The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 29.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 491, 29 March 1881, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, MARCH 29.

In the few remarks on Major Atkinson's speech made in our last issue, we alluded only to the want of backbone, so to speak, noticeable throughout the policy enunciated by him. There are, however, faults of a positive as well as a negative character about the speech, which ought not to be passed over, and altogether we feel that by it Major Atkinson will not raise his character as financier nor as a candid politician. He commenced by stating that the affairs of the Colony when he took office in October, 1879,

vcre in a most unsatisfactory state

owing, of course, to the mismanagement of the late Government. He said, " When tho Government in October came to inquire into the finances they found a deficit of £900,000 (or nearer a million, as it turned out), which had to be made up by March." And he left it to be inferred that by his admirable system of finance that deficit disappeared. He never said a word as to how this financial feat was accomplished. Would any one from reading his speech, as telegraphed, come to the conclusion that this great deficit was met fn the usual Atkinsoniiin manner by borrowing ? Certainly not. And yet it is unfortunately the fact that this deficit was covered by the issue of Treasury Bills to the extent oi a million. Not only did he issue Treasury Bills to cover the expenditure to the end of March, but he issued Bills to cover a'l outstanding liabilities on that date. Yet he never said a word about this. He did not say that at the close of the financial year on the 30th June 1879, th * deficiency was only £131,800 —or that the greater part of the deficit, of which he speaks occurred during the five months and a half he was in ofFice. Was this candid ? He takes credit for retrenchment to the extent of £252,000. Why, retrenchment was forced upon the Government. In his Financial Statement last session, the Treasurer proposed to retrench by reduction in the salaries of the Civil servant, to the extent of £50,000, ancl every one knows who pjays attention to public affairs, Hansard shows it, that real substantial retrenchment was forced on the Government. Their own supporters not only said that the estimates of expenditure must be cut down by at least £200,000,'

but that this reduction must be made by a certain hard and fast rule. The Premier and the Treasurer at first laughed such a proposal to scorn, but finding they must either accept it or vacate the Treasury Benches, they put up tho Colonial Secretary, good easy-

going man, who pleaded in a most pathetic manner for a certain amount lie named, and that ministers might be allowed to make the reductions as they thought best. But their own supporters would not trust them. Ot course they gave in, and the hard ancl fast rule of 10 per cent was carried. We say nothing here of the cruel injustice to Civil servants in receipt of sinaJl salaries barely sufficient to provide the necessaries of life, having their pay reduced by the same per centage as that of Officers receiving £600 or £800 a year ; but we do say it is too glaringly absurd for Major Atkinson to take credit for retrenchment. He felt it necessary to say something by way of apology or explanation for absorbing the remaining 20 per • cent oi the land fund, and the breach of

faith with respect to the | He

is reported to have said—" when these wero promised there was no idea that in 1878 there be a new departure— a launch into an enormous and costly scheme of Public Works, but when that step was taken, it altogether altered the position of affairs." Will it be believed that Major Atkinson voted for that scheme of Public Works ? Such, however, is the fact. On the division on the second reading of the " Railway Construction Bill" in 1878, he absented himself, but on the third reading he voted for the Bill. See Hansard vol, 30, page 1104.

When the "Immigration ancl " Public Works Appropriation Bill " was before the House for the second reading he said, referring to the Ministry—'• They actually ask us to pass this Bill now, which gives the power of spending over £1,100,000 more than they have got, and wh.ch will enable them to enter upon new works requiring some £10,000,000 to complete." Yet he voted for that Bill. In the only division which took place on the past-age of the Bill through the House his vote was recorded with

" Ayes."

Therefore il the scheme of 1878 was "enormous nnd costly " he was a party to the measure and cannot plead its enormity as an excuse for breach of faith in the withdrawal of the subsidies. As to the Land Fund, he voted in 1877 for absorbing 80 per. cent, and it was quite natural that he should clutch the remainder when the opportunity presented itself. The hour came ancl the man. In 1879 Major Atkinson, acknowledging tbe necessity of placing local finance on a " permanent and satisfactory basis," promised to bring in a Bill for that purpose the next session. He did bring in a Bill. It was called "The Local Public Works Bill," but its provisions were so absolutely ridiculous that it never came on for consideration. And now he says that though there is a great feeling abroad in respect to the future of local government, he really thinks the ratepayers have full power under the present Act nnd that further lcgislatio: is unnecessary. On the educatio: question he gave forth an uncortaii sound. He avowed himself in favor o what he called " limited denomination alism," winch he explains to mean i concession to one particular denomination ; but he objected to any change ii the present Act till after the election Then, no doubt, if the majority of mem-

hers returned to Parliament be in favo

of a change, why a change can be made, but if there be no such majority a change

will not be necessary. Major Atkinson, we may be sure,will not in any way peril his position on the Treasury benches, he will not sacrifice himself and the Colony by sticking, to a crotchet, but will cheerfully give up any half-formed opinions he may have on educational matters.

Besides he avows and holds very strongly that legislation is of very secondary importance. What we require now is administration, he, of course, to be one

of the administrators

He feels legislation is not one of his strong points. In 1875-6 when tegis-

lating for abolition he promised that the Proviucial districts should have their land fund—that counties and municipalities should have substantial endowments . that hospitals and charitable institutions should be maintained out of the consoli-

ated revenue, and that there would be

no need for increased taxation. We had these promises and vie know what they were worth. Now he considers administration tho all important thing. Having failed in everthing else, he wants a kw years trial to show what he can do as an administrator. Will he attain what he so ardently desires 1 We think not.