The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1373, 10 July 1878, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1878.

Another Minister has appeared before his constituents, and notwithstanding the flow of eloquence on the occasion, the colony, we are afraid, is no better informed as to Ministerial intentions than it was before he spoke. The AttorneyGeneral, Mr. Stout, addressed a Dunedin audience last evening. After referring at some length to what was done last session, he went on to speak of what, he said, might be termed the policy of the Government. He took care, however "(to guard his hearers against expecting too much at their hands. He claimed the support of the people on the ground that Ministers had set a task before themselves and would gradually work towards the end in view, but the reforms must come gradually. This is just what the the public have been led to expect during the last few weeks. The mouth-piece of the Government in Wellington has of late been endeavouring to accustom the colony to expect some such statement as that made by Mr. Stout last evening. The position Ministers take up is virtually this:—Gentlemen, we are most anxious to carry out at once all the reforms which the Premier has been announcing throughout the colony during the last few months. We regard those measures as of the most vital importance to the welfare of New Zealand, but the country is not ripe for such a change yet. Sir George was quite right when he denounced in burning words the great injustice of the present inequality of the voting power given to men of property, and the debasing influence which such a system pi’oduced upon that class of the people who were placed in a position of subserviency to that class which held large properties. Pie only spoke our mind when ho said he would not submit to such a state of things “ so long as God gave him breath to struggle against it.” But nevertheless, gentlemen, we propose to continue that iniquitous system. We consider our possession of power is of the utmost importance —to ourselves. Bather, therefore, than risk our seats wo intend to perpetuate, in our Bill, a plan which, in our opinion, exorcises such a debasing influence upon the people of the colony. We assure you, however, that our intentions are honourable. We have set a high ideal before us. It may take years to work it out. But we ask you to believe, in spite of appearances, that we are honestly working in the direction indicated. Setting aside the assurances of Mr. Stout on the subject, lot us see whether Ministers have, as yet, given any proof that they are working towards the objects they have in view. As stated by Mr. Stout, they may be arranged under three heads—lst, administrative reform; 2nd, electoral reform; 3rd, taxation reform.

As regards the first head we must wait the meeting of Parliament before wo can form any correct estimate of the performances of Ministers in this direction. Mr. Stout does not, certainly, lead us to expect that much has been done as yet. It will most probably be found, Mr. Stout implies as much, that no administrative saving has so far been effected. The liberal promises made at the close of the session of what would be done during the recess will probably be found to bo unfulfilled. At any rate Mr. Stout only talks of a possible saving of £20,000 a year, if -tbo estimates of the Government are carried by the House. Then, as regards the proposed electoral reform, ho told his hearers that the -reforms “ would consist of a freehold, ratepayiug. and a residental franchise.” It is plain, therefore, that the hope cherished by some of the Grey supporters that the utterances of Mr. Ballance on this subject were only his own individual opinions, are unfounded. The Ministerial measure is evidently to bo, as sketched out by him. Property is still to exorcise, as Sir G. Grey put it, its “ undue influence,” and >7 he “ people ” are etiil to be placed in a

position of “subserviency” to the class which “possesses large properties.” Such, then, must bo the aims of the present Ministry, otherwise they would not include a property qualification in their Reform Bill. “If the people approve of the object the Government have in view,” said Mr Stout, “ and believe that they have plenty of energy to carry out their work, then the Government wore entitled to get the support of the people.” Do those who expressed their confidence in the good intentions of the Grey Government when the Premier was in Christchurch, approve of the object the Government have in view, in the Bill which they tell us they are going to introduce? We ask those electors' wlio were induced, on the strength of the Premier’s utterances, to give him their support, if they do not consider that they have been deceived, and whether,, therefore, Mr. Stout’s appeal to their confidence should not bo rejected ? The other plank in the Government platform, we are told, is “ taxation reform.” On this subject the Attorney-General told us nothing now, and into his defence of a land tax it is not necessary to enter. What the people are anxious to know is the amount of the proposed reduction. “ Customs duties,” ho said, “ must bo lightened in some instances, but those could not bo specified at present, as it would lead to speculation on the part of merchants.” He carefully avoided, if ho is correctly reported, pledging the Government to any considerable reduction in this direction. On the important question of the reform of our land laws, Mr. Stout was also apparently silent. He told us nothing about the intention of his Government to introduce a land law which would “ prevent any individual or class of individuals from having advantages which the whole of their fellow men do not enjoy.” On the whole, then, the AttorneyGeneral’s speech must be pronounced unsatisfactory, as much on account of what it contained as what it omitted.