THE PREMIER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 291, 8 December 1893, Page 3

THE PREMIER.

AN IMPORTANT SPEECH. THE RAILWAYS AND THE LEGIS* LATIVE COUNCIL. INTENTIONS "oF THE GOVERNMENT. (BY TELEGKAPIT.—PKKS3 ASSOCIATION ) ,' Mastmkton, this day.

At a banquet to the Premier last nighty aboub 100 guests were present.' Mr Hogg, M.H.R., was in the chair. A large number of ladies were present. Tho Premier, replying to the toa6t of the Ministry, said tho highesb legal authorities had informed the Government since tho close of the ees« aionthat theycould appoint whom they liked when the present Railway Commissioners 1 term expired. He would not say whom the Government would appoint, but, in hia opinion, one of the members of the Board should occupy a scab in the House, and the railway lines should be used in aiding settlement. He never abused or found fault with people, but wished to say thab tho Commissioners Lad mistaken the intention of the public works policy of tha Government. Workmen in the lower grades had been unduly dominated by tha higher officers. The press had never noticed that since the appointment of the Railway Commissioners three inner circles had grown up aparb from the Govern* ment; Ist, a separate audit system of railways, apart from the audib Bystem of the colony ; Sad, a locomotive branch ; 3rd, a traffic department. The elections showed that the country wanted a change, and the Government would try to carry out the wishes of the colony. He was nob prepared to say what the Governmenb intended to do with reepect to the Legislative Council appointments, but did nob mind telling them ib was recognised by the Government) that the farm* ing community was not sufficiently represented, also that they had the anomaly - of men sitting side by side, some for a period and some fer life. The only fair i course was to Bay life members should be put on the same level as others who are there for seven years. Another matter ha * had forgotten to bring forward was tha question of an early completion of the Eketahuna-Woodville Railway. The elections were now over, and the Government) could not be accused of any offort to bribe. He could therefore safely say he hoped to see tho line completed at as early a date aa possible. The Ballanca Ministry and tha Seddon Ministry were a happy family, banded together to do good to the country. They were not a one maa or a two men Ministry, but all worked together. Thg, country was nob now governed by^ the Under-Secretary, as in the past, but) by Ministers.