AUSTRALIAN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 273, 19 February 1881, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN.

{Per Reuter's Agency.) The Leader of the Opposition. Melbourne, Feb 18. Mr. Murray Smith has virtually assumed the leadership of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly. The Hereford. The which was successfully floated yesterday at Cape Patton, has been safely towed to Queenscliff. A Political Manifesto. Adelaide, Feb. 18. The Hon. William Morgan, Chief Secretary and Premier of South Australia, has issued an address containing an outline of the policy of the Government. He calls attention to the necessity for the reform of the constitution of the Legislative Council, and says that a Bill will be introduced for the purpose. If the measure is twice rejected in the Council the Governor will be empowered to declare one-half of the seats vacant at the time of the next dissolution. The present time is considered favorable for the introduction of the Reform Bill, though there is no conflict between the two Chambers. The Government have further resolved to increase the number of the electorates to twenty-six for each House, each electorate to return two members. Referring to his recent visit to Sydney to attend the sittings of the Intercolonial Conference, Mr. Morgan says that he is quite convinced that the chief object of his Government should be to assimilate the tariff of South Australia with that of New South Wales, and adds that he is prepared to pursue a policy of reciprocity and mutual concession. The revision of the tariff, he states, is necessary to readjust the incidence of taxation, and to relieve the farmers, artisans, and laborers. Remission of taxes to the extent of L 6,000 will be proposed in order to secure uniformity with the tariff of New South Wales, and the duty on cornsacks, woolpacks, and implements, will be reduced, the idea that the colony can procure raw material being erroneous, and very little less than madness. In order to enable a reform of the system of taxation, a tax of one-half-penny in the £ on property valued at over L3OO will be proposed. Mr. Morgan also discusses the question of a railway to Port Darwin, and says that he believes capitalists will be prepared to co-operate for the construction of a line on the alternate block system, and the Government will be asked for authority to negotiate with that object. He advocates the extension of railways to meet the New South Wales lines, thus shortening the distance by 300 miles as compared with that via Melbourne, He concludes by saying that the policy of the Government is to strengthen the union with New South Wales.