PREMIER’S SPEECH.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 523, 22 May 1880, Page 2

PREMIER’S SPEECH.

OUTLINE OF POLICY. • ■ (Special to the Mail.) Leeston, 20th. The Premier addressed the electors of Selwyn district this evening. Mr Hall replied to the speeches made by Sir Geo. Grey at Auckland and Christchurch, about the compact with Auckland. That compact, ho said, was shown to be purely that the Government would allow of inquiries being made of alleged wrongs done to Auckland. DEFICIT AND LIABILITIES. The Government found, on enquiry into the financial state of the colony, that the deficiency was £IOO,OOO, and now they found that it was actually £120,000 over tho estimate given by Major Atkinson. With regard to the loan, the Government found that the colony was already liable for a million of money, and in June next for public works they would bo liable for another million, and for native lands £1,100,000 ; or £1,200,000. Taking over the Government under such circumstances was a very unenviable task. Government having estimated what tho real deficiency was, and the amount-of estimated expenditure, thc3’' determined,’ by reducing that expenditure, to put the colony on a sound financial basis. MAKING ENDS MEET. The Government determined to. increase duties ad valorem (which did not press on the working classes) on spirits, and if the latter pressed on the working classes he did not object. (Cheers.) He was not going to anticipate the Colonial Treasurer’s statement, which would be made in few days, yet he might state that although there was a great gap between the estimated receipts and expenditure. He did not think the prospects were now so gloomj au had been anticipated, and by strict economy they would at no distant date be in a sound financial position. REDUCTIONS ALL ROUND. Now, about the reductions which had been promised by the Government, as soon as possible, consistently with the efficiency of the public service. Qn railways tho saving on train mileage for the present year had been £21,000, staff reductions £7OOO, by use of native coal £8500; total, £36,5000. meaning an increase of 17 per cent, on the nett revenue, or nearly half per cent on the whole cost of construction throughout. THE LOANS. By the action of-Sir J. Vogel at Home, on the Inscription of New Zealand Stock, a considerable saving would be effected to tlic colony. Arrangements had been made which would spread the loan expenditure over three years, during which time they were bound not to go again on the London market. NATIVE AFFAIRS. Referring to the Native Department, he said that while keeping watch over the Maoris, the Government were leaving them alone, and hy transferring gradually many details of this Department to the Lands and Justice Departments, the Government hoped eventually to so alter the Native Department as to improve it out of existence, (Cheers.)

OTHER SAVINGS. The savings in the number of officers and pensioners dispensed with.had been 117, besides a number of vacancies not filled up. The savings on the Civil List had been £1,272. With regard to contingent expenditure, which was complete!}’ under the control of the Native Minister, during the last fifteen months the amount voted for expenditure was £2,600 ; but, would they think it—the actual- expenditure was £IB,OOO, and if contingencies of Native lands purchase were included, the amount would be £30,000, and heavy accounts were still coining in.

WAIMATE PLAINS. The}' had heard a good deal of Wairaato Plains difficulty. : Many promises made to the Maoris had not been carried out, and the Maoris were allowed to settle unmolested on lands, and by this means difficulties had arisen. The Government had obtained the services of two able gentlemen as Commissioners to enquire into the grievances of the Natives; and finding a lot of men in the Barracks at Wellington who were costing the country as much money as they would in camp, the Government had moved them on the Plains, where they had been engaged in making roads which would open 100,000 acres'of forest and splendid wheat growing land, but not at the ridiculous cost of £6OO per day which they had heard of.

DISTRICT RAILWAYS. Referring to the action of the Government with regard to District Railways, he said some of these lines had been started under the District Railways Act, and the time of depression that followed had brought these works to a-standstill, to the injury of large and important districts. If the Government had been called to act up to the whole of their authority, the amount would not have exceeded £150,000, and as it was it was not likely to exceed £60,000 or at the utmost £100,000; and, up to the present time, had been acted on only to the amount of £40,000.

ROY All COMMISSIONS. The. Government had .been taunted with appointinting so many Commissions ; but the Government were satisfied to abide by the result. NEW MEASURES. During next session the Gorerment proposed introducing a bill for electoral reform which had not been passed., last session. A bill would be introduced for the Redistribution of Seats, because the present act had been unfair through the growth of population. The Government proposed to sweep away existing legislation with regard to Native lands question, and introduce a bill for amendment of Native Land Courts, and another for the alienation or purchase of Native lands, which would be introduced as soon as possible after Parliament meets. A new Licensing Bill would also be brought in, which while it would not treat the holders of publicans’ licenses as criminals, would enable the ratepayers of a district to extinguish a license on payment of fair compensation, which the Government could not see their way in fairness to get rid of. _ORGANIZED .OPPOSITION. They had heard, there was to be a complete and organised opposition. He hoped it would exist, for such an opposition was a most useful body to keep a proper check; on the Government. i i

A CONTRAST. If they preferred a Government which did not go round the country neglecting the state of the finances of the country, whilst visionary remedies, but a Government which would work and use their best endeavours to place the country on a sound financial basis, he would ask their support, and that of the people generally for the gentlemen who were associated with him in canying on the present Government. (Applause.) ANSWERING QUESTIONS. Among several questions answered by him, he said the Government had a bill prepared which provided for making the Dog Tax uniform throughout the colony. The Government had also a bill under consideration for amending the judicature, but he could not say whether it would be introduced during the coming session. Originally it was supposed that the property tax would produce £400,000, but reductions and alterations had been made, in the Act which would reduce the amount by £IOO,OOO or £200,000. A hearty vote of thanks was passed.