MR ROLLESTON'S ADDRESS.

Evening Star, Issue 7189, 18 April 1887, Page 1

MR ROLLESTON'S ADDRESS.

Mb Rolleston is excelling himself. His temporary relegation to the cold shade of opposition appears to have sharpened his powers of perception. Certainly his Temuka speech is the best, the most logical, and the most convincing that has been delivered during the recess. Who can doubt that .the policy of the Government resembles Joseph’s coat of many colors, or, better still, ‘‘a kaleidoscopic toy, which, when you take in your hands, presents a different aspect at every turn.” There is an epigrammatic touch in the declaration that “concerted action and pre arranged policy are impossible when members of the Government are only held together by being kept apart.” The contradictory speeches in which Ministers have indulged are provocative of cynicism and loud-voiced laughter. But there is a melancholy meaning in the cynicism, and a suppressed wail in the mirth of the laughers. We have a Government without a policy and destitute of political principles. The satirical comments of Mr Rolleston in the present condition of affairs are only all too true.' “ The Hinemoa by sea, and special trains “by land, have been rushing in alldirec- “ tions to enable Ministers to make speeches “in which they contradict each other.” The Treasurer concocts high-flown borrowing policies and schemes for submarine cables, whilst the Premier at the other end of the Colony is talking economy and decrying borrowing, and the Minister of Lanas is launching foolish schemes from the seat of Government. Never since New Zealand ventured on the experiment of responsible Government, has there been in existence a Ministry so divided in opinion on all great subjects, or so little responsible to the Parliament or the country. As Mr Rolleston showed, they differ not only in Cabinet but in the House, and not only on small points but ou grave constitutional questions. Every one of them seems to do that which is right in his own estimation, agreeing in nothing but to held on to place and power. During the present juncture, when the minds of all men are strong to a pitch of expectancy, what do Ministers offer as a solution of our troubles ? Female suffrage, the confiscation of private property, legislative revision of proceedings In the Supreme Court, a Railway Board of Advice—such are the chief nostrums propounded for the promotion of the public welfare. In the face of protestations of economy, two new departments—Forests and Agriculture have been created; the unpaying district railways have been taken over; the number of Legislative Councillors has been increased; and the personal expenses and allowances of Ministers themselves have reached a pitch of extravagance before attempted. Sir Robert Stout alleges that “the cry of economy last “session was merely raised by those who “wanted to displace the Government”; but Mr Rolleston, meeting this accusation, is perfectly right in saying “there was not a single measure of “economy for which the Opposition did “not vote.” We confess to a feeling akin tb pity, and even commiseration, for /the Government. They are so divided amongst themselves, and so constantly compelled to make excuses for each other, that their position would evoke “inextinguishable laughter” of gods and men were it pot for the consideration of the injuries they afe inflicting on the country. _,, One useful lesson the country is learning from the retention in office of the present Ministry, as Mr Rolleston pointed out in a few forcible sentences. He reminded his audience of the bold promises made Julius Yogel when he returned to the Colony, and his utter failure to redeem them; how he “found the country ‘dozing,’” and declared that the finances were suffering only from mismanagement; that they were ~ sufficiently elastic and “ buoyant to satisfy - any financier ”; and that “ under a finance' “reinstated by himself the country would “rouse itself from its apathy and spring “forward with leaps and bounds of “progress.” And then, after calling attention to the visionary and resultless character of these promises, Mr Rolleston reminded his hearers that .it., is not in the power of any Ministry either to create depression or to remove it. The remedy for depression is with the people themselves, and proposals for its removal by political agencies always savor more or less of charlatanism. Something may be_ accomplished by wise and prudent legislation, and more by judicious administration; but to attain these ends there must be unity of purpose and fixity of design, and neither can be hoped for from a Ministry which is merely “an adventitious combination of fortuitous atoms,” such as that which now holds office. We want a Government with a policy of some sort. We have a Government without any policy, unstable as water, and (to quote Mr Rolleston again) “thrown “ into confusion by the alliance of men with “ different aims, sympathies, and views." Mr Rolleston takes a hopeful view of the present and the future. Even “ the depression ” has not been without its uses. As he says, “it has taught many a valuable “ lesson of thrift and, economy,” for which we shall be all the better by-and-bye. He shows how what he terms “the minor industries” have increased in value by one million sterling since 1880; how the valnes of property have risen by nearly £700,000 since 1882; how savings banks deposits have risen from less than one million in 1880 to nearly one million and three-quarters in 1885; and how exports and imports have increased by nearly two millions since 1881; and from these facts he points the moral that “except by affording facilities for “settlement, the Government have little “affected the matter.”

The whole of Mr Rolleston’s speech fairly bristles with points and valuable sue* gestions. We have not space to deal with these more fully at present, but probably we may recur to some of them hereafter. One other quotation may, however, be welcome. Referring to the dubious and hesitating attitude of Ministers in the matter of Protection, he said: “ The taxation by the “ Customs already forced upon ns by our “ financial condition is already so great as “ to afford, at the expense pf the consumers, ‘ • Protection to a number of producers. . . “ The Government cannot increase pro- “ duction by forcing capital and labor out "of natural channels, but they may do " much by removing restrictions upon trade “and commerce. . . . It is not,” he

continued, “ to borrowed money, or paper “money, but to self-reliance, thrift, and “ industry that we have to look for a return “of prosperity both nationally and indi“vidually.”