THE PREMIER AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 56, 2 May 1877, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT NEW PLYMOUTH.

POLICY OF THE GOVEBNMEKT.

[pee peess agency.] .New PLYMOirrH,:26th April. The banquet to the Premier (the Horn Major Atkinson), given m the Oddfellows' Hall^ was largely attended. The principal citizens and settlers were pre- ■ sent, the Mayor (A. Standish, Esq.) occupying the chair. On rising to respond to the toast of Ms health* the Premier was; received with enthusiastic applause. After ex- . pressing his sense df the sympathy and confidence .which had been displayed •■ with respect to him by the people of Taranaki, he said that it would not perhaps be put of place to take that opportunity of stating shortly what were the policy and intentions of the Government. He wouldj however,- content himself by indicating the broad lines upon which they proposed to travel. The policy of the Government would be, first to com--plele the establishment of local selfgovernment, to complete the establishment of the systejn of primary education, to promote the settlement of our wa"ste lands by a yeomanry 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 raiilwtfcf^ throughout the colony, and until they were completed to reduce the ordinary expenditure to within the narrowest limits consistent with efficiency ; toisimplify our finances and place them on » sound basis for the future. That policyhad been carefully pursued, during the last year, and what they yrould submit , next session would have for its object its further promotion. With regard to local government, he said he thought the Municipal-Corpor-ations Act was likely to be a considerable success, as it. had given satisfaction throughout the country. The county system had proved on the whole very satisfactory, and with the experience gained and the advice of County Councils, he had no doubt that by next session they would be rendered much more efficient and useful. The Government had been blamed for obtaining the, assistance of the Superintendents and Provincial Executives m introducing the system ; but who were better calculated" to lend assistance ? It was the duty of the Government m '.nitialing a new system to do so wich as little friction as possible ; and he would take that opportunity of thanking those gentlemen for the assistance they had so patriotically: rendered m establishing the new order of things. Thoiigh the provinces were nominally abolished on Ihe Ist November, they were not really 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 m respect of the provinces would be no longer necessary. - -

■'■- 'Regarding education, the Government 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 the 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 up new bush country tdtimately. Connected with this was their relation with the natives, and he was -happy to say that the good understanding gradually growing for years was still improving, and would no doubt lead- to a complete reconciliation between the two; races. , But they must be content to tarry a . little, m order to make the end the sooner. Looking at the past legislation on this question and the general circumstances of the colony; they had come to the conclusion that greater facilities .; should be afforded for tie acquisit^plf^ native lands by private : indivMuats (Applause.) The subject was surrounded by difficulties, and would require careful, handling, but they were of opinion that an Act could be drawn which would protect the interests of the natives, the Europeans, and of the community. The Government would submit such a measure for the. consideration of the next Assembly. They had also under consideration laws relating to representation, registration of electors, scab m sheep, fencing, and the. Civil Service ; but how far they would be able to deal with them next session he was unable to say at present. The question of finance was intimately connected with every one of these subjects. Those interested m colonial finance would find m 'the Financial Statement of last year a ■ short and clear statement of what was then our financial position. There was nothing to add to that statement except the fact that the Customs revenue would- not probably come up to -.his estimate, perhaps by a little more than his "estimated surplus. Those who read that statement would see thTat the position was one of considerable difficulty. The Government,' however, had grappled with it and he was sanguine enough to think that 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 New South Wales they obtained £500,000 for two years at 5 p^r ., t;ent.,; and from the Bank of New Zee i land £500,000 for twb years at .5 per cent. Both were negotiated under the" authority of a Loan Act of last session. These arrangements placed them m a

good position by enabling them to abstain from going upon the London market for at least twelve months, and also m the advantage which resulted m the advanced value of their bonds at Home. r They had also arranged with the Bank of New Zealand to extend the bank -agreement, by which another halfmillion would be placed at the disposal of the Government if Parliament should approve, and still longer keep them from placing loans m England. No doubt a good deal of thrift and prudence would be necessary m managing their finances, and it would be necessary to .. give time for the; railways already constructed to get into thorough working order, and also that the large sum, now amounting to between three and four millions, which is lying unproductive m the railways under course of construction, shall give some return m the way of interest on the money expended on them. This amounts to something like £180,000 ; but he was satisfied that, .Jwith ordinary care and prudence m the of finance, by the end of the time mentioned, they would be m a thoroughly satisfactory financial position, and have no reason to regret that they had dared to undertake the public ''works and immigration scheme.