SIR JOHN HALL AT LEESTON.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1625, 2 August 1887, Page 2

SIR JOHN HALL AT LEESTON.

CHBIBTOHUROH, July 29. Sir John Ball addressed a crowded meeting In the Oddfellows' Hall at Leeston last night. He was well received, and defended himself and hia party against the charges of lavish expenditure of loan, and extravaganoe, quoting figures to show (hat In March, 1882, his Government were able to point to a surplus of £200,000, and that they reduced the loan expenditure by one-half. While determined not to interfere with the education system, he was favorable to making enquiries whether U could not be administered at less ooßt. He asserted that the present Government bad not been bo economical as they had promised, as was shown by the faot thit they had increased expenditure, and bad spent more than their predecessors on residences and travelling expenses. He believed m thorough retrenchment, which should begin at the very top. A considerable saving might be made by p»ylng the Governor aotual travelling expenses only, instead of the present allowance of £2500 ; by reducing Ministerial salaries to £1500 for the Premier, and £1000 for other Ministers \ by reducing the honorarium t ) £100 or £150. He admitted that a m n should pay taxation according to his property, but contended that to tax large properties' at a higher rate than email ones was putting a tax on industry and economy. He feared that Mr Ballanee's land settlement system would prove a failure, and preferred the mixed system practised by Mr Bplleston, under which persons with some little capital were assisted to settie, and poorer persons located where they could be employed by richer neighbors. Ho did not see the ueed for the Land Acquisition 6111. He did not approve of the tariff proposals of the Government, because they wished to tax oertain articles which could nob bear protection. He believed m moderately protegting auph industries as could be profitably pursued. He ascribed the depression to the low prices of prod ace, want of confidence m the colony prevailing m other countries througe our large indebtedness, and alarm, at tne wild theories advanced by some public men, and to the large sutug sent away annually fop interest. The last Gauge was due mainly to abu.se of the public works policy. What was needed was to import less and export more, to practloe eqonomy m the publlo service, and to endeavour to opjn up new Industrie,* suoh as the export of dairy produce. Eepooiajly must the colony practically stop, borrowing. There were, he thought, works In 'pro< greia now v?hioi> woijld bp bettgr to stop than carry on with bqrrowed money. The address w»s frequently applauded, though there was Blight interruption. A vote of thanks l?PB paeged. It was moved by one of Sir John Hail's fiupporfcers, who said that no donbt a votg of eonftdenoe would be given by the ballot-box* A. portion of the audience gave cheers for Sir Julius Yogel and Sir Robert Stout.