MR. OLIVER AT DUNEDIN.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 128, 3 June 1881, Page 2

MR. OLIVER AT DUNEDIN.

? Mr. Oliver addressed his Dunedin constituents at the Garrison Hall to-night ; the Mayor presided, and there was a large attendance. Mr. Oliver commenced by ridiculing the claim set up by the Grey Party to the title of " Liberals," and Bhowed how they manoeuvred to secure the defeat of any liberal bills they went through the pretence of introducing, ft c approved the principle of the Representation Bill, brought in by the present Government, bat considered even that wonld leave the system of representation defective. He favored Hare's system for the representation of minorities, and approved the Government proposal for the reform of the Legislative Council. He regretted Mr Bryce's resignation, and endorsed Major Atkinson's statements as to the . colonial finances. The objection that the Property Tax would prevent money being brought into the colony most be acknowledged to be false, for the supply of money was now greater than it had been for years. A disposition had been displayed of late by the Opposition to rob the Government of the credit of this retrenchment. He thought the Opposition was disappointed at the effect of the retrenchment achieved by the Government. First, the Opposition had relied npon profiting by the unpopularity of the Government, but now, observing that the people recognised the benefits the Government had conferred oil the colony, they said that retrenchment was forced by the Opposition, or at any rate by the House. The fact was that, more than tny other members, the members of the Ministry had insisted upon the necessity for economy and retrenchment. Ihey had begun practical retrenchment by omitting to draw one fifth of what they were entitled to. The Government proposed to reduce the estimates of salaries by =650,000, but the House had listened to similar promiseß many times, and so insisted upon reducing salaries by a rigid ten per cent. Had the House, instead of doing this, accepted the assurance of the Government, the Government would have been able to effect retrenchment to the same extent with much less injury to the service. The Government had, however, succeeded in reducing the estimates for the current year by over .£250,000, but the task had been difficult and exceedingly disagreeable. Retrenchment in general terms met with everyone's approval, and many were content to see their neighbors rednced, but when they themselves or their friends were affected by it, it appeared as something extremely objectionable and improper. He referred in detail to the reductions and improvements effected in his own department since he took office, and he concluded by explaining the reasons which had induced him reluctantly to resign his portfolio. A vote of confidence was carried.