MR. ORMOND ON THE POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7915, 6 April 1887, Page 5

MR. ORMOND ON THE POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

[by telegraph.—press association.] Napier, Tuesday. Mr. Osmond addressed a crowded meeting in the Theatre Royal to-night. He said those who were in favour of a land tax must now come to the conclusion that the present Government had destroyed all chance of such tax being imposed, as in the present circumstances of the country it was impossible to carry such a tax. He absolutely repudiated Sir Robert Stout's charge, that he had proposed any confiscation of Maori lands. All he had proposed was, that Maori land should be treated in the same manner as European land. He next referred to the Premier's charge as to his action with regard to Customs duties, and said the Government purposed to levy enormous duties on the necessaries of life, but they were unable to carry them, because men like him (Ormond), whom" they designated a Tory, refused to vote for them. He gave credife to Sir R. Stout for being a Liberal, but he was linked with the biggest Tory in the country, and he could not carry out his own views. He and other members had endeavoured to urge on the Government the necessity of resuming pre-emptive rights, and he believed that course would have to be adopted before long. He spoke at some length on the Looal Bodies Loan Bill and the Charitable Aid Bill, and said the charitable aid question was assuming formidable dimensions, for which some effectual means would have to be provided. He would be no party to such a cessation of borrowing as would prevent the completion of useful lines and cause distress amongst large numbers of people. Referring to railway management he believed that the suggestion he made some years ago as to leasing a portion of the railway was I coming to be generally considered as a practicable step. He spoke at some length on the education question, and defended the system of higher education as one calculated to build up the future of the country. As to the coming session he held that the duty of Parliament next session should only be to I deal with absolutely necessary measures, and that all large questions should be left over for the new Parliament to deal with. He had heard it was the intention of the Government to ask for 12 months' supplies, but he should moat strenuously oppose any such proposition as that. Referring to the Representation Bill, he was prepared to accept the basis of population, but special consideration would have to be given to sparsely-settled districts. If population only were the sole basis, the four large cities of New Zealand would direct the policy* of the country. He then spoke at great length on the land question. Although Mr, Ballance was thoroughly in earnest in his desire to settle the country, he (Mr. Ormond) believed he was making a mistake in promoting only one system of settlement. He thought one of the first principles of successful settlement was the freehold system, and in this he differed from Mr. Ballance. He pointed out that the Government wefe not at all agreed on Sir R. Stout's views on land nationalisation, and quoted from a speech made by Sir J. Vogel, in which he denounced perpetual leasing as a ridiculous fad. He (Mr. Ormond) was of opinion that the difficulties of the colony would not be met by perpetual leasing. He should endeavour in the coming session, if he could prevent it, that no additional taxation would be imposed. They should insist on the Government reducing the expenditure instead of putting on additional taxation. He viewed with the greatest possible alarm any proposal to stop borrowing suddenly. They must limit their borrowing to the circumstances of the country, and if money were rightly spent the country would benefit by it ultimately. Several questions were asked and replied to. Mr. Ormond answered one in reference to his action, on protection that he would not support protection for protection's sake. A vote of thanks and confidence was then put and carried by a large majority.