MR. ROLLESTON ON THE GOVERNMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7922, 14 April 1887, Page 5

MR. ROLLESTON ON THE GOVERNMENT.

[BY telegraph.—press association.] TiiMDKA, Wednesday. Mr. Rolleston addressed his constituents at the Volunteer Hall, Temuka, this evening. There was a large and representative attendance. After a few preliminary remarks, he briefly referred to the political situation, which he characterised as a thorough muddlement. The policy of the Government was like Joseph's coat of many colours, or a ' kaleidoscopic toy, which, when you take it ' in your hands, presents a different aspect at < every turn. The Treasurer was at Waiwera, ] probably concocting high flown borrowing ( policies, in arranging submarine cable ] schemes, or negotiating extravagant laud < purchases with his supporters; The Pre- i mier, further South, was talking economy, < and denying borrowing. At Wellington i the Minister of Lands was utilising the ' Press Association to. sing his praises, and I calculate the latest sensation with which to I divert the public mind. Mr. Balance's latest < sensation was entirely outside his own depart- I roent. The Supreme Court was to be brought t under the heel of the Legislature, and a judi- > cial committee of both Houses was to sit I continuously whenever a judgment was 1 reported which did not accord with i the public mind, as represented by i a section of the press. The matter should i be brought before the Legislature. He < was sorry that a member of the Legis- i lature had so misunderstood his own position i and that of the Supremo Court as he ap- , peared to have done. Mr. Rolleston then 1 referred to Sir Julius Vogel's speech at f Christchnroh, which he characterised as a i sad come down from the pedestal on which i he placed himself two years ago. Sir Julius ] Vogel could now see that the depreision was i not confined to New Zealand, that the ] country was really progressing, and < lis (Sir. Rolleston) brought forward < figures to show the progress from ISSO 1 to 1885. He was now of opinion that < the property tax must be maintained, that c the education system was in accord with ] the will of the people ; perpetual leases were t also found to be the best system of disposing r. of land. The Government, it would be seen, r were playing the Opposition tunes, and I while they did so harmoniously, they would c receive a certain amount of Opposition sup- d port. In spite of what the Premier had v said there never was a session in which t borrowing was proposed more with regard v to political exigencies, and less for reproduc- v. tive purposes than last year. The Grahams- b town-Te Aroha line, the Westport-Inangahua ' and the Blenheim-Tophouße lines, as set ('. forth in the schedule of the Loans Bill, were d instances of this. Over £3,000,000 would be required to make any of these lines productive. Mr. Rolleston then quoted statistics to show that the position of the country was more hopeful than it had been for years past. Exports had largely increased since 1881, and the Savings Bank deposits were greater. The Loans to Local Bodies Act of last session would be found a I' useful measure, but the Civil Service Reform o Bill was not of vast importance. One of the j c important Acts of the session was tho .. Native Land Administration Act, which was ' a very useful measure. The re-enactment of ** the Government Insurance Act was a wise ™ step. He then referred at length to the Ex- " propriation Bill and the Representation Bill. * Both were important measures, and would " require to be dealt with carefully. The Go- *' vernment had as yet given no intimation as w to their future course of action. He was of opinion that they would make the property tax their mainßtay. He did not think Mr. . Ballance's proposal, re protection, would be " thorough, but he desired it to be understood y that his vote would be given in any question lf of taxation in the interests of revenue, and ** of removing restrictions from commerce. In *' conclusion, he again expressed his conviction ° that the general prospeots of the country * were in a more hopeful state. J. Mr. Rolleaton received a vote of thanks ' ( and confidence.