THE ELECTIONS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 174, 4 July 1884, Page 2

THE ELECTIONS.

[Per United Press Association*] THE PREMIER AT HAWERA. Major Atkinson addressed the electors last night. He threw the onus of the dissolution on the Opposition, and explained the reason of the Government not- resigning, stating if they had, one of the leaders of the Opposition would have gone to His Excellency, saying it was impossible to carry on business and asking for a dissolution. Had the debate lasted a fortnight the Opposition would.have been in a minority. He held that the Opposition were wrong in the course they took, because there was a great deal of important work to be done, and there should have been a delay at any rate until the policy of the Government had been developed. He next referred to the deficiency, and explained the process of raising money by deficiency bills. He denied that there was a floating debt of £1,080,000, as had been stated by Sir Julius Vogel. To meet a deficiency of £15,200 temporarily, and give further necessary power to anticipate the revenue in this way, and to provide money for carrying on of public works authorised in the schedule of the Loan Act, Government had taken power to raise £70,000 on deficiency bills, but none of this could be regarded as floating debt bills, as they would be met as the revenue came in. He defended the Property Tax, because as a direct tax it brought home to people the close connection between property and taxation therefore acted as a check upon lavish borrowing and lavish expenditure, and it might possibly be proposed next session to do away with direct taxation, and he asked people to look into the question. He denied that the Property Tax was antagonistic to local industries. He entered into a long statement as to what Government had done since taking office, and defended it against the charges which had been hurled against them. The Government had been very careful about the expenditure. They had hardly spent the million which they were authorised to spend, but latterly times became so hard, and work scarce, that the Governmet immediately spent the balance, which had remained unspent for years. There was no doubt that large public works at the present time would relieve the country of its difficulties, but he urged that it should go on as it was going, with a careful and steady policy of public works. The colon}' had passed through worse times than the present, and it would again rise to a greater state of prosperity than it had ever enjoyed before. With an intimate knowledge of finance, he asserted that a million a year might ba spent on railways but not more. Ho repeated that there was really no charge made against the Government by the Opposition. He favored the maintenance of nominated immigrants and the adoption of means to attract small capital. On concluding Major Atkinson received a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.

MB. BRYCE’S ADBBESS. Mr. Bryce addressed, his constituents at Wavericy last night. He explained his reason for not addressing his constituents before was that his time was completely occupied, and defended himself from such charges ns want of courtesy, of growing too big, of nega ting the material interest of the district, of misconduct in regard to Te Kooti and Major Ropata, and said the charge of his having deprived Ropata of his pension was false. He (Ropata) had done good service since the war and had received a very handsome consideration. Mr. Sheehan then increased his (Mr. Bryce’s) salary as assessor still further; and these sums were actually taken, not from any permanent source, but from borrowed money. He vindicated himself very briefly, yet positively. He said he introduced the Amnesty Act, and was responsible for it entirely. Mr. Bryce entered into statements of finance, and contended that the administration of the Government had been beneficial to the Colony. He might probably be called an alarmist, but he viewed the approaching condition of the colony with dismay. The position of parties in the House was very awkward, as there was a section of the members who clung to no side, and believed in neither party. If it continued it would prove embarrassing. Much difference appeared to exist between members as to the propertytax and land tax. Mr. Bryce inveighed against the land tax, by which mor!gaged propnty was taxed on the occupier. SIR GEORGE GREY. Sir George Grey addressed a meeting last night. He remarked that it had been said he was practically unfit to administer public affairs. In answer to this he appealed to his past career in Australia, while Governor of New Zealand, and his rule at the Cape. Had he been called to conduct affairs he would have sketched out two or three great measures of pressing necessity which would have been published to the colony and considered by the new Parliament. Referring to the next Parliament, Sir George Grey said there would be three parties—that of himself and friends, Major Atkinson and friends, and Sir Julius Vogel and friends, He would not probably act ostensibly, but he did not care who acted so long as right was done. The first thing was the imposition of a land tax. A motion was carried, “ That the Auckland members and their friends were warranted in their late action in the Assembly, and are fully entitled to the confidence of their constituents.” The meeting broke up with cheers for Grey.