PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1893,

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 9669, 11 April 1893, Page 2

PUBLISHED DAILY TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 1893,

No Minis' ry has yet propounded a policy which met, aa a whole, with the approval of evoryono ; and oven those who are amongst the staunchest supporters of a Govornment find it very difficult to agree with every point in a policy which may be laid befo o thorn for their approval. It is so with the speech recently delivered by lion Mr Sed'Jon, at Hokitika Thero aro many of Us viows on which the public will bo one with him ; whilst there are otlior points in his speech wo aro certain the majority of the people will bo most hostile to. Tho defence of tho financial p ilioy of hie Ministry was an able one. He asked his audionce for n judgment on that policy which had brought contenlmont and prosperity to tho colony, and con fidence abroad, and it met with an emphatic approval. He said the previous Government had gi /en n pledge to abstain three years from bor:owing, but its Treasurer hud sad that more borrowing must follow. The three years' plodgo of abstention given by tho former Ministry had passed away— and two years additional — and the present Government said Mr Seddon has no intention of asking for power to borrow monoy. When the party now in power were on tho Opposition sido of tho House they reduced tho public e$ pundituro by £50,000, and tho AMaistry of the day avered that it could not be lessoned by another penny j but, saya Mr SeddoD, tho prosent Government had Bojno how managed to reduce it by anoUior ££O,OQO. The Government, sjneo assuming .office, he said had etoadi'y pursued the policy they had laid down. Thoy were not time sorters ; they were not there for office or pny, but to carry out tha policy thoy considered necessary in the interests of tho country* Thoy had abolished (he property tax and substituted for it tho lanl and income tax. They had passed a most liberal Lund Ait, and also a " Land for Settlement Act" The hitter, however, would not provide for taking tue line: in a revolutionary manner, but offers had already beon received for the disposal of the land. Tho policy of the

Government thus far met with pretty general approval. It wri, however, when Mr Soddon, referred to what he called "electoral reform 1 and matters relating to the labour question that difference of opinion amongst the community arose. Claß3 legislation only tends to cause bad feeling to arise between capital and labour, which in the long run mu9t provo detrimental to the latter. Ah, however, Mr Seddon said very little on those subjects, we can but presume that he is not a very enthusiastic supporter of that part of the Ministerial policy himself. Summing op" the financial results for the two years tho Government have been in office, Mr Seddor. said they had reduced the floating debt b.- £IOO,OOO net; whilst tho actual known surplus for this year was £154,000, but he believed when all the accounts were in it would reach £200,000 The Minister also roferred to what had beon done in the Public Works Depart mdnt without borrowing; and concluded an excellent speech by defending his colleaguo, Mr CaJman, from the recent unwarranted att ck made upon him by Mr Ret ■ That Mr Seddon received a vote of '• thanks and confidence " is but what might have been expected, but tho meeting likewise " desired to place on record its acKnowledgment of tho invaluable seiviccß rendered by the Premier (the Hon J. Bailance) in having 60 successfully administered the affairs of the Colony under very trying circumstancos, and whilst rejoicing in his restoration to health, trust that ho may long coutinue to direct its destinies for the happiness and welfare of its poople. '

Captain Edwin telegraphed at 1.30 p m. today:— " Indications for frost to-night." Mr C. K. Stock, J.P., received a wire on Monday informing him tint ho had been appointed a momber of the Taranaki Land Board.

Mr C. Rogers and Mrs Rogers returned from a tour to the Old Country this (Tuesday) morning, and we aro glad to «co they are looking all tho better for their trip homo.

An inobriatc, who had in his possession a passage ticket to Scotland, was locked up on Monday night, and this (Tuesday) morning was discharged by the R,M. with a caution and ordered to pay costß 2s.

The Town Band gave an open air concert on Monday evening at the corner of Eliot and Devon streets, whero assembled a large ani appreciative audience The following were tho items discoursed: — March, "My Pretty Jane; 11 selection, "The Tourament; " waltz, " Thine, only Thine;' overturo, "Natalie;" quadrille, "Diana;' overture, ' L'Amazone ; " 6chottischo " Juat for Fun."

The Gairloch loft tho Manukau on Monday, but owing to tho heavy sea that was running outside Bhe was considerably delayed in her arrival at tho breakwater, reaching this port about 12 30 o'clock to-day. His Honor Justice- Conolly was a passenger by her.

A girl named Alice Maud Mud fort, who was committed to the Auckland Industrial School from Patea, absconded from the institution the other day, came down here by steamer and took train to Hawora, whore sho was arrested. The girl was brought back hero this (Tuesday) morning and will be sont on to Auckland by steamer to night.