THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1686, 13 October 1887, Page 4

THE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.

The Speech by the Governor on the ' opening of Parliament is generajly supposed to disclose the principal features at least, ol the policy intended to be pursued by His Excellency's retponsible advisers. Accordingly m the Speech delivered yesterday by His Excellency we see the principal lines of the'policy of the Ministry recent!) formed by Major Atkinson. First of all we have retrenchment. On this subject His Excellency is made to say : -(-" Jn its results, the general election just concluded, points to a firm resolve on the part of the people of New Zealand to ensure effective and substantial retrenchment m cost of the Public Service. My Ministers feel that it is their first duty, and it is their intention to propose to Parliament large .ecuctions m the public expenditure. These reductions will be made m the manner best calculated not to produce inconvenience or hardship." On this point, notwithstanding his ill repute with regard to economy m times past which earned for him the sobriquet of jhe Apostle of Extravagance, the Premier, is very pronounced. He bas intimated his intention of reducing expenditure to the extent of How he intends |to accomplish this, we are, of course, hot informed, and shall Dot be, until he brings down his Financial Statement. All that we can say, therefore, at present, is that if he achieve such a large saving without impairing the Public Service, and with- - out producing inconvenience or hardship, people of all shades of political opinion will legard his convetsion as real — altogether unlike the desire for reformation which temporarily overmasters a man when "on the stool of repentance." Uufortunately the little ,trord "if" comes m, and its force is accentuated by reminiscences of thepast. Unfortunately, too, for himself, Major Atkinson has signally failed m inspiring confidence m his professions of economy, by having made a bad beginning. In alluding lo this, the "Otago Daily Times " of Tuesday has the following remarks :— " Major Atkinson has stumbled on the threshold. We say this not so much with regard to his rather curious choice of colleagues as with reference to his retention of the usual number of paid Ministers. The strongest opinion was expressed on the subject through the country at the elections; and if anyone has any doubt as to the feasibility of doing the administrative work with fewer Ministers, we can refer him to no less an authority than Major Atkinson himself a few weeks ago. But apart from the necessities of the situation, the circumstances are m the present Government particularly favorable to such reduction. Major Atkinson has undertaken double work as Premier and Treasurer, there is no Attorney-General, and the Native Office is to be abolished. Under these circumstances it is monstrous that the colony should be put to the expense of paying the usual number of Ministers to do two-thirds of the usual amount ©f work at a time when there is such urgent need for the strictest economy." Confidence m Major Atkinson's land policy will be completely destroyed by his announced intention of raising j£aoo,ooo by forced sales of Crown lands. As this subject is ably dealt with by one of our Wellington contemporaries — the " Evening Post " — m au article reproduced m our present issue, we shall offer no further remark save that his proposal shows that Major Atkinson has not been able to tree himself from his old allies — the land monopolist?. Major Atkinson's tariff proposals, it would appear, are not to be submitted this session — not until, by feeling the pulse of the House, he sees how far he dare go. All these matters, taken together, will tend not only not to inspire confidence, but even to effectually shake any confidence which Major Atkinson's promises or professions may have inspired, and we shall be surprised to find the; present Ministry m existence a montfi hence.