THE FIRST PREMIER OF THE COMMONWEALTH

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 22

THE FIRST PREMIER OF THE COMMONWEALTH

HIS SPEECH

THE FUTURE TARIFF

FRESTRADE IMPOSSIBLE

A Til AN SC 0 N TINE XT A L 11 AIL Vv AY

WEST MATE I, AND, January 17

Mr Barton made His pronouncement of the policy ol the Federal Goyeriiiue.uc at the Town Hall to-night. About 1200 persons were present, and crowded into the building, while many were tumble to gain admittance, do make more room ladies were asked not to attend. iho Mayor (Colonel Wilkinson.) presided, and on the platform were . a number of members of Parliament and representative citizens. .Below the platform was a, small army of pressmen ready to despatch the speech of the Federal Premier to all parts of the Commonwealth, to which it was more particularly addressed than to .-the local hearers. Mr Barton's appearance was, .the signal' tor loud applause. He was accompanied by his colleagues, Sir W. Lyue, Mr Deukin and Mr Kingston, who were also individually cheered. The proceedings started' punctually a_t' half-past seven, when the usual flashlight was taken of the distinguished group on the platform. The Federal Prime Minister was briefly introduced by the chairman, who said a high honour had been conferred upon the local electors by Mr Barton offering himself as a candidate for the Hunter.

On rising to address the meeting Mr Barton was received with deafening cheers. He said the reception given him far outweighed any compliment be might pay the district- in coming before it as a candidate for the Federal Parliament. It was also an honour to his distinguished colleagues to be so cordially received. The Maitland district was second to none an its value or capabilities in New Soutli Wales. He had but cue misgiving in coming before them—that lie rnighhciiot always be able to do justice to them and to Australia. This was the first time in history in which a body of men had teen given the government of a whole continent. It was u serious business, and his Ministers would not make mountebanks of themselves in carrying out their heavy task. It was an unprecedented honour that had otime to him, but lie did not feel vain over it, because the responsibilities were too heavy. It had come to him through no personal self-seeking. The work to be done was of a pioneer character. New departments would have to be constituted, and the amount cf reorganisation to be clone would be very great. Still, his colleagues were of an admittedly high character, no more able- men had been got together in Australia. Although his Government had yet to receive its credentials from the people, still his colleagues in their respective States had always been in the forefront of popular movements. It was not- a one-man Mi nistry; they did not come with a shibboleth. There were other able men he would have liked t-o have had as colleagues, tut he had only seven portfolios, and could only provide for that number of Ministers. No one of his- colleagues, he wished to point out, had exercised any pressure upon him to secure their inclusion in his Cabinet. Neither would he have submitted to any such pressure. He then outlined the duties which would have to be performed by himself and Sir W. Lyne to show the important character of the work allotted to the New South Wales Ministers. Sir W. Lyne, for instance, would have to: look after the public works, the selection of the Federal capital site, the i-ailways, including the transcontinental line, the interstate commission, old-age pensions, elections, etc. Next he referred to Mr Holder in friendly terms . as a distinguished federalist, and defended the Government against the charge of having too many lawyers as Ministers. He was glad to have the assistance of Sir W. Lyne, especially in regard to the federal elections, which would take place at the earliest possible date. They could not take place for some little time, because the necessary machinery could not be got into working order without some delay. Ministers would not be able to canvass the whole of the continent, with --its area of three million* square miles. He hoped the electors would return able men. In regard to the capital site, he said there would be no delay, because the Government would wish to be master in its . own house. The site would be chosen for beauty of position, sanitary conditions, etc, and it was no fault of his that it would have to be situated' 100 miles from Sydney. As regards the land, no fancy prices would be paid, and it would not be resold, but jvould be leased, with periodical appraisemonts, so thafi rents would go towards paying the cost of building the capital.. He did not believe in land alienation, and never did. (Cheers.) The question carried out on the lines Le suggested would do much to alleviate the burden of the cost of the capital to the Commonwealth. With regard »o the site, Mr Oliver’s report would be useful in connection with any subsequent investigations undertaken by the Federal Government. With regard to the Public Service, Postal, Defence, and

