MR. ORMOND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 6439, 2 December 1881, Page 2

MR. ORMOND.

Mr Ormond, deemed by some the “ coming man,” esteemed by others as a “ heaven-born Minister,” has addressed the electors at Waipawa, and his speech, as being of probable interest, has been fully telegraphed throughout the colony. As a review of the work of the past session, the results achieved and the many disappointments, it deals ably and comprehensively with the subject, but we venture to question whether this is all the public expected of Mr Ormond in the position claimed for him of being able to make and unmake Ministries. The public are weary of dissertations upon the past policy of the Government, the colony, has survived the shocks to its political system caused by the turmoil and conflict of party strife ; the people are prepared to say, “ Let the dead past bury the dead,” and are less concerned in its obsequies than in watching the dawning of a new era of political progress. It is with the immediate future, the class of men seeking entrance to the Parliament, the kind of legislation they will there uphold, that the electors are anxiously interested in, and there is disappointment in the circumstance that a politician of Mr Ormond’s calibre, experience, and ambition, has not more fully declared his views in respect to future legislation, instead of devoting the major portion of a long and evidently carefully prepared speech to narration of an oft-told tale. It was necessary perhaps that he should justify himself in the opinions of the particular auditory he addressed, to explain away misconceptions and misdirections which, in times of election contests, spring up, hydra-headed, in the path of every aspiring politician. “Viewed in this light, his speech to the electors of Waipawa may be accepted as defensive rather than as a deliberate expression of future intent. So far as Mr Ormond’s speech referred to the future he was perfectly explicit, and in this respect we may hope that other candidates for popular favor will follow his good example, however much their political creeds may vary. Summarised, Mr Ormond’s apparent intentions are these : He will give hearty and absolute support to the vigorous Native policy of the present Government, he will favor a return to the system of purchasing Native lands by the Government as the only available means of deriving any benefit in the North Island from the principle of giving grants of land for railway construction—the Government must obtain land worth giving away. He would consolidate local government, do away with the multiplicity of administrative bodies and their attendant want of. economy and efficiency. He would amalgamate other local bodies—some elective, some wholly nominated —some partly nominee and partly elective, and have their duties carried out by one body having jurisdiction over areas which might, for convenience, be made equal to the Provincial districts, in effect, as he puts it, not a revival of provincialism, but local control over local affairs—a decentralization of administration. Money for local purposes, he contented himself by vaguely stating, would have to be provided, but this could only be done by “ directing the taxation of local bodies the precise intention is not clear. He opposes the Property tax in its present form, because it taxes the improving settler, and does not reach in proportional degree the non-improving settler. If such tax is maintained he would endeavor to remove its objectionable features, exempting, for instance, taxation on machinery and improvements on land. Generally, he maintained that property must bear taxation. On the same grounds, though with lesser distinctness, he expresses himself in favor of a land tax, as being probably the fairest tax from which to endow local bodies. Especially would he tax Native lands, to relieve the present heavy burdens of the country. He would support the raising of new loans to complete the trunk railway lines, and also for the acquirement of Native lands; would give facilities for easy settlement on the land on the deferred payment system, and the appointment of elective Waste Lands Boards. He deprecated the idea . now being fostered in many quarters, that, in future, the sale of Crown lands should b« stopped and the land only leased, as being'impracticable, and utterly opposed to' the desires and expectations of people arriving from the Home country to settle on their own freeholds. There ia certainly nothing in these intentions and opinions which are at all opposed to the policy of the present Government; indeed, Mr Ormond avowed that, if elected, he would not pledge himself to go against the Ministry or lead anyone. His actions would depend upon what measures the Government brought down. As remarked, Mr Ormond expended the major portion of his energy and eloquence, while addressing the electors at Waipawa, in descanting on the past. He had in the principles we have briefly epitomised from among his utterances a comprehensive theme of discourse, breaking on newer and less trodden ground. Electors want to know, not only what changes in legislation and modes of administration candidates consider it necessary to advocate, but they want to know also the reason why. In this utilitarian age nothing is taken for granted, not even the sincerity of professed political creed. Stuart Mill lays down the axiom that “ No one can be a great thinker who does not recognise, as a thinker, it is his first duty to follow his intellect to whatever conclusions it may lead.” Taking it for granted that earnest politicians of Mr Ormond’s stamp accept this as a precept, and carefully think out every principle they support, it none the less is incumbent on them to explain, when they appeal to the votes of the electors, the impelling motives of the policy they enunciate, its advantages compared to those of existing systems, and the results capable of being achieved. Jack Cade vowed reforms, but his idea was to bum the records of the realm, and make his mouth the Parliament of England; there .are _ some among present candidates for seats in the House of Representatives whose political creed seems well nigh as brief. Mr Ormond, far removed as he is from these in qualification and popular esteem, has not availed himself of present opportunity to define the raisau d'etre of proposed changes to secure good legislation and wise Government. In a political sense good speeches constitute the chief education of the people, and are of the utmost utility and importance, but such speeches need to be leas retrospective than foreseeing. There was one particularly prominent feature in Mr Ormond’s address His remarks upon Centralisation were steejped in the gall of his old hatred of Wellington. In Mr Ormond’s eyes no possible good can come out of that Nazireth, and the Wellington people therefore know what to expect should he come into power. The cloven hoof was very apparent in this part of the address ; and in spite of all Mr Ormond may asseverate to the contrary, we must regard him as Provincialist to the backbone, and con cerued less for the weal of the colony than for his darling Hawkea’ Bay district. It is to the interest of Wellington that Mr

Op.moxd should not become a party leader in office. He has thrown down the gauntlet, and Wellington members —whoever they may be —can do no less than accept the challenge, and oppose the Hawkes’ Bay autocrat tooth and nail.