A VALEDICTORY ADDRESS.

Evening Star, Issue 9123, 2 May 1893, Page 1

A VALEDICTORY ADDRESS.

The "old order" of matters political in New Zealand is rapidly changing. The men who guided the fortunes of the infant State have passed away, or, full of years and honor, have retired into private life, and a new generation now holds sway. Those who recollect the" early decades of the Colony are inclined to think that there -were " giants in those days," and that the places of Stafford, Sewell, Crosbie Ward, Fitzgerald, Featherston, Fox, and Vogel are hardly worthily tilled by the leading members of the present Parliament. Another distinguished veteran, who by no means " lags superfluous on the stage," haHtinw intimated his intention of not seeking re-election. Almost oontinuouoly since the establishment of constitutional government Sir John Hall has been a member of the Legislature, and was for many years in the Canterbury Provincial Council. He has from time to. time held high political offices, and was Premier from ■ 1879 to 1882. The honorable gentleman possesses the characteristics of a statesman, and has been throughout his public career remarkable for moderation, judgment, and common sense ; whilst the great secret of his success has been, as described by his intimate friend and associate Mr Gisbohne, "industry and indomitable pluck." " His political views," says the author of 'New Zealand Rulers and Statesmen,' " as may be inferred from his "general character, have never been ex- " treme or prejudicial. He is too sensible "to confound the means with the end, "and not to discriminate between the use

"and abuse of great principles." In this he affords a striking contrast to the men who affect to lead the people to-day. On Tuesday last Sir Joux, at Lceston, I addressed his constituents for the last time, and it is quite evident that his " natural force" is not " abated." He, how- j ever, feels, as he stated, that at the age at which he has arrived nearly threescore years and ten—it is well that he should retire from the toil and turmoil of active political life. Sir John commenced by referring to the very general impression that the Opposition have been at fault, in and out of Parliament, in not displaying more pronounced activity. The Opposition members, he says, " understood the wants " of their constituents, and knew that they " were engaged in the work of colonisation, "and not thirsting for political excitement. " They knew that Ministerial administration and policy were being brought to " the test of experience, and that the eyes " of the people were being opened without "constant political excitement." It had been made a subject of complaint that Mr Rollestox had not, in his speeches during the recess, made a partisan onslaught on the Ministry, nor promulgated a new and sensational' policy. He, however, quite agreed with the line taken by the Opposition leader. "For the absence of "new policies New Zealand would be " devoutly thankful. They had been the

" victims'of political experiments, which, "though they promised brilliant results, " had mostly ended in painful additions to "the Colony's debt and taxation. What " New Zealand wanted was rather a steady " perseverance in the work of developing " the resources and settling the land, and "in reducing the burden of taxation "which past policies had laid on the " shoulders of all classes of the community." In respect to finance, a subject which he thoroughly understands, Sir John said that the treasury was, from causes independent of the action of the present Government, no longer a source of anxiety, but was still, and must always be, deserving of the watchful attention of the electors. There was no truth, he declared, in the assertion that the Government had adopted a policy of financial independence and abandoned borrowing; whilst there had been an increase of the controllable expenditure in 1892-93 of £15,000, exclusive of £50,000 provided for in the Supplementary Estimates. As to the estimated _ surplus of £330,000, it was made up, first, by the

surplus of £105,000 from the preceding year—the result of the Atkinson finance; by the postponement of the payment of £BO,OOO interest on the loans; and, thirdly, by including in the estimate of receipts the proceeds of Treasury bills for over £200,000 "issued to provide for the payment conking funds." If theseitems vere eliminated there would be no bona fide surplus whatever. 'The so-called "Liberals wero never tired of boast"in« that borrowing JwuJ ceased, and "that under their guidance New "land had entered upon a policy of ".self-reliance. Ministers asserted that " £200,000 was contributed by the " ordinary taxation, but did not say tbat " the revenue from taxation had to be "helped by £200,000 of Treasury bills to " enable the sinking fund to be paid. " Then, as to the rest of the Public orks " Fund £500,000 of it was the proceeds of " < collared' sinking fund and the rcni- " nant of the loan raised by Sir riAliin

"Atkinson." Then authority was obtained to issue £150,000 worth of Treasury bills to provide for road works, purchase of Native lands, and of land for settlement. Ministers were really paying for public works out of borrowed money-" the con- " trary assertion was a fiction. .Besides "the borrowing he had enumerated, "authority had further'been taken to « issue an additional £550,000 worth of «Treasury bills - £IOO,OOO to anticipate revenue, and the balance of "£450,000 was not actually to be issued, "but only used as a security. Altogether, " therefore, the Government, with £.£0,001) " of loan money and released sinking fund in "hand, took further authority la£ w»jwp " to increase the floating debt by £ , 00,000 It was proposed, in fact, to borrow-not in London, Wt in a way that would impose on the taxpayer a higher rate of interest than if the money was borrowed mi London and than the credit of ]New *- land required. As to the statement Zca- 'inisters had reduced the net public thatk. 0n7,000, Sir John stigmatised debt by a. - untrue," as official this as " ab. beyond the shadow of a returns proved . , t debt was £331,800 doubt that the nv. -> tuan a t the same larger in March, 189*, date in 1891. 'white in the There are many telling t . 1S speech, to which, for reaso. under 3iU be obvious, we do not care existing circumstances to refer; biu Poncluding our remarks we would dra* XS to what Sir John «Wg «*| subiect of the Socialism which, under toe Sfof *-J"' rf3lf fitETA -hSw in 2s P°£ to 5 pointed out how much

the condition of the masses. "This "improvement might be furthered by " working together at what was reasonable " and practical, in their day, in the way of " social improvement. By this they would "do more good td their fellow-men than " by hounding on one portion of the com- " munity against the other, or by crude, " unworkable socialistic schemes."