THE COLONIAL TREASURER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1112, 31 May 1883, Page 2

THE COLONIAL TREASURER.

The Colonial Treasurer, Major Atkinson, addressed his constituents at Hawera last Tuesday evening. Ho said that notwithstanding the extension of the franchise the present Parliament was equal to any of its predecessors, and gave an account of the proceedings of last session. There were two Oppositions: one under Mr Montgomery, and one under Sir George Grey. He charged the Opposition with want of patriotism for delaying the business of the country. Referring to the measures passed last session he said the Roads and Bridges Construction Act had been passed and extended powers given to local bodies to prevent Government from being accused of ‘jobbery,’ or favoritism. Under this Act money was administered automatically, but if it had to be placed on the estimates, the result would be that Government would he accused of‘jobbery,’ Ho never knew a Government who had to retrench, and at the same time impose heavy taxation, to remain in office so long, and it spoke -well for the people that they had submitted to the taxation. Mr Montgomery contended that railways improved the land to an extent that it would be right to tax it, but he (Major Atkinson) held that merchants had grown rich, and laborers had acquired money to buy farms and that all were benefited. There were £30,000,000 borrowed on land, and he held the lenders were the real owners and should not escape. He agreed with Mr Montgomery that the State should share in the gain of the owner of property through which a railway was made, and he saw no reason why that plan shouid not be adopted in future. The proposal to impose a rale to make up a deficiency in railway revenue was unfair, because railways were often made as a public policy though thinly populated districts to connect rich ones. The advantages of railways were not thoroughly appreciated. The saving in the cost of haulage last year was £1,500,000 and the saving to passengers between £300,000 and £400,000 to what it would cost them if they had to carry their goods or travel by some other means. It was absurd, because the interest on the cost of railways was £500,000, of which only £350,000 was covered by the returns from the railways, to say that therefore the colony lost £150,000 and that particular districts must be taxed to make up the amount. He was anxious that taxation should be fair, and the more he saw of the Property Tax the fairer it appeared to him. The revenue for the past year was greater than estimated and the expenditure less, so the position was satisfactory. A million a year would be spent on public works for three years, aud he appealed to the country to assist the Government in carrying j out the main trunk line through the 1 North Island. The Minister of Lands had taken a great deal of pains in connection with this question, and had devoted a great deal of time, energy and knowledge to it. 3e had done more than any other man had ever done in regard to these lands. Since June, 1879, 35,000 deferred payment settlers had been put on 366,000 acrea —sure'y a satisfactory result. There were 42.000 acres set apart under the system of perpetual leasing, for the purpose of trying the experiment of % new system of land tenure. There wore grave scandals in connection with native lands and the Nave Land Courts, and there was no doubt that steps would have to be taken by Parliament to remedy some of the evils. It would be necessary to consider what the natives really desired, and how the country could be settled with fairness to both races. There would be a difficulty in doing tins, because it might not be possible to do what was thought right, and because the natives might not look at matters in the same light as the Europeans, and their wishes must be consulted. The policy of the Government would in future be as liberal and progressive as hitherto. Public works would be carried on and local bodies made more independent, and the firmness of Mr Bryce would soon end the native difficulty. There would be the Abolition of Eniail and Settlement Bill, a Bankruptcy Bill, and a Bill to deal with married women’s property on the same lines as the English law. There would be a number of other Bills to which he need not specially refer, in continuation of the policy of last session. ' Whatever , might be the result, eofar as the Government itself was concerned, a large amount of useful .work was sure'to be gone through.

but a great deal must depend on the position which the Opposition took up. Mr Montgomery had objected to his southern tour, and had charged him with fishing for a policy. If fishing for a policy meant endeavoring to guide and construe public opinion by public discussion, by personal observation, by ascertaining what were the wants of the people, and endeavoring to give effect to them, then he pleaded guilty, and should always be found fishing for a policy in that sense. He concluded by stating that the Government, would be fully prepared for Mr Montgomery, and that it was intended to make the Session as short as possible. In reply to a question, he stated the Government had no intention of changing the constitution of the Upper House. A vote of confidence in him was carried.