MINISTERIAL PROGRAMME.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 276, 19 November 1881, Page 4

MINISTERIAL PROGRAMME.

Trm Hoa John Hall has issued an a-WreH to the electors' of tbe Selwyn dis ; ricf. from which we Etke the followi?K: extraote: — "Rr^ferrbg to tbe Parliemsnt just dicker!, I colder that it has done work which will cause it to he hell in eratefal remembrance. The completion of the important and liberal njesßurea which it passed for amending the representation of the people would aloce be sufficient to protect it from eny charge of rjDfruitfulness. The proposals which it has sanctions:! for thr imprrvement or the public revenue, and the a?;Btasce wbicb it has given in the work of economy, and of reduction in the public expendi'ure, have restored eafefy ti our finances, and maintained the credit of the colony. It has passed important amendments in the laws relaUjg 1 to Crown hnds, with the view of effording increased facilities for settlement, Ie hes dealt wi'.h many q-jesiions of imporfaoce to the social and me taria! welfare of New Zealand in a manner ca!cu ! a(ad to promote the progrfaa of the colony end tha wellbeing of its inhabitants. There reroaioe, however, abucdance of work for its ; accessor. " The improvement in the machinery by wbicb the House of Represen a'ues is electe ? ahocl ', I brlieve, be followed op by improvement in tbe proceeding? of the Houae iself No one bolds more strongly than I do to that essential privilege of entire freedom of speech with which our Legislature ia endowed, tui it cannot ba danhd that of la c the power ol interrupting tbe busii en oi the rout try wbi h is conceded by the forons of ihs Houa<- to individual merrberp, fas by snore been intolerably abustd The watte of public time thus occasioned during tbe rereni FFS=ion l?d to the abandonment if tnueii Ufeful legislation. But i ha obstruction of public business is not (he wors* consequence of such proeeediegs. Their frequent recurrence would reeuh in tbe degradation of tbe House itself in the «y-sof the country— a political calamity tba rr.sgDitude of which do one c;n es'im^t-. The poesibility of so daptreroui en abase ought to be re naove", s^> tar a a is consistent with thp preservation of en. ire liberty of bona fide ciecuseion ; and a stop should be pot fo the system of organised obBtrncion by which attempts h>ve been made to paralyse the actirn of Parliament, and to force upon it the will of a minority, ''I Relieve that a second Chamber of tbe L-pislatare is necessary for the euccfssful working of National Representative IcstitutioEß, and I should, therefore, strenuously oppose eny pro position for abolishing tbe Legislative Council. But tbe sonrinatiou of i-.e members by tbe Crown, and the tenure of their office for life, are, in my opicion, rp^n to grave objection. With the view of increasing the value end csefulmsa of our second Chamber, I thick its members Bbould be elected ; Bnd I trust tb-jt &ach bo amendment in oor CocsMtutitn will be effected by the new Parliament. *' Aa attempt has been made to show that the people of New Zealand desire, and the circumstances of tbe coloDy demand, a new system of locil govfrnmett. The Bttfmpt has signally ffciltd. While I should oppoEe any Bttempt to return to the old forms of local government which we have abolished, or fo adopt new forms which have been proposed, my heat endeavors will b? given to impTovirg tbe inetitotiois wbiib we cow possess. This can be done by givirg then in fome instances extender poweis and introducing into the system en elasticity which will better laeet the vcrjiDg eircumfitancfß of different parts of the colcny. The chief want of tbrsf: institutions is an improveceni of their financial position. At present tfcis position ib such tbat in some pane of the colony tbe loctl bodieß are enable to d\a barge tbe Unties devolving on them in retpect of lecal work?. Ihe Governtrect deeire to provide a fun-j fcr asiistiDg in seen cases ; and tbe sppiicatioa of surplus land reveDae to euch a fund would form part of any measure to be propoeed for this purpose. "Ia reipeet of tbe public finance, I should advocate perseverance in the course of strict economy which bag enabled the Government to largely reduce tbe public expenditure, and wii'l render possible, se to some extent it has alrear'v c*oce, relief to the taxpayers of New Zealand. The priccijie of tbe property fox — mtnely, tbat property of all kinds thould contribute to the coft of tbe Government by whith. it is protected — appetrt to me eminemly resfosßble end just ; and I can ccc no reoEoo wly tbie turden fhou!d,as icme persons propose, be laid solely on land. To represent etix which falls equally ob land tud mcDey, es being unduly favorable to the wealthy class, is too greet Bn'esperiment on the credulity of tbe ignennt. An kcotne tax, howevtr eqoi'cble in principle, would, I believe, prove most tisiaß'elul, owing to it tneiceeearily irquieitorifll character ; nor cruld the atrieieet possible exercise of these obnoxious powers of itquiry into private affairs preveDt the frtquent recurrence of evssion BDd freud. When tbe litre arrives k£ which the engogemeDts of the Government will permit a uee of the colony's credit in the London money meikrt, it should be done to & moderate extent, with a view to tbe cGcstrcctkn of such important public vsciks eb are necessary for the devt opneett of tie natural resources of the colony. <<r Tbe rapid growth of local manufactures in New Zealand is matter ol sincere congratulation. I consider Ih&t the" establishment of industries, for which euperior netural facilities exist in the cokDy, and which eflord employment for labor end capital, ehculd be fostered by every encoorsg* meet which the Government can legitimately t fiord. "I beiieve it to be tbe interest of every clbeb, without exception, that tbe ' ws£te locdeoj tb^ffrcoloßy ehcold be disposed of on terms bs liberal bb are conEistent with Eeconng their bonu fide geitleiretit and utmost improvement, li is in ihis spirit thst tbe le&d laws ol the coioDy Lave been &dmitistered by the pies tut Government and that they will deal "with tbe considerable areas of Cro-wn^lflida which -will soon become

