Minister for Public Works at Palmerston.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 230, 1 April 1896, Page 2

Minister for Public Works at Palmerston.

--0 In replying to tbe toast of tbe " New Zealand Parliament," at the banquet to Mr F. Pirani, M.H.R., at Palmerston Kst evening, the Hon. Mr Hall- Jones, Minister for Public Works, pointed out that previous administrations bad done nothing in the way of temperance reform, while the present Government had done valuable work in that direction, advancing the temperance cause to an extent which was hardly realised yet. It was satisfactory to note tbe finances were in a healthy condition, and tbat tbe increase of Customs revenue was not due to the tariff alterations, but increased coipumptiou. With regard to the statement by Captain Russell that the Advances to vScttlers Department would cost .£45,000 this year, he said the whole management and administration only amounts to £5000, and as to interest on money lying idle, there was a large sum invested in Government securities, bearing interest, and £500,000 had been absorbed in making advances to settlers. The statement that tbe railway revenue had greatly fallen off was incorrect. It had uot fallen off, and if it had, it was to such a slight extent as to be hardly worthy of notice, and such falling-off was entirely due to the huge and beneficial concessions made by Government to the settlers of tbe colony. Referring to the Bank of New Zealand busiuess, he said he had beeu opposed to it in tbe House, and would bave preferred to see Government take over tbe whole concern. As to the charge of borrowing, be pointed out that lands were required for settlement, that the purchases could not be raade out of ordinary revenue, that Government had purchased about 1,500,---000 acres of Native land at a cost of £350,000, and that although the national debt nominally increased by these transoptions, the colouy was not burdened with additional interest payments, for tho reason that these were met by tbose individuals who took up the lands. He eulogised the land policy of the Government, especially the village and farm homestead settlement systems, wbich had been tho means of placing indigent men with families in comfortable positions. There had been settled in this way about 10,000 people on the laud (the actual number of selectors being 2020) of an area of 75,948 acres. Referring to the unemployed question, he pointed out there had been spent on roading works, in the year previous to the present administration taking office, the sum of £58,990, and this amount bad increased during their term of office as follows : — 1891-92, £115,000; '93 94, £167,000; '91-95, £219,000. He claimed that all the expenditure made by Government bad been on works which would bo directly reproductive and had not cast any additional burden ou tbe colony. — Standard.