MR. SAUNDERS AT KAIKOURA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 210, 27 October 1880, Page 4

MR. SAUNDERS AT KAIKOURA.

In addressing hia constituents at Kaikoura. last week, Mr Saunders apologised for not meeting them lest recess, and advanced &s an excuse hie appoit»tniprit on the Civil Service Comitniesion. whioh oocupifid so much of his timp, thereby preventing him from meeting his constituents. He snid that, though he had been elected on the Grey ticket, yet, when ho had pnquired Into matters, he found Sir George Grey's protestations of practising rigH economy and working reforms amounted to mere moonshine, and, instead of practising what he preached, he was actively engaged in moat exfrnvßpnrjt end iniquitous practices. He (Mr Sannders had, in changing etdes, not champed opin>DP. He then proceeded et gome length to accuse tbe Jato Go vernment with having not merely mismanaged the offairß of tbe colony, but, with mil-administration of the worst possible kind. Evil had been done to the oniony by Fir G. Grey end Messrs Sheenan and Micandrew. He supported tbe charges by rending extracts from speeches made in the House, and papers laid on tho table, nnd proceeded (o say that, extravagant as former governments fad been, none hacTsp* vronchod (he Grey^Government. He did Dot say that money had never been spisnt so uselessly, but never for such vile purposes aa had been done by the late Government. They mi^hfc vulgarly be called three R's and three F'e. Sir G. Grey surrounded himself with two men destitute of principles, and three devoid of braina for thnt purpose. H* had to have three men, who at-leaßt bore the character of beiny honest, but be did net think they know how the money was being spent. Sir G. Grey squandered money for the purpose of rewording his friends and favoriteß ; Mr. Maoandrew to satisfy toad ! e8 ; and Mr Sheehan to satiefy sflf-indolgnces, Thousb bis expen diture was not in some instances so damaging to the country as that of his colleagues, U wes less creditable to himself. It showed "the fallacy of the |dea that Mr Sheeban was j e.ven honest as a public man, as be was deserted by his friends. He thought that the crushing debt that the colony was now groaning under, and likely to continue under for a century, had been brought about" by the reckless extravagance of tbe late Government, and that was sufficient reason for his withdrawing his allegianre to them and supporting the Hall Government. He did not believe altogftber in M&jor Atkinson's policy. There was, do >noan in the Rouse or country who knew finance oa : he did, or could talk on the finances us he cab; yet he had not. that acquaintance with the politics of the colony that satisfied him (Mr Saunders ) In the early dnvs he had been prejudiced against Mr Hall, but he believed that there was not a more honortble, conscientious, hard-working man than tbe present Premier, .who, although he worked like a slave at smell matters, yet did not grasp larger subjects as he Bhould. He devoted too much time to minor affaire, which ought to be handed over to men of smaller intellects, so as to leave him free. Mr Bryce wos a good common sense man of strictly honorable principles and truth. There was not a more intelligent bard-work-ing man than Mr Bolleston, who. although be was somewhat eccentric and made mistakes in judgment, was honest. Tbe Minister for Public "Works was the weakest man in tbe

'■ Government. Hp. wbs utterly diaap« I pointed with the Public Works Statement. After Mr Oliver had obtained '', so much information from the Civil , vService and Railway Commission i reports he had expected something approarhing what might reasonably , have been looked for. He thought that horses, milch cows, sheep up to a thousand, and agricultural implements should be exempted from taxation. It wos highly necessary that agriculturists should be freed from all possible taxation if the country wrb to be extricated from its present position; Ha told the ■ Treasurer that if this were not done, there would soon be no one in the country to tax. He thought that if the country was to hold its own among the nations of the world they must continue the education voto. Children must be educa'ed if they are to make any heodwf»y in the world. He took an extremely gloomy view of the financial position of the colony, and although, he did not wish to oppear an alarmist, be feared they might have to repudiate debJß, find the country would be brought into disgrace, ond colonials afraid to show the faces amongst boneet meo.