SIR ROBERT STOUT INTERVIEWED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7032, 10 December 1890, Page 4

SIR ROBERT STOUT INTERVIEWED.

CONSTITUTIONAL USAGE. LABOUR MEMBERS. INCIDENCE OP TAXATION. THE SPEAKERSHIP. [from our own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Dec. 9. The Cabinet and the Premier are, I understand, in accord about resigning. They have yet to meet and consult together, as is usual in these cases, but, as far as I can gather, the members of the Government are all ready to come to an agreement on the point of accepting the verdict of the country as soon as possible. In this connection I should not be surprised to see a proclamation calling the House together some time next month. That will of course depend on circumstances. SIR ROBERT ETODT having been interviewed to-day by a Times reporter with regard to the situation, said that it was only fair that the Premier should have time to consult j his colleagues, and if necessary also the leading men amongst his supporters. His first impression was that the House should be called together, because, on reading the list of members returned, he could not see that party lines seemed to be strictly drawn. He has, however, heard within the last day or two that the Opposition can rely upon a majority. That is, that in addition to those marked " Opposition " in the newspapers, there are some marked " doubtful " who would go with the present Opposition party if a fair Opposition Ministry were formed. In that event Sir Eobert thought the way to be clear enough. The Government being in a minority should resign, the Governor being advised to send for Mr Ballance, who is leader of the Opposition. If Mr Ballance undertakes to form a Government, it will be unnecessary to call the House together. If he declines, there is no other course but to call the House together. If Mr Ballance can see his way to form a Government to meet the House in April, it will be an immense savins to the country, and give the new Government ample time in which to formulate its policy. " Looking at it from THE CONSTITUTIONAL FOINT OF VIEW, I don't suppose anyone will dispute that once a Ministry is defeated in the country, its duty is to at once tender its resignation to the Governor. You will remember that, in 1887, when I was defeated I tendered my resignation within about a couple of hours after my arrival in Wellington from Dunedin ; in fact, at the earliest possible moment that the Governor could receive me. I have no doubt, however, from what I know of Sir Harry Atkinson, that he will follow the constitutional course if he has time to consult (as he has a right to do) his colleagues and chief supporters. Of course he and every politician knows that any attempt to hold office after the verdict of the country against a Ministry, would only react on their party and injure them for a long time to come. Besides, from what I know of the present Ministers, Ido not believe that they would for one moment desire to keep office after the verdict of the country against them. I have no doubt they will take means of consulting their party, and that in a day or two (or a week or two if necessary) a decision will be come to. It also rests, no doubt, with the Governor whether he thinks Parliament should be summoned or not, but I should imagine that he would be guided before summoning Parliament by the advice of the retiring Ministry, and possibly would also consult Mr Balance as leader of the Opposition. Everyone must recognise that OUS GOVERNMENT MUST BE CARRIED ON, and that for perhaps a good time to come it must be carried on with great care and prudence. The need of that is manifest i from the state that our finances are in even now, and I have no doubt that members, both of the Government and Opposition parties, will look at the thing from a broad point of view, and not think of any mere party triumph. So far as lam concerned, I have every confidence that both parties will do what is right, and Ithinkthat the Opposition, who are now in a majority, will not complain of the Government taking some days to consider the whole surroundings. But looking at the thing as I have described it as well as I could, the course of resigning is clear. THE ONLY QUESTION in that of calling the House together, and I think that course should be followed. If the Opposition leader can see his way to forming a Government, and can get a majority to carry on vrith, when April comes the House can deal with the personnel of the Government that has been formed, and with its policy." THE LABOUR REPRESENTATIVES. I asked whether he would cay anything about the House just elected, with special reference to the labour representatives. Sir Eobert said, " So far as I know of the labour members, they are moderate men, _ whose Bole desire is to Bee the rights of labour represented; and they should be represented. My own opinion is that, considering the number of people interested in labour questions, they have too small a number of members in our Legislature, and the time is coming when there will have to be more returned. I believe those elected now are moderate men, who will be found a credit to labour and to the New Zealand Parliament. Judging from their election addresses they are people who recognise that the wellbeing of the Colony is to be looked at as a whole, and not that of simply one class. I have no fear but that any policy which may be proposed by them will be a fair policy, and one which will forward the interests of the Colony. I have not any fear that anything absurd will be listened to, either by them or any other class of members. Passibly some of them may imagine that things can be done by legislation which cannot; but after they have had experience of Parliament, and what laws can do, I have no doubt it will be found here, just as it waß in England, that labour representatives are most useful members, none more so. TAXATION. Sir Robert was asked next what he thought were the probabilities in connection with taxation — a Land tax, for instance. He replied: "It aeems to me that a majority of the House is determined on a change in the incidence of taxation. As to that, I can only repeat what I have already Baid, that the subject needs the utmost care. I cannot understand how a Land tax is to be used as an instrument of " bursting up," while at the same time we are going on selling our lands. In my opinion the first thing the new Parliament should do is to declare that no more land should be sold. Then let it proceed, as I proposed in 18S5, with the Property Bill gradually, by approaching a Land tax through the exemption of improvements. That, in my opinion, is the way a Land tax should be approached, and it could be done without any revolution in our change of taxation. As to progressive taxation, which bo many people demand, I have no doubt that that is a phase of taxation that is coming on us. It has been adopted in Switzerland, and has not worked any mischief there— (there was a very able article in one of the political science Quarterlies some time ago on this subject.) That will also have to be brought about with great care. I proposed a slight progress in 1887, but at that time it was flot listened to. I say again that I have every faith in the sound common sense of the Parliament, that nothing absurd will be proposed. That taxation will have to be progressive I believe. The only question is, To what extent and how ? I feel sure that even those who are advocating it, and have been returned for it, do not wish anything revolutionary or absurd; and of course they must not do anything which will tend to prevent saving and thrift. At the same time my view is that the State should control monopolies, specially like that o£ lana, and that the beet way to do so would/

be, not by a Land tax, but by prohibiting land being sold, and by other laws forcing the monopolies now held by Companies and others to be broken up." THE SPEAKEEBHIP. "As to the Speakership," said Sir Robert in answer "to another question, " I regret exceedingly that Sir Maurice O'Eorke has been defeated. He was an excellent Speaker, and I do not believe any of those in our previous Parliaments was his equal. He ift a loss to New Zealand. As to who is to succeed him, it is impossible for me to say. There are many men no doubt, who would make excellent Speakers : Major Steward, Mr Eolleston, Mr Bryce, and Captain Russell, for instance. Of course I could not hazard my opinion as to who is likely to be chosen, because it is practically of no interest to me. lam outside, and have no business to interfere by expressing an opinion. sir Robert's intention. The last question put to Sir Robert was about his own personal intentions. "As to that/ he replied, " my intention is not to re-enter political life. I might add this : It has been said there are no men in the Opposition to form a Government. I don't believe anything of the sort. I believe a very good Government can be formed out of its members." Such is the interview. Sir Eobert goes to Wanganui in the morning, I presume to consult with Mr Ballance ; and I hear that other members of the party are likely to go up to Wanganui early.