Untitled

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 948, 1 June 1881, Page 2

There are several subjects dealt with in the Premier’s speech that call for satisfactory remark ; and Mr. Hall addresses himself to the task before him, in a practical business like way. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Bill, he intends to re-introduce, and to get it passed if possible. In fact, that and the payment of subsidies to local bodies must continue, or something equivalent take their places. And, in this connection it is a pity that Mr. Hall was not more explicit than he is reported to have been. The Licensing Bill, we are told, will be “ resubmitted and pressed.” But we make bold to tell Mr. Hall that if he “ presses ” a continuance ol the existing absurdities of the Licensing system, he will, probably, press himself and party outside the House at the next election. Herein is one of the good results of Triennial Parliaments, namely, that members are called up for judgment, at too short intervals to enable them to carry out their own sweet wills against the majority of the ratepaying public. The Licensing laws, as they stand, are great absurdities. They press on the liberty of the subject, without achieving any corresponding benefit, and it is a pity the Premier did not say a little more on a matter of so great an interest to a large class of contributors to the revenue, and through them, to the public generally. Clubs, of all classes, are to be subject to the Licensing laws, and the surveillance of the police ; and we do not see much harm therein, provided that the Licensing laws, themselves, are based upon such a law of freedom that British subjects can live under them.

The law of entail we are promised shall be sought to be abolished, so as to prevent men locking up large areas of land, and valuable properties, long after they are dead. This will be a step in the direction of Liberalism which, above all things, will help to keep this Colony from the scourges that afflict the landed proprietary of the Home Country. Mr. Hall hopes that the Treasurer’s estimates of expenditure this Session will be a quarter of a million less than those of 1880 ; a statement, which, in view of so many pre-sessional baits, that have caught no fish, we can take for what it is worth. Taxation, Mr. Hall was eloquently silent on, stating that “ Major Atkinson, “ in his recent speeches, has exhausted “ the question of the Property tax.” Therefore, this fact, taken in conjunction with the Premier’s asseveration that he did not think it necessary to put forth a “new programme” (query, what does he call a re-constitution of the Legislative Council ?) is indicative of a large nerve power ; and that, if possible the same salad, flavored with a few grains of mustard seed, will form the same garnishing of the political banquet table of 1881, as that from which hon. members rose in disgust last Session.