Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price 1d. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1886. Some Recent Political Speeches.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XIX, Issue 1817, 7 April 1886, Page 2

Wairarapa Standard Published Tri-weekly, Price Id. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 7, 1886. Some Recent Political Speeches.

It is a long time since Major Atkinson made a speech on the political situation, and we have therefore read a report of bia -recent deliverance at Anckland with some degree of interest. The speech in question was rather heavy, aud the first part of it, dealing with finance and loans, absolutely bristled with figures. We shall not deal with the speaker’s review of the past, being more interested in bis proposals as to tbe future. He twitted tbe Government with not having any definite policy and sending up " political balloons ” in order to discover how tbe wind blew with respect to public opinion. He then severely criticised tbe proposals lately indicated by Sit Julius Vogel cf raising a ten million loc i and going in for enormous expenditure. On this point he remarked ; “ The real reason of the proposed grand scheme was to cover up tbe large expenditure on (lie East aud West Coast Railway, to which Sir Julius Vogel was irretrievably committed, Auckland aud Wellington bad to wait sixteen years, and would have to wait four more, for connection. Surely Christchurch and Hokitika could wait till the work could be reasonably undertaken without undue burden on tbe colony. It was not fair to take tbe colony by the throat because a member of tbe Ministry represented a Canterbury constituency, and ;say that the East and West Coast Railway must be constructed. He would resist to the uttermost making 5 per cent nominal contribution per bead to Customs revenue, and would also resist any increased taxation except to meet the engagements of tbe colony or necessary works. At the same time it would be unwise to stop further borrowing. Railways should be completed to paying points. Auckland and Wellington should be connected, another section of tbe northern Hue past (HelenavLlle constructed, and the Otago Central and some other lines completed to paying points. At the outside, a million a year was sufficient to keep tbe Colony going jogging along. A road system was an essential complement to the railway system. We must go on at a moderate rate, aud must be governed by our means."

These remarks are sound and just, while they indicate generally the lines of a cautious and prudent policy. Major Atkinson further added “ that rushing public works through for the sake of inflated expenditure meant an equally sudden ending ; what that involved they could readily imagine. Let them learn a lesson from the New South Wales deficit, and the position in which New Zealand was in in 1870." It can be gathered from this expression of views that Major Atkinson, as leader of the Opposition, will be prepared to resist any proposals of the Government to increase the Customs Duties, and to go in for very large borrowing. If Sir Julius Vogel is to have bis own way there is no doubt that he will try for large borrowing and additional taxation, but it does not appear that the Premier, Mr Stout, is in accord with Sir Julius in these matters. At ail events, Mr Stout made a speech lately in which he expressed himself as being unfavored e to n big loan, and added that in the mat'c" of borrowing the time had now come tor edging off. He furthermore declared that depression conld only be got rid of by means of hard work and thrift on the part of the colonists, and that neither Government nor Parliament could do much towards its removal. It is somewhat remarkable to find the Premier recommending the greatest caution with respect to borrowing, and preaching the gospel of thrift and hard work, when it is remembered that his colleague, Sir Julius Vogel, only recently sketched for it a policy, the main features oPwhich were a big loan and large expenditure on public works. These diamettically opposite statements by the Premier and 'Colonial Treasurer appear to indicate that these distinguished personares are by no means in accordance with respect to a policy for the future. In truth, the whole thing is a muddle. In shadowing forth a policy in their speeches, every member of the Ministry in turn tells a different story. Mr Stout says one thing, and Sir Julius Vogel another, while Air Dallauce and Mr Diehard'•*ve each put forth different versions of lc J n - , - «uould be. When Parliament what a policy <ll retire to state delihas met Ministers w... maggot they nitoly what their policy is, but u.. .. ~ do not appear to have in any way come to .. agreement on the question. |