The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1883.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3646, 20 March 1883, Page 2

The Daily Telegraph. TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 1883.

Major Atkinson delivered at Christchurch last night the first one of a. series of public addresses on political topics. The honorable gentleman presents himself as an advanced Liberal of the common-sense type. Ho is neither noAvery in his language, nor visionary in his ideas. He calmly discussed questions that are engaging serious attention in all free communities, and, while not regarding them as matters that demanded immediate solution, he reminded his audience that the time Avas not far distant Avhen they would have to be taken up and dealt Avith in a practical manner. Announcing himself as a strong party man, he at tho same time declined in these addresses to deal with party questions. All that he desired was that the people should know him by the A-icws which he held, for one of the difficulties iv the government of this colony was that public men wore for the most part only kuOAvn in the localities that elected them. As Colonial Treasurer his address would not been complete had he not touched upon the financial position of the country. He stated that the public debt amounted to £27,-500,000, and the indebtedness of the local bodies was over £3,000,000—a total of £31,000,000. The country was also indebted to foreign capitalists on mortgages to the extent of £10,000,000 more. The public assets—the Crown lands, tho railways, and telegraphs— awowrtedto over £21,000,000. No doubt

they could wipe out the public debt bj-part-ing Avith these assets, though for his part he hoped they Avould not be so foolish. Tho total assets, public andprrvate, of tbecolom r were £1-57,000,000 ; so that after paying off the public debt they had £100,000,000 to the good. Touching upon the Constitution of the colony he said it was a disputed point whether small or large constituencies Avere preferable in old communities. It had been found that in a newly settled country if large constituencies were formed all the political power Avas in the hands of one centre. That evil, hoAvever, Avould disappear as the colony became more settled. In small electorates local spirit was apt to be too prevalent, and men Avere returned, not for their ability, but because they Avould get roads and bridges for their districts: so ltAVOuld be wise to consider if in the future large constituencies would not be desirable. The present system of election might be improved upon. He thought that better men Avould be returned by adoptiu"the Hare system. With regard to the Legislative Council, it had been accused of thivarting the aaIH of the people, and also of want of capacity, but he ventured to say that it had been of great use to the colony. Never once hacl the Council stood between legislation and tho will of the people, though it had acted as a salutary cheek upon hasty legislation. The time was, however, coming when its constitution must bo altered. There was great danger in having two elective Houses unless their functions Avere clearly defined. Even in that case the best men Avould gravitate to one House or the other, and the difficulty Avould be to get enough capable men to fill both Houses. They must, however, apply the elective principle to both Houses soon. There were two courses—cither to make two constituencies of the tAvo islands and elect the Upper House by the votes on the present electoral rolls * (Hare's system could be advantageously applied to th« election of the Upper House), or that the House of Representatives should elect the Upper House. Ho preferred the former. After touching upon the functions of a Government, he chvelt some time on the question of taxation, and strongly supported the principle of taxing property. He very .sensibly remarked that taxation depended greatly upon what the people determined to have spent: so with the people rested the amount of taxation. It was difficult to be economical in this colony, as the people would not give up their public com-eniences, and yet they expected to escape taxation. If the public desired a reduction of ex-peudihn-e they must exercise a much greater degree of self-denial. The question of land tenure seemed to him of greater importance than that of taxation. The people of the world Avould very shortly consider this question in order to remedy the present defects. The question of landtemu-e shoidd, he thought, be discussed in public meetings and iv the Prosy, but the Land Act of last session should be given a fair trial. If they Avoro wise they Avould put aside for a loiijr time the question of nationalising all the land in the colony. It was best that they should Avail and see the result of leasing land Avith perpetual tenure, and then they Avould be able to tell Avhich tenure Avas best. As to the application of the rent received from Government land, some thought it should go to relieve the general taxation, Avhile others argued that if avc got enough rent to abolish taxation altogether, the rent Avould be applied to the relief, not of tho Avhole community, but to that of the various tax-payers in proportion as they contributed to the revenue. His object in bringing this feature before them Avas to slioav the favorable position the colony oecupiod in regard to dealing Avith the great problems of tho present day. The greatest of these Avas the distribution of wealth. What Avas the object of civilisation if not to secure the greatest happiness to tho greatest number ? AVhat good was civilisation if it brought easo aud plenty to feAv and Avant to the many? No pauper class existed in tho colony at present, and they should be very thankful for it. There AA-as no pauper class in the colony, but there Avere materials for making one, and with a little neglect they Avould have one—mon bom aud bred to live upon the State. If they would only grapple Avith pauperism they Avould strangle it. If they did their duty as citizens, and made the most of their opportunities, it would not be said of them, as of a nation of old, "Ho gave them their heart's desire, but sent leanness into their soul.".