THE MINISTERIAL POLICY.

Evening Star, Issue 8479, 2 April 1891, Page 4

THE MINISTERIAL POLICY.

The Hon. R, Sodden received a public reception at Hokitika. Last evening he was entertained at a banquet in the Town Hall, when 200 were present. The assemblage was an enthusiastic one. Mr Seddon said the cardinal point of the Government policy was the repeal of the Property Tax and the imposition of a graduated laud tax. He expected the effect of the saving in bis department would be L 20.000, and there were large savings in other departments. He advocated farther works from the Consolidated Revenue. The Government determined that there was to be no more borrowing. He proposed to encourage mining by aiding prospecting, having surveys of new fields, and giving all possible information. He said the report of the survey of Seddon Terrace rush, Back Creek, showed the men were working three separate leads. He would not advocate Government works on goldfields, bat might subsidise them if found of benefit to the community. He predicted a very hard struggle next Parliament, especially by the large landowners and their friends, against the repeal of the Property Tax and the imposition of a graduated land tax.