MR STOUT AT DUNEDIN.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5122, 10 July 1878, Page 2

MR STOUT AT DUNEDIN.

(FIIOM TUB PllKsS AOKKCY.) DUNEDIN, July 9. Mr Stout, the Attorney-General, addressed a public meeting of electors and non-electors in Dunedin to-night. He commenced by referring to the work of last session and to the Land Bill and Education Act, and proceeded to point out what he considered to be tho defects in the latter. He considered that it should provide for higher education. He was in favor of a Local Option Bill, and was opposed to the insertion of the compensation clause. Referring to the land fund he said that it was practically gone before last session, and that the late Government contemplated making further inroads in it in ] 877. He quoted from Mr Curtis's speech, who expressed himself as being in favor of taking the land fund in a reasonable way. He then went on to shew that Otago, by securing 20. per cent, of the land fund and one third of revenue from deferred payments,

had actually lobl . hbthing. Having touched upon the railways and immigration scheme, he proceeded to sketch the rise of the Middle Party, and shewed how the late Government fell. It was necessary, he said, that there should be parties— Tone liberal and the other conservative. The dnly charge made ..against the present I Government was that it tvas too radical; biit its proposals would be the real test whether it was radical or not. The three points in the policy of the present Government were— administrative reform, electoral reform, and taxation reform. The Government could only lay down a plan and work up to it, and could not get all its ideas carried into law at once, but the laying down of such a plan would shew the general aim and object of the Government in introducing any measures. In carrying put administrative reform they had three objects in view — the first was the reduction of the expense of Government ; sesondly, decentralisation of Government functions, and thirdly, amalgamation of offices. For the purpose of carrying out the two first mentioned objects, if the' present estimates of the Government were carried by the House the saving of £20,000 would be effected, and in the native department, public works, and justice department, thousands would be saved without the efficiency of the service being impaired. In the postal and telegraphic departments, which were increasing in accordance with the exigencies of the colony, it would be impossible to effect a saving, but then he reminded them that revenue was being derived from those departments. If the proposals of the Government were adopted, there would also be a saving in administration. In regard to the justice department, it was the intention of the Government to encourage District Courts throughout the colony, and perhaps to have magistrates at the chief towns and upon goldfields. Justices of the Peace must now look upon their position as a sort of colonial knighthood, and it was the intention of the Government to use them ; some for one class of work and some for another, though it could not be expected that all Justices of the Peace could sit upon the Bench. These reforms could not be effected at one fell swoop, and nmsfcgradually be done. There were two aspects in connection with the proposed electoral reform. One affected counties and municipalities, and the other representation to the House. In regard to the first, he said that it was well known that the Grey party had been opposed to the plurality of votes given by the Act. He did not know whether the House was ripe enough to have that principle altered. The Government had first to deal with alterations in representation to the House, because the House could then effect all necessary reforms. He then went on to show what the proposed electoral reforms of the Government were, and said that they would consist of freehold, ratepaying, and residential franchise. He pointed out that at present various persons were excluded, and he criticised Mr Bowen's statement that the lodger franchise would admit loafers. He said that even if there were some lodgers who could be so described, there were many others who were not loafers, and these should not be excluded because of defects on the part of some of their class. It was the intention of the Government that greater ease of registration should exist, and they proposed that it should be twice a year instead of once as at present. They intended to introduce a Bribery Bill, so that the rich would not have all the power at the poll, and that men should not be chosen because of their wealth, but because of their opinions, intellects, and moral worth. His private opinions were that they should adopt the laws of other countries, which provided that public houses should be closed upon voting days, and the employment of cabs prohibited. In addition to this, it was |. intended that the hours of polling should be prolonged, so that working men would not have to leave their work in order to j record their votes. Re-distribution could not be effected at once, and the Government wished that the new House should be elected under the new electoral law. The next question was that of taxation reform, and he pointed out that some people thought that the land fund would nave prevented taxation. He showed that the need of taxation was sketched by Sir Julius Yogel in. 1870, and went on to say that the Governments since that time had not the moral courage to face the question. The present Government were determined to do so, and their object was that taxation might be equalised. He pointed out that the present system of taxation was the revenue from customs, stamps, and licenses, and he said that the fundamental rules of Adam Smith were violated by it. The Government were desirous that the burden should be cast upon all parties, and he added that class taxation had prevailed in the past, and that it was nothing new. Customs duties must be lightened in some instances, but they should not be specified at present, as it would lead to speculation on the part of merchants. There was a large class at present deriving revenue from land and not paying their fare share of taxation, the object of the Government ought to be to get at the unearned increment. He said there was ! no difference between an acreage tax with classification and a valuation tax making a deduction for improvements. The object should be that the tax should not fall upon small holders. He pointed out that an ex-Minister had stated that he would like to see an education rate and a police rate, but he (the speaker) contended that that would be taxing the haunts of industry. He concluded by saying that if the people gave the Government their support these measures would be carried out.