THE STAR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2436, 26 May 1893, Page 2

THE STAR.

[published daily] FRIDAYaMAY 26, 189&

SIR R. STOUT'S ADDRESS.

In view of the position that Sir Robert Stoat must in&vitably take in political life now that he has returned to the fray his address to the eleotors of Inangahua ib of more than local importance. On tbe snbjeot of State Socialism he. says: — "Whilst we never encourage anything that will tend to destroy individual self-respect, yet we must use the great organisation of the State for the raising of tbe race ; for making the individual higher in intellect, nobler in conduct, and physically stronger. I admit that there are limits to State interference. Anything that will tend to weaken individuality cannot be a gain; at the same time no State can permit the individual struggle for existence to oulminate in a second war." There lis not muoh light in this. It is a itatement of principle which everyone i can acoent ; divergence will only arise when the question comes as to how far the State oan go without sapping individual independence. Sir Robert goes straight the extension and strengthening of ilocal government, and we hope he will hsve propounded some satisfactory scheme. During a previous tenure of office, however, we think he confined himself to giving boroughs and counties power to expend money on school buildings, of wfcich power no very libv.al nss, we fanoy,hasyet been made. Wfith repact to finance he is very sound-, remarking that " there is need at this tame, considering what is happening-,- "in Australia, for extreme care and prnidenoß in our colonial finances. They, Should be kept as strong as possible, &rJd the mere fact of us having a snrplruo should not make us rush into lavWn expenditure but rather when our •country is prosperous we shonld economise, Bo tbat if evil days come on us we shall be tbe more able to meet them without nnduly burthening ourselves when we are less able to bear taxation."