MAJOR ATKINSON'S SPEECH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue 59, 25 March 1881, Page 2

MAJOR ATKINSON'S SPEECH.

♦ For either working or speaking, Major Atkinson is decidedly the ablest man in the Ministry, at least in the Lower House. He has tbe rare knack of making a good speech, and yet saying very little. It has been said that thb three objects of speech are to express thought, to disguise thought, and to hide the paucity of thought. Major Atkinson's speech on Tuesday evening to his Patea constituents was simply a disguise, for on the most important subjects likely to be brought before the House next session he was discreetly silent. Perhaps, like the'lrishman who was afraid to put on his best clothes when he went to the fair in case they should be stolen, the Major was afraid to announce his policy until he sees whether he will hold oflice during the season, and is anxious to prevent the Opposition seizing his clothes, and keeping him out in the cold. There is a vast amount of '* padding " in the speech, and little that is new. He claimed that the Ministry had reduced the weekly expenditure from £110,000 to between £60,000 and £70,000. Upon that most important matter, the 20 per cent, of Land Fund, he said — " He thought the Government had never received sufficient credit, considering the great difficulties with which they had had to contend. They had had to reduce expenture and put on taxation. They first had to eliminate land sales from ordinary revenue, and they did it ; on that followed the taking from the Counties the 20 per cent, of the Land Fund. The measure was unpopular, but absolutely necessary, and the reason was that the 20 per cent had been spent, not on opening up the country, but on works which should have been paid for out of the rates." We are not of course aware which of the counties did what Major Atkinson says, and it is to be regretted he did not enter into particulars ; nevertheless, we believe the statement to be incorrect, as we are sure a return of the amount of money spent on new werks by the counties on this Coast would show a sum far in excess of that receh ed from Land Fund. Had we been at Major Atkinson's meeting we should have asked him why the Government did not at the same time as they took away the 20 'per cent, of Land Fund from counties, also take away from the New Piymjutu Harbour Board the 25 per cent, of revenue received from tho sale of lauds in the provincial distriot of Taranaki ? Surely Major Atkinson would scarcely think of asserting that the Taranaki harbour works are more necessary than good roads through the country. Yet, he left the 25 per cent of the Land Fund of the Taranaki Provincial District to the New Plymouth Harbour Board, and took away the 20 per cent, from the counties. His assertion that the 20 per cent was taken away because it was used for maintenance is a novel one, as it is the first time he has made it, and t ough he may persuade himself it is true, it will carry no weight with the country. A large portion of his speech was taken up by a defence of the property tax, comparing its merits with land and income taxes. We make the following extract from Major Atkinson's speech :— " With regard to the Public Works, very little freedom had been allowed to the Government. They were to some extent obliged to follow the lines of their predecessors. The Government wanted to deal fairly with the colony, and to make the works which had been finished reproductive. They therefore abandoned those which were least likely to bring in a speedy return, and to put themselves in a position to complete the main lines, they were bound also to lessen expenditure, aud were oompelled, on that account, to stop public works in many districts. He was not then speaking of local but colonial works. They intended to rnirsue the same policy in the future, bu* could not be hurried. He had reminded rhera that the 20 per cent, of the Laml Fund had been taken away. The local bodies had not been using it for legitimate objects. They had applied it to repairs, and not to opening communication with land newly sold. N> one liked rates, but still the Land Fuud must be applied to opening up the country, and not to repairs merely? At the same time the subsidies were withdrawn. These were heavy blows, but if those sources of revenue to local bodies had been continued there would havo had to be increased taxation. It was best to leave the districts to tax themselves. There had been no breach of faith. The enormous extent of the public works had rendered the action of the Government necessary, and the various localities had been at one with the Government on the matter. Major Atkinson then alluded briefly to the scheme which the Government had proposed for the assistance of local bodies. There had been complaints that local bodies were not effective, and that counties did not prosper, but the rnonny must come from themselves. The Government scheme would have retained on very easy terms a good deal of what had been lost, but the scheme was not considered—there had been no time— and so half subsidies had been paid for the last year. The whole matter still wanted consideration. With regard to the efficiency of the local system of government, he said that the objector* were not prepared to face the ratepayers, who. after all, had the matter practically in their own hands. The ratepayers should determine what form of local government — County Councils or Road Boards— should prevail. The real difficulty was want of money. If they were rich wo should hear nothing of want of change, and whatever changes were made under present circumstances we should hear the same complaint. Money meant taxation, and it was a question for the ratepayers how much they weuld spend." With reference to native affairs, he said, that Mr Bryce " was for more vigorous measures than the Cabinet were at that time prepared to sanction. The account given in the newspapers w.«s substantially correct. There was nothing behind. Mr Bryce left beoause he thought more vigot • o'.is measures should be adopted against T« Whiti A great deal was to be said in favour of that view aad a great deal against

it The policy whioh the Government had followed and would continue was that "~1 there should be no pampering of the Natives —that a tight hand should be kept on the _^ ruins, ami thut strict justice should be ' administered." Ho referred to a number of other matters in gnuial term*, saying the House ought next session to pass the Representation Bill, Charitable Aid and Hospital* B lis, and Lic«nsi*!4 Bill, but no indie* ion was »iven what tne nature of those Bills would be. whether they wonld be reintroduced in exactly t>.e s-vne form as last year, or whether there would he any modifications ia their lewliug features. T_i> country would like to know whether he will hash up the Local Public Works Bill of last session, and whether the Representation Bill will contain the same anomalies as that dropped a few months ago ; in fact, whe-. t her the Government intend todevote themselves to the much neglected task of domestic legislation, or whether they intend to stand still and try to enjoy the luxury of of "political rest." Looked at from this point of view, the Treasurer's speech is most disappointing.