Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1885. Major Atkinson at Hawera

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1774, 21 December 1885, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. MONDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1885. Major Atkinson at Hawera

Majou Atkinson- addressed Ids constituents at llawera on Thursday evening last and in his opening remarks he considered it necessary to reply to the speeches made by the Premier and the Colonial Treasurer, both of whom had, he ;said, been guilty of great misrepresentation. When Sir Julius Vogel came into office, be said the finances of New Zealand were elastic and buoyant enough to satisfy the most exacting financier, and that all that was required was better management. Then certain promises were given. Reduction of expenditure was one, and in connection with this Mr Stont said that if he could not save £80,000,0000r £loo,oooiu twodepartments alone he would leave office. He (Major Atkinson) bad shown last session that there had been no saving. The Colonial Tieasurer had also said that there should be a saving especially in education, though the system was to be improved at the same time ; but there had been no such saving. He also pledged himself distinctly that the property tax should be reduced in 1888 and abolished in 1883, but the tax was made higher last session than ever it had been since the year it was first imposed. There was to be fresh vigor in the Public Works policy, and in place of the colony dozing, as it had been doing, they should progress by leaps and bounds. In pursuit of that policy relief from the sinking fund was promised to secure the result that seven and a half millions more should be borrowed without any extra charge on the -revenue. Depression should disappear and prosperity return. In addition to this local government was to be put in a more satisfactory state. All these promises were distinctly made, but they had not been fulfilled. There had been no reduction in taxation, because in addition to the property tax there had been »n increase in tariff, and in stamp duties. The Treasurer said the object of the proposed change in tariff was for Protectionist reasons, but the Premier stated positively that it was a question of money and not Freetrade or Protection, and he’compiaitiodof the action of the Opposition in getting the tariff rejected for the purpose of spoiling Government finances. With regard to railway management the result "oit their-efforts had been that with u greater number of miles of railway opened,, the returns hud been less than those obtained by the late Government, and complaints were still rife. As to loan conversion, he held that the conversion of the 5 per cent loan was a bad bargain, because the colony really got no present benefit, and in seven years’ time would have to giyo 11 per cent bonds in exchange for 3 per cent bonds; whereas every indication showed that the colony would be able to borrow at less than li per cent. Ho had been urged to uhdertake the same operation, but bad always beeu convinced that the colony could tobtain bettor terms if it would only take time. He feared that the reinstated finance would end in a deficiency this year, though he hoped it would not , but there was a falling elf in railways and Customs winch indicated a deficiency, notwithstanding increased taxation. Hie PuOlic Works policy was next interviewed, ».«i Mnior Atkinson spoke very sarcastically ** '-.orofe policy " of the Government of the ... - prove that the Governand quoted figure.-. to nifiit wen- not sii.'ci.'io in ormv. ( cany out such a policy when they t0....

ilo said it was untrue that the reduction oi tlio Kt-timatcs stopped works in any way, but if all the money asked for had been granted, there would have been groat pressure brought upon the Government by their political friends tnrxcft.d the limits which they had set them selves in the Public Works Statement. There was no necessity for the Government to slop works, or to discharge public officers. The effect of the reduction was simply to prevent tbe necessity for a further loan. With regard to the North Island trunk loan, he condemned the throats which had been made by the Premier and the Treasurer. He was glad to notice they had been scouted by friend and foe alike from one end id the colony to the other, and that the Government, to use a homely phrase, had dropped it like a hot potato. With regard to the East and West Coast and Nelson Railway, be bad always looked on it as part of the main scheme, which would have to be carried out some day, but it must take its turn after tbe completion of other lines which promise to be more profitable. Tho colony would not bo justified in speeding 113,000,000 call 1,000,000 upon it at present. The House had granted certain concessions il a company will undertake the construction of the line, and he disapproved of the action of tire Government in pioposiug, while negotiations wore slid penning, to vote a sum of 1150,000 to commence the construction of the line. At to the district railways, he said that he

always felt that the colony would have to acquire the lines. lie supported the proposition made last session as a means of putting an end to the existing state of affairs. He referred to the failure of the Government in respect {of the Local Bodies Finance and Powers Bill, pointing out that the Act as passed granted subsidies for, say, months, instead of 25 years, as proposed, and contained eight clauses as against fifty seven when it was introduced. The Roads and Bridges Construction Act had been repealed, and nothing had been set up in its place. Something must be done to help localities with the construction of the roads. Though the railways were important they were useless without roads. He ridiculed the Hospitals and Charitable Aids Bill as totally unworkable, and though he had nothing to do with the mending of it, seeing that it was a bad Bill from the outset, was sure that it was amended for the better. As to the question of Protection and Free Trade, he thought it was unwise to raise the issue, as the Colonial Treasurer was doing, because revenue must be had. Customs revenue was so necessary that the colony could not afford to remit taxation. As to the Native affairs, he should have to leave that subject and others to be dealt with in a speech which he would deliver later on, but he might say that he was afraid Native affairs were being mismanaged. Th e Natives were using Mr Stout and Mr Ballance at the present time, as the colony would find to its coat by-and-bye. As to the future, the Government having failed in everything they had attempted, would no doubt try to recover their position by a new departure. They were now putting out feelers with that object. There was no doubt that prosperity could be restored by a large annual expenditure for a short time. If the colony were to go in for a loan of eight or ten millions it was certain interest could not be provided out of revenue, and he wished to say distinctly that ho was entirely opposed to and should resist to the utmost any proposition which might be made by any party whatever for paying interest out of loan. That might be the proposition brought forward, and it would be for the people to consider it. He oonld not believe that colonists would adopt a policy which, though it might mean fictitious prosperity for four or'five years, would result jn such a collapse as had never yet been witnessed in New Zealand. He beieved that the true policy was a moderate system of Public Works must be pushed on steadily, but borrowing must be gradually (ontracted, and not increased. Borrowing must be for the pur■pose of restoring prosperity by leaps and bounds, but must be kept within such limits that the interest may be easily provided out of revenue He believed that a large number of the public men of New Zealand were not prepared to go in for extravagant proposals which might be brought forward by the Government. He denied that his policy was to lie down and wait until Providence helped you, as had been alleged by the Treasurer at Christchurch. His policy, on ihe contrary, was to labor and to wait; a policy which Sir Julius Vogel could not understand. On the other hand, Sir J. Vogel belonged to the same class as • two Americans, who, having failed in everything, had to be looked up, and having nothing at all, proceeded at once to make each other’s fortunes by swopping Jackets. He- did not understand waiting or progress. He did not understand either of these things, unless it were to be by leaps and bounds. The colony wanted a steady and continuous progress. Those who had come to the colony to make it their home wanted to do so gradually and steadily by continual work, and not by lying down and waiting ; neither did they want to be handed over to great speculators who hastened to be rich, and who landed the country in bankruptcy.