SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10046, 5 February 1896, Page 3

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

THE POLITICAL SITUATION. VIEWS OF DR. NEWMAN. "As the voice of the Opposition has nob been heard of late, and as it is always well to hoar both sides) of the question," eays our Wellington correspondent), "I thought) jt might bo interesting to the readers of the Herald to obtain the views of Dr. Nowuian, member for Wellington suburbs, in regard to ourlinancoand several othor matters of publici nterost. I therefore waited upon him at his residence recently. Notwithstanding the aovoro shaking which he got in a buggy nccidont the other day, Dr. Sewman, with his usual courtesy, was good enough to mako the following statements, in reply to questions put by me BKVEKOE AND EXPENDITURE. " Have you analysed the Decomber quarter accounts of revenue and expenditure?" " Yes; the revenue in somo itoms is larger. There are two ways in which revonuo grows—a healthy and an unhealthy way. Tho healthy growth is whore tlio revenue increases owing to an enlargement of tho bulk of trade, and in consequence of increased national prosperity. Tho growth of revenue, howovor, is on account of Customs and railways. The othor items are stationary. The Customs are swolleu by somo £22,000. You will remember last sossion Mr. Ward imposed a now Customs tariff, and after five or six different withdrawals and new editions it scrambled through the House. Tho Opposition then protested that the increase of duties upon boots, upon women's clothing, and children's garments; upon machinery for mining and for electricity would moan extra taxation to the tune of 60,000 to £80,000 a year. The Treasurer defonding the estimates made out a growth I of sorao £5000. The first quarter's Customs revonuo after the new tariff, shows that at least £60,000 a year is being wrung from the people's pockets. Of course, at the end of the March quarter, the Ministry will boast of their big surplus and of growing revenue. But it is an unhealthy growth by making the people pooror." RAILWAY EKVE.VCE. " Railway revenue 2 What do you say as to that "As to the oxtra £14,000 of railway revonue, thab is all of it pure fudge— mero alteration in book-keeping. The railway returns, the most exquisitely delicate barometer of tho nation's growth, are unsatisfactory. In order to parade their own super-excellent management of the railways; in order to show how much hotter Ministers can make them pay, and how much better their management is, they deliberately instituted new arrangements. For instance, take the very attractive cheap railway school treats. They aro very good, but they aro run at a loss to the railway. And so £2800 was voted last session to defray the cost. That sura was tacked on to the education vote—tho expenditure for which is larger this year and is credited to tho railway. The vote will help to swoll the railway returns, though, of course, it does not affect tho total net revenue. Take, again, tho carriage of mails by tho railway ; a new system of charging for this has been established. The consequence is, that on 31st March next the railway revenuo will look bigger, and Ministers will boast on every platform that the earnings of the railway are so much bigger under their management. Every effort is being made to bolster up the Railway revenuo for purposes of platform oratory. These bigger returns will be everywhere paraded. But the corresponding poorer returns of tho other departments will be kept out of sight. As to tho rest of the quarter's figures there is nothing noteworthy." CABINET ALTERATIONS. " How is the Ministry likely to be affected by the recent resignations of Sir Patrick Buckley, the Hon, Mr. Reeves, and the Hon. Mr, Montgomery " You want to know about tho Ministerial reconstruction? Tho remarkable thing is that lart session Mr. Soddon brought in a Bill to create a new Minister and to saddle tho colony with new burdens. The Opposition defeated this. The Premier and his colleagues made piteous appeals for extra help. They were overworked — crushed by their labours — wearing themselves into untimely graves, etc. Yet for months past a weakened Cabinet has been doing all tho work ; and for weeks past the Premier and three colleagues have been doing all tho work. Why then should they have howled for extra help When is the Cabinet to bo filled up to its wonted strength ? My tip is not until after the Christchurch by-election. One thing is certain, the retirement of tho Hon. Mr. Montgomery, of the Hon. W. P. Reeves, and of Sir Patrick Buckloy, unquestionably weakens an already weakened Ministry. Tho Premier cannot fill up the vacancies with three men of equal note and standing among his followers for they do nob exist. From the Ballanco Ministry to tho reconstruction Ministry what a downfall." HUMOURS. "Is Mr. Downio Stewart to be AttorneyGeneral ?" "Of courso I don't know" was tho doctor's reply, "but if ib does come off it will be a cruel snub by the Premier to men of his own party, who bavo toiled z9alou<ly for ib. They will hardly like to see an outeider run in." ' " What is likely to bo tho result of the Christchurch election ?" " Well it is hard to say until a district has been thoroughly canvassed, and even this i 3 not always easy; but almost certainly either Mr. Lewis, the Nationalist candidate, or Mr. Taylor, the Prohibitionist, will beat the Government candidate. The victory of either will be a disaster to Ministers, not only by the loss of a seat but by tho loss of all prestige. It would Beem as if, with the Auckland by-election, they had reached tho summit of their popularity, and were now well on the downgrade; ovon if the Ministerial candidate should squeeze home first, tho contest itself will show how Ministers have weakened there." THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION. " What is likoly to be the relative influence of the several organised Associations upon the ballot?" "Tho National Association is going ahead splendidly. In Christchurch ib has many warm supporters, and is ardently helping Mr. I.ewis. In Duncdin the nowlyformed branch is making great strides, and the one in Wellington is being joined by many able young men. It is sneered at and ridiculed by tho Government party no doubt, but the very amount of ridicule and sneering poured out is tho clearest proof that it is growing to bo a power. Branches are being established everywhere, and tho movement is full of life and vigour. In coutradutinction to the paltry character of Sedrlonian Liberalism, the National Association with a broad progressive policy must appeal to all thoughtful minds in tho colony. At tho next general olection the National Association will support a largo number of candidates, and whon bho nexb Parliament assembles will bo a power in the House. Public opinion in tho colony is rising fast against the faults and follies and failures of the Ministry. There will be great changes in tho condition of parties at the next general election, and it will be a very warmly-fought battle." COLONIAL DEFENCES. Turning to tho troublous stato of Great! Britain's affairs in Venezuela, South Africa, and Turkey, I asked what the doctor thought of our defences? "Sir Harry Atkinson," was tho reply, " thought the colony ought to be put into a state of defence. It has been tho policy of the Liboral Ministry to starve tho defence vote ever since they took office, and to court how they meant to cut it down further and further. Wo now see them in a great hurry, bustling everywhere, putting new guns into position, fortifying places. A very shortsighted policy has been pursued, and now, of cotirse, everything will bo hastily hurried, and therefore badly done. Yes, I suspect that the British Government has wired to tho Premiers of nil hercolonios to have everything ready in caso of war." ENCOURAGE SHOOTING. "I believe our policy ought to be to encourage rifle clubs, and all meetings such as those at Trentham, and to do everything to breed up a race of mnrksraon such as the Boers. Parliament ought to encourage rifle shooting by every means in its power. Then if our chief ports were armed against a sudden filibustering attack, we need have no serious fear of invasion. But mosb certainly out policy should be to foster

volunteering and to protect our ports. The expense should be looked on in the light of a national insurance premium. Were this policy steadily continued during the coming years, tho yearly cost would nob be greab, and we should feel ourselves prepared for the worst, no matter how suddenly war mighb burst upon us. The illiberal manner in which the Liberal Ministry has treated the whole question of national defence is part and parcol of their general mismanagement and bungling."