THE OPINIONS OF MR SAUNDERS, M.H.R.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 603, 25 October 1880, Page 2

THE OPINIONS OF MR SAUNDERS, M.H.R.

Oil Tuesday last Mr Saunders, member for Cheviot, addressed a largely-atttended meeting of his constituents. He said though he had been elected on the Grey ticket, yet, when he enquired into matters, he found that Sir George Grey's protestations of practising rigid economy and woiking reform amounted to mere moonshine, and that instead of practising what he preached he was actually engaged in most extravagant and iniquitous proceedings. He (Mr Saunders), in changing sides, had not changed his opinions. He then proceeded at some length to urge that the late Government had not merely mismanaged the affairs of the Colony, but by their maladministration the worst possible evil had been done to the Colony by Grey, Sheehan, and Macandrew. He supported these charges by reading extracts from speeches, made in the House, and papers laid on the table. He then proceeded to say that extravhgant as former Governments had been, none had approached the Grey Government. He did not say money had never been spent so uselessly, but certainly never for such vile purposes as had been done by the late Government. Speaking of them in their public capacity, they might vulgarly be called the three R.'s and three F.'s. Grey surrounded himself with two men destitute of principles, and three devoid of brains for his purposes.' He hadio have three men who at least bore the character of being honest, but he (the speaker) did not think they knew how the money was beinsr spent. Grey squandered money for the purpose of rewarding friends and favorites, Macandrew to satisfy toadies, Sheehan to satisfy himself, and though his expenditure was not in some instances so damaging to the country as that of his colleagues, it was less creditable to himself. He endeavored to show the fallacy of the idea that Mr Sheehan was so honest as a public man as was asserted by his friends. Ho thought that the crushing debt the Colony was now groaning under, and likely to continue for a century, which was brought about by the reckless extravagance of the late Government was sufficient reason for his withdrawing his allegiance from them, and supporting the Hall party. He did not altogether believe in Major Atkinson's policy, and could not see eye to eye with him. There was no man in the House or country who knew finance as he did, or could talk finance as he did, yet he had not that acquaintance with political economy which would satisfy him (Mr Saunders). Though he supported the present Government, its chief was one of a class he had always opposed, the Premier having been first a large runholder and now a large landowner. Ho had in his early days been prejudiced against Mr Hall, but he believed now that there was not a more honorable, conscientious, and hard-working man than the present Promier, who worked like a slave in small matters, yet did not grasp larger subjects as he should do, too much time being devoted to minor affairs, which ought to be handed over to men of smaller intellect, so as to leave him free for a larger sphere of work. Mr Bryce was a good commonbciiso man, of strictly honorable principles and truth. There was no more intelligent, hard-working man than Mr Rolles•ton, who was somewhat, eccentric, and made mistakes in judgment, but was honest.' The Minister for Public Works was the weakest man in the Government, and held the place where the strongest should be. He was bitterly disappointed with the Public Works Statement. After Mr Oliver had obtained so much information from the Civil Service and Railway Commissioners' reports, they expected something approaching what might reasonably have been looked for. Mr Dick had for twenty yeais been regarded as a Radical man. Referring to the Property Tax, ho thought cows' and sheep, up to 1000, and agricultural implements, should bo oxempt from all possiblo taxation if the'country was to be extricated from its present position. He told the Treasurer if this wcro not done they would soon have no one in the country to tax, He thought if tho country was to hold its own amongst the nations of the world it must continue tho education vote. Their children must be educated if they were to make any headway in the world. He took an extremely gloomy view of the financial position of the Colony, and though ho did not wish to appear an alarmist, he feared they might have to repudiate their debts, and the country be brought into disgrace, and colonists be afraid to show their faces to honest men, The following resolution was unanimously carried :—" The meeting desires to thank Mr Saunders for his address, and the great service he has rendered the Colony as chairman of the Civil Service Commission, and in the House of Representatives, and assures him he possesses tho entiro confidence of the electors."