MAJOR ATKINSON AT HAWERA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1609, 19 July 1887, Page 4

MAJOR ATKINSON AT HAWERA.

Major Atkinson addressed his constituents at Hawera on Friday evening last. He estimated the deficiency on the present basis of revenue and expenditm® at £210,000 or £230,000. He blamed the

Government for not hvving fulfilled their pledge to reduce the expenditure. Their retrenchments simply consisted of cutting off expenditure in one department and putting it on to others. The demand for fresh taxation was evidence that the Government had been extravagant. Further evidence was that, after declaring that the estimates were as low as possible, the Government now, when face to face with their constituents, declared that a week’s consideration enabled them to see where they could save £IOO,OOO and more. Tho real issue was not Freetrade or Protection, or a graduated property tax, but retrenchment before taxation. He opposed a graduated property tax as liable to prevent the influx of capita 1 . As to public works, borrowing must be curtailed, but could not be stopped entirely until arrangements could be made to put buildings and other works on the consolidated

revenue. But this must begin at once, and the amount spent in this way largely reduced. He took credit to the Opposition for forcing the Government to reduce the public works expenditure during the last two or three years, instancing Captain Russell's motion, from which the disasters freely predicted by Ministers had not followed. He condemned the action of tho Government in practically stopping cash land sales, for while he approved of the deferred payment and perpetual lease systems, he did not approve of finance being disturbed by them. The land fund

had gone to leeward by £304,000 since he left office, and this irrespective of village settlement expenditure. He condemned village settlement as carried out by the Government, and particularly Mr Ballance’s action in reference to his justi-. fying his excessive expenditure. He approved of Sir George Grey’s Land for Settlement rather than the Government Land Acquisition Bill, and though not pledging himself to either, would be glad to see the subject considered. Ho should approve of a reduction of th® cost of education, provided that there were no material interference with the education given to the children. Ho would reduce th® salary of tho nest Governor, reduce Ministers’ salaries by 20 per cent, the Council’s honorarium to £IOO, and the House honorarium to £l5O, and reduce

the salaries of the entire service to rates commensurate with the present means of the colony. The whole scale of expenditure must be lowered, and people must be prepared to put up with fewer convenience. The Customs tariff and addi-

tional taxation, where necessary most be revised, first in the interests of revenue, next in those of the consumer, and thirdly in those of the manufacturer. The colony was quite sound, but the greatest care was necessary.

The meeting lasted till long after midnight, and after « long discussion about the Stratford railway and other local matters, a motion of thanks was negatived by 64 to 54 in favor of a vote of no-confidence.