Major Atkinson at Wellington

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume X, Issue 191, 10 August 1887, Page 3

Major Atkinson at Wellington

(Per Press Association.)

Wellington, August 8. _ Major Atkinson addressed a public meeting here to-niglit. The Mayor presided. The Major said ho would take the earliest opportunity to oust the Government. lie denied the charge that the Opposition wished to reduce wages or import Kaffir labor. He denied that he had been most extravagant in borrowing, and said that his part was to put the brake on. He thought the verdict on the Government by tho House would be confirmed bv the country. He blamed the Government for the second session. They should have resigned, and given the Opposition a chance to carry out retrenchment. The questions the electors had to consider were —Ist, increase of taxation or reduced expenditure; 2nd, what was to he done with the bubble Works; 3rd, could the Government be trusted to carry out necessary reforms. In 'Parliament tho Government laid stated that, they could not make further retrenchment., but lmminediately they were before the country they found the estimates could be reduced by £IOO,OOO. The deficit last year was £234,000, and it was sfll running on, but it might possibly be more. He thought the graduated property tax would be a fatal blow to the colony, and would tend to drive intending sc tilers with moderate means away. If tho graduated property tax were introduced, there would be an exodus fro u the country that would bring about a terrible crisis. Looking at the history of the colony, we are living on far too extravagant a scale. Looking at this it was necessary that every good citizen should take steps to roduca such extravagance. The Governors salary ought to be reduced. Of course it could not" apply to the present. Governor. The reason of tho present salary being fixed so high was that the host possible men should bo sent out. Referring to Ministers, ho said their salary was not too much, as compared with that paid to commercial gentlemen; but if wo wore to have complete retrenchment then there must bo considerable reduction in Ministers’ salaries. The honorarium must also be reduced, though be did not think tlmm over-paid. Then nU our salaries must be thoroughly revised. Only by such a course as this can wo restore our credit m the London market, and until this is restored the colony would not hare real prosperity. In making thoso reductions we must assure our English creditors that we were willing to give up luxuries rather than impose further taxation. Referring to the Education system, he would do nothing that would cripple it. He would like to see secondary schools and universities part of the same scheme. He did not agree with hie eas ig the school age to seven, or reducing the. standards to four. In imposing a tariff he would place a duty on such articles ns would assist industries. Public works should proceed slowly, but there should be no further borrowing next Session. He thought that special settlements should be near where settlers could obtain work, otherwise they would bo a failure. He condemned Mr Ballancc’s unauthorised expenditure of £OO,OOO for these settlements. He objected to tho Government Land Bill. He urged in conclusion that the Government could not be trusted to carry out the necessary reductions and reforms, quoting figures in support of his view. They had promised a reduction of taxation, and a great boom; but it was clear from the whole tone of their utterances that they would impose taxation to any limits people choose to submit to. Ho had no fear that the Colony would get over its difficulties with prudent management, but the electors should return men in the interests of the Colony and not of the locality, and make up their minds to effect by work arid economy what others had pomrht to effort by Anan'int and specula tin 2. At the ennrlu-to'i a vote el thinks me' p.v-md wiMi only eue or two dr- tut touts.