THE PREMIER AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 886, 27 April 1877, Page 3

THE PREMIER AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

[By Telegraph, from the Press Agency.] New Plymouth, April 25. TJic banquet given to the lion Major Atkinson, held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, was largely attended. The principal citizens and settlers were present. The Mayor occupied the chair. The Premier, in rising to respond to the toast of his health, was received with enthusiastic applause. He said it was at all times a source not only of pleasure but of real strength to a public man, to be assured of the confidence and sympathy of his fellow citizens, for few public' men could do useful work in a new country -without the hearty support of the people. He therefore deeply felt the sympathy and confidence expressed that night in the presence of so many old settlers, who had known him for twenty years as a public man, settler, and neighbour. Mr Standisli had said that (be pleasure of entertaining him was enhanced by the knowledge that lie was one of themselves, and he confessed if there was one thing lie ■was proud of it was of being a Taranaki settler, and the pain of being turned out of office, when that time came, as, no doubt, it would, would be lessened by the thought that he would once more return amongst them. It would not perhaps be out of place to take this opportunity of stating shortly the policy and intentions of the Gfovcrnment. He would, however, content himself by indicating the broad lines upon which they propose to travel. The policy of the Government would be, first, to complete the establishment of local self-government throughout the colony -, to complete the establishment of a system of primary education ; to promote tlic settlement of our waste lands by a yeoman population; and to cultivate and maintain a good understanding with the native race; to reduce considerably the annual expenditure on public works, and continue the construction of main lines of railway throughout the colony until they were completed; to reduce ordinary expenditure to within the narrowest limits consistent with efficiency ; to simplify our finances and place them on a sound basis for the future. That policy had been carefully pursued during the last year, and what (hey would submit next session would have for its object its further promotion. With regard to local government, the Municipal Corporations Act was likely to be a considerable success, as it had given satisfaction throughout the colony. The initiation of (.he county system had proved on the whole very satisfactory. AV it 1 1 the experience gained, and the advice of County Councils, he had no doubt that by next session they would lie rendered much more efficient and useful. They had been blamed for obtaining the assistance of Superintendents and Provincial Executives in introducing the system, but. they were calculated to lend assistance, and it was the duty of the Government, in initiating a new system, to do so with as little friction as possible; and he would Lake that opportunity of thanking those gentlemen for the assistance they had so patriotically rendered in establishing the new order of things. Though the provinces were nominally abolished on the Ist of November, they were not. practically so until the following January, and, considering

the constitutional changes effected, it was only reasonable that some months should elapse before the change was completed. But the further delegation of powers regarding provinces woidd be no longer necessary. Regarding education, they looked upon it as a first duty to see it properly provided for throughout the colony, and it must be secular and administered by local committees. The settlement of waste lands was of vital importance. The colony could not advance without occupation and cultivation of fresh lands, and they would provide facilities for farmers, small capitalists, and persons desirous of taking land on deferred payments. They had also under consideration the necessity of providing some means for opening new bush country. Intimately connected with this was their relation with the natives. He was happy to say that the good feeling, gradually growing for years, was still improving, and would, no doubt, lead to complete reconciliation between the two races ; but they must be content to tarry a little, in order to make an end the sooner. Looking at the past legislation on this question, and the general circumstances of the colony, they had come to (he conclusion that greater facilities should be afforded for the acquisition of native lands by private individuals. [Applause.] The subject was surrounded by difficulties, and would require careful handling; but they wore of opinion that an Act could be drawn which would protect the interests of Natives, Europeans, and the community. They would submit such a measure for consideration during the next Assembly. They had also under consideration (be laws relating to representation, registration of electors, scab, fencing, and the civil service, but whether they would be able to deal with them next session he wa.s unable to say. At present the question of finance was intimately connected with every one of these subjects. Those interested in finance would find in the financial statement of last year a short and clear statement of what was then their financial position. There was nothing to add to that statement, except that the Customs revenue would not probably come up to his estimate —probably by a little more than his estimated surplus. Those who had read the statement would observe that there was one considerable difficulty. They had grappled with it, and he was sanguine enough to f lunk they would deal with it so as to satisfy Parliament and the country. They had reduced the expenditure, and had obtained at their own doors the necessary funds for the continuance of their works. From the Bank of Now South [Wales they had obtained half a million for two years at 5 per cent., and from the Bank of New Zealand £500,000 for two years at 5 per cent., both negotiated under the authority of the Loan Act of last session. These arrangements placed them in a good posit ion by enabling them to abstain from going upon the London market for at least twelve months, an advantage which resulted in the advanced value of their bonds at home. They had also arranged with the Bank of New Zealand to extend the bank agreement, by which another half million would bo placed at the disposal of the G overnment, if Parliament should approve, and still longer keep them from placing a loan in England. No doubt a good deal of thrift and prudence would be necessary in order to give time for railways •already constructed (o get info thorough working order, and also that a large sum, now amounting (o between three and four millions, which is lying unproductive in the railways under course of construction should give some return For the interest upon this money, amounting to something like, £180,000; but he was satisfied that , with ordinary care, and prudence in management of finance, they would, at the end of the t ime mentioned, be in a thoroughly satisfactory financial position and have no reason to regret that they had dared to undertake the public works and immigration schemes. He did not refer to local matters in this short address, because he desired to keep them distinct from what he said of a general nature. He had been complimented by the chairman with regard to the harbor question, but he looked upon Mr Carrington as the man who pushed the harbor question in season and out of season, and it was a great satisfaction to him to think that he might yet live to see the harbor completed. He had no doubt the harbor would go steadily on, if they managed with prudence, and, as he believed, the Harbor Board would manage it. In a small place they were apt to think that if a work did not go on instantly, it, was not, likely to be accomplished at all; but the thing was now really started. Tiny had also reason to be pleased at the way their railways were going on as they were. There was a feeling that they ought to be pushed on with greater speed, but that was impossible to be done without largely increased taxation. They must be content to assist the Gfovcrnmcnt in carrying on work at a moderate rate, and as a prudent man would manage his own estate.—-The remainder of the Premier’s remarks were of a purely local character. He was loudly applauded. He spoke for only twenty-five minutes.