THE PREMIER'S MANIFESTO.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 9137, 7 November 1890, Page 2

THE PREMIER'S MANIFESTO.

AN AUCKLAND OPINION. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) Auckland, November 6. The Herald says regarding the Premier's manifesto :—“ Sir Harry Atkinson’s programme is, at all events, reasonable and decent. Be has not departed from sanity aud the Teh Commandments, but it faile far short of the necessities of the Colony. It bears, we think, the impress of a want of vigour and force that might naturally be expected to be shown by a man who is in very weak health. The difficulties of the post, tion are scarcely faced, and are certainly not grappled with, while throughout there is hardly the germ of a remedial proposal which might again start New Zealand on a career of steady progress. We quite expect tint the beat men of the Government party will eay after its perusal that Sir Harry, if he remains the leader o! our political affairs, must go much further than this." In reference to the reduction of expenditure, the Herald goes on to say: * higher education * has slipped out of the control of Parliament and of the publio. The Minister for Education ought to resume control of the whole of it, and by that 1 higher education * might bo greatly improved and a large amount annually saved to the Colony. We have education set down by Sir Harry Atkinson at £391,000, and it also Is reckoned an item which cannot be touched on any account. It la notorious that that might be reduced. Sir Harry’s declaration that nothing ctm be saved of that largo sum is not his own mind, but a weak concession to the extreme party who declare that whether the Colony sinks or swims it must to the last moment of its existence waste a large amount on the education system. The police and defence is put down ns uutouch* able at £163,000. Better it would bo to face all the dangers wo might be exposed to and greatly reduce the expenditure on forts and guns and the Permanent Force. We regard the expenditure on defence as being liable to a reduction of at least £20,000 annually. This question of further reductions is a crucial one of Sir Harry’s address, and we are sorry that he so firmly closes oat all hope that bis Administration will effect further savings on the cost of the public service. If there Is no reduction of expon* diture there cau be none in taxation, and the taxation of this Colony is heavier than o&a be borne for a series of years. The very fact that it can bo shown that a laud tax and income tax could not be made to screw the money that must be had with the preheat scale of expenditure proves conclusively that more is being wrung from the people than ought to be.”