PRE-SESSIONAL.

Evening Star, Issue 7188, 16 April 1887, Page 2

PRE-SESSIONAL.

The Hon. Mr Richardson, in the course of his Kaiapoi address last night, said that during the recess the Government had devoted their attention to the question of retrenchment, forced upon them as it had been by a generally expressed wish throughout the Colony and by the revenue having so largely fallen off. When the Colonial Treasurer made his Financial Statement it would be found that very large savings had been made in many directions; and in the department over which he Ind the control it would be found that although there were practically some 200 miles more railway to be worked, such economies had been introduced that, without lowering salares or pay, the expenditure had been very little increased ; and, indeed, no fresh salaried offices had been made on the whole railway system during the past eighteen months. It was the intention of the Government to press the Representation Bill through this session as soon as possible. Government were authorised last session to enter into a new contract for the construction of the Midland Railway. It fell to his lot, in conjunction with Sir Julius Vogel, to draw up this contract; and although tbe contract was not signed, still the Govern- ■ were in daily expection of hearing that it had been signed by the directors of the Company in England. In the meantime work was progressing from the Greymouth end, and large quantities of material were arriving from Home fur the railway. So soon as the new contract was signed work would have to be commenced at the Springfield and Nelson ends. A vote of thanks and confidence was unanimously passed. Mr Bcvan, M.H.R., addressed bis constituents at Hokitika, Ross, Kanoiri, and Rimu. He was warmly received, and resolutions of confidence were passed. He announced himself a strong supporter of the present Government, and dwelt on legislation of the past session, and the importance of many of the measures adopted by the House. He would only support the Representation Bill on the rights of country districts being provided for. He referred at great length to the incidence of taxation; and the necessity of carefully considering the question, with a view of lightening the burden, rather than increasing it by the false theory of Protection. He fully explained the conditions of existing taxation, quoting from statistics to prove that all important manufactures were gradually extending to foreign markets. He also referred to a suggestion for founding a home for the infirm on the Coast, as a worthy celebration of the Jubilee year. [From Odr Own Correspondent.] NASBBY, April 16. Mr Scobie Mackenzie, M.H.R., addressed a crowded meeting at the Town Hall last night, and was most enthusiastically received. There was no sign of opposition anywhere. He spoke for an hour and three quarters, and was most attentively listened to, the speech being generally considered the best tbe district has bad from him. He was very severe on some members of the Government, especially Mr Ballance and Sir Julius Vogel, and caused great laughter by his allusions to their inconsistencies generally. He said Mr Reynolds had saved the Government last session, chiefly because he had an odor of economy about him. He brought the Government all the characteristics of economy except the thing itself. Mr Mackenzie gave some startling figures about the loan expenditure on other things besides railways, and feared it was not possible to do without borrowing. To some extent the Colony was like a drunkard who had ruined his health by excesses, and, with every desire to be sober, had to fall back on drink to keep him alive. It was no use the Premier talking vaguely about stopping borrowing unless he grappled with the public works and presented a scheme with some sense of finality. He dealt at length with Protection, and carried his' audience with him on the side of Freotrade. He declared that a manufacturer who could not live on tbe natural product of his business, but only by dipping his hands in bis neighbors’ pockets, was no better than a legally-qualified thief. Mr Ballance’s Land Acquisition Bill was denounced as,public robbery, and a blow aimed at settlement in the interior. A vote of confidence was unanimously passed.