MR BALLANCE AT WANGANUI.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3081, 12 May 1881, Page 3

MR BALLANCE AT WANGANUI.

(bt tjblegbafh.) Wanganui, May 12. Mr Ballance addressed a crowded meeting of his constituents last evening at the Princess Theatre. Mr Henry Nathan occupied the chair. _ *> Mr Ballance, who was received with great applause, began with a retrospect of the political events of the past twelve months. He made a brief reference to his political career since bis first contest with Major Atkinson and Mr Moorhouse for the Egmont seat. He described himself as an abolitionist from the first. Commenting upon Mr Bryce's statement that there was no such thing as party, Mr Ballance referred to Mr Bryce's language on the no confidence motion in 1877, when he (Mr Bryce) accused the Atkinson Ministry of a violation of party principle. Mr Ballance also referred to Mr Bryce's condemnation of Mr Whitaker's Native Land Bill as being calculated to put the land in the hands of speculators and not promote settlement, and enquired what change there was since then in Mr Whitaker's policy ? He could not see how the Government of that time (1877) differed from the present even in the very matters Mr Bryce had denounced, especially as Mr Waitaker was the moving spirit in the present native policy. Mr Bryce and himself (Mr Ballance) were amply justified in opposing the Ministry in 1877 from the same motives, and he (Mr Ballance) had never changed since. Mr Ballance spoke * of Major Atkinson's speeches at Patea and New Plymouth as canvassing addresses preparatory to the general election. As to the deficiency in the land revenue there was none during the Grey Ministry, but there was during the first year of the present Ministry. He characterised Major Atkinson's statements on the subject as throwing dust in the eyes of the public. Mr Ballance referred to Major Atkinson's many changes of opinion—such as on the beer tax, and as to the working men paying an enormous amount of Customs duties, and remarked that Major Atkinson had evidently come round to Sir George Grey's opinion expressed in 1875, as to the incidence of taxation. The property tax was now in danger, and was even assailed by Mr Ormond, It had proved a failure, being more than £20,000 less than the first estimate. This arose either through miscalculation, or by unnecessary ma4. chinery or unfair exemptions. Had the land tax been doubled it would have nearly reached the amount of the property tax and covered a larger area. Major Atkinson now denounced an income tax, but in 1878 he was the Btronge&t supporter of it. Mr Ballance ridiculed Major Atkinson's argument on the subject, which, he said, cut at the imposition of any tax whatever. Major Atkinson's advocacy of the property tax would prove -'' its death knell. No one proposed that farmers should pay a land tax as well as an income tax. The policy of the Liberal leaders was to touch the farmers lightly and speculators more heavily, at) producers should be protected, but no large system of taxation should be imposed without going to the country. At the next general election a property or income tax would be the test question. Nothing was more calculated to destroy confidence in the Legislative Council than their unconstitutionally rejecting the Legacy Duty Bill, and yet passing the Property Tax Bill and other measures affecting the public at large. The Legislative Council was on its trial, and if it did not do more to benefit the people at large it would have to go. Mr Ballance referred to the proposal for leasing and selling the railways, which he said could not be carried out. The lines certainly could only be rendered productive by filling up the gaps, but be disapproved of grants of land to companies for that purpose. What he would advocate would be a division of the lines into two classes, T such, as Canterbury to Westland and Wellington to Foxton, and for these they must continue to borrow as well to complete the main line, the amount of borrowing to be based upon the increase in the annual revenue of existing lines. The other class of lines might be carried on by means of land grants. No more money for general purposes should be borrowed, nor even for railways till the existing lines were carefully scheduled. There was a want of administrative ability at present in the management of <£&c railways, and until there was an improvement in that direction the railways would not pay. Mr Ballance condemned the Government for not accepting the recommendations of the Civil Service Commissioner on the subject of f railway management, as well as tor the excessive freights now charged, under which it was impossible to make the lines pay. As to the retrenchment policy, he considered it was clearly understood that a sliding scale of reductions on the large salaries should be adopted, but the Government broke faith with the House by imposing a uniform 10 per cent, reducr tion on all salaries great and small. The Government proposals with regard to local bodies would not work, and met with no favor anywhere. Major Atkinson's doctrine of political rest meant that the House should lead the Government and not the Government the House. It was impossible to return to provincialism, but the County Councils might be elected on a better system, and have more powers and endowments. The constitution of the Waste Lands Boards should be altered so that they should become representative bodies, and when so constituted the land fund should be apportioned according to their recommendations for roads and other purposes of settlement. The Government must always be the worst administrator of local institutions. Even the lunatic asylums should be relegated to the local bodies. Speaking on the question of immigration, Mr Ballance pointed out k that the class of " unemployed '" they had in the colony were demoralising to the old labor market. There Bhould be no more free immigration whatever. An X influx of Chinese would be disastrous to the colony, and more particularly to the laboring classes, whom they unfairly handicapped. It should be prohibited either by direct limitation of numbers or the imposition of a capitation tax, Mr Ballance then referred to the small number of landholders in Otago and Canterbury, and said tbe case was one which affected everyone in the colony, as it the progress of a system of accumulating large areas of land in the hands of a few. What was required was the adoption of means that would promote settlement. Setting aside large tracts of land for sale on deferred payments was one means of accomplishing that object, but for what was done in that way by the present Government they were not entitled to any credit as Mr Stout initiated it. The Government would not grant the working classes land for special settlement, notwithstanding that the Minister of Lands had promised ' to do so, and yet large areas of land granted to Vesey Stewart, Grant and Foster, and other English capitalists. Referring to the native policy, Mr Ballance justified his support of the Prisoners' Detention Bill after the statement of the Government

