The Attorney-General and his Constituents.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2933, 10 July 1878, Page 2

The Attorney-General and his Constituents.

The Attorney-General addressed his' constituents last night, and gave a brief sketch of the Government policy fron? his view point. Some of his colleagues have displayed in their utterances the faci that there is a decided element of incongruity in the constitution of the Ministry, but Mr Stout,, with legal astuteness, appears to have confined himself to the cardinal points of the ministerial programme, rather than indulge his fancy in tickling the ears of his audience with, hopes of a political millennium through the advent to power of his party. He made an attempt to justify ministers for tak:ng the land fund—a sore point with the ultra provincialists of Dunedin. The justification, however, seems to have been of a negative character. If the present Ministry had not accedud to power, the land fund would have been taken all the same. Jhe three points of tbe Government policy were defined by Mr Stout as (1) administrative reform, (2) electoral reform, and (3) taxation reform. In carrying out administrative reform, reduction of the expenses of Government, decentralization of governing functions, and amalgamation of offices would be kept in view, the third item being necessary to carry out tli-3 first and second. In electoral reform, plurality of voting in Counties and municipalities is threatened ; in res* pect of representation in Parliament, an alteration in the franchise and registration am intended. With regard to plurality of voting in Counties and Municipalities, we believe the Government will have a powerful opposition if they attempt to abolish it. In the matter of electing representatives to ■ expend money collected as local rates, those who pay most, it appears only reasonable, should have the most to say. Plurality of voting, however, has been a bete noir of Sir George Grey's, and he will try to have it abolished. A further measure of electoral reform—an advanced idea—is indicated, namely to pass a stringent Bribery Bill, close public houses on election days and, prohibit the employment of cabs. These things may be brought about by the large majority at the baci: of the present administration, but we ai*e doubtirl if they are advisable or expedient. The system of taxation reform is not very lucidly explained in the telegraphic precis of Mr Stout's address, but we have already been informed by his several colleagues that in imposing a land and property tax the intention is to adjust the burden of taxation so that it will not press unequally upon the working classes.