SIR JOSEPH WARD AT CHEVIOT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 86, 22 March 1902, Page 3

SIR JOSEPH WARD AT CHEVIOT.

THB FIN ANOIAT, POSITION EXPLAINED. PXR ®RSBS ASSOCIATION. _ Christchurch, March 21. Sir Joseph Ward, speaking at Cheviot, assured the settlers that the work on the railway would be proceeded with after the eid of the financial year. Referring ti he financial position he said of) £10,600,C00 added to the public debt in the past ten f yean the general taxpayer did not pay interest on £2,700,000 for the purchase of lands for settlement, or £1,485,000 advanced as loans to locil bodies, or £2*943,000 advanced to settlers. Of the ten millions odd borrowed, £1,409,000 was paid into Sinking Fund. This paid odd borrowed money, because to have provided it by extra taxation would have been placing on the people a bu -den they were uoable to bear. The increase in land values in the past five years totalled £16,366,328, which was an indication that the country was prosperous and the majority of the people doing well. Referring to the Commonwealth tariff he stated that tbe colony should not take retaliatory measures until moral suasion was exhaust ad, He suggested they migl t allow American tobacco in free if America removed the duty on our wool. He bilieved Mr Seddon would discharge the coronation duties as well, if not bsttar, than any other colonial representative. The time, he thought, had arrived when they should agitate for colonial representation in the Home of Commou*, eo that colonial opir.i n might be voiced on wars with foreign Powers or on great social questions. He aiid the totany was in a happy position, owing to the accumulated swing< of the people, of bain? able to withstand any financial crisis which might arise from outside the colo y.