THE PREMIER AT HAWERA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1847, 31 January 1889, Page 4

THE PREMIER AT HAWERA.

Haweua, Jan. 28. The Hon. the Premier, Sir Harry Atkinson, addressed his constituents at Hawera this evening. Ho commenced with a retrospect, by referring to the defeat of the bte Government in the recent election, and the advent of the present Government, wtiich he said took office under conditions so extraordinary that uo man would have submitted to them wereifc not for the extraordinary circumstances prevailing at Ihe time. He recapitulated th« proposals of tha Government to equalise the revenue and the expenditure, claiming credit for having reduced the estimates by £230,000, and raising the revenue necessary to mike up the deficit. He defended the tariff imposition, and said that there was no question of f reef rode and protection at issue in a propo« 1 to raise the duties from 15 to 25 per cent. The Government and a majority of tin House had to consider how the uecess try revenue could be raised irrespective of abstract theories. The •qudisatiou of tbe recenuo and the expenditure was not sufficient to put the country on its legs. Government favoured modified immigration) but he did not ugree to it. Government fead decided to give the people a choice of tenure as a means of inducing persons to take up land, and the Land Act had worked very well. Figures showed that leasehold tenure was most favoured. Village homestead settlemsnt had bfeen successful where land was good and settlers were not put too close together and could got employment; but in other cases settlement had not been a great success. Government hud now to consider what should bo done in fresli cases. Referring to the rejection of the vote of £20,000 for ourchasiu.g private lands for settlement purposes, ho sai;i another proposal in tho same diroction would possibly be made next session, if lie thought with a careful reduction that it would be wise to mnke purchasers to extend the village settlement scheme, and in some cases to give advances. He regretted the loss of the Fair Rent Bill, and yet hoped that Bome such measuro would p*ss, He heped and believed that 'he Midland Railway Compauy would succesaf u ly raise the required capital. If it did not Government would hove to consider what would have to ha done. He described the native land legislation of last session, and paid that it would bo necessary to make provision for Government purchases of native lands. He spoke at length of the Government Railways Act, aod the appointment of Commissioners. The Agent-General had found it impossible to get an ideal man at Home, or aoy man suitable for the position, and Government were forced to look in the colony for the bast available # Mr McKerrow, from the way he had man. ugod a largo department, from hi g

extensive general knowledge of the colony and its wants ; his sympathy with the settlers ; his firmness of opinion ; yet sauvity in sayir.g " No," when " No ' had to he said, whs considered mo3t suitable, and his appointment followed out the best traditions of English management, where the general manuger, being acquainted with what the public wanted, had the power of representing to the experts, and requiring from thera a service which would be satisfactory to the public. The Premier justified the appointment of Mr Maxwell and Mr Hannay as those of men who in spite of oatcries had managed the railways well. He declared that the now Houhs must be elected with a reduced number of members, that part of the general scheme relating to tho " rules of procedure' would be brought forward next session, and means taken to secure consideration of them. \ Bill to amend Hospitals and Charitable Aid Boards would, he hoped, be circulated before the session. Tho settlement difficulty would be got rid of by making the cost of absolute paupers a charge on the whole colony. He considered that cases were ■being thrown on counties and boroughs which ought not to be, and he hoped that private benevolence would be received sufficient to meet the cases. Hospitals might be supported by the locality in which they wore situated, or as separate institutions. The experiment would be tried of an industrial farm on which paupars might become more or less self-supporting. In tho civil service a proposal wouid be brought forward to limit the number of employees in each department, and if possible make provision for retiring allowances, by deducting a portion of the salary with a contribution fro-n the colony. The present condition of the colony was hop*ful, and there was every prospect of good times. But ooe thing to be prayed for was the delivery fro.-n a " boom," for it might do more harm than the depression had done. Government favored the promotion of land settlement, and were in sympathy with the mining industry, which was in a hopeful state. He believed that the revenue and expenditure for the year would about balance, though it may not pay off any of their debt.