The Premier at Dunedin

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 126, 3 April 1886, Page 3

The Premier at Dunedin

[PEE UNITED PBES3 ASSOCIATION.] Invercakgill, April 1. In response to invitation by citizens the Hon. Robert Stout addressed a meeting of citizens on the political situation in the theatre, which was crowded. The Mayor was in the chair. The Premier said it was his duty and privilege to meet his fellow colonists to discuss political questions, and he had never shirked such an invitation. Proceeding to speak of land laws, he said his views on the subject -had not varied for a great number of years. Ec recognised then that land was not like other property, and was glad to see that his views were not now considered subversive of society, but must be carried out for the general good of the community. He could not cease to legislate for land, and leave it to great owners to make wastes of, and the State had a light to control its occupations and its modes. Here was millions of acres to dispose of, and the land laws should be framed so as to be beneficial to the whole race. To do this they must assure the cultivator of his holding. He had no sympathy with communism in land, which would destroy all individuality and character, and stop all progress. With the enormous area of- Crown and native lands still available it was folly to propose to buy up large estates. The proposal to buy up private estates would never work, as the farmers could not afford to pay five per cent: on the cost of some of it. In dosing' this section of his address, the Premier said they must agitate till it was recognised that the State should control the land and make laws to govern how it should be dealt with and cultivated. Having spoken in defence of a Land as against the Property Tax, Mr Stout went on to combat the idea that the Government should start a State Bank, and issue paper currency. Inflation of the paper money might follow ; it had done so in other countries that had adopted the system, and was a source of great danger. Speaking of the policy of the Government, Mr Stout said that depression cei-tainly existed, but they had seen a great deal worse times. In proof, he stated that the . v J?K>perty tax returns showed an increase of six millions during the last three years. True, that prices of produce were lower than had ever been before, and that farmers had gone too freely to money lenders ; but the case was not hopeless, and he hoped they had got a lesson that they would remember for all time. The depression could not be cured by any Government, although that had been the cry on which the Atkinson Government got into office in 1879-80. He showed that the less the Government did for the people, the better it was for them. Those who encouraged the people to lean on an Act of Parliament, or a vote of the House, advised them to lean on a broken reed. They must be thrifty and diligent, and the depression would fade away. Keferring to the Public "Works Policy of the Government, he said the Government held the expenditure at one and a half millions of money per annum, which was considerably less than the previous Government had expended, and they would dojJbetter still if they got rid of the responsibility for public buildings, roads, and bridges, which were unfairly swallowing up the Public Works fund. There was a misapprehension as to the effect of Captain Russell's amendment reducing the expenditure by half a million. It did not mean the cessation of works in the year just expired, but prevented the Government from going on with contracts at this season. But for Captain Russell, the Government would now have been finding work for the unem- > ployed on contracts instead of on the relief system in vogue. Looking to the future, they must be careful not td borrow enormous sums. No matter what the depression might be, he should not go in for an extensive scheme. In fact, he thought the time had nearly arrived when the colony must begin to edge off in borrowing. He contended that the cost of roads and bridges and public buildings should come out of the revenue, tut it was difficult to get Parliament to see it, and until the electors say " We will not look to Government for such works," it would be impossible to reduce the public works expenditure. The Government had reduced the public expenditure more than any that went before them, and would do more in that direction If the people would set the example by doing with less from the General Government. Until they got rid of that system of spoliation they would have no reform. He was not an advocate of extra protection, but Customs duties were required for revenue, and in imposing these they should have an eye to aiding native industries. In conclusion, he asked his hearers to gift all the schemes laid before them vith an eye t© future generations. If 80, they would have a pure state of public morality, without which they could not expect purity in party or Government. Mr Stout answered a large number of questions at the close of his speech, when the thanks of the meeting were , accorded him f or his prompt response 3|otke invitation.