The Daily News SATURDAY, MAY 30. THE PREMIER'S VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 136, 30 May 1908, Page 2

The Daily News SATURDAY, MAY 30. THE PREMIER'S VISIT.

The somewhat Mated visit paid by the I'remier to Tal'aii.lki was of brief duratiim, but it sullieed for tlie purpose* of bringing under the immediate notice of the head of I lie (lovernnii'iit llie mole indent reipiircnicnts of the various districts. In our opinion, personal esiplaiuilions of the particular circumstances of requests are ever more s atis factory Ulan the slating of a case only by letter. Taranaki's requests, natural, y. ill the vast majority of cases referred to roads and bridges, the necossarv corollary of settlement. While (Sir • loseph was vi-ry guarded in his replies, ill most cases requests were noted for eoiiMdwration when the Estimates are being framed. While many of the deputations were disappointed that TTieir requests did not. bring forth immediate promises, we consider it more satisfactory than half-promises that are long delayed or are never fulfilled. In one direction, however, the I'remier showed that hi* sympathies with the back-block* setllers were thoroughly practical, and without hesitation he acceded to requests for the evt:'iision nf telephone linos in the interests of the women and children who are "pioneering" ill advance of file loads. Favoured by good weather and a more liberal loading expenditure, the Department has made more real prn.irrc.-s in the b;:r-k country of Tarannki this year llian over hitherto, but it is not enough. Uliile we recognise at once that the Covornment can only spend a certnin amount in any one year, and that, despite pressure, -.ho Government is agiinst increasing its rate of borrowing, we are convinced that greater work could be accomplished in developing new countrv were the clamorous demands of the more advantageously settled communities given less encouragement. Even in the richest of districts the practice is growing of expecting the Government to subsidise every piece of road or bridge work undertaken. While in very many cases, of course, the requests are 1 thorough accord with the policy of the time, ill very many, also, the general taxpayers are reqnircil to give financial aid where it could, without hardship, lie done witlionl Hverv pound granted in such eases correspondingly reduces the Government'; available ways and menus for really noeessitous works. During the prcieut Parliamentary rc-ess, practically every Minister of the Crown has devoted considerable time to .journeying through the back-country, particularly of the North Island, mid we venture to believe the present Cabinet now has a fuller appreciation of the urgent need for more thorough development work than has been the case for many years. While it is manifestly impossible that all requirements can he met. we are hopeful that this year'* Estimates will show unniistaSceably that new road works have received their just apportionment of the funds available. No province would benefit to a greater ex _ lent than Tarauaki under a rigorous reading policy, in conjunction Willi the pushing on of the l-'.nsi railway. In the latter regard, the Government is evidently doing its best to redeem the longstanding promi-c tint the work would take a prominent position on the emu pletion of the llain Trunk. There ate now i.'il) men at work on the StratfordOngiirulie line, which at the now accelerated rate of progression, should beiori many months reach the point all the Whangamomona road, at which its utility will, for the lirst time, be tnilv de monstrated and appreciated. In his public- utterances. Sir -Joseph's remark: were in <>nod form ami taste, am! hr ih'vcr failed to strike the lofty liou- <>! mm-parli-an national aspiration. h answer to i!ie pesMinisin with whicii tin* futui'o \< regarded in some finau rial and coimnerical circles the Premmi expressed his colllident belief thai \v» had little to fear. Pliers nm>l flu:tnate. but lhe operation* of the Ad to Settler* Act, he claimed, wa? the >tead,vin*r illllueiice that would efret' tuallv prevent a of inone> felt as it had been in' America. The f;t<d tint the Government, is nov, 1 tending annually mer a million and .< :! to farmer, s and \\ork"i> •it a tivrt! ami low rate of intere>t, i the fiirest po-.-ible indication of Hi' mh-c< •- of tie' experins'nt once rmimlh eoimcmr.ed. and aUo tk> ?.nre>d -if'' iruard airaiii-t tlw raiinj.r of the rati of iniere-l. With p-i».ard to the com iu£ M-s-inn. the Premier forecasted lalioii providing for national annuities on a of graduated stibsidi-ert con tribntimis. electoral reform in the din* tion of absolute majority represent* tiun. increasing the naval subsidy amendment of the A.rbill'itti'm and Con 'illation law. ami mea-nre> giving eli'ei t to the recommendation* of llie Nalivi f ; and> C'ommirhion. Speaking on (he land question generally, the Promiev v,a emphatic in his declaration* against tlit and land nationalisation, and any attempts to realise, the latter especially. would., he claimed, and disaster to the country, ('outran to anticipations in some interoste. quarters, the Premier is understood noi to have busied himself in the selectioi of candidate* for the various seat*, although he has no doubt, so far as hr was aide, felt the political pulse* U «ome purpose.