BANQUET TO THE HON. J. BALLANCE.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 7342, 5 December 1884, Page 5

BANQUET TO THE HON. J. BALLANCE.

Wanganui, November 27. A complimentary banquet was given to tho Hon. J. Ballanoe, Native Minister, this evening, at which there waa a very large attendance, including Mr Bryce, M.H.R. In replying to the toast of the evening, Mr Ballauee thanked tho company very sincerely for the very great honor they had done him on the present occasion, and in a way he did not expect. He waa afraid the services rendered by him were hardly of such a character aa to merit tho encomiums passed upon him ; but he could say that such as they were they had been labors of love. They had been rendered without any desire on his part of receiving «uoh recognition aa had been given them that evening. When he .heard that it was the intention of the Wanganui people to tender him a compliment in a public way, he felt that he could not assume that anything be had dona during the session had entitled him to that honor, and he therefore assumed that it was more in the light of a personal feeling of respect towards him that tbe movement mas due. In referring to the remarks made by the chairman as to his present dual ca. raolty aa member for tbe district and. as a Minister, he had held in theory that the two positions were perfectly compatible, and a member who neglected his constituents because he had been appointed a Minister deserved their censure. Of course he would be told that new brooms swept clean, but ho Rooked upon parties as political necessities, and it was essential to tho good government of the colony that one party who had worn its broom out should give way to another who had a new broom. (Hear, hear.) A change in the Ministry of the colony was absolutely necessary for a continuance of its progress. Mr Ballance then spoke on a measure which had passed last session—the Married Women’s Property Act, which was of great importance—a measure which had received cordial support from both parties. Every married woman in the colony had now the same right to hold property and to deal in property as men had. He believed the time was not far distant when we should advance another step

and give every woman the electoral franchise. Ha said this to show that something had been done to advance their great social progress. He next referred to the central line of railway running through the North Island. He could not say that the construction of that railway would exclusively benefit tho town of Wangimui. It would depend upon the energy she displayed, but he was quite certain that it would benefit the North Island generally. The line, an they knew, would start from Marton and run through to Te Awamutu, and there were no fewer than four and a h 11 million acres of land to be acquired along the line. It had been recognised that since the work bad been authorised it waa the duty of the Government to push on with it with all possible speed, and he might say that it had been definitely settled that the first sod of the railway should be turned simultaneously at both the Marton and Te Awamutu end. It was intended

to commence the construction at sertain points along the line, and certain sums of money had been appropriated for openiag of roads to the line for (he conveyance of material. Mr Eochfort had suggested that the Wanganui Elver should be one of such highways, and iu this way considerable benefit should accrue to Wanganui. All such matters as these, how : ever, must be looked at from a colonial point of view. For the interests of the colony as a whole, and as a means of assisting to di-pel the depression which had of late hung bke a nightmare upon it, and this brought him to the unemployed difficulty, the importance < f dealing with which the Government fully recognised. It had been asserted that the unemployed difficulty was principally due, and conld be traced to persona of the working classes who indulged toofreely iu strong think, and to loafers who did not work ; bnt on inquiry the Government had found that the distress was not confined to these classes alone, some of the better classes were also suffering, and even in some cases those who were in employment. Under these circumstances the Government did not propose to continne immigration until the surplus labor had been absorbed, and he believed that in the settlement of the land the difficulty wonldbe solved. He then spoke of the charges which had been made against the Government of unlimited borrowing proposals. He assured them the Government intended to borrow only so much as would complete the works already sanctioned by Parliament, and for such works as would be reproductive, ' He thought there

was a great future for the industries of the colony, uhich would be supported by the Government as far as possible. On the qiusiion of the defence of the colony, the Government believe! that while it would be impossible for any foreign Power t > bold any permanent it was th-.ir duty to place the harbors in a,state of defence and to depend upon the volunteers. As re* garded the purchase of native lauds, it was the intention of the Government in future to acquire land for settlement only, and upon a commercial principle ; and they would not borrow money except for lands that would be made to reproduce at least 5 per cent, of the purchase coat ; consequently the native’difficulty had resolved itself into simply a question of settlement of land. It was the intention of the Government to establish a land association that could take up land to the extent of 5000 acre#. Restrictions were placed on the native lauds, so that D million acres on the line of the Central Railway would not be available for open purchase, and this had met with the approval of the great native chief Wabanui and Major Kemp. If the natives had been allowed to settle their own lands they would have overcome the great difficulty, and have beerme hearty co-operators in the woikof the colony. The pastoral lands of the colony should not be alienated. They represented 12,000 000 acres, and the revenue would yearly increase. It was the intention of the Government to cut the present large runs into smaller blocks. At the same time be recognised the fact that the runholders were a most important part of the community, and their position was worthy of every consideration. He approx e 1 of laud settlement on a purchase extending over ten years, the extent to be 100 acres, ou three conditions namely, good laud, proximity to market, and low price of land. The particulars of the association system would be gazetted in a few days. The question of local government and taxation would shortly be referred to by the Hou. the Premier ia Dunedin.