THE ADDRESS IN REPLY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 148, 23 June 1881, Page 4

THE ADDRESS IN REPLY.

The following are extract from the Hansard report- of Mr Collins' speech in moving tbe address in reply :— Sir, I have profound satisfaction in rising to perform the honorable ta&k intruet9i to me — -.namely, to move, That a respectful Address be presented to his Excellency, in reply to the Speech that His Excellency haa been pleased to ni»ke fo both Houses I have the mora pleasure in rising to make this motion because I tee! that the Speech which Hia Excellency has been pleased to make to us will be received throughout the country with great Satisfaction ; and I feel also that we m&y fairly t^ko to oureelvea the congratulations that Hia Excellency has offered ÜB, being convinced not only that they fire Bincere, but that they are deserved, owing to the very great improvement in tbe circumstances of the country within tbe last twelve months. I feel that His Excellency s Speech will have a boppy tiFect upon the country, and will help largely in restoring confidence among the people, and in reviving that prosperity to which His Excellency alludes. Its iffect upon New Z^land must be of the happiest description, and it will teno to raise this colony in the opinion of the neighbouring nations. It ia our place— and I huve «o doubt this House wiil perform its duty in thia reepect — to aid that good effect by accepting thSpeech and by nuking a respectful reply in the (erica which I shall Ehortly propose. When we consider the depressed condition of the country within so short a period, we have reason to be satisfied with the wondetful — I might B=»y startling — suciest which haa attended the poticy of economy and reform in the administration of public affairs which has been initiatei wilbin the last twelve months. Not only have we succeeded in eoormoußly reducing the coat of the administration of Government, the cost of the Civil Servtce, and the cost of (he management of our railways, but we have actually done that without in any degree impairing the efficiency 0/ the public service. So far from impairing the efficiency of the service, 1 make bold to say that in my opinion the efficiency to the public eervice Las been increased. 1 am sure we shall all admit that there is increased efficiency in the railway management, and there is evidence of that in the statement put before us by His Excellency, that the railways are now paying as they never paid before — some 3| per cent, on tbe cost of construction. Speaking with local knowledge of such small railways as those which are in the part of the country from which I come, I may say that the changes which have been introduced into the management have resulted very favourably tor the finances of those lines. While on this subject, and while cordially congratulating his Excellency's Advisers on the great improve- . ment in respect to economy, and on the successful efforts which have been made by them in reducing the public expenditure, I take the liberty to say — and 1 hope I shall not be transgressing bounds when I say it— that there is still a possibility of eome further improvement in the carrying-out of that poliey. I wish to hold myself iree, and to 1 make it clear to the House that I do not feel myself absolutely bound to all 1 the details of the policy which has been followed. On the contrary, I think irn some of the details that policy might be improved. I am quite convinced that in carrying out their large reductions' there has been a great hardship inflicted — perhaps unavoidably inflicted •— rowing to the hurry of last session, and I think it will behove us as far: as- we can to remedy that injustice; this session. No doubt large alterations ! and reforms in public expenditure, euch : sb those that have been inaugurated 1 and to a certain extent carried through by His Excellency's Advisers, cannot be undertaken without in some degree inflicting hardships on some people. In this case it seems to me that there has been great hardship inflicted ; upon some of the more poorly paid servants of the colony. In my opinion that is a matter for deep regret, and I trust the House will take into its earnest consideration the adoption of Bime means whereby New Zealand may be relieved from the imputation of underpaying ifs hard-working servants. I am a great advocate for economy; but I strongly think (hat we ought not to underpay our servontß. We ought to psy them well, but have as few of them pb we can. I think it is possible to make reductions in other directions instead of taking so much off salaries. It is cot my province now to point oat the direction in which I think these redac( ; ODB might be made; but I do think there are directions in which tbis colony might save a large quantity of money, and be enabled to afford to restore to their original condition some of the smaller salaries of our servants. At the same time, I do not wish to be understood as in any degree finding fault with the general policy followed out during last yesr. On the contrary, I support it very heartily. The country, I am sore, will be glad to hear that there is dow a profit of 3£ per cent, on tbe expenditure on our constructed railways. I frankly admit that it is more than I had- hoped /or, and I think it is ft result on which we may fairly congratulate ourselves, it being the result to a great extent of the very largely improved admit ig ration of railway matters. "We are told in His Excellency's Speech that proposals will be submitted to us for assisting companies to make railways, and to complete lines at present in an unfinished condition. I have no doubt that we shall take these proposals into very careful consideration, and I hope our discussions may tend to good ; but I will at once own that I have some doubts in my mind as to the way in which such a system will work. I shall be exceedingly glad if we can get cheap railways, and if we can get companies to make them, because I at once see that, if companies make the railWays, the main object would be to make railways which would be payable— which unfortunately has not always been the object in view in the past. The idea is a very taking, one, and I thirl* tli© country will be very glad to

