POLICY QUESTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1694, 10 March 1906, Page 2

POLICY QUESTIONS.

THE PREMIER ON FISCAL

MATTERS.

''' NEW HEBRIDES AFFAIR,^

(Per Press Association.) Auckland, last night. Speaking at Te : Aroha last night the Premier, referring to : taxation, said it sboold be on a basis of equa'ity of saorifioe, but the Opposition put it in larger propoition relatively on ' the poor, settlers. All improvements wore taxed. Farmers wore now boginniag to realise that their best friends were the Liberal Government. Dealing with o'ose ssttlemant they must still go on taking large estates and opening Crown lands. ' V •. v

Referring to finanoial mat’ers, the P.emier said that the returns showed that they were, taking too much from the people. Therefore, he hoped that’ next Parliament would ’authorise a reduction of indirect taxation. If money was wanted they should increase the graduated land lax. ,i

The Premier regretted that the Opposi-; tion had aftaoked tbs credit of the colony, but. was glad ’-that'’New Zealand stocks were .recently, the highest quoted of the whole, of .the Australasian colonies. To be fair the Opposition should admit that the return of the present Government to power had caused stocks to rise.

Referring to the New Hebridos question the Premier said he was afraid that some day Britain would b 9 givitig Franoa the New Hebrides, and for that reason he did not think a proteotora'e would be an I advantage to Britain or this colony. Personally he preferred administration of some of the New Hebrides islands by the French and some' by’ the B.itisb, rather than a joint protectorate over the group. He trusted that the present entente oor-. idiale would, continue, but it was better never to run any tfek of strained relatione. In future every opportunity .should be embraced to bring those islands into the empire. 1 A G,eater New Zsaiand was the settled policy of the Liberal party.