available for settlement; in the southern portion of the colony. The result will. I believe, be a large and valuable addition to our agricultural population. I object altogether to proposals which have recently been put forward, that the cultivators of the soil should be the tenants of the Government, and not free-holders. Such a system would impair one of the greatest inducements which can exist to tbe improvements of the country, and would lead to constant political agitation for its modification and abolition. The common sense of the colony will no doubt reject such proposals. " The position of the Native question has during the past two years under gone a very great improvement. With the most important of the tribes which were estranged relations of a friendly character have been established, which will probably have very valuable results for the colony. To this satisfactory state of affairs there is one unfortunate exception. On the West Coast of the North Island a number of Natives, who have for a long time practically ignored the authority of the Government, have a'.edfaatly resisted all overtures for the settlement of outstanding differences. After the reductions which were effected in the Constabulary force, these Natives resorted to acta of aggression and ilefiance wlieh no Government could tolerate. Steps were, therefore, taken for terminating, if possible by a display of force, but, if necessary, by the use of it, this long-standinge menace to the peace of the coloDy. I hope and believe that the actual use of force will not be required, and that the Government will be able without it, to put an end to what wil'i probably be the la-t serious effort on the pan or the Maoris to resist the progress of settlement nnd tbe authority of the Queen. When this shall be Jiccornpliehed, and guarantees shall be obtained against any further disturbance the Government will be prepared to deal considerately with those Natives who acknowledge their auth ,rity. For the success which has so far attended their operations, the Government are iargely indebted to the promptitude and public spirit with which the services of Volunteers from all part? of the colony were placed at their disposal. The valuable assistance thus loyally rendered deserves the reeognitiim of Parliament and the warm thanks of the colony. '1 shall be prepared when I meet you to state my opinions more fully upon the subjects I have now noticed, as well as upon o hers which I have been unable here to enter upon. I would rather however be judged by my acts than my professions of opinion. If you think that the manner in which my colleagues and myself have piloted the vessel of the State tbrongh a period of difficulty and depression, has been such as to deserve your confldence, and to warrant the belief that in more prosperous times we are likely to make a right use of the important position we hold : and further, if you believe that, as your re presentative, lean personally" contribute to that result — then I ask you to renew the trust confided to me two years ago, which trust I feel I have not abused, and have consistently desired to justify j