The Premier at Dunedin.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 116, 26 April 1884, Page 2

The Premier at Dunedin.

[Per Press Wellington, April 25. Major Atkinson addressed a very large meeting in the Queen's Theatre, Dunedin, last night. He began by remarking that he knew lie was addressing an unfavorable audience who looked upon him as the head of a Government of extravagance, which spent large sums unfairly in the North while neglecting the Soulli altogether; but he would quote figures to show how untrue this was. Since 1870 some nineteen and-a-quarter millions had been borrowed, of which upwards of two millions had b -n spent in immigration, and the emainder on Public Works. Alto? •'!?. r £6,000,000 had been expend” I in the North, and £10,350,000 in the South. Had the money been distributed according to the mean population, the figures would have been £6,550,000 for the North, and £10,700,000

for the South, this was without counting the Maori population, so that on that basis only £300,000 more than the proper proportion had been expended In the North out of a total of 17,f millions, no money could have been more equally divided, especially in view of the main object of the public works policy, which was the construction of a railway from Auckland to the Bluff. He defended the expenditure in detail. He was himself only responsible for six and a half million, two of which was not yet raised. He said he had been wrongfully reported at Hawera as saying there was no depression in the colony, what he said was there was none affecting the soundness of the colony or spending power of the people to any appreciable degree. The people could rise to the occasion, and sweep the depression away. The Government had dared tell people they were borrowing too freely and spending too lavishly. Their fault was not being a wasteful extravagant Government, but a careful economical Government. Much depression was caused by undue speculation in mining. They should, promote local industries and so create wealth. If they faced difficulties with stout hearts they would pass away like a rainy day. To stop a 1! borrowing would increase difficulties, hut there should bo no indiscriminate borrow, ing. He ridiculed the decentralisation cry, and the so-called Constitutional Association should be called an anti-Constitutional Association. Decentralism, such as they wanted, would only cause confusion and increase expense. Turning out the Government or altering the Constitution and stopping borrowing would not mend matters. They should have faith in themselves and in the country, and things would come right. There were plenty of outlets for capital and labor to be profitably employed in. He knew it was unpopular to say so, but what they wanted was more immigration. In 1870 the people were taxed at £3 4s. 6d., per head, now it was only £2 Is. Bd.—while wealth and wages had increased, and if they had more population it would still increase. After alluding to the railway tariff, Civil Service reform, and other matters, he denied the statement that he and Sir John Hall had disagreed, and he concluded by urging hard work, economy, and self-control a« only necessary to secure a great future. A motion of thanks for the address was met by an amendment, “ That the meeting had no confidence in his administration of the Government.” Only about half those present voted, and the Mayor, amidst some confusion, declared the motion carried.