The Maikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2683, 8 June 1889, Page 2

The Maikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1889.

Looking carefully at the speech delivered at Queenstown by the Defence Minister, we are not inclined to tre.it it in an adverse or unfriendly spirit. The tone of Mr Fergus' address is reassuring and in keeping with the improved circumstances of the colony. Much has taken place during the past twelve months to drive n,wav the "doleful dumps" to which New Zealand had become a prey, and to produce such a degree ot reaoimation in all our industries and general prospects as to have infused quite a new life into the people. The years of depression, and the discontent which arose therefrom, have been steadily giving j>l :ici: lo Irc.de revival, and a putting aside fill political bickerings for activity ;ind at.toiitiou in the more practical business of life. This improvement is due to many exterior i.nHuences, besides the firm stand the people resolved to take to pill, an end 'o the insane extravaIV, nre and loose administration of the past. It may not be altogether due to the present Government that this change has come to pass; we do not tii ink it is so, But, they are entitled to claim all they can for thoir policy, which in truth is, in a great measure, tho policy pressed upon them by the consistencies. There is this in it that it has been the first divergence of tho coach to the I path of honest Govonimont that had been so long forsaken. That

tho ribbons wero entrusted to tho Atkinson Ministry is something they can be credited with, though the}' have no doubt swerved somewhat on the road. Tho goal of honest Grovernm int has not yet been reached; much ground "has still to be travelled ovor before we come near that destination. Mr Fergus, for instance, claims so much success for the administration of which he is a member, that he assures the public a large, proportion of the deficit has been paid off, and a credit balance of £22,000 carried over to the current year. That is not honest. We have before shown that the Government's boast of a surplus is a false assumption ; there is no true surplus, on the contrary, there is a large deficit on the over-sanguine estimate of revenue of the Colonial Treasurer. Savings on votes withheld from expenditure are not surplus, cannot be taken into calculation as proof of the recuperation the colony, nor as proof of of good government. Savings, however, off. cted, should rest on their own merit. It is the curse of the system of party government into which we have fallen, that every Ministry, be they ever so well-intentioned, are seduced into juggling with figures to give a high colour to the state of our finances. They do so for party purposes to secure the utmost meed of credit to themselves, and retain their seats. 'I he country is heartily sick of party politics and the hocuspocus they give rise to. The country desires honest government and bold men to administer it; it wishes the wretched practices of the past to be thrown entirely aside, and if Sir H. A. Atkinson and his colleagues will rise above party considerations, take the country into their full confidence, give a plain unvarnished account of our financial position, however ugly it may be, they will strengthen public opinion in their favour. Let them govern for the country's good, uninfluenced by party fee'ing ; let tlieni come down with a firm policy to secure economy, a reduction in general taxation, and a stop to the strain upon the country's industry caused by the interest on the d lit, and the people will support them. It is measures we need as well as the men to carry them out; of party warfare we wish to see no more.

It is satisfactory to be tokl the Government will adhere to the lino of policy approved l>y the country in pursuing the work of reorganising the Civil Service, and that they will permit no interference with the Representation Act, .vhich reduces the Assembly to seventy-four members. These measures are absolutely indispensible before the scheme of retrenchment can be considered complete. In, this respect it is a matter for regret that the Ministry fear to reduce the costly expenditure for State education, or to propose any alteration in its administration. The colony is in the same position as that of a country squire with sons at Eton, where they are receiving the highest educational advantages he can give them. But a tims of reverses arrives, his income falls low and his debt embarrass him ; consequently he has to cut down all expenditure, take his boys from .liton and give them a loss ambitious scholastic training. It is not a question of whether we are proud of our school system, but whether we can afford to expend nearly half a million upon it, It is full time some decided action was taken to purge the Legislature of many glaring abases ; and this appears to be recognised by Government, if the statement made bv Mr Fergus is to be construed as pointing in that direction. We require some course to be adopted to ensure us legislation of a superior quality in place of the imperfect and ill-constructed measures we are treated to in such quantities each session. But, whether the time is ripe for the suggested reform in the Upper llouso, is open to doubt. The Legislative Council has of lato years done the country good service in checking abuses and hasty, corrupt p;n*ty legislation ; therefore, we are inclined to think that body lias not yet forfeitod the eonlideuco of the people.

Notwithstanding the carping sneers of Sir Robert Stout or tlio captious criticisms of Mr Ballauce, the Government can claim more for their land policy than either of those gentlemen in their tiino. It is triio Mr Ballance laid tho foundation of tho present policy, but he conferred special benefit only on a particular class. Now, the Act offers advantages to the wholo peoplo, and a greater impetus has been given to settlement in the past year than has been witnessed for many years past. It only needs a judicious manipulation of the railways to confer the fullest encouragement to tile progress of land settlement, by which the conditions of the wholo colony will be changed for the better. The proposals to amend the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board Act, the burden of which is fast becoming as heavy as tho cost of education, are certain to be favourably met by public opinion. There is evidently an object in them aiming at decentralisation. We have often advocated increased powers to local bodies, more particularly the County Councils, to whom should be entrusted the administration of these Acts, as well as the care of educational and other requirements within their own areas.