other Departments, they would be taken over as scon as opportunity offered. Expenditure would be kept down until the Government had Parliamentary authority to proceed, and the Government would also see tOat no injustice- was done to officers in i~e departments transferred to the Commonwealth, which would be worked by men cf departmental experience. As to the Federal High Court, it would be an Australian Court tor Australian questions, and when in England he had been somewhat stubborn, with Mr Deakin and Mr Kingston, in preserving its powers. Mr Beakon w.u now preparing an Act to bring the Court- into being. The interstate Commission would also be a most important loop, which would have to look into the question of the war cf freights in me States, an dalso the taking over cf the railways, which was a matter already engaging the attention of the Federal Treasurer. A bill would be brought before Parliament by Sir W. lyne. oealing wl; h the Interstate Commission, and no appointments to the loop would be made until" the Bill had passed Parliament. Defence was also so important that atone time he had a sneaking desire to take it himself, because the defending of Australia was cf serious importance, for it vrould' be a nation well worth defending. After referring sympathetically to the late Sir J. Dickson. Mr Barton said recent events had shown that as far as men were concerned Australia had splendid material for its successful defence against any attack that might be made upon it. (Cheers.) He also thought Australia would' always lend to the Mother Country that assistance which we wculd expect from England were we in any difficulty. In regard to the Post Office, the policy of his Government would be to cheapen postage, telegraph, and cable rates. As to old age pensions, a Bill would be introduced as soon as possible. The financial outlook was clear enough. Looking at the funds; necessary to cheapen postage rates, and < o provide old age pensions, it was evident that more revenue would be required than would be obtainable if the policy of liis opponents were put into force. A heavy responsibility was put on the Government by the Customs taxation becoming the exclusive property of the Commonwealth. Care would have to be taken that the States were not crippled in their resources. It would be a. necessity of Federal statesmanship to leave the power of direct taxation in the hands of the states, so that they might be able to make up any deficiency in their revenues. Therefore the Commonwealth should be careful to enforce any direct taxation except in grave cases of emergency’. Not only was this necessary, but it was also essential that the Government should return to the States every month as much of the Customs revenue as possible. Freetrade under such circumstances was impossible (Applause.) A large revenue was imperative. The Customs and Excise for the six States up to December 21 last amounted to £7,800,000. This v ras much larger than was anticipated when the Federal campaign was in progress, and this great revenue would have to be preserved. Out of the sum stated no less than. £1,100,000 was for intercolonial duties, which would be swept away when a uniform tariff was imposed, with the exception of the West Australian duties, amounting to £264,000, which remained on for five years, oil a sliding ratio, with a reduction of ,20 per cent, per annum. He estimated that by the time a uniform tariff was imposed the Customs and Excise of Australia would amount to £8,000,000, and there would also be the loss of one million on intercolonial duties to make up, together with the Cost of the Federal Government. Therefore, the sum total to be provided for will be very large, and could not be provided by the tariff of those who had gone into opposition to him without knowing what his policy would be. His opponents, to obtain the necessary revenue, would have to resort to heavy direct taxation, kind thereby cripple the states. Besides this, the revenue tartifists would tax everything that a poor man consumed, and also the raw material used in manufactures, which would be a very fine way of beginning, the Commonwealth. He was a protectionist, and so was all his colleagues, but in view of the great revenue required they could not afford to be prohibitionists. (Applause.) The fact that the free traders had left the sugar duty cf £3 a ton on showed that they admitted the necessity of preserving local industries. They should therefore show the same regard to the industries of the other states. What lie proposed was revenue without destruction —a tariff which would give eiiiployment without ruining it ; a business tariff which would yield the revenue required without -.discouraging production; Interstate competition would he sufficient for Australian* industries to contend against without exposing them to competition against the world. Every duty would have to be imposed on its particular merits, anci what would result would be a business man’s tariff, a working man’s tariff, which would give general satisfaction, prevent antagonism betweeu the States, and also prevent working people pattering, about with bare feet for want of work, which would undoubtedly be the case if the policy of his opponents were put into force. What he hoped' to achieve, therefore, was an Australian tariff for Australian people; and if they wanted any other kind, well, they would have to get some one

