THE PREMIER AT MARTON

Temuka Leader, Issue 1565, 15 March 1887, Page 3

THE PREMIER AT MARTON

In response to a requisition, the Premier spoke at Marton on Friday night. There was a good attendance, and the Mayrr occupied the chair. On the platform were the members for the district, the Minister for Lands, Mr Bryce, M.H.R., and a number of the members e£ the local bodies. The Premier explained at some length the reason of his appearance before them. He pointed out the want of political education amongst the people, The party lines which were so clearly defined in England were un- . known here. He claimed to be a Hadical ib politics, and proceeded to justify the conduct of the Government as a progressive Government. He defended the action of the Government in regard to the Native Question. He maintained that when the Government came into office there was universal discontent amongst the Maoris. The present Ministry had treated the Maoris like white men. They had put a stop to trafficking in Native lands by Maori “ doctors.” He went at length into the Native Land Administration Bdl. He justified the “one policeman ’’ policy and contended that it was a success. He said that this was the policy which he, as Attorney-General, advised in 1879. He said that from the North • Cape to the Bluff the Maoris were in nine |T) cases out of ten in favor of the Governf ment. There was now a feeling of satisfaction which had never before been obtained. He said that he was an unflinching advocate of the perpetual leasing system. He thought that it would have been infinitely better for tho farmer had the State been the sole landlord from the beginning. He explained the action of the Ministry in the direction of perpetual leasing. Ho asserted that the village settlement scheme was the best means of meeting the unemployed difficulty, and claimed that it had already been fairly successful, and he instanced the history of Ireland to prove that the laud question ,was at the root of all disturbance there. ' Sir Robert next touched on the question ' , of local government, and expressed himself as an ont-and-oot provincialiat. He , 1 defended the Hospital and Charitable Aid t,- Act with considerable warmth, and entered into details. Sir Robert made an eloquent appeal to the intelligence of the electors in fayor of political education imparted by local governing bodies ol various kinds. Me next turned to the question of taxation and championed £ land tax as against a property tax. He proceeded to the vexed question of pro tcction versus free trade. New Zcalanr had already ad valorem duties whiol yielded sixteen and a-half per cent, henct she could hardly be called a free-tradi colony. He went at length into th< duties of the State, and maintained tha the State had just as much right to assis manufactures as it had to assist in educa tion or making roads. Touching oi political reform be asserted the timi would come at no distant date when thi Legislative Council might be safel; abolished. He was opposed to th< elective system of tha Upper House, am would restrict the nomination system to •JT term of 7 yea's. The speaker fiexfc wen " ~ on to explain the history of the Bepre sentation Bill and justified atconsiderabl length the action of the Ministry. H maintained that population was the onl; proper basis of representation, and h would do his utmost to get the represents Hon Bill passed next session. He hel r- that the true theory was that one ma was as good as another. Dealing with ac ministration he held that his Ministry ha reduced the expenditure on public worl ,b*r about a hundred thousand a yea justified the action of the Ministry i Regard to the abolition of the sinking funi and though the sinking fund abolitic bad done nothing to reduce the price <

New Zealand securities, still it was the duty of the Government to proceed in as economical a manner as possible. The policy of the Ministry was one of strici economy. He explained the action of the Ministry in regard to the civil service, and wound up with an eloquent appeal in favor of a policy of economy and self-reliance. Sir Hubert resumed his seat amidst applause. On the motion of Mr Bruce, seconded by ;ir Milne, a vote of thanks was accorded unanimously.