had approached the company and had the : utmost difficulty in getting a reply from them. The Act expired on the first of this month. Notwithstanding that he had met the difficulties raised by the company a reply was not received from them until the last day on which negotiations might He entered into. As, however, the time had elapsed in which negotiations could be entertained, he sent them a reply stating that the matter must stand over until next session. It was now "a question for consideration whether it would not be better to allow the Manawatu railway to remain in the hands of the company for a period and utilise the money which would be required for the purpose of purchasing in pushing forward the North Island Main Trunk, railway. Regarding defence matters he said that he was not in favour ot spending large sums on harbour defences beyond providing the necessary long-distance guns. He preferred" to have a well-trained body of volunteers, and was altogether antagonistic to a standing army. The Land Purchase Board were now on their way to Timaru to open negotiations with regard to the Levels Estate. He strongly advised the Farmers' Union not to allow themselves to be made use of by political touts. . ._., ... .'.'_._

•The meeting closed with a hearty vote of thanks to the Minister for his address, and of renewed confidence in himself and the Government of which he is *a member.