ADELAIDE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3012, 19 February 1881, Page 3

ADELAIDE.

February IS. The Hon. W. 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 a 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 id the Council, the Governor will be empowered to declare onehalf of the seats in tho Upper House vacant at the time of the nest dissolution. The present time is considered favorable for the introduction of a Reform Bill, though there is no conflict between the two Chambers. The Government have further resolved to increase the number of electorates to twenty-six for each House, each electorate to return two members. Referring to hie recent visit to Syndey to attend the sittings of the Intercolonial Conference, Mr Morgan says that he is quite convinced that the chief object of his Government should to be assimulate 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 re-ad-just the incidence of taxation, and to relieve the farmer, artisan, and laborer. Remission of taxes to the extent of £6000 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 produce the raw material being eroneous, and very little less than madness. In order to enable the reform of (he system of taxation, a tax of one half-penny in the pound on property valued at over £300 will be proposed. Mr Morgan also discusses the question of a railway to Port DarwiD, and says he believes capitalists will be prepared to co-operate for the construction of a line on the alternate block system, and the Government will ask for authority to negotiate with that object. He advocates the extension of the railways to meet the New South Wales lines, thus shortening the distance by 300 miles as compared with that via Melbourne, and concludes by saying that tbe policy of the Government is to strengthen the union with New South Wales.