THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1881. THE PREMIER AT LEESTON.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2383, 22 November 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 1881. THE PREMIER AT LEESTON.

Among Mr Hall’s, good traits is the one that always leads him to treat the public with the greatest courtoousness. Hia addresses to the Leeston constituency, and through it to the country at large, are carefully prepared, have no surplusage, and are agreeable in stylo. The Premier is not the man to imagine that the intelligence of the country is satisfied with a slipshod oration propped up hy vague declamation. He is prepared to give chapter and verse for all his statements, his theories are supported by minutely worked out data, and he introduces into the subject just ■uch an amount of lighter thought as tends to relieve the heaviness which might otherwise pervade a speech ou such serious and abstruse matters. Moreover, Mr. Hall may always be relied upon to make one really good mot, which is saying a groat deal in those days when the art of saying good things is pretty nearly extinct. Ou the present occasion Mr. Hall’s*description of Mr. Ormond's local government proposals hits the nail on the head with a smartness aud exactitude very noteworthy. He says;—“ From Mr. Ormond we had a loug speech, the gist of which appeared to ho that there should bo established something like a form of provincial government adapted to the circumstances of Hawke’s Bay.” Without going at length through Mr. Hall’s speech, it may bo well to uoto some of the more striking points be has made in the course of it. aud some of the more important items of the programme which ho declares would bo the care of the Government, should the result of the forthcoming elections bo such thathis party* still remain in power. The Premier was very happy when ho noted the main difference between his programme and the so-called Liberal programme. It has been laid as an accusation against the party in power that they took the measures out of the pigeon holes of their predecessors. Mr.

Hall makes somewhat light of this accusation. Our own impression is that ho 1 s of opinion that the general principles, on which the late truly liberal measures were based, wore found not only in Greyite pigeon lo’es, but wero seen to be ■widely implanted among the aspirations of the country. But the Premier does not care to bandy words about this. Ho says the real distinction between his own programme and that of the Greyites is that his predecessor talked about liberal

reform, and that his Government carried

it out. This is the main point of interest for the public. Sir George Grey’s Ministry, with a large majority at its back, did absolutely nothing. Mr. Hall’s has effected essential changes for the bettor in a number of directions. History will record the actions of the latter. The sole record of the former is even now only to be found by the curious in the newspaper literature of the day. lu comparing the property tax with the land and income taxes, Mr. Hall makes out a very strong case for the former. He says ;—“ The taxable property in Now Zealand last year was—real property, £ 30,000,000; personal property, consisting of mortgages, merchandise, shares, and so on, £25,000,009 ; to which has to bo added the foreign capital that will now be brought under the property tax. What good reason is there that the former class of property should be taxed and not tho latter ? Why should Government and other stock, mortgages and merchandise escape contribution to the cost of Government, which protects all property alike ? I can see no good reason for such distinction.” As to tho assertion that the property tax favors the wealthy classes he proceeds as follows : “ Of the £104,000,000 which real and personal property in Now Zealand is estimated to be worth, how much do you think escapes taxation under the £SOO exemption ? £43,000,000 is entirely exempt, and the tax is only paid on £61,000,000. Therefore, if there is a class which is favored by the property tax it is certainly not the wealthy class.” It will be difficult for the opponents of the tax to meet this argument with success. As to the income tax, Mr. Hall points out clearly its main objections, declaring that they outweigh the good to be got by taxing professional incomes. He might have added that the successful professional man soon finds himself strongly affected by the property tax. With regard to the land tax and the progressive land tax, the Premier says that a moderate land tax is not an elastic and efficient way of raising the revenue, and as to any proposal to attempt to seize through an excessive tax what has been sold and fairly paid for, be entirely sots his face against it as dishonest and unfair. Mr. Hall then proceeds to combat the notion that New Zealand as a field for colonists is a thing of the past. There are at tho present moment 8,000,000 acres in the market, besides about 3,000,000 acres in Otago, which will shortly become available for settlement. It will also be open to the Government in May of next year to sell part af the existing runs in Canterbury on the pastoral deferred payment system. In the second half of bis speech, namely in that relating to the future, Mr. Hall briefly adverts to our position with regard to public works and states his belief that, with regard to any loan to bo raised after the end of 1882, “ the Government should come down next session with a scheme for raising the amount of money they decide the country can fairly afford to raise, and stating the works upon which that money is to bo expended, so that we shall not borrow money first and scramble for it afterwards.” It is very evident that this is the proper way in which loans should bo raised, and it would ho well if New Zealand had always adhered to tho principle. It is doing matters in a straightforward and business like fashion. As to the direction in which the expenditure in the fntnro should take place, Mr. Hall thinks generally that “ the two prominent features in any scheme of the kind should he, the completion of the main trunk line of railway communication, and the construction of such road works as will open up Crown lands for settlement.” Mr. Hall thinks that tho colony can afford to nso its credit still further than it has done. Trade is better, tho revenue is increasing, and tho test given by the Savings Banks’ deposits is most satisfactory. The Premier in concluding gave a resume of his opinions on tho more important points before the country. The second Chamber should he preserved, hut be made elective. Waste of time in the House should he checked. The policy of economy and retrenchment should he persevered in. Taxation should he further reduced. Anything affecting tho public credit should be carefully avoided, and a moderate use of that credit should be made at the end of next year for developing the resorces of tho colony. Local industries and the settlement of waste lands should ho encouraged. Tho constitution of existing local bodies should he improved, and their functions enlarged. The Natives should bo treated with firmness, consideration, and generosity. This is not, as the Premier remarks, a programme of political fireworks, but tho danger of a heavy reaction would be avoided, and the country at largo would, by adhering to it, he kept in a normal, progressive, and healthy condition. It is a programme that may not suit agitators and speculators, but it will suit very well all those who have any stake in the country, and are serious in their endeavors to promote its welfare.