THE GOVERNMENT POLICY FORESHADOWED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 96, 12 May 1900, Page 2

THE GOVERNMENT POLICY FORESHADOWED.

CHEAP MONET, CHEAP HAILWAY BATES, CHEAP SEA FREIGHTS. Speaking at Masterton on Wednesday night, at the " social" to celebrate the opening of the new Post Office, the Hon, J. G. Ward, while disclaiming any intention of making a political speech, disclosed in a shadowy way the future policy of the Government. The people of New Zealand had reason, he said, to hold up their heads, as this country was second to none in the civilised world. The fact could not be gainsaid tb&t she that day stood higher in the estimation of the world than she had ever done in the memory of man. j This was due to the fact that the people were behind the leaders of public thought. If New Zealand required tomorrow to go upon the London money market phe would obtain a higher price than she had ever done in her history—higher than many of the neighbouring colonies, which had larger populations. We had already shown! that we had won back the respect, es- j teem, and support of the people of London, and had thereby raised the credit of the country and the Interests of the people in every walk of life. Fortunately, our credit was on the right side, with a surplus of half a million, whatever might be said to the contrary. Out of the revenue this country had contributed a very large sum indeed towards the despatch of the C'ontingonts to South Africa. In addition to this, enormous concessions wero to be given to the people in the matter of railway facilities, which would prove a benefit to the producers and the country at large. The railway machinery of this country was, and ought to be, utilised to enable the people in the outlying settlements to make the best use of their opportunities, and to get their products as cheaply as possible to the seaboard, and their families to the towns; and it was the duty of the Government to give as much back out of the earnings of the Railway Department as possible. The intentions of the Government in the matter of increased railway facilities would be announced before long. While it was somewhat premature to disclose the policy of the Government, he was entitled to say this—that it would be in the direction of further progress; the acquisition of additional estates, and the cutting of them up for the benefit of the people. Many men who were formerly opposed to this policy had since come to look upon it as a blessing, for it had been recognised by the Government that a fair price should be paid for the estates acquired for closer settlement. It was also in the interests of all classes that they should be able to obtain cheap money. They must have money to enable them to compete in the emporium of the world. There never was a time in the history of New Zealand when there was so much money to use legitimately as now; never a time when the savings, as disclosed by the SaviDgs Bank returns, were so great. Broadly put, the policy of the Government would be to enable the people to use the railways at a reasonable price; the acquisition and cutting up of estates for settlement purposes; cheap money for the use of the people; and cheap , freights to convey their produce across ' the water to where they had to be Bold. : It was necessary for this country to annihilate distance, and to place the , people in as good a position as those in ] the neighbouring colonies with regard 1 to the London markets.—Post. j