The Treasurer before his Constituents.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3816, 22 March 1881, Page 2

The Treasurer before his Constituents.

(Pee Pjress Association.)

Wellington, This day

Major Atkinson ■ addressed a large meeting of his constituents at Patea last night. After reviewing the position of colonial affairs when the present Ministry took office, he took credit for tbe retrenchment policy, which had reduced the expenditure from £110,000 to between £60,000 and £70,000 per week. Fresh taxation they had, however, found inevitable, and at considerable length he defended the form in which they imposed it. The increased customs duties had not brought any increase to the total revenue, and he gave reasons for preferring the property tax to a land or income tax. The property tax had certainly, so far, been costly, but if, during the coming session, the House would determine that the general valuation might be used by the local bodies for the purpose of taxation, the property tax would, in future, be collected cheaply, say at a cost not more than three per cent. While he regretted the[necessity for taxation, he said we were bound to provide for our liabilities, and the imposition of taxation had done an immense good in creating a more lively interest in political affairs, and in drawing the attention of. the people to the public expenditure and Dromoting economy. The general results of the year promised to be satisfactory. He hoped the revenue would quite cover the expenditure—no small achievement, seeing that twelve or eighteen months ago there was a deficit of £900,000. He believed he could assure the colony that the Government had retrenched to the extent of £252,000. As to the public works, the only policy open for the Government, owing to the large commitments by their predecessors, was to carry out works initiated by them where the Government saw there was likely to be an immediate return, so that they might be in a position to complete the other main lines' in the colony. They had been, however, obliged to stop many works which otherwise they would have liked to go on with, but they had endeavored to act fairly to all. The policy for the future would be a steady continuance in this 1 mode of action. He | denied that the withdrawal of the subsidies was any breach of faith to the local bodies. The Government had made them fair and equitable proposals last year. He thought the present law gave sufficient powers to local self-government, and expressed regret at Mr Bryce's resignation. He said the reason was as published, that Mr Bryce advocated more vigorous measures than the Cabinet could approve of. There was nothing else behind. The Government would continue its firm pacific treatment, and he anticipated Sir Wm. Fox would effect a complete and satisfactory settlement. As soon as Sir Wm. Fox had divided the laud among the different hapus, it would be the duty of the Government, probably by act of Parliament, to make regulations by which the natives would be able to deal with the land either by selling or leasing as might be necessary, and the settlement of the country would be thus furthered. The waste lands administration had been successful, for since Mr Rolleston had taken office last October twelve months, he had opened up some 242,000 acres of land, of which 186,000 had been sold upon deferred payments or under the homestead system, or for cash. Regarding future prospects, with ordinary prudence all would bo well, the burdens were heavy but he believed the colony was able to bear them with tolerable, ease. He looked forward to.a revival of the nominated immigration. With regard to the coming session, he should like to see the House look carefully into the finances, that retrenchment had been read and that the finance was secured on a firm, basis.

That would be a great work, and if in addition, the House passed the necessary .Representation Act Bill, a Charitable Aid and Hospitals Bill, and a Licensing Bill, he should think the session by no means barren. What the country wanted was careful administration and very little legislation. As to public works, he hoped an effort would be made to go on with the main arterial lines, but as far as lines to suit particular districts, he thought the past policy of the Government had been prudent and reasonable and would be supported by the people irrespective of local considerations. If the country would accept this view and proceed steadily and cautiously, he had no doubt that the future prosperity would be even greater than that which they had already passed through. Regarding education, he declared it would be unwise in any way to alter the present act uutil after the general election enabled the people to express opinions on the subject, personally he,had always favored a limited denomiuationalism, and he thought the Catholics had a claim to a special concession. Amidst some confusion a vote of confidence was declared carried.