The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1887.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 7993, 11 October 1887, Page 2

The Taranaki Herald. PUBLISHED DAILY. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1887.

The Ministry, bo far ub we are informed by telegram, is composed moßtly of new men — that is to say, with the exception of Major Atkinson and Mr. Mitchelson, none of the other members of the new Cabinet have never previously tasted the "aweets of office," nor experienced any of the difficulties which tire inseparable with it. It was with reluctance that Mr. Mitchelson joined it wo are told, being of opinion that the Ministry should be composed wholly of new men, but the Premier deßired to have one of the "old stagers " with him to help him to keep within bounds the "young dogs," ho would have to select from the " young New Zealand party " to make up his complement of Ministers. The majority of members have only given Major Atkinson a conditional promise of support, wishing before committing themselves to hear what his political programme is. The Houbs evidently is in the temper to give the Ministry fair play, and if the policy brought down is one of radical retrenchment we believe it will be- supported by the majority of the members. The only way to get at what the Ministry's views are, is to refer to the Bpoecheß delivered by the several members of the Cabinet during the recent elections; we have therefore published a brief summary of each member's opinion on the principal questions of the day. Hon. Major Atkinson, the Premier and Colonial Treasurer, said he was opposed to a graduated Property Tax, and that borrowing muet be greatly curtailed. He believes in the deferred payment und perpetual lease systems, but thought that land in freehold should be sold in limited quantities. He was opposed to the plan of village settlements on bush lands as likely to lead to disadter; but preferred Sir George Grey's Land for Settlement Bill to the late Ministerial Land Acquisition Bill. He declared that there must be no fresh taxation till material retrenchment had been effected. As to education, he approved of the Nelson system in regard to the primary schools, and said "that though "in the presebt condition of tho colony it is necessary to look the whole matter straight in the face to see whether it is not possible to get what we require at a considerably less cost than at present," he will do nothing to weaken the efficiency of the system, but thought the vote could be reduced by £50,000. He would reduce the Governor's salary by £2000, and the salaries of Ministers by 20 per cent. ; the Council's honorarium to £100, and that of the House to £150. He favors the election of the Council by the Lower House. He was opposed to the existing railway system, and was favorable to Mr. Vaile's scheme, saying it should be given a trial. He thought the beer duty ought to be increased; and declared that, " if, after all possible reductions had been made, there was still need foi further taxation — and he feared there would be — he would revise the Tariff, not as a Protectionist nor as a Freetrader, but first in the interests of revenue, secondly in the interests of the consumer, and thirdly in the interests of the manufacturer." He favored the establishment oi Railway Boards, and on the grounds oi economy only would vote for a reduction of the number of members of the House He considers that the subsidies to the direct steamers and the San Franoiscc service should be continued. Hon. E. Mitohelson, Minister of Public Works, stated ho was opposed to f urthei borrowing and advocates severe retrench ment. He Baid he would vote for the reduction of the Governor's salary tc £5000 ; and would reduce Ministeria salaries by £2000, and limit their travelliag allowances to a guinea a day. He would support a reduction of the members of the Upper House and of their honorarium and would vote for the reduation of the members of the Lower House to seventy, and of their honorarium to £150. He considers that *70,000 could be saved on salaries of the Civil servants, and that large economies could be practised in the salaries of the Education Department, including the limitation of State aid to one University. He supports the colonialisation of the secondary education reserves; thinks that the mail subsidies should be limited to the San Franciscc route; is a thorough believer in the freehold system of tenure, and <■ favors Sit George Grey's Land Acquisition Bill. He is a Protectionist, but would oppose a prohibitive tariff. He is in favor of an iocpine tax, but opposed to plurality of voting. He was in favor of Vaile's railway system having a £riai, and would support the raising of the school age to six years. Hon. G. F. Richardson, Minister of Lands, is a pronounced Freetrader. lie thinks that retrenchment can be carried out to the extent of £400,000. He would leave the Bible-reading in schools question to the decision of school committees; but would insist upon retrenchment, in the education vote, before agreeing to any further taxation, and was indisposed to give the Catholics a grant for education. He was in fuvor of Mr.- Vaile'e system of railway reform being given' a fair trial; approves of the encouragement of local industries by means of bonuses; would reduce the Upper House to bulf the number of the Lower; would reduce the exemptions under 1 the Property Tax, and impose higher tea nnd sugar duties. He ida strong believer in inteicoloniul Freetrade. HON. T, Febgds, Minister of Mines, is a woll-known contractor, who is a strong advocate for reduoing the number of members in the House to seventy-one or even to sixty, and would support Legislative Reform in the direction of making it elective under, the Hare system, with a seven years' tenure of office. He, during the election contest,, condemned the existing railway management, and said he would vote for the railways being piuced under a non-political Board. He is a sliong advocate of retrenchment in all branches of the Civil Service, and said he would vote for the repeal of: the Crown _ and Native Lands Rating Act. Borrowing he considers must be limited to loans for the completion of the works in progress. He thinks tho Village Settlement scheme the worst of all lund s\ stems yet tried, and is opposed to the Female Franchise, as the colony is not ripe for such a radical change. He would vote for the reduction of Education Boards and tho extension of tho powers of School Committees, and supporc the raising of. the sohool age; but is opposed ta Bible-reading in schools. He advocates the abolition of the Snn Francisco mail subsidy, and would u^uin vote for the Limitation of Votes Bill.^ He is an ultraFreetrader, and said if the constitution o£ Land Boardß was not improved, he would vote for their abolition. Ho considers the present Property Xas equitable,

Hon. Mr. George Fisher, Minister of Education, is a strong supporter of encouraging local industries, and adopts Sir R. ! Stout's definition of Protection as " legalised robbery." He thinks that large economies can be effected on tho education vote without interfering with tho efficiency of thf system, and would vote for the colonialisation of the reserves for secondary education. He thoroughly approves of the village settlement scheme, but says that its administration should be confined within lines approved by Parliament. He is opposed to the Land Acquisition Bills, but supports a progressive Land and Property Tax, and said he would again vote for a reduction of members of the Houbo to seventy-one. He strongly advocates the immediate appointment of a non-political railway board. He is opposed to land nationalisation and all similar fads, and would limit borrowing to absolutely necessary works.

Hon. T. W. Hislop, the Minister' •£ Justice, is one of the " young dogs," and is a Freetrader, but will encourage legitimate local industries. He is a strong advocate for retrenchment, and is opposed to the continuance of the San Francisco subsidy. He favours the Village Settlement scheme if carried ouc under regulations approved by Parliament ; supports a progressive Land and Income Tax ; an d favours a Land Acquisition Bill.

The Cabinet, it will be seen, will therefore be composed of men whose views are all on the side of retrenchment. Whether they will be able to embody those views in a policy to suit the majority of the members is yet to be seen. We shall know to-night, however, what line of policy the new Ministry is likely to adopt, and having given an outline of his proposals, the Premier will, in a fortnight's time, give us ia detail how he intends to carry out the retrenchment so much desired at tbe present moment. This will be anxiously awaited, and until then it will be useless to discuss the matter.