THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL INTERVIEWED. (From Our Own Correspondent. )

Otago Witness, Issue 1933, 25 February 1892, Page 14

THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL INTERVIEWED. (From Our Own Correspondent. )

Auckland, February 20. The Hon. P. A. Buckley, Attorney-general and Colonial Secretary, who arrived in Auck-

land yesterday from Wellington was interviewed by a Herald representative. Mr Buckley is to remain in Auckland for two or three week", because it is intended by the Cabinet that theio shall bo a Minister of tho Crown always resident in this city during the recess, and tho Attorney-General, therefore, is to transact Government business hero until another Minister comes to replace him.

THE NATIVE MINISTER,

Questioned as to Ministerial changes, Mr Buckley said he would like to remove a misapprehension which had gained ground as to the object the Government had in viesv for some time — namely, the abolition of the Native Office. " After the death of Mr Lewis ifc was considered a suitable time had come for remodelling the administration of that department, and it was left to Mr Cadman to do what he thought best. It was, in fact, his desire that something should be done, because he saw that the office was full of mystery, and that it was desirable all obscurity should be removed. He accordingly suggested a scheme by which that portion of the work of the department which has reference to lands should go to the Lands department, and that the judicial portion, which includes court work and so on, should come within the jurisdiction of the Justice department. That was Mr Cadman's suggestion, and that has been carried out^ or will bo carried out. I notice it stated in the papers that the change has been put upon Mr Cadman. There has been nothing of the kind. The change has been made upon his own suggestion. Some of us have more work than we can possibly look after, and it was thought desirable a capable administrator should be placed in charge of a department which has not received the attention it ought to have had, the Marine department. Therefore it was proposed Mr Cadman should take charge of that and become Minister for Marine, also taking the statutory office of Commissioner of Stamps. Ministers were very much pained that any suggestion of a slight had been put f orward, or that it should be supposed that the change was made because of any view Mr Cadman may hold about the Stratford route. I have met him several times, but I have never heard an expression from him about route, nor has he been asked about it. There is no justification for the statement. The only reason for changes is that there has been for many years a desire to abolish the Native office. The point I am particularly anxious to emphasise is this : I want to remove from the minds of tho people of Auckland, or the people of any other place, that there has been anything in the nature of a slight upon the Auckland representative in the Government. I was astonished when I heard of the idea to-day. Nothing could be more cordial than the relations which exist between us."

JIR CARROLL,

"It has been reported," said tho interviewer, '•that in all probability Mr Carroll will go through the country and set on foot negotiations with the Natives for the acquisition of land ?"

" Nothing has been decided on that question," Mr Buckley replied. "As the Natives appeared to feel there was no one in the Cabinet in sympathy with them, we thought it well to revive the old system of having a Native or halfcaste in the Government. It is an error to say that any salary is attached to the office. The only salary which will be given must be voted by Parliament. As for any increase in the number of Ministers, we have the right to 10 Ministers. The saving by the change will be very considerable, but at present it is impossible to say what it will be. Native matters are now in a peculiar condition. We wan t to bring them into line ; to do away with a lot of what we consider useless expenditure occurring year after year, and place Natives upon au equal footing with Europeans." APPOINTMENTS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. With regard to the proposed appointments to the Legislative Council; Mr Buckley said that the matter had been left for Lord Onslow to deal with. He proceeded to say: — "Nothing could have been fairer or more in consonance with constitutional rights than the way in which his Excellency has met us with reference to this matter. He has been fair with us, and reserved to his successor the right to deal with a question of such importance." TUB TAXATION POLICY. Speaking of tho Land and Income Assessment Act, the Attorney-general said that certain questions as to the effect of taxation in individual cases were under the consideration of the Government. " The Agent-general is reported to have stated at Home that the Premier had determined to abandon the tax on debenture holders and companies." " That point was raised during the discussion of the bill," said the Minister. " The point had been considered, and I have no doubt that seeing that, the liability will fall to a double extent upon those giving the debentures, the matter must receive the consideration of the Government. I think it would be very unfair that people who had incurred obligations of that kind having raised their money at Home should be subject to what may be called double taxation. We have no intention of imposing taxation upon anyone unduly, or in any harsh way.

'Our object is to impose taxation fairly, and we 'have no desire to impose what may be called 'double taxation."

The Bank of New Zealand Estates Company was mentioned, and Mr Buckley said that the case of that company had been very forcibly brought under tho notice of the Government, and it would, he had no doubt, receive tlr; fullest consideration when Parliament met. " Their case," he-said, " is a singulai ly peculiar ■one. They undertook the obligation of reiioving another institution, of which we all know, and have done it very well. They came to the rescue of that institution at a time- when, had anything happened to it, it would have been almost a national disgrace. For several reasons 1 think they are deserving of every consideration. How far that consideration will be given eflecb to by the Legislature it will be difficult for me to say, but the matter lias bet n forcibly brought wilder the notice of the Government, lor the company undertook their obligations at a tim<* when they did not anticipate the system of taxation likely to be introduced. I am very pleased to see that they tire liquidating their assets on the most favourable terms."

TUB KIN'.'J COL'KTHV

»• We, in Auckland, are deeply interested ii opening up the King Country." " Of course it is a matter of great importance. Our great object in the acquisition ol Native or other lands is to put people on them and it is n pleasure to know that we are sii'linji land as fast as we can. I have no doubt thai if the King Country were thrown open H would soon be settled."

OPINIONS Or AUCKLAND MFVUHEKS.

The recent changes in the official position of the Hon. Mr Cadman as Native Minister, and the installation of Mr James Carroll as an extra member of the Executive Council, were the subject of many general remarks yesterday. The following are the opinions of some of the Auckland members on the subject :— Mr Recs justifies the change. He says that Mr Cadman was from the first opposed to the Native Land Laws Commission of which he and Mr Carroll were members, and asks what has .been done during the last 12 months to carry .out the recommendations of the commission, though the Natives of the Uriwera and King ■ Country were anxious for legislation which would enable them to dispose of their lands, ■thus adding a valuable asset to the colony. He also thinks that the presence of Mr Carroll '.in the Ministry will have a good deal of influence with the Natives. Mr Shera, when questioned on the subject, was more guarded. He does not defend the action of the Ministry, which he says requires explanation, and until it is given he should suspend his judgment. Mr Shera makes no secret of the fact that he was not a supporter of Mr Cadman, but in regard to the present changes he thinks a thorough explanation should be given. Messrs Jackson, rainier, Lawry, and Thompson expressed their opinions in a telegram to the Government pretty freely, and it is not at all in favour of the action of the Government.

THE PREMIER'S HKVLY

The Premier, replying to the telegram from these gentlemen, says the changes were made at the request of Mr Cadman himself, and would save a large sum of money.