Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1886. Mr Ballance in Otago.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1799, 24 February 1886, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1886. Mr Ballance in Otago.

The admirers of the present Government claim that it is great, good, and possessed of the highest ability. Perhaps this is so, but we aie inclined to be somewhat sceptical in the matter. Indeed, the present Government does not give' anyone a fair chance of forming a correct estimate of its merits. Usually a Ministry is estimated by the good' ness or otherwise of its policy. Now the colonists are almost entirely in the dark with respect to the policy of the present Ministry. The Premier makes a speech and sketches out his own ideas of what a policy should be. But by and bye, Sir Julius Vogel writes another manifesto of policy to the papers, or on being interviewed by a reporer expresses a new and, to some extent, different set of views from those of the Premier. Then Mr Larnach, Mr Bichardson and Mr Ballance each in turn give their individual views of a policy, and as all these utterances differ on important points, the intelligent newspaper reader is rather puzzled as to what the ■'i toy of *be Ministry really is. Then one glv . •~ # tcr another has said of particular “rir.:-" views, but Ido not wish you i. inder^»nd that they are altogether those of the Ministry as a whole.” This sort of explanation makes confusion worse confounded, and leaves those who listen to it in a state of mental chaos. We wish that Ministers instead pf gadding about the country and making contradictory speeches, would all gather together in a room in the big building at Wellington, and talk things over at length, and once for all decide definitely what are to be the main features of their policy. We daresay there would be a lot of angry talk before they could agree upon a policy, but if things were settled by the vote of the majority, it is quite possible that some sort of policy could be settled upon. When this had been done, the Premier, or Sir Julius Vogel, might make a big speech and outline the Ministerial policy for the information of the whole people of the colony. The adoption of the“ course indicated would clear things up and put an end to much of the confusion which at present exists in the public mind with respect to the policy of the Government.

The latest Ministerial speech which has been delivered is that of Mr Ballance to a public meeting in Otago, Mr Ballance apparently spoke partly bis own views and pa '»lv those of the Government, but nobody can separate the one thing from the other, which is annoying unsatisfactory. Mr Ballance said “ he did not know' ‘’'hat Government wanted to do with regard to borrowing, but (bay were of opinion that the colonyjoould not stand still without going backward. Temporary depression should not put people in such a frame of mind that they were afraid to incur farther risk.” This sort of talk is mere trifling. The Government and Mr Ballance ought to know what they mean to do about borrowing. They are not fit to hold office if they cannot arrive at a definite decision on this question, and then state their intentions plainly. On the Native question Mr Ballance said “ that the policy in the past regarding the King movement had been one of wholesale bribery, but the present Government left the King movement severely alone, and the consequence waa that ..Tawhiao had less power than before, and the King movement aod the King himself would soon be things of the past." It is not true that the policy adopted by Mr Bryce with respect to the King movement *"‘ iß 0116 wholesale bribery. On the contrary. Mr G W-’ dealt j" b “‘ * ,tll great firmness in reap'' 110 aod hia action did much to ***•s?? approaching and of the King movement, w*.

the land question Mr Ballanee said “ that | the policy of the Government was to placj | the greatest number of people possible on the land. Holders of large estates had not contributed their share of taxation, as the value of their estates had been doubled and quadrupled by public expenditure. Government would not be averse to abolishing the exemption lor property tax, but he would advocate a graduated tax on properties, starting with say, Is 4d in the £ on £IO,OOO, and another Is 4d on every additional £10,000.” Mr Ballanojfis quite right in his remarks with respect w the owners of “big estates," but we by no means agree with the suggestion that the £SOO exemption in the Property Tax should be abolished. The exemption is both right and just. As to the proposed graduated Property Tax, we do not quite understand what Mr Ballanee desires should be done. The brief telegraphic summary of his speech does not convey a clear idea of what Mr Ballanee really said on this point. The most important part of this speech was the reference made ‘to “ Protection.” On this point Mr Ballanee remarked ;—“ It was not the artisan class alone which was benefitted by Protection. He thought it would steady wages and benefit artisans in town and country. He was content to accept the definition made that the two parties should be Protection and Public Works, and no new works and retrenchment; and the Government would belong to the first of these. He believed the country would support the Government if they decided to borrow for public works. The Government were in favor of protecting local industries and of a cautious and prudent expenditure of public money which would make the colony prosperous not for one day, or one year, or ten years, but would induce prosperity from which there would be no reaction.” We are inclined to think from the general scope of the foregoing remarks that the Government have decided to make “ Protection ” a special feature of their policy. If that be the case, then it is time that the people of this colony should become awakened to the danger which “ Protection ” carries with it. “ Protection ” means largely increased Customs Duties on articles -of general use, and consequently heavy additional taxation. It means that the wages of the working classes will not go nearly so far as they did before in purchasing many necessaries and comforts for themselves and their families. It also means that the whole community should be subjected to large additional taxation, in order that a few industries shonld be bolstered up aud artificially stimulated, when if they were left alone, they would, in time, if suitable for the colony, do perfectly well without special aid. Should the Governmeut propose a proiective policy, we believe they will be defeated and driven from office. The sooner such a result is achieved the better will it be for the colony. Mr Ballauce's statement that the colony will have two parties—one with the cry of “ Protection and Public Works,” and the other with the cry of “ No new Public Works and Retrenchment,” is an utter misstatement. The real division of parties will be this Stout, Vogel, Ballanee and Co. will appeal to the country with the programme of “ A Big Ten Million Loan, Lavisk Expenditure on non-reproduo-live public vorks, and a heavily protective Customs Tar.ff.” The other party will use their watch words “Moderate borrowing for expenditure only on such railways and public works as will speedily prove reproductive ; no protective tariff, no increase of taxation, and retrenchment in every feasible way.” Mr Ballanee belongs to the party of recklessness and extravagance ; we take our stand with the party of prudent finance, moderate borrowing, careful expenditure, no protection, and no additional taxation. And, in the end, our party will gain the day.