Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1895.

Manawatu Herald, 28 March 1895, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, MARCH 28, 1895.

Captain Russell's 3pe#cb. . ■ It is a pity that some arrangement could not be made to secure an address from Captain Russell at all the large centres of the colony. The one he gave at Wanganui was excellent and in his quiet and gentlemanly manner he showed up the sins of commission and omission of the present government in a very strong light. The Wanganui Chronicle has published a very full report of the speeoh and it should be obtained and read by all who desire to know something about both sides of political matters. We have not space for more than a brief review which is hardly fair to the speaker. Captain Russell showed clearly that there was no possibility of getting money without money, that thert was no benefioient fairy who would : cast millions about for the settlers ] to pick up, and that extravagant expenditure was bound te result in increased taxation. He believed i until the constituencies realised the < first duty ot the Government was ! economy and not extravagance, they , would never have true government i fn New Zealand, and the colony ' would never progress, as he believed ' it would progress when the people ! realised the (act. The taittioo of j

iltoports into New Zealand was 25 per cent, which e\eryone had to pay and was in excess of the taxation levied in New South Wales which was only 12£ pet cettfc> and in exaeas of Victoria, a Protectionist Colony, which Was only 18^ per cent* This one fact must bring the cost of our Liberal Government Well into view of all taxpayers* Again the Increase of debt must mean the increase of taxation and the proposals of the Government last seseioti to add over seven millions to the indebtedness of the Colony would mean a sum of £11 per head on every man, woman and child. Captain Russell pointed oat that the proposals emanated from a self reliant and non-borroWing Govern ment. We expect bjr this time our readers will not be Wanting many Words from us to brush this fiction away. In speaking about the altered railway management the speaker mentioned a fact which has not been much noised about by the supporters of the Ministry, and that is when the railways were first vested in the three Commissioners the earnings were £299,000 and when they went out of office the net oarnings were £449,000. These figorea would show a justification for the continuance of the Commissioners. Captain Russell main* tamed that there was a gross violation of the law in the Sergeant-at-Arms appointment, and he supplied facts, omitted by the Premier, showing how Colonel Fraser had been induced to retire from the election for the Bay of Plenty. This is a position the Premier has done his best to get out of, which he would be extremely unlikely to do to place himself in again now be has learnt what the public, and what is of more moment to him, what the members of his party think of the matter. Captain Russell touched upon the Pomohaka purchase proving that the estate was purchased for £18,656 when 14 days previously the banker who held a mortgage of £8000 only over it had written to the owner that he could not be allowed any longer to continue the mortgage. We need not go into the other curious statements of the relationship existing i between all the parties to the trans* action. The Bank of New Zealand action was dwelt very fully on by Captain Russell to disprove a statement recently made by the Premier that he, (Captain Russell), had been taken into the confidence of the government. He denied that very vigorously, saying, he did no such thing, he had merely told them there was a grave crisis, but what the crisis was, or what steps were to be taken he did not inform them. The Premier was wrong when he stated Captain Russell would second the measure. In explaining this point Captain Russell upset another of the Premier's flight* of fancy, during which he told a Wanganui audience that it was not till three weeks after the Governor's speech was delivered they learnt the Bank of New Zealand was in a perilous It is recorded in Hansard that the Governor's speech was delivered on June 22nd, and the Bank Bill passed on June 29th, exactly one week afterward* ! In concluding Captain Russell admitted the Opposition was badly beaten at the Polls at the last election, but he pointed out the big majority < was only in Parliament as at the last elections 303,076 votes were polled, 153,688 for the successful candidates and 149,413 for the unsuccessful leaving a difference of only 4250 votes, which it was quite likely a wave of public feeling might change. How different is Captain Russell's view of politics to that of the present holders of office can be guaged by the last words of his speech— 1 ' Let our battle cry be advance our native land. Let us encourage national life, national hopes, national ambitions and a true national policy. We have a country of which we all may — nay must — be proud. It is for us, the men and women of New Zealand to shape the future of our country. Let us act then in such manner as to be legal, true and worthy of the trust imposed upon us.