HON. MR BALLANCE AT LAWRENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIX, Issue 11134, 22 February 1886, Page 2

HON. MR BALLANCE AT LAWRENCE.

(per united press association.) Dunediw, February Id. The TCon. Mr Ballance, in addressing a meeting at Lawrence on Thursday evening, said he had great pleasure in accepting the invitation to address them. Nevar before were so ranny great questions before the people. Re* f erring to the depiession, he said that looking at the prices of their staple products they could expect nothing else but depression, but he did not despair of the future, as there were hundreds of industries they coiald turn to to compensate for the depression in the prices of their staples. He said the movement for retrenchment was not sincere, for as soon as the people's own districts were touched they cried out. Ocago regarded the Otago < entral liailway line as the most important ; Can" terbury the East and West Ooaat line ; and the North the Main Trunk line. He did not know what the Government would do with regar ' to borrowing, but they were of opinion that the colony could not stand still, without going backward. Temporary depression should not put people in a frame of mind that they are afraid to incur further risk. Ha then dealt with the native policy, and aaid what was called the one ■"policeman policy meant that the natives should be dealt with under the civil and criminal Jaw the same as the Europeans, and not at the point of the bayonet policy as in the past. Regarding the King movement, it had been one of wholesale bribery, but the present Government had left; the King movement severely alone, and the con"* sequence was that Tawhiao had less power than before, and the King movement and the King himself would soon be a thing of the past. He then referred to the two Native Lands Bills of last session, regarding one of which the land sharks said it was very good because it facilitated the acquisition of tiMe, but the other was very bad, mas* much as it destroyed the chance of speculation. If he were to tell them of the transactions by whioh the middle men had acquired large fortunes they would deem what he would state in« credible. As was stated, the colony had a bad record in native land transactions, and it was to put a stop to theße blots thai; the two bills were introduced last session, and which must be taken together. He then dealt with the Land Bill, and especially the speoial settlement clauses, and said the policy of the Government was to place the greatest number of people possible on the land. Holders of large estates had not contributed their share to taxation, as the value of the estates had been doubled and quadrupled by public expenditure. They would not be averse to abolishing the exemption of property tax, bat he would advocate a gradual tax on properties, starting with say £d in the pound on iIIO.OOO, and another j id on every additional £10,000. The next question, he said, was Protection, which had been making sensible pro* gress. He maintained it was not the artiaan class alone which was benefited. Protection, he thought, would steady wages and benefit artizans in town and country. He said the defence expenditure had been pressed on the Government, and no more had been done than was absolutely called for. He said he was content to accept the definition made that the pacties should be Pfo^ teotion and Public Works, and No New Works and Betrencbment, and the Government would belong to the first of these. He said the administration of the Government had not been attaoked. He believed the country would support the Government if they decided to "borrow for public works. The Government were in favour of protecting local industries ann of a cautious and prudent expenditure of public money, whioh would make the colony pcosporous, nof; for one d*y or one year or ten years, but would induce prosperity from which there would be no reaction. A vote of thanks and confidence, as Minister of Native* Lauds and Affairs, was passed.