THE PREMIER BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3093, 27 May 1881, Page 3

THE PREMIER BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

The Hon. J. Hall addressed the electors at Leeston last night. After referring to local matters, and to some of Sir George Grey's recent statements, Mr Hall said it was constantly being asserted that the last session was a most barren one, and that this was largely due to the Government having brought down a flood of bills ; but what were the facts ? The number of Government bills introduced during the session of 1880 was less than the average for the last four years. In 1877 there were 87 such bills'; in 1878 there were 50; in 1879 (two sessions) there were 72; and in 1880 there were 61. The statute-book could prove that the last session was far from barren, and an examination of Hansard would satisfy anybody that the session was prolonged and made dreary by such a thing as the no-confidence debate, which, without ever having a chance of being carried, occupied a fourth of the whole session, and by prolix talk upon matters of no practical value. As to the resignation of the late Native Minister, the story had been told by Mr Bryce himself, and there •was nothing to be added. The other members of the Government differed with Mr Bryce, and however men might agree generally they must occasionally differ. His colleagues were united in their regret for the difference and its result, and they were in unison with the evidently general conviction that as Native Minister Mr Bryce had done much good work—work which the country would not soon forget. Prominent amongst the work done by the Parliament last session was what had been accomplished in the direction of financial reform. It was proved that the Colonial Treasurer's btatement in 1879 as to the deficiency in in xhe finances was justified. The constantly reiterated charge which Opposition numbers were so fond of making, that the statement had injured the credit of the colony, was unfounded. That depression should follow the publication of the truth as to the finances was inevitable, but the action that was taken restored confidence, and now the colonial securities were quoted higher than ever they were before. The truth as to a deficiency, coupled with an honest effort to secure financial equilibrium, would never really injure a country ; but unfounded accusations against public men, unjustifiable depreciation of the prospects of the country, and illogical urgings that paper money issued by the State would cure all evils, must tend to be injurious, and might become seriously so. During the recess the Government had without fuss or pretension gone still further in what they felt to be an unpleasant but most necessary task, and as a result he opined it would be found that the estimates when presented next session would be nearly £250,000 less than those presented in 1880. Major Atkinson in his recent speeches had exhausted the question of the property tax, and he (Mr Hall) need not therefore go into that question at any length. Mr Ormond had told his constituents that the tax had been imposed without the people having been consulted; but such a btatement could not be justified, because the discussion in the House on the land tax of Sir George Grey, and throughout the country during the general election, bad completely raised the question as between the two taxes. Sir George Grey, despite the manner in which he had been answered in the House, continued to urge taxing the English bond-holders. He (Mr Hall) must persist in stating his conviction that such a course would be practically a breach of faith; that it would amount to partial repudiation; and that it would damn the credit of the colony in London. The views of the Government as to the native land purchase system were fully stated by him in his address last year. Experience had confirmed these views. The Government hid steadily pursued their policy avowed in that matter —first, to complete, purchases which they found near completion; second, in certain cases

to take land sufficient to represent the amount of Government advances and to release the rest ;?. ♦hirtl, where only small payments have been made to abandon the negotiations with the consent of the natives interested. He hoped that in six or eight months everything connected with tbese Government purchases would be wound up. There had been much talk about Patetere, and he would only now say that. it Sir George would move next session for the reappointment of his Patetere Committee, which last year he got but did not take advantage of, he (Mr Hall) would second the motion. Mr Hall next referred to the Maori prisoners, and to Mr Bradlaugh'e motion in the House of Commons i that the Colonial Office should enquire of the New Zealand Government as to the legality of imprisoning the natives, and of their treatment in gaol. Mr Hall said the Government of tie colony would continue to be ready to give information bearing on the native question that might be desired by the Imperial Government, but the present Government of the colony would not allow outside interference with the management of native affairs. It was in every way important that the natives should continue to recognise that it was to the colonial Government they must look for redress of grievances and preservation of rights. Mr Hall denied that the Governor had used influence over Ministers in the matter of the invitation to Te VVhiti, and said that whatever had been done was the spontaneous acts of Ministers. He next referred to the classification of Otago lands. With respect to the future he said much of the work of next session must be that of dealing with measures that were-introduced last year but not passed. Foremost were those relating to electoral reform, namely, the Regulation of Elections Bill, the Corrupt Practices Prevention Bill, and the Redistribution of Seats Bill. In the first it would be proposed to extend the hours of polling, and probably to have all elections on the same day. An endeavor would also be made to satisfy voters that the system of the ballot was really a secret one. He believed there was comparatively at least, very little of bribery or other corruption at elections in this colony; but prevention was better than cure, and it would be sought to make the law as effective as was fairly possible. One proposal would probably be to close all public-houses during the hours of polling. The Redistribution of Seats Bill of last session could not be again introduced, because the census report would destroy the population returns used in the preparation of that measure, but the principles of the bill would remain unchanged, namely, (1) that population should be primarily the basis of representation; (2) that speaking generally regard should nevertheless be had to the circumstances of the different groups of population ; and (3) that no important district should be left without representation. The Hospitals and Charitable Aid Bill of last session would again be introduced, and he felt confident it would be paseed. The Licensing Bill of last session would be re-submitted and pressed on. The opening of unlicensed drinking shops, under the guise of working men's clubs, the real owners in some cases being men to whom licenses had been refused, was threatening to become a serious evil, and it would be proposed to require that all clubs of whatever class should pay a license fee and be under the control of the police. A bill prepared by the Queensland Government, and approved at the recent Intercolonial Conference, with the object of limiting Chinese immigration, would be introduced immediately after the commencement of the session. Measures proposed by the Statutes Consolidating Commission, and which would free the statute book of 80 Acts, would also be introduced. He conclude] , by saying that the planks of the Opposition platform seemed to be —first, the abolition of the Legislative Council and the substitution of a single Chamber; second, the removal of the Crown-appointed Governor and the substitution of an elected Governor ; third, the taxation of the English bond-holders to supply the necessities of the Nev Zealand treasury ; and fourth, the dismissal of civil servants who were not political supporters of the Government of the day. And this forsooth was called Liberalism ! He called it despotism of the most oppressive kind. To this platform Mr Macandrew proposed to add two planks, namely, unlimited expenditure in public works and the issue of Government paper money. The Government of Russia had been described as a despotism tempered by assassination, the platform of the so-called Liberal party, with the two added planks, might fairly be described as a despotism tempered by bankruptcy. The party with which he (Mr Hall) acted did not think it necessary to put forward a new programme. They did not base claims to support upon platform oratory or platform promises. They asked the people of New Zealaud to judge them by their actions. During the eighteen months the Government had held office the constitution had been amended by a broadening and deepening of the foundation of political power. Some laws had been passed and others had been prepared distributing this power on the fairest practical basis, and guarding against abuse in its exercise ; a condition of the colonial finances as alarming as could well be imagined had been faced ; the public expenditure had beenf reduced and the public revenues increased, and thus the credit of the colony had been restored; an end had been put to a system of land purchase by which through the squandering of money the European settlers were being robbed while the natives were being demoralised; threatening native difficulties had been peacefully settled; large facilities for enabling the people to settle themselves upon the land had been provided ; and all legitimate means had been employed in an endeavor to stimulate such local industries as would afford employment for the laboring population. The Government left it to others to talk so-called Liberalism, but they claimed to have earned the name of working liberality.

A number of questions having been replied to, a vote of thanks and confidence was passed by acclamation.