MR BALLANCE BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7929, 21 July 1887, Page 4

MR BALLANCE BEFORE HIS CONSTITUENTS.

fPica United Press Association.)

Wanoanui, July 19. Mr Ballance addressed his constituents at Aramoho. He said that when Parliament was dissolved it was thought the Ministry had no chance of re-election. The Liberal party were now getting new hope and confidence, and would carry the day. The Ministry only expected a very modest majority. The Ministry wouid stand or fall on the general principles of the pol, 0 y enunciated, though not*on every item I hey-now sought their suffrages on a policy in which protection of industries and opening the country by roads played an important part, as well as settlement of the land. The village settlement question would not be decided for years to come. The system contained principles which would not die during our lives Its opponents could only attack details but not the principle. Because a few failed they must not condemn the system. Previously land laws were made for capitalists and not for the people at large. He considered his land measures more liberal than in any other British colony, lt contained systems to suit all classes The most important principle in land settlement was ballot, the object being to provide land without competition at auctiou and the tender system, ihe Land Bill of 1885 provided for their aboiltaon, but the Legislative Council struck it out ihe Government advocated.the opening of the innn 7 V° ads' ,In U mouths he *»* Placed 1000 families on the land. Even if a number returned to towns, he hoped they wonld not be worse than they were before. It was a feasible method of dealing with the unemployed question in Auckland. Village settlers were not paupers, but gave value in improvements for moneys advanced. He defended his action in spending money in settlement. He might have asked for £20,000, but was content with £5000 to test the system. He did not spend £62,000 It was spread over five years, to be paid as improvements were made. He now appealed to the country for justification of his action, fair J. Vogel was denounced mostly by erstwhile bosom friends. Mr Bryce in 1876 worshipped him, and looked on him as the foremost statesman in the Southern Hemisphere. The leading members of the Opposition were mainly responsible for extravagance in borrowing; He had been accused of stating that it was not possible to retrench, but he had said very large retrenchment was made. The Government recognised that tbey must retrench to the uttermost before further taxation. The Civil Service Act gave large powers of retrenchment. Sir R. Stout was the lather of that act, and he intended carrying out its provisions. The leaders of the Opposition were reticent on retrenchment Only private candidates without responsibility recklessly advocated it. Education was the great issue. He was opposed to throwing out children under seven, wbich was the most valuable time tor earning. It would be a great blow to the working classes if the Fifth and Sixth Standards were done away with. This principally affected the working classes. If these changes were made, mstead of saving £137,000 they would only save, m his opinion, £15,000 or £20,000 Ihe system ir*ist be upheld. Teaching power was required, aud must be paid for. He considered the expenditure on education perfectly justifiable. Sir R. Stout favoured reducing the capitation by ss, but when he proposed in the House to reduce it by £20,000 it was rejected. Cutting and hacking at education was uot retrenchment; it wastakiiigawaythe people's privilege. The Bible-in-schools was not practicable. A conscience clause of any kind would not work. He always opposed the Bible-in-schooK I and always would. It would be.'a cause of great ibscord, and would do no good. With regard to Native lands, he had passed a bill in 1886 preventing all transactions except with the Government. It shut out monopolists and interpreters. The effect was that the Government could now buy the land most suitable tor settlement. Previously tho Government got all the bad land aud speculators got the good* now the system was reversed. Ten million acres mi. Nortll Island bad been bought uuder it ihe fremier had given his word that he would retrench £100,000. They could rely on this, that tbey were able to reduce to that extent without impairing any service or depriving the people of any privilege. The Opposition's policy was to tax articles of consumption and strike off the exemption in property tax. The great principle with the Government was equality of sacrifice. The raising of industries was not a tad. It would give increased employment, and accompanied with settlemont of the land, were vital questions to the colony. He was the only declared Protectionist in Parliament in 1881, und made a speech on it. Protection lowered the prices of articles of consumption instead of increasing them. Only importers favour Freetrade. A vote of thanks and confidence was I passed