hear tbat fucli proposals are to be made ; but I feel bound to say that ther3 is plenty of room for mistakes in such a scheme. I fear that these companies, unless the thing is properly guarded, may acquire too much political power. However, if the proposals are otherwise feasible and good, I have confidence that the wisdom of this House may be trusted to prevent any such casastrophe taking place, that I cannot say at present any plan occurs to me for limiting the political power of those companies. I may be in error in holding this opinion, but I think it right to mention ir, because it is a subject this House "will have to take into earnest consideration. At the same time I— and. I am sure, all other honorable members — will most willingly consider any proposal for opening up the vast resources which this country possesses ; and I shall be glad indeed if by any means we may be enabled to open up the whole for settlement. And here I would say that I do not think we should consider, because railways are not paying interest on cost oi construction, tbat therefore they are a failure. That, I think, is a miserable view to take. The great benefit of the railways is, that they are opening up the country and rendering it fit for settlement ; but, putting that on one side, they are now paying within a small fraction the interest of the money spent on their construction, and I am more than satisfied with the result. * * * * * * * * * * Lhia is a question on which I cannot ypeak with any great amount of authority, as I have been a long time out of th^ House, and am not intimately acquainted with the finances of the country ; but as a colonist of thirty years' standing, and as one who has passed most of his time pretty actively in hard work in this country, I feel with the rest of the colonists that the time has arrived when we can really bear no more taxation. We all earnestly hope that the better timeß will shortly give us some relief. lam glad to hear, and 1 am sure many others, particularly those who come from outlying parts of Jfew Zealand, will also be glad to hear, that the systematic laying-out of roads has been carried on. I do not doubt the truth of this statement, but I must make free to remark that I hope sincerely the systematic opening-up of roads will be carried out all over the colony. I may go so far as to say that some parts of the country have not had a fair share of railways. I do not wish to make any invidious disi. tinction, but perhaps this system may be so much enlarged that those parts of the country which have not benefifcfced very much from the construction of railways may get a somewhat larger share of roads. I intend during the present session to lend very willing help to the Government if they feel at all inclined to carry out that view. I think my local knowledge will enable me to assist them a little bit, as I know where some roads ought to be made, and I hope they will accept my assistance. ********* I hope I am not going further than the position I at present hold warrants me, but I feel an earnest desire that this session should be a working session, to be remembered as having passed useful Acts. I now come to the promise given by the Governor, and the hope he expresses. I feel thankful to him for that promise, and am exceedingly glad he made it. He promises to manifest the same scrupulous and loyal regard to constitutional practice and usage, not only in the letter but in the spirit, which has ever distinguished the Sovereign whom he represents. If he does that we shall all pay him the highest honor ; we shall feel that he has done his duty, and can do no more. The hope he expresses that by God's blessing our labours may promote the welfare of the colony is one in which we solemnly acquiesce. For these reasons I have very great pleasure indeed in moving. That a respectful Address be pre.ented to His Excellency, in reply to the Speech that Hist Excellency has been pleased to make to both Houses.