Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1891.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXV, Issue 244, 14 October 1891, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1891.

The late Government had no more bitter enemy than Mr George Hutchison. He made a personal attack on three of its members, and in every way did all in his power to damage it. He has plenty of ability and persistence, and when ha undertakes to hunt down a political opponent he hangs on like a weasel. It was generally believed that his services to the party now in power would be rewarded by a seat in the Ministry, but for some reason or another Mr Ballanoe did not think fit to take him as a colleague. Perhaps he thonght that he would be a somewhat intractable ! subordinate, and it is very likely that he would have been, but he can also be a varv dangerous enemy, Daring the late session he threw the Government overboard altogether, and showed as much opposition to the leading parts of its policy as any member who was avowedly returned aB a supporter of the late Ministry. Now he declares himself to be an independent member. Ho cannot support the present Government and he will not pledge himself to support one which may be formed by members of the Opposition. It is possible that pique may have something to do with his action, but in his recent speech to hiß constituents he gave excellent reasons for his conduct. A main point on which Mr Hutchison diffored from Mr Ballanco was on the proposals for taxation. He does not think that the proposals are sound from a revenue point of view, and is convinced that they are not Hkely to bo of benefit to the Colony. He calls the graduated land tax absolute confiscation, and believes that the direct oonsequence must be the withdrawal of large amounts of capital, an injury which would be felt by all classes. He considers that " the land tax is worse than the property tax, and more calculated to. thrust out of the Colony that capital which is as necessary for its well-being as air is to human life." Mr Hutohison takes some small comfort from the fact that the laud and income tax will nob come into operation just yet, and expresses a hope that in the interval the evil will be foreseen and prevented. Mr Hutchison liked the Land Bill almost as little as he likes the land aad income tax. He believes that if it had become law it would have been the forerunner of greater changes, resulting in the nationalisation of the land, to which he has the strongest objection, and he believes that the Legislative CouacU saved the Colony by throwing out the bill, andaotedin accordance with the wish of the great majority of the people. Mr Hutchison blames the Government for extravagance, despite protestations of economy. Ho gays that the miuißfjers had so forfeited the confidence of the House at the end ot the session that there searoely remained one member to do them reverence, and if the session had lasted another

month they musfc have resigned. Mr Ballanee and his friends know what to expect in future from Mr Hutchison. Their administration and their measures "will undergo a keen and by no means friendly criticism from a man who has a great thirst for information, especially when he suspeots that its disclosnre will injure an opponent.