The Star. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1886.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5551, 24 February 1886, Page 2

The Star. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1886.

THB ADDBBSB DELIVERED BT SlB JULIUS Yogel last evening, in the Auckland Theatre, iB a most important utterance; and we commend to our readers the telegraphed report published in this issue. In that speech the Colonial Treasurer is frankly outspoken. He is again in marked contrast to a former leader, who'aJjgfcicence came to be universally recognised ■• due to the utter absence of ideas he dared call his own. Sir Julius is fairly confident that he knows the ideas of his colleagues, although, on a leading question there has not as yet been any formal discussion. Of his own mind he is perfectly certain; and his opinions are freely given. There has been no abandonment of the comprehensive motto " Steady Progress " j no wavering of faith in the resources and possibilities of the country. On the contrary, admiration is excited by the fact that on so small a population basis so much has been achieved, and at a per capita cost that is comparatively so moderate. This view of the position doeß not escape the notice of experts such as the late District Bailway Manager, whose last words here were full of cheery confidence that the next decade will witness a wonderful development. This will be the case if we are true to ourselves ; if we take care that our population is duly increased. How best to do this is the problem which the Colonial Treasurer set himself to discuss last evening. The prosperity of the country, the advantage of the people, being the end in view, " the one great, question " from which our attention must never be diverted is the Publio Works Policy. There is yet a strong desire, in the mindß of some men, whose disinterestedness is so charming, for a return to the days of the Road and the Bridge— the days of peddling for petty local advantages at anybody's expense. But the lines which Sir Julius so distinctly lays dcrn are in quite the opposite direction. We must, he emphatically declares, have a decreased expenditure in generalities, and concentrate our energy for the vigorous prosecution of railway works. Those which have been begun, and have for one reason or another been "hung up," practically useless, altogether unprofitable, we must complete rapidly, so that we may derive from them the three-fold benefit of newlydeveloped country, increased revenue, and lessened pro rota taxation. In order that this may be done without chance of misapplication of funds, all risk of temptation to hungry politicians must be removed : the loans must be specifically appropriated. The money must be got for clearly specified works, and the law dealing with its expenditure thereon must be unassailable. This, it will be seen, is an eminently practical application of the doctrine of Interprovincial Beprocity ; it is the one way in which the whole Colony may be advantaged, Canterbury, Westland, and Nelson being given their fair places. Those who will take the trouble to read vrhat Sir Julius has to t>ay in detail, as to the manner in which the proposed railway extension system should be conducted, must be at once struck with the moderate nature of the proposals. There is unmistakeable progress: there is also abundant discrecion. With the vigourous prosecution of rail- i way works we must have immigration : we must secure men with some capital, no matter how moderate it may be. Such men will come fast enough if inducement offers. Thousands of them are anxious to leave the Mother Country, are anxiously watching for signs of promise, and will hail with glaau^ c tbe facilities we can readily offer. With these thing... too, local production in every direction must be tuo^uraged by the agency of a suitably arranged Customs Tariff. Only by the development of industries, and the creation of local markets worthy the name, can the cruel pressure of the Middlemen's iron ring be loosened.