The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1893. Capt. Russell on the Government

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 116, 30 May 1893, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1893. Capt. Russell on the Government

• In his speech at Hastings on Saturday night to his constituents, Capt. ! Russell said that he considered it but proper that Mr Seddon should have succeeded to the position of Premier. He also adversely criticised the Pre- ! mier's speech at Napier, in the course of which Mr Seddon had said the Ballance Administration was not a oneman Ministry. Captain Russell said be would be surprised if Mr Seddon's colleagues did not find that the present was a one man Government. This is either complimentary to the strength of Mr Seddon, or condemnatory of the weakness of the members of his cabinet. Captain Russell described the policy of the Government as a kaleidoscopic display. The Government boasted that they would restore prosperity and make things cheaper for everybody; but living was not cheaper, and the number of unemploysd was larger than before. The prosperity of the Colony depended on the exports, and it was a remarkable fact that on the accession of the Grey Ministry the exports fell 5 rapidly, and they rose again when J that Ministry was turned out; they I fell again during the Stout- Vogel regime ; rose again as soon as J^ir 3 Harry Atkinson returned to power ; ■ and fell again as soon as the Ballance * Ministry got into power. He did not ', 6ay that this was due to the advent of 5 the self-styled Liberal Ministries, but it was a serious commentary on the ! claims made. It wns, in fact, arrant j folly to look to any Government to I bring about all-round prosperity. Mr ' Ballance had made an uncommonly [ true remark when ho said it was not > by the machinations of any Treasurer, but by the productive energies of the 1 people that prosperity was insured, i He considered the lease in perpetuity | a very good thing for those who got i tho leases, but the rest of the people | now bad to be taxed to survey and road that land. He thought that sufficient land shouid bo sold every year to survey and road the Crown lands for settlement. Tho policy of taxation followed by the Government was ridiculed because the most popular proposal to lay boforo a public audience was that more taxation should bo levied on aome one or other. Last year there was a large surplus, but instead of being applied to the reduction of taxation, it was used to fiud work for men coming from Australia, and the roading of lease in perpetuity land. Captain Ruseel considered that on the whole Mr Seddon's Napier speech was marked by moderation, but when he claimed that Sir Harry Atkinson advocated further borrowing, and the present Government had been the first that proclaimed a policy of non-borrowing, he was guilty of collosal ' cheek.' The proposal originally came from him (Captain Russell), and was supported by the Atkinson Party. All the present Ministry, with the exception of Mr SQddon, voted against him, and Mr Seddon stayed away and did not vote. As to the charge of the Atkinson Government, which succeeded the Grey Government, having borrowed £7,500,000, that sum in--eluded £5,000,000 authorised during the term of tho Grey Government, of -which £3,500,000 had been anticipated. The statement that the public debt had boeu reduced he described as audacious. Ho spoke in. favorable

terms of the Government Labor Bills, but remarked that ■when those Bills < were brought in by the Atkinson Government they were received with scant courtesy by the members of the present Ministry, with the exception of j Mr W. P. Beeves, to whose work in j connection with those Bills the speaker referred in eulogistic terms. He opposed the abolition of the Railway Commissioners, and explained that the sole reason why English experts were not appointed commissioners was that no qualified men would accept the salaries fixed by Parliament. Under political control continuity of management was impossible, and that was essential for the successful working of the railways. He considered that if tho members of Parliament were not overpaid Ministers were underpaid. It will be seen by the übove resume that Captain Russell has spoken generously of his political adversaries and, at the same time, given an impartial (so far) estimate of their policy.