THE GOVERNMENT POLICY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14379, 24 November 1908, Page 3

THE GOVERNMENT POLICY

ANOTHER SPEKC3I BY SIR J. G. ; WARD. (Per United I'r.r.ss Association.) WELLINGTON, November 23. ' The Prime Minister delivered an address in Harcourt's IkMngs to-day, when there was an overflow gathering. Mr D. J. Nathan presided. Sir J. U. Ward said lie was not-speak-ing in the- interests of any candidate, recognising that it was the riyht of the people to make {heir own selection. There were 22 second ballot elections taking placo next day throughout the Dominion. He had i.'.ade up his mind not to speak but ween the two ballots because ttic uou'i'iinient lm<i already laid down its policy. It was only sight that the people should- be allowed to exercise their rights independently at the second ballot without the interiCTC'iice ofthe leaders of. either parly. However, tii-a Leader of the Opposition had spokgii at Wanganui on .Saturday night, and it was his (Sir J. G. Ward's) duty as head of the Government and leader of the LiUaroD party to speak upon some matters of importance. A great many misrepresentations had been going on with respsuii to the policy and administration of the Government. The amount of nikrepreocatation had been extraordinary, and for that reason he wanted to briefly recapitulate some matters that he thought "important to consider. The-policy of the Government nnd of tlio Liberal Administration had been intended to benefit tlie large mass of the people. That policy was not for any class. The Opposition was leaving nothing undone to have their friends supported at the. polls. The declaration was made thai it did not matter which side was returned to power, but it was quite the contrary. It was necessary that any Government returned to power ' should Dave a clearly-defined policy if it was going to do gocd for the people. The Government policy, whiur had .met with almost universal approval, must be carried out by those who were sympathetic with dt: It bad been said that the Government had no policy. He wanted to tell those present and the people generally that the. Government had a very defined policy. > i . He then briefly outlined the provisions of the Land Settlement Finance* Bill, a measure which would be of immense importance in the promotion of settlement. The land, policy of the Government had been an unqualified success, but the step which the- Government intended to take would vastly extend and improve that policy. The national provident scheme would enable the people to make provision against 'sickness and accident,' and also enable them to provide 1 for their old age. It would also give protection to the ■widows and children of contributors in the event of the bread-winner being suddenly removed by death. Tlio Leader of the 'Opposition had gone so far as to make the statement that the Government had no policy. That was a most inaccurate statement. The Government policy had Deen placed. before the people during the past 10 weeks. It had .been alleged that the Government was withholding a true state-ment-as to the financial position of the country. It was the duty of the Auditorgeneral to report to Parliament anything ■vvroni-j with respect to the finances of the country, its revenue, and expenditure. That officer had never reported- adversely to the Government in relation to the public finances, and he had never reported that anything wrong had been done by the Government.' After alluding to the attacks' made pn the financial position of the country and tlie condition of the finances, Sir J. G.' Ward said he desired to give the people this assurance: He had made provision for our financial requirements for the next 10 or 12 months ahead. He pointed out how injurious to the commercial, industrial, and working classes it would be if depression occurred, resulting in the reduction of wages and ddness in trade. If they had to lament such a,position, who would be to hlame? It would-be those j who ehowed a want of patriotism and who wanted. to got on the Treasury benches at the cost, of the people, not] at the cost of the Government. i The Prime Minister dealt with the demand of the Opposition party for the appointment of a civil service board and for the management of railways by commissioners. In regard to railway management, he said the change had not proved beneficial in Victoria. In New Zealand

those who had passed the civil service examination were appointed to positions in rotation. The number of appointments, and they included experts, made in any other way was very small. It was untrue that the railways were losing £400,000 a year. The amount contributed by the Consolidated Fund to the railways was at most £93,000 a year. He thought it would be a retrograde-and disastrous step to change the railway policy in the direction suggested by the opponents of the Government. It was said by the Opposition that the Government party had increased the public indebtedness'b'y £28,000,000. Why were they not honest enough to say that' £18,000,000 of that-was producing 'more interest than was paid for the money. The very men who were 'decrying the Government expenditure on railways, had made demands recently for the construction of railways which would involve an expenditure of £12,000,000, yet- these men went round the country preaching econohiy and disaster for the purpose of enabling them to get on the Treasury benches. During - the past year other countries throughout the world had experienced a. tremendous sel back, and New Zealand ought to be thankful for the position it occupied; to-day. . The Prime Minister aliuded to recent criticisms based • on one quarter's accounts, and pointed out how unfair that was. He said we mm,t take the whole year's revenue and expenditure, and 'not a small period of the year. The Government, as was weil known, had not increased taxation, except that of the graduated land tax on properties over £40,000 in value, which had been done wjth the object of inducing the large landowners to cut up . and dispose of their estates. The -Government had, however, given very heavy remissions in Customs, railways, and sheep tax. It was singular that the Opposition was intent upon decrying the financial position, and declared that our revenue and expenditure were not equally balanced. This was not tho ease, but if .the Opposition contention were true, it would not be difficult to make an alteration to meet the position. The Government could obtain another £200,000 a, year by putting, on a graduated income tax on all incomes over £2000 a year. He certainly yvas not in favour of increasing the- taxation upon our farmers, oiu' traders, our business men, or workers, and in connection, with the present financial position there was absolutely no necessity for an increase of taxation in any form if the Government continued in office, but it the argument of its opponents were.sincere and its fault-finding was to be' put into practice, then it was quite clear that the course that was being urged meant an increase of taxation. Ho himself saw no necessity for it, but the Opposition apparently desired something of the kind. The Government was in power, and would be still more strengthened as a result of tho voting 'next day. The Government had dealt with the labour laws, the land question, the tariff, teachers' salaries, and other questions, The Administration had conferred some lasting benefits on the people it had worked in the interests of, and had done its /best in the interests of the people as a whole.—(Cheers.) A hearty vote of thanks was accorded tho Prime Minister.