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THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1880.

Me John Hall, M.H.E. for Selwyn, and Premier of New Zealand, in his speech delivered a few days ago at Leeston, spoke emphatically on the necessity of observing strict economy during the present equivocal position of the Colony. When the present Government gained office they did not make absurd promises of making a saving of £100,000 or £150,000 in the expenditure like other Governments had done. Being a little more -sensible of what was possible, and more desirous o*f acting up to their professions, .the Hall Government did not burden themselves with any promises which they could not fully carry out. They only agreed to look the existing difficulty straight in the face, and see iv what they could remedy the evils which now beset the Colony. They were quite aware of the absurdity of making a promise to save large quantities of money, and consequently refrained from compromising themselves. After referring to the saving effected by the Minister of Public Works on train mileage, the Premier goes on to say that he has been making reductions in the Postal and Telegraph Departments. There are many employees in the telegraph which could be done without as well as many of the small offices which do not pay their working expenses. It is a regrettable fact and one which does not redound to the credit of tie late Public Works policy that two thirds of the telegraph offices do not pay. Mr Hall intends excising a gcodly number of these profitless institutions. There is certainly room for the exercise of wise discretion, as it will not do to lose money for the sake of just accommodating a score or so of settlers who contribute on the average, say onefifth of the expenses of the telegraph station—leaving the colony to bear the cost of the other four-fifths. This will in time prove a most serious item, and the sooner such institutions are closed the better. If the colony bad money to spare it would be tout un outre chose, but in the present state of colonial finance this extra expenditure must be done without, even at the expense of the settlers, whom it benefits.

The Premier goes on to speak of the extravagance of the late Government in the Native Office. He says:—

The Natives came to our m^tirig*, listened to our speeches, eat our food, but gave nothing whatever in return. Their plan lor dealing with Natives seemed to have been founded upon an idea that they must lie treated in an exceptional manner, and not anything like Europeans. The Native expenditure during the past three years has been rapidly increasing, while the number of Natives, as we understand, has been diminishing. . . . Not only has money been thus wasted, raised by taxation from the people of this colony, but it has had the effect of training the Natives to spend their time in loafing, to depend upon the Government for assistance, contracting habits of idleness. In short, it has been petting, pampering, and pauperising the Natives, and ■ incurring extravagant expenditure for the purpose. (Cheers.) The policy of the present Government can be put in a few words, namely, as much as possible to let, the Natives alone. ... •'.' Our object is to teach the Natives as speedily as possible that they must submit to be governed by the same laws and rules as their European fellow subjects. So far as it has yet been able to be carried out, this policy has been successful; we believe that the Natives respect a Government for acting in this manner more than they did before.

He concluded by eulogising Mr Bryce for his efforts in connection with the cutting down of the expenses in the Native Department. His strictures, on the reckless extravagance of the late Government are very reasonable, and the efforts of his Government to bring about a permanent settlement of the Native difficulty are worthy of the admiration of all those who claim to be interested in the welfare of their country. Mr Hall's speech affords a marked contrast to those lately delivered by a prominent member of the Grey administration, as it is the outcome of a brain well tutored in business matters, and having the advantage of practical reasoning powers in place of oratorical rhapsody.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THS18800601.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3566, 1 June 1880, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
729

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1880. Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3566, 1 June 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi. TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1880. Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3566, 1 June 1880, Page 2

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