AN INTER SESSIONAL SPEECH.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 298, 7 June 1898, Page 4

AN INTER SESSIONAL SPEECH.

+ MR G. HUTCHESON AT WAITOTARA. On May 80th Mr G. Hutoheion addressed his constituents at Waitotava. By some mistake the Press Association had not made proper arrangements for the publication of his speech throughout the colony. The following is a digest : NATIVE LAND LEGISLATION may be considered a branch of the land Eolioy of the Government, but it has •en treated as a thing apart—as something specially reserved for the destructive genius of Mr Seddon. It was not enough that ho stopped all dealings between Europeans and natives, tempered with a few amendments to serve the private interests of his friends, but he has boasted that he has bought 2,250,000 aores, in round numbers, mostly at very low prices. Now that he haß stripped the natives of nearly all their land, he declares that further sales should cease, and that such land as may yet be available shall only be leased. That is to say, the Government, having gorged itself, and made any number of natives landless, the public may now come in for the remainder, but they shall not buy, they shall only lease. Characteristically, Mr Seddon deolares everyone opposed to his policy as "land-sharks," "landgrabbers, and " pakeha-Maoris." FINANSH has never been a strong point with the Government. Its accounts have been a puzzle to themselves and everyoneelse, and will probably remain so until an independent audit can be made. The Premier, who is Colonial Treasurer, in addition to many other offices, has lately been declaring a half-a-million surplus on the transactions of the last financial year, which closed on Maroh 31. If this were true he ought to be ashamed of himself. No financier would consider it any credit to extract an unnecessary £500,000 from 750,000 people. But it is not true in the sense indicated. Since the flush of prosperity in 1891 there has been a considerable sum carried forward each year, and each year this balance, with sundry amounts either unspent or not brought to account, has gone to make up a surplus. So far as it is safe to surmise, where nothing definite is allowed to be known, there is on our various accounts not a Burplus but a deficiency. And the most convincing Sroof of this ia the continual increase of ebt. By jugglery of figures and accounts the true financial position is ■ought to be disguised, but the fact remains that every year more interest has to be paid.

WHAT OF THE FUTURE ? Much ia possible—much is necessary, to give scope to the productive energies of the oolony. The Opposition have often enough bean twitted for not proclaiming a policy. A change would in itself be good, bat something else may be expected to pat things on a proper basis of industrial expansion, Five or six planks might safely be put down as forming part of the platform of the Opposition if they had the opportunity of serving the country. I.—RETRENCHMENT. Th Civil Service is over-run with Ministerial parasites. These should be swept away as a sanitary precaution. Scores of adherents have been foisted on the publio to act as political touts and spies. The Seddonian system of co operative works is full of this sort of thing. Fancy, only the other day a competent workman being refused employment because he was not a " supporter," and such things occur on every co-operative job. Withdraw the political element and the system Would not survive six months. (Hear, hear). lI.—LAND REFORM. The widest ohoice of selection should be given, with freehold in sight of all. The Minister who would condemn colonists to a tenure that stipulates for five per cent,, or even four per cent, being paid on capital value fixed at the beginning of a term extending over 999 years, or even a twentieth part of the time, is nothing better than a political highwayman who steals the pistol that he loads at the expense of his victim. (Applause). lII.— BEDUCTION OF TAXATION". This would to some extent result from retrenchment, but should be pressed much further in lowering the duties on all imports which contribute to the development of the natural industries of the colony—a real adjustment of duties is what is required, and not a perplexed and dishonest revision of the tariff like that of 1895, when large increases were imposed under the guise of removing anomalies. IV. —REFORM IN PUBLIC WORKS It is necessary for purity in politics, as well as economy, that the present secret ssrvice votes for so-called public works should pass from the personal control of Ministers. The long delayed extension of local government powers should be realised. Any extension of local independence is, of course, opposed to the centralisation of power which is so favoured by Ministers as a means of patronage. V.—INDEPENDENCE OF THE BENCH. Nothing has been more shameful than the abuse and attempted intimidation of Judges and Magistrates by Ministers. A strong judiciary is one of the best safe • guards of freedom. The need of such a reform has received unfortunate prominence from the scurrilous attacks on ocenpants of the Bench by Mr McKenzie, the Minister of Lands. Two sessions ago, when reference was being made in the House to certain decisions of the Judge of the Assessment Court, dealing with some valuations on the notorious Pomohaka Estate, Mr McKenzie interjected that the decisions were those of " a fool of a magistrate." And yet that magistrate had been appointed while the present party was in power, and Mr Ballance was Premier ; but as the magistrate had dared to be independent he ] was subjected to insult in this way. As showing how resentment is kept up and allowed to interfere with the administration of justice, this same magistrate has within the last month or two not been allowed to sit as judge of the Valuation Court in his own district, which has for the purpose of tho Assessment Courts under the new Valuation Act, been divided up among magistrates from other districts. This is bad enough, but last session Mr McKenzie surpassed himself in vulpitude by slandering District Judge Kettle, who in the exercise of his duty had suspended for three years the discharge of a bankrupt who was afterwards selected as a valuer by Mr McKenzie, When the appointment was being criticised last session, Mr McKenzie declared that the decision of the judge was corrupt and that he was " the tool of a bank." (Shame). It is understood that, once the Premier got the subject over the session, the Government intimated by letter to the judge that they were satisfied there was no ground for the imputation. In the circumstances two things may be expected early next session, if Mr Seddon and Mr McKenzie desire to be considered honourable men. The Premier ehould produce the correspondence, aud the Minister of Lands should publicly apologise for the unfounded slander he published. (Hear, hear). VI.—BOCIAL REFOBM. It has been cant of the present Government, in the intervals of beine liberal to themselves, to profess especial concern tor the Labour vote. No policy can be complete, no party secure, that does not recognise the claims of labour to the fullest opportunities for advancement. There should be a fair field and no favour. Skill and energy want no more and should have no less, but the itch of discontent with which the present Ministry has sought to infect the labouring population for the purpose

ot selling their nostrums, has bonafited none bo much as the agitators. (Hear, hear). After a few questions had been disposed of the meeting closed with the usual complimentary votes.