THE PREMIER SPEAKS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 317, 28 April 1877, Page 4

THE PREMIER SPEAKS.

Wo eEp the following telegraphic report of Major Atkinsons speech at the bosquet at New Plymouth on Thursday night from our Dunedin exchanges : la films to respond to the toast of his With, tilt* Premier was received with enthuaiaatie applause. He said it was at all times & aource, not only of pleasure, bat of real strength* to a public man to fee awured of the conSdenee and the sympathy of hi* fellow citiaens, for few public van could! do useful work in anew country wiJtftont the hearty support of the people. Ha therefore deeply felt the eymr.ai.by and confidence expressed that night in presence of m many old settlers: who had known him for 2© years as a public man, a tattler, and a neighbour. Mr. Standtsh bad saiil the pleasure was enhanced in entertaining him by the knowledge that he waa one of themselves, and he confasaed if there was one thing he was proud of, it waa of being a Taranakt settler; and the pain of being turned out of office whan that time came, as no doubt it would, would he lessened by she thought that ha could once move return amongst them. It would not perhaps be out of place to take this opportunity of stating shortly what are the policy and intentions of tna Government. He would content himself by indicating: the broad tines upon which they proposed to travel. The policy of the? Government would been, first, to complete the establishment of local selfgovernment throughout the Colony; to complete the establishment of a system of primary education; to promote the settlement of our watte lands by a yeoman population, and cultivate and maintain a good 1 understanding with the native 1 r ace ► to reduce considerably the annual expenditure or» public works, and continue tl'u* construction of main fines of railway throughout the Colony ttuisil completed i to reduce the ordinary expenditure to within the narrowest fimtUeoiwistenii wifcfiemcteuey; to simplify our tn>anc;s and pla.ee them on a sound basia for tho suturt». Thais policy hod! been carefully pursued during the last year, and what they would submit next sussion would have for its object its. further promotion. With regard to focal government, the Municipal Corporations Act was likely to* be a considerable success,, as it has given satisfaction throughout the Colony. The inaugurations of the County system had proved, on the whole, very rotMrfaeiery, and wiih the experience gained, and the advice of County Councils, he had no- doubt that - session they would be rendered much niory efficient and useful. They had been blamed for obtaining- the assistance of Superintendents and Provincial Executives while introducing the system. But who were better calculated to lend assistance I It waa the duty of the Government, in initiating a new system, to do so with as little friction as possible, and he would take that opportunity of thanking those gentlemen for the assistance they so patriotically rendered hi establishing the new order of things. Though the Provinces were nominally abolished on the Ist November, they were not really so until the following January, and considering the constitutional changes effected, tt was only reasonable some .mouth* should elapse before the change was completed. But the farther delegation of powers regarding the Provinces would be no longer necessary. Regarding education, tt'.ey looked upon it as a first duty to see it properly provided for throughout the Colony, and it must he 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 persona, de■irouaof taking up land on deferred payments. They had also under consideration the necessity of providing some means for opening up new bush country. Intimately connected with this was their relation with the natives. He was happy io say that the good feeling gradually growjng 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, in order to make an end the sooner. Looking at the past legislation on this question, and the genera circumstances of the Colony, they must come to the conclusion that greater facilities should be afforded for the acqniaition of native lands hy private individual*. (Applause.) The subject was surrounded by dimcuftics, and would require careful handling;; bat they were of opinion an Act coutdi be drawn up which would protect the interest of the native and European community, and they would subnut such measures for consideration nest Assembly. They had also under consideration law* relating to representation and the registration of electors, scab, fencing, and the Civil Service; but whether 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 interred in finance would find in the Financial Statement of last year a short and clear statement of wl:at was then their financial position. There was nothing to add to that statement, except that tho Customs revenue would not come up to hi» estimate, probably, by a ILtte more than Ma estimated surplus. Those who Mud the statement would observe there ■was ©ne considei-tsble di ihculty. They .had grappled with it, and he was; sanguine eanegh to thin*!'; tlWy would dea |! wit-'t it •oastosatisy Purt ; amentand the country. They had reduced expenditure, and had I obtained at their own doors the necessary I fund* for tho continuance oJ their works.'

From the Bank of New South Walea they obtained a half-million for two years, at 5 per cent. Both loans were negotiated under the authority of the Loan Act of last session. Their arrangements placed then? in a good position by enabling them to abstain from going upon the London market for at least 12 months, an advantage which resulted in the advanced value of their bond* at Home. They also arranged with the Ban!; of New South Wales to extend the Bank agreement by which another half-million would be ptac:d at the disposal of the Government, is Parliament should approve, and still longer keep them from placing a loan in England. No doubt a good deal of thrift and prudence would be necessary, in order to give time for the railways already constructed to get into thorough working iprJer, and aLb that a largo sum—now amfnvfng to between three and four millions— whtch islyingnnproductivein the railways under course of construction, shall give some return as interest u;ion this money ataoont : ng to something like L 150,600 ; but ho was satisfied that, with ordinary care and prudence in the management of finance, at the end of the time J mentioned the Colony would be in a i thoroughly satisfactory financial position, i and have no reason t« resjrct they dared to undertake the Public Works and Immigration scheme. He did not refer to local matters in this short address, because he desired to keep them distinct from what fie said of a general nature. He had been complimented by the chairman with regard to the harbour question, but he looked upon Mr, Carringlon as the man who had pushed the harhour question in season avd out of season, and it was a great satisfaction to him to think he might Vet live to see tf e liarbmir completed. | "He had no doubt the harb-.mr would g 1 steadily on tf they managed with prudence. ; add as he believed the Harbour Boanl | would manage. In a small plica they j were apt to think tf a work did not go on instantly that it was not likely to be accomplished at all. but the thing was now I really started. They had also reason to j be pleased at the way their railways were I going on, although there was a fueling that i they ought to be pushed on with still ! greater speed, but that was impossible : without largely increased taxation. They ! roost be content to assist the Government ; tn carrying on the work at a moderate rate, and as a prudent man would manage ; his own estate.

The remainder of the speakers remark? were of a purely local character. The Premier spoke for only 23 minutes.