POLITICAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3991, 7 May 1884, Page 3

POLITICAL.

Wellington, This day. Major Atkinson addressed a crowded meeting of ladies aud gentlemen in the Theatre Royal last night. The subjects he spoke upon, were property tax and income tax, federation, the general condition of the

colony, national insurance, charitable aid, hospitals, &c. At the conclusion of his address he received a unanimous vote of thanks. Mr J. Duthie occupied the chair. Blenheim, This day.

The Hon. Mr Rolleston addressed a crowded meeting here on Monday night. The Mayor, Mr Henry Dodson, was in the chair. Mr Rolleston spoke of the present depression in the colony, remarking that greater patience, hopefulness, and perseverance were never more required than now, though the depression would bo temporary. The colony had for years past been incurring public and private liabilities that rendered circumspection very necessary. Tho Department of Lands was largely responsible for expanding theresources of the colony, and the Department of Immigration had to increase the population, so as to increase those resources to the utmost. He contended that the continuance of immigration was the real key to tho prosperity of the colony, as it would keep employment at fair rales for working men, besides being the only thing which would justify the colony in going to the London market to borrow, cither publicly or privately. With regard to the land policy, it was a matter to which he had devoted his attention for some years. He believed that a good deal of the failure of the land systems of the Australasian colonies was due to monopoly and speculation. No policy was sound which did not provide for the prevention of both. It was folly under the present circumstances of the colony not to make provision out of tho remaining Crown lands for the relief of taxation and the payment of the interest on the colony's debt. It was folly not to retain out of the public estate some part by which the State would get the benefit of the increased values of the land created by the expenditure of the increased taxation of the colony. The question of the occupation of the laud involved a serious question. Upon the creation of largo landed estates, as in the old country, rested those extremes of wealth and poverty to which attention had been greatly drawn recently. His opinions on a hind policy were formed, ' not on theories, but on long years of administration as a- Minister and as Superintendent of a, province. He did not adopt the theories of Henry George on land nationalisation, but taking warning by the past ho wished to secure the occupation of tho land by the greatest possible number of settlers. It was wrong to allow tho land to be handed over to speculators and companies, who would enjoy the benefit of the public funds raised from the taxation of the people. With regard to pastoral land, there should be no alienation iv future, but the holder should pay the best rental and get the largest amount of produce from the land that he could. Mr Rolleston deprecated the cry against woolgrowors as fashionable humbug, and pointed out that the wool was paying nearly the whole of tho interest on the public aud private indebtedness of the colony, biit still iv the past there should have been a grazing tenure only, and tenants would not have had to speculate to protect themselves from the consequences of a cheap land policy in the future. He advocated past-oral leasing only, without giving a pre-emptive right. He knew in the past of men who were simply ruined by having to borrow money to buy land to prevent interference with their work as graziers. With regard to semi-pastoral land ho advocated the plan of his last year's bill, which he hoped would become law next session. He condemned a land tax and a bursting up policy, and considered tho property tax answered all necessary purposes. It was the fairest tax and fell on shoulders that were best able to bear it. Tho abolition of the law of entail, the facilities existing for the transfer of laud, and self-interest and the effect of speculation and borrowing would in a few years tend to cut up the large estates, and would lead to their disposal at less values than were now being asked for them. At the close of his address Mr Rolleston was awarded a vote of thanks. Kumaea, This dr.y. Mr Seddon, M.H.R , addressed his constituents at Dilmanstown on Monday night, and received an enthusiastic greeting. In the course of his remarks he made a strong attack on the Government Insurance Department. He said, as regarded parties, he would remain true to the Opposition. Mr Montgomery lacked firmness, and it took a lot of provocation to bring him to fighting pitch,"but with the exception of his weakness for Canterbury thero was not much to find fault with. Ho (Mr Seddon) was, however, afraid that the majority of the North Island members in the Opposition would not follow Mr Montgomery. Sir George Grey was the fighting chief and natural loader under whom the Opposition would best succeed, aud as Premier would b>. acceptable to both islands. Sir Goor<:« Grey, Mr Montgomery, and MrMacandrew, and"the leading members of the Opposition would no doubt settle their little differences amicably. As one of the rank and file his (Mr Seddon's) place was to look on and vote straight. Cheistchuech, This day. Sir George Grey arrived in Lyttelton early yesterday by the Manapouri. Ho was' met on landing by the reception committee of the Working Men's Political Association. After a short inspection of the harbor works, &c, Sir George Grey came through by train, and has taken up his quarters at Coker's Hotel. He is looking in remarkably good health and spirits, and is accompanied by Mr Mitchell of the Hansard staff. Dunedin, This day. A moderately attended public meeting was held last night, convened by the committee of tho new Constitutional Reform Association. The principal speakers were the Hon. Mr Reynolds, Mr Stout, and MiBastings in favor of the association, and Mr M. W. Green agaiust it. A resolution, "That tho Constitutional Reform Association deserves hearty support," was carried.