THE NATIVE MINISTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1391, 28 November 1884, Page 2

THE NATIVE MINISTER.

A complimentary banquet was given to the Hon J. Ballance, Native Minister, at Wanganui last evening, at which there was a very large attendance, including Mr Bryce, M. H. R.

In replying to the toast of the evening, Mr Ballance thanked the company very sincerely for the very great honor they had done him on the present occasion, and in a way he did not expect. He was afraid the services tendered by him were hardly of such a character as to merit the eoomiuma pissed upon him, but he could say that such as they were they had been labors of love. They had been rendsred without any desire on his part of receiving such a recognition as had been given him that evening. When he heard that it was the intention of the Wanganui people to tender him a compliment in a public way, he felt that he could not assume that anything he had done during the session had entitled him to that honor, and he, therefore, supposed that it was more in the lisjht of a personal feeling of respect towards him that the movement was due. fn referring to the remarks made by the Chairman as to his present dual capacity as member for the district and as a Minister, he said that ha had held in theory that the two positions were perfectly compatible, and a member who neglected his constituents because he had been appointed a Minister deserved their censure. Of course he would be told that new brooms swept clean, but he looked upon parties as political necessities, and it was essential to the good

sovernment of the colony, that one party who had worn its broom out should give way to another who had a new broom. (Hear, hear.) A change in the Ministry of the colony was absolutely necessary for a continuance of its progress. Mr Ballance then spoke of a measure which had passed last session—the Married Women’s Property Act, which was of great importance, a measure which had received cordial support from both parties. Every marrUd woman in the colony had now the same right to hold property and to deal in property as men had. He believed the time was not far distant when we should advance another step and give every woman elector the franchise. He said this to show that something had been done to advance the great social progress. He next referred to the central line of railway running through the North Island. He could not say th*.t the construction of that railway would exclusively benefit the town of Wanganui. It would depend upon the energy she displayed, but be was quite certain that it would benefit the North Island generally. The line as they knew would' start from Marton and run through to Te Awamutu, and there were no fewer than four •and a half million acres of land to be acquired along the line It had been recognised that since the work had been authorised it was the duty of the Government to push on with it with all possible speed, and he might say that it had been definitely settled that the first sod of the railway should be turned simultaneously at both the Marton and Te Awamutu ends. It was intended to commence the construction at certain points along the line, and certain sums of money have been appropriated for the opening of roads to the lino for the conveyance of material, Mr Rochfort had suggested that the Wanganui River should be one of such highways, and possibly a field road, and in this way considerable benefit should accrue to Wanganui. All such matters as these, however, must ha looked

at from a colonial point of view for th interests of the colony as a whole, and as a means of assisting to dispel the depression which had of late hung like a nightmare upon it. This brought him to the unemployed difficulty, the importance of dealing with which the Government fully recognised. It had been asserted that the unemployed difficulty was principally due and could be traced to persons of the working classes who indulged too freely in strong drink, and to loafers who did not work, but on enquiry the Government had found that the distress was not confined to these classes alone. Some of the better class were also suffering, and even in some cases those who. were in employment. Under these circumstances the Government did not propose to continue immigration until the surplus labor had been absorbed, and he believed that in the settlement of the land the difficulty would be solved. He then spoke of charges which had been made against Government of unlimited borrowing proposals. He assured them the Government intended to borrow only so much as would complete the works already sanctioned by Pa- liament, and for such works as would be reproductive. He thought there was a great future for the industries of the colony, which would be supported by the Government as far as possible. On the question of the defence of the colony the Government believed that while it would be impossible for any foreign power-to hold any permanent possession, it was their duty to place the harbors in a state of defence, and to depend

upon the Volunteers. As regarded the purchase of native lands, it was the intention of the Government in future to acquire land for settlement only, and upon a commercial principle, and they would not borrow money except for lands that would be made to reproduce at least 5 per cent, of the purchase coat. Consequently the native difficulty had resolved itself into simply a question of settlement of land. It was the inteution of the Government to establish land associations that could take up land to the extent of 5,000 acres. Restrictions were placed on the native lands, so that four and a half mil-

lion acres on the line of the Central

Railway would not be available for open purchase, and this had met with the approval of the groat native chief Wahanui and Major Kemp. If the natives had been allowed to settle their own lands, they would have overcome the great difficulty, and have become hearty co-opera-tora in the work of the colony. The pastoral lands of the colony should not ba alienated. They represented 12,000,000 acres, and the revenue would yearly increase. It was the intention of the Government to out the present large runs into smaller blocks. At the same time he recognised the fact that the runholders were a most important part of the community, and their position was worthy of every consideration. He approved of land settlement on a purchase extending over ten years, the extent to bo 100 acres, on these conditions, namely—Good land, proximity to market, and low price of laud The particulars of the association system would be gazetted in'a few days. The question of local government and taxation would shortly be referred to by the Hon the Premier in Dunedin.