that there was danger of an outbreak. He also supported Mr Bryce's vigorous policy on the West Coast, but he could not understand why Mr Bryce'so long delayed the policy for not adopting which be blamed the Grey Ministry, It seemed, in fact, that the functions of the Native Minister had been usurped by the Royal Commissioners, and their peace policy then got the upper hand. Mr Bryce became subject to their influence, and hence the reason why Te Whiti was not brought to terms. It had even been said that Mr Parris's power was greater tban that of the Commissioners. The time for peace overtures such as the Governor's letter was past, but Mr Bryce's proposal to take Te Whiti would have been condemned all over the world. Mr Ballance condemned the exorbitant price demanded of the settlers for the Parihaka block, because it retarded settlement there and was not calculated to do away with the presence of a large force of Armed Constabulary. As to the restitution of the confiscated land, he maintained that the late Government never agreed to do so, even though Sir George Grey and Mr Sheehan might have been in accord on the subject. Before restoring any of the land a proper understanding with the natives should be arrived at. The Native Land Court Bill of last session was a measure favorable to land rings, but he considered the Land Sales Bill went in the right direction. It was, however, killed by the Government supporters themselves. Mr Ballance went over the Patetere question, and expressed the opinion that the action of the Government in the matter was not creditable. He deprecated the introduction of an Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, as having a tendency to establishing a poorlaw system. With regard to the education question, he agreed with the general opinion that it was too expensive, and be was not surprised that the progressive rate of increase in the cost frightened tbe colony. He was opposed to Bible reading in the State schools, as it would destroy the national character of the system, and lead to denominationalising schemes. He would support the continuence of tbe Education Boards, as he considered them {.art of the system of the local government. Mr Ballance then referred to the question of redistribution of representation. He considered the present system better than single electorates. He had heard that the Government intended proposing the repeal of the Triennial Parliaments' Bill with the view of securing a longer lease of power, but a repeal of tbe Act was not likely to be carried, and he would strongly oppose it. He hoped tbe capitation to the Volunteers might be restored next session, as the sum was small. Mr Ballance concluded with the expression of a strong opinion in favor of party government with clearly defined principles, and of his belief that the Liberal party had yet great work to do for the welfare of the greatest number and not merely of a class. At the conclusion of the address, which was heard with only trifliDg interruptions, a vote of confidence in Mr Ballance was carried unanimously.