MR. G. J. SMITH AT THE OPERA HOUSE.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9432, 2 June 1896, Page 4

MR. G. J. SMITH AT THE OPERA HOUSE.

If there was nothing very novel or profouud in Mr. G. J. Smith's address to the electors last night, it was interesting as an index of the altered state of public feeling in Christchurch. Mr. Smith, although returned as a supporter of the present Govern-, xnent, has evidently been > disgusted ■with a good deal of the sham Liberalism in their policy and administration. A considerable portion of his speech was devoted to stating points in which he had felt compelled to part company with the and it was noteworthy that these explanations were the most applauded passages of his speech. Mr. Smith summed up the tariff by saying that it had disappointed protectionists, freetraders and fair traders alike, and even the Government, he believed, were not satisfied with it. We agree with the first part of this statement, but have not seen any symptoms of dissatisfaction on the part of the Government. They brought in the tariff with the express object of screwing more taxation put of the people. The Treasurer deprecatingly put down the amount of increased revenue at £10,000, but of course everybody in the House knew it would produce a great deal more than this. Mr. Smith calculates the actual increase at £80,000 to £90,000, which ought to satisfy even the rapacity of the present Government. They are very much like the daughters of the horse-leech, however, and perhaps Mr. Smith is right in saying that they are noi satisfied, but their cry is still "Give, give!" The hon. member showed very clearly how our debt is being piled up by the present "nonborrowing" Government, and although we are strongly opposed to borrowing at all we agree with Mr.

Smith that an open loan, brought down straightforwardly before the elector?, and accompanied by an honest statement of the purposes for which it is intended, would be preferable to a system of borrowing by stealth and subterfuge. The vote of confidence accorded to Mr. Smith by the large audience last night, after hearing his statements, shows very clearly, we think, that the scales are falling from the eyes of the Christchurch electors, and that they will not be hoodwinked by Ministerialists very easily when the next election comes round.