The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1886. The Premier

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 126, 3 April 1886, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 3, 1886. The Premier

m- — The speech made by the Hon. Robt. Stout at Invercargill on Thursday night, in response to an invitation of the citizens, is one of the best and most practical yet made by any member of the Ministry. He condemned and exposed the fallacies of the land scheme promulgated by Sir Geo. Grey. The establishment of a State Bank he proved would be utterly useless, while great risks would be run and expenses incurred in establishing banks and officers. For the policy of the Government we refer our readers to the telegraphic summary of the speech in another column. It will be observed that Mr Stout is not in favor of borrowing enormous sums. In this he appears to hold diverse views from Sir Julius Yogel. No change appears in his opinions as to the usefulness of the Koads and Bridges Construction Act, and he still thinks the cost of roads and bridges and public buildings should come out of the revenue. In our opinion he is wrong in saying — " Until the electors say ' We will not look to the Government for such works ' it would be impossible to reduce the public expenditure," for the reason that when public works were applied for, the electors themselves merely borrowed the money, at a fair interest, from the Government, to whom was provided the security of rates, voluntarily raised by the property holders, to repay capital and interest. As far as regards the clamor raised by individuals who are not ratepayers for public expenditure, Mr Stout is perfectly correct. He will win the approval of most people by the expression of his opposition to an increase of the Customs duties, in the application of which the Government would have an eye to the protection of native industries. Mr Stout had the advantage of learning the ideas of his opponent, Major Atkinson, before he made his speech, but the Major had the advantage of hearing what Sir Julius Yogel and the Hon. Mr Ballanoe had to say. Taking a broad view of the case, it appears to us that Major Atkinson has missed his chance, because instead of declaring a policy which differed in some marked particulars to the policy of the StoutYogel Ministry, he appears to have fallen into the same lines as his nominal opponents. At the conclusion of the address a resolution was passed that the views expressed commended themselves to those present, and were such as to entitle the Government of which Mr Stout is Premier to the continuance of public confidence.