Major Atkinson at Auckland

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 125, 1 April 1886, Page 3

Major Atkinson at Auckland

J.PEB ITSITBD PRESS ASSOCIATION;] Auckland, March 30. Major Atkinson addressed the citizens of Auckland to-night at the Theatre Eoyal. Mayor Waddell presided, and there was a crowd attendance. He said lie came at their invitation. They had lately heard able speeches from Sir George Grey und Sir Julius Yogel, and when they ■heard his speech they would be able to look at all sides of the question. He spoke from the Opposition platform and the duty of the Opposition was to - criticise, but in face of the danger of the great borrowing it was the duty of the Opposition to do more, and indicate some lines of policy which the colony ought to pursue in the present circumstances. He would refer to some statements of the Colonial Treasurer. Sir Julius said he (the speaker) .in 1884 left a deficit of £150,000, whereas in the first year of his Treasurer ship there was a surplus of £22,000. Sir Julius Yogel did not mention that. In 1884 £230,000 was contributed to the Sinking Fund, whereas Sir Julius in 1885 did not contribute anything, so that on his lines there had been a surplus of £80,000. Since 1870 they had borrowed twenty-two millions and spent it, but in that time also they contributed two millions and a half of Sinking Fund, which made the debt . only nineteen and a half millions. He said nothing of the, expenditure on roads, although he -regarded that as reproductive. Eef erring to Captain JJussell's resolution for the reduction of the vote for public works, Major Atkinson said it was not correct that public works had been stopped through that reduction, as Ministers had gone on with their public works schemes pretty much as before. Major Atkinson then criticised the proposed borrowing policy of the Government, and condemned strongly a great borrowing acheme as " likely to lead to' great ' financial disasters. .Supposing two j^frillions a year, as proposed, tP be exat the end of the fourth year, •even with extra taxation, there would a deficit of £120,000 a year. The new departure of this . grand ; scheme was only to cover up and sanction the expenditure of three and a half millions on the East and West Goasjfc. This railway would have to be made some day, but only in due time. Auckland and Wellington had to wait 16 years before there was any attempt .made to connect them, and it would take four years yet to do it: He would resist to the uttermost the proposal to. make 5 per cenj;: the nominal contribution per- head to the Customs revenue,... and would resist any increase of taxation except to meet necessary works and the colony's engagements. At the same time it was unwise to cut off the borrowing absolutely. They should, as business men, take stock and borrow a limited amount; and go on to complete their existing railways to paying point. He approved of Sir George Grey's land settlement scheme being tried tentatively in certain districts favorably situated, in order to test the sincerity of people to settle upon the land. -If the public works were rushed through quickly, there must be a sudden ending. . What that meant in the colony they could all imagine. He condemned Mr Ballance's native policy, and saw a host of difficulties in the future through it. The .Maoris : should have ample lands reserved for them, and the rest should be bought by the' Crown and the debt funded, so that the natives could enjoy the interest, but he would never be a party to creating a lot of Maori landlords, in the North Island. Major Atkinson concluded his address amid cheers. A large number of questions • were put and answered. A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to Major Atkinson for his address. A hostile amendment was rejected amidst hisses some two of three hands only being held up.