else to. carry it cut. Mr Kingston would, however, have a. difficult task in carrying out these ideas, and it was evident that time would have to be taken in preparing such a tariff. He (Mr Barton) was quite determined that the interests of each of the states should be fairly considered, and care be taken that no preference be shown to any or them, while he was not going’ to start out on a protectionist crusade. Mr Barton'.rent on to give several-instances illustrating the benefits cf a protective policy. With regard 'to Great Britain lie favoured reciprocity wherever possible. but in regard to preferential treatment. lie thought that this was a question that would have to be gravely considered before any definite statement was made. In regard to other matters, he said that a Bid would be introduced providing for arbitration and conciliation in industrial disputes which extended beyond the limits cf any one state, and he intimated that the transcontinental railway would oe cue of the first national works undertaken by the Government, providing that the Government could see it* way clear in the matter. The uniform guage system would also be taken up without delay. He was also in favour of a uniform suffrage throughout the Commonwealth ; 1 hat was to say, adult suffrage. As far as be could see. no harm had followed the adoption of the female suffrage, and he now favoured it. (Applause.) iiut while in favour of giving women a : vote, he drew the line at letting them sit in Parliament. His Government was also decidedly in favour of a white Australia. (Great applause.) Legislation against any influx of Asiatic labour would be carried out as a matter of course. With regard to Kanaka labour, they had ail equally strong objection to that also ; but the Kanakas were already here, so that all his Government could do would be to prevent any addition to their number, and also to scure the abolition of the traffic altogether. In conclusion, Mi- Barton said there were many other nutters which time would not permit him to touch upon. He appealed to Australia to support the liberal poliev of Ins Government, and said that one of its gravest duties would be to protect the Coni'stitutVjon from those amendments with which it had been threatened. His Government would defend it against all attacks until it was shown that- the people required its amendment. Finally, l:e appealed to the electore of Australia to return men to the Federal Parliament who would be competent to bear the gi'are responsibilities resting upon them.

Mr Barton spoke for exactly an hour and a half. He received a splendid hearing, and sat. down amidst great applause. 'Mr Deakin, who hailed Mr Barton as the future member for the district, ventured to say that Mr Barton's speech was a wise, statesmanlike utterance, outlining what might reasonably be performed. He was proud to be associated with a Cabinet every member it which was a son cf the Commoiiwealtu soil. He hailed Mr Barton as the true leader of federation. In Great Britain, many public men were amazed at the absoluteness of the control placed in tlie hands of the people in forming; the new nation in the Southern Seas, but he replied that there was every reason to depend imon the principles of the Australians. He was glad tliat Mr Barton had at last given his adherence to womanhood suffrage, and also tp the preservation of Australia as a white man’s country. He pointed out that as the government of the 'Commonwealth would be by the people, it would oe verv necessary to guard against undesuable elements. The general policy of Che Commonwealth would be one of geneio.sity and justice. It would be the strongest base upon which to form the new nation, and he was quite sure that when the principles o£ liis leader S: speech had been telegraphed to the ends of the earth, the nations would see in fancy Australia facing the dawn.” (Loud applause.)

In response to repeated calls, Sir Wdliam Lyne addressed the meeting, and met with ail enthusiastic reception. He referred to his previous anti-Bill attitude but said he had since loyally accepted tin? verdict of the people. (C lmers ) There might- be difficulties m Hie oath of the Federated Australia but he was sure Mr Barton’s Government was composed of men who would have all the pluck and clear away all obstacles. Australians were descended from a stock which never knew what it was to be beaten, and he Peeved that here again in Australia, it would be demonstrated that Anglo-Saxons knew how to govern themselves. With Mr Barton’s policy he was thoroughly in, accord. and particularly with his fiscal policy which showed that, while there was to be no ridiculous tariff, the state industries would receive a fair measure c f protection. The New South Wales Premier sat down amid great applause. Afterwards there were calls for Mr Kingston, but. having had to catch the half-past nine train to Brisbane, the Federal Minister for Customs was not in the hall.

Mr Gillies. M.L.A., spoke strongly in support of Mr Barton’s candidature, and said lie believed that in the face of the great meeting held that night it was doubtful whether anyone would oppose him. He (Mr Gillies) also mentioned that himself and other Parliamentary representatives had pledged themselves to thoroughly canvass the electorate in

support cf Mr Barton, as that gentleman would not have much time for such work himself. He moved a- motion expressing approval of Mr Barton’s policy, and pledged the meeting to use every endeavour to secure his return for the Hunter.

Messrs R. G. Fitzgerald, R. A. Price, Dight and Bennett, members for the districts included in the Hunter Federal electorate, spoke in favour of the resolution ; and Mr Dan O’Connor, who said he was the eldest and staunchest freetrader in New South Wales, did the ,

same. The motion was then unanimously carried, amid loud applause. Mr Barton returned thanks, and the proceeding;.- closed with rounds of cheers for the Federal Prime Minister and his eo He agues.— ‘ : Svdney Evening News,”