Political Addresses.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 5024, 4 June 1889, Page 2

Political Addresses.

MR FISHER EXPLAINS, (Dy Telegraph.) WELLINGTON. June 3. Mr Fisher, rx-Ministor of Education, addressed a crowded meeting of his constituents this evening. He began with some references of a personal nature, denying tho statement that ho had ever intrigued against Mr Mitchelson, and accusing one member of the Cabinet, on tho other hand, of inconceivable duplicity towards himself. With the circumstances of his leaving tho Cabinet he said ho intended to pursue the matter in another place until he had cleared himself from the aspersions cast upon him. Ho congratulated the country on at last having a surplus, but deplored the amount of its indebtedness, and tho fact that capital would not come here. A statesman's head was wanted to cure this

state of things. He defended the tariff and his Education Bill, proposing the abolition of boards. An unanimous vote of unabated confidence was passed.

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE AND DEFENCE AT QUEENSTOWN.

DUNEDIN, Juke 3. The Hon. Mr Fergus was accorded an enthusiastic reception at Queenstown, the Volunteer band playing him through the town, and the Artillery firing a salute. In the evening he addressed his conslifcu- ' ents, some of whom travelled fifty miles. M r Fergus, in his address, said that as an outcome of Ministerial economies they had been able to pay off £46,000 of tho deficit,and begin tho new financial year with a credit balance of £20,000 without withholding a single payment from the public account. Tho reorganisation of the civil service would he continued, not by cutting down poorly paid officers, but by amalgamation of offices. Referring to the Railway Board he said the reason why an expert was not appointed was because three days before the testimonials of tho person recommended by the Agent-General could he considered by ' , the Cabinet, he withdrew his application. Whilst iu Victoria one of the first experts south of the line said to him “ You don’t want a railway manager; you have got men good enough in New Zealand. What you want is a diplomatist, a man who will reason with the people, an approachable man.” Struck with the force of this advice he brought it under tho notice of the Premier. Mr McKerrow had fulfilled these anticipations, and his appointment had been well received by tho best thinking men, while there was a disposition on the part of tho public to give the board a fair trial. Ho complained of over-legislation to which our Parliament was prone. Since the creation of responsible government there had been passed 2028 statutes, and repealed 1466. The Government should not give so much attention to fancy legislation, but give a great dsal more to the general welfare of the colony, and see that the legislation, instead of being bulky, was good. That was what the present Government intended to hear in mind, and _ during the present session they intended that their work should be judged by its quality rather than by its quantity. On the subject of the Legislative Council reform, he said the Government intended to introduce a Bill similar to Sir F. Whitaker’s Bill, with some amendments, which will provide for elections by the House for a definite period, and for empowering the Government to call to tho Council one member as a Minister for the purpose of facilitating their business, this member to retire when the Government leave office There was little fear of the Reduction of Members Bill being ' upset, but he was hopeful that a modification of the Hare system would be adopted. It 1 was proposed to bring in a measure to simplify charitable aid, allowing hospital districts to | exist much the same as at present, with | this difference, that the management of hospitals would be given to local bodies, 1 who may transfer the same to trustees if the local body does not wish I to undertake the burden, and can declare it a . lo al institution, to bo supported partly by rates and partly by subscriptions, the Govern- [ ment subsidising the latter liberally. The j Government intended to give a liberal subsidy to hospitals, and then it would rest entirely whether these- institutions would be maintained with tho people themselves. With regard to charitable aid it would be % proposed to relieve local bodies from the B maintenance of inveterate paupers and inr corrigible drunkards. It would be proposed 3 to put men who will not support their 8 families into institutions where they would have to do something, for their own support, y leaving the subsidised local bodies to deal g within the casual poor within their bounds. ; In amending the Bankruptcy Act, it would be proposed to embody the principal recom- { mendations of the chambers of commerce, and 3 relieve the Supremo Court by empowering . resident magistrates to deal with small estates, L , and distribute assets. The Government ing tended lo deal with the education question, B There should bo no departure from the main 3 features of the system, but reforms in adt ministration should be effected. There were j defects in the want of uniformity in inspec--3 tion, unequal salaries, and non-grading of the j teachers. He favours making inspectors 3 colonial officers. Though sweeping away •} the boards would facilitate the changes r ‘ indicated, he sees no adequate authority to* 0 take their place, and to hand over the entire '• control to a central authority he would sin- , cercly detest. The mode of election of school •j committees also needed alteration. He volunr< teering, he said the number of men was the j same as last year. - Ho hoped to be able to f make a slight increase in the capitation this

year. The Government have no intention of borrowing, and the question of raising another loan for public works had never been mooted by the Cabinet. The Government meant to pay their way, to live within their means, and to raise the credit of the colony as much as they could, both at home and abroad. The efforts of the Government in the past had been productive of much good. Our debentures, which were IOOf, with dividends nearly due when the Government took office, by recent advices were up to 106 in the London market. With equalisation of revenue and expenditure, there had been a great recovery in the agricultural industry, and a move all along the line of commerce. The volume of natural trade was expanding, and the colony, freed from the adventitious aid of borrowed money, goes forth to gather in the fruits of legitimate industry.