THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10443, 24 April 1912, Page 1

THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY.

STATEMENTS BY PRIME MINISTER. . NO POLITICAL FIREWORKS. BORROWING POLICY. [From Our Correspondent.] AUCKLAND, April 23. In the course of an interview this morning the Prime Minister (the Hon T. Mackenzie) expressed himself quite satisfied with the political outlook. "I have just been through Taranaki," he said; "»and the tone is distinctly good everywhere I have been. lam assured by numbers who are attached to different sides of politics that they wish to see what the new Ministry can do, nnd to give them an opportunity of doing it. The cordiality, is widespread. I have told the people that we are going to devote ourselves to things that signify and believe in the proof of the thing done rather than of the thing said. The country has been too much disturbed by party wrangling, personal equations on the one side, and unmeasured political abuse on the other, and it desires a rest from such conditions. In the desire for victory truth has frequentlv been sacrificed. The country is sick :>f a policy of anathema and false prophecy, and wants to hear less of party and more of practice. "I have no political fireworks to offer them. We want to get away .rom trifles and tipsy cake, and get down to solid ' bread and butter. 5 " Speaking of the personnel of the Cabinet, the Prime Minister said that they had set themselves to work to sow the grit that was in them. "I think, he remarked, "that the public will find that they have in the a band of men as devoted to their interests as, any that hav© ever occupied the Government Benches. Of course we are told that no good san be expected from us, but we are going to wait our triumph with patience. The people, I find, are not looking for Mr Massey. He is the Moses that is not going to lead tliem into the land of promises. His genprals have won battles for him, but dc has mulled the campaign." tt 6 Minister was welcomed it Hamilton by the Mayor and CounBillors. In replying to the welcome he *?! U u e . • ' learers that the interests of the aistriot would receive every consideration from the Cabinet. Speaking jfor the dominion as a whole, he said: "It is our intention, as a Cabinet to get down to solid work, and we are not going in for any political • fireworks at all. There is good work to be done, and, given an opportunity, \ye hope to be able to accomplish something." In replying to a deputation from th'e Terapa Drainage" Board, which asked I£ r j. a / oan , the Prime Minister said that the question of loan money was likely to be a troublesome one. The demand for loans was so great that it ■ was altogether beyond the* powers of , the Government to respond with any satisfaction to the prospective borrower. At the mam points made against tne Government was borrowing. The Government had nothing like a sufficient imount of money available to satisfy ' the people who wanted loans, and if they wished the country to draw up m borrowing there would be still less. The country was developing, and perJonally he considered it required 'noney for that developmentbut the , act remained that the people conldered there had been too much borowing. .•

TAXATION SCHEMES. CIVIL SERVICE REFORM. [From Our Correspondent.] . WELLINGTON, April 23. . It is well known that last week a series of important Cabinet meetings took place with full attendances of Ministers, and I have good reason to believe that the main lilies of the new Government's policy were decided, if Sot put into final shape. "When the official announcement of the Mackenzie Uovernment's intentions is made, those who are expecting a programme of Jepßlative fireworks will be disappointed. Apparently the Government is going to make an effort to show primarily that it has administrative powers worthy of respect. It certainly has J fair platform ability, and the movements of Ministers suggest that this | is to be utilised in a systematic way, bo as to acquaint the people in all parts dominion with their new CabiMministration rather than a long legislative programme is evidently going to be its speciality, but there are, of course, some important subjects Which "will be recommended to - the House for legislation. It is certain /hat the question of taxation will be' opened up in a fairly comprehensive fashion. Regarding tlie land tax, it is said that the new Cabinet is determined to make a big change, imposing a graduated scale of much greater s#?erity than has previously been known in jtfew Zealand. On the other hand, the. eeling of Ministers in regard to the income tax is that a policy of rernisjnons in the lower scale must be suggested to the House. The. Ward Government's proposal to differentiate in favour of incomes earned bv personal j exertion, a principle in operation in almost every other Australasian State, , must be applied effectively, accompani,7 a , further concession to parents In the shape of an increased amount of exemption, possibly £ls for everv child nnder the age of sixteen. 1 Members of the Civil Service hero are beginning to wonder whether Ministers' keen interest in departmental methods is only a case of new brooms gweepina clean or whether a general .overhaul of the administrative machine Is contemplated. Departmental expenditure, notably in regard to agriculture and education, has reached a [very high point, and some means of pruning may be planned by the new Ministers or by capable men appointed Jo advise them. So far this is oniv Buggested as a. possibility, but there is undoubtedly an impression that the Civil Service is to have an overhaul and that the Railways Department will 't>e considerably shaken up in the process.