SPEECH BY HON. J. CARROLL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9186, 25 July 1902, Page 2

SPEECH BY HON. J. CARROLL.

Replying to the toast of the Ministry at .New i'lyiuouth last week, the Hon. J. Carroll directed attention to the efforts ol the Government in imtkiug closer settlement of the land, and in seeing that the products of the colony were well placed 011 the markets. He added that the condition of the colony was sound, and although the present Government had added to the. debt they had considerable value to show for it. He did not believe in carping critics, men who were always saying the country was going to the dogs; but he did believe in men, who after mature consideration, thought we might be going too fust, and advised that the brake should be put on. At present their finances were sound, the condition of the country was progressive, and there "was no cause for alarm. The Government believed in fostering the best industries suitable to the country, in encouraging close settlement of the people 011 the land, and in raising the condition of the masses. They did not believe in making labour fight capital, or capital crush labour, but in harnessing the. two together in order to be of benefit to the country. Capital was no good to a country when locked up in a few hands, as the volume of capital should be diverted into all channels in order to get the full benefit of it. He referred to the educational advantages that the children of this country now possessed. By legislation the children had been raised from one platform to another in order to.fit them to take their part in the country's work when their time arrived. He next referred to the Imperial Conference sitting in London. Empire trade relations and commerce had been discussed, but he did not think anything practical on this ques-: Lion would accrue from the present Con-' feren.ee, judging by the cable messages that were coming to hand. The British statesmen were conservative in their views, and it was hard to get them to depart from a. Free Trade policy in any way. The Conference would however do some good, us it would start the question of Imperial trade on a fair basis. They wanted to educate the people of Great Britain on this important matter, and the politicians would then change their views. • ■ , •■''.■