THE PREMIER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 274, 18 November 1899, Page 3

THE PREMIER.

SPEECH AT PALMERSTON NORTH.

MR PIRANI CREATES A SCENE,

(By Telegraph.-^Presa Association.)

PALMERSTON NORTH, Friday

Mr Seddon addressed a denselypacked public meeting in the Lyceum Theatre to-night, Captain Dunk in the chair.

I Mr Seddon, on making- his a.ppearjance, was received with great cheeringl, intermingled with a little 'hooting, | followed by similar popular demonstrations for Mr Pirani. Mr Seddon | said it was his intention to place bei fore the Palmerston electors a true jand impartial statement of the condijtion of the colony, and the issues that j were to be put. before the electors. jHe had been challenged to come to ■ Palmerston, and here he was, addressing what was a record public meeting for the town. He complained of the | constant misrepresentation of the two ; local papers, both of which were opposed to the present Government, and lie was here to place the true position I before the people. 'Mil PIRANI AND THE CABINET.

j Mr Seddon proceeded to deny the | statement, attributed to Mr Pirani ;t!uit he (Mr Pirani) had been offered ja peat in the Seddon Cabinet, and read | telegrams from Mr Cadman and Mr jWard bearing him (Mr Seddon) out lin that denial. It might possibly be, j however (as Mr Pirani was reported Ito have said), that Mr W. P. Reeves had made this offer to Mr Pirani. but !if he did so it was without, the aut'horjity of himself or other Ministers. In | justice to Mr Pirani he (Mr Seddon) lind cabled an inquiry to Mr Reeves on the point: THE PALMERSTON ELECTION,

Mr Seddon wont on to justify his action in appearing-before the electors of Palmerston, and asked them to support, the Government candidate, Mr Wood, in preference to Mr Pirani, Whose representation of the district was inimical to its best interests. In Parliament there were only two lobbies, aye and no. There was no washhouse or.third .place,. Tn fact, there were only two candidates in the fight for the Palmerston seat—Mr Wood, | who stood in the Government interest, I and Mr Buick, the Opposition candidate. There was only one leader of the people and one Government, and | the Government would succeed as they j had done at the last three elections. !lle had never unduly brought pressure {to bear upon Government supporters, iand in support of that he quoted a [speech by Mr Pirani, in .which he said |he had never been asked to vote for | any measure he was opposed to. . They ! had heard a lot of criticism, about Pomofraka, but when he was there the other day the settlers said they: only wanted a- little time to enable them to pay their rents. MISREPRESENTATION.

Mr Seddon went on to refer to the Bun Txick and marine scandals, the

Police Commission, and the Wrigg" scandal, justifying, the action of himself and the Government in them all. The Government had been greatly misrepresented in all these questions, and it was only fair 'he should place the real facts before the electors. As to the marine scandal, he said that if: nothing, more in. the way of maladministration could be proved against his Government than had been done in this instance, then ail he could tell them was that the present Government must be the purest Administration this country had ever had. He refuted the accusation of undue expenditure of public money on the West Coast, and in Ins own electorate, in particular.

j PENNY POSTAGE/ . He referred to the prosperous condition of the colony at the present 'time, and compared it with the state lof the. country under the last, Conserj vative Administration. He spoke of I the success of the co-operative system lof public works, and said the Opposi- ■ tion wanted to abolish that system, 'and give the people penny postage. I Why, the present Government had obtained Parliamentary sanction for a penny postage, and. by a stroke of the pen he could give It to the people. Why did he not do so? Because he : wished first to finally adjust the finances of the colony. The penny postage concession would represent the sum of £60.000, and two-thirds of that sum woiild go to commercial people and dwellers in cities. TAXATION.

Adjustment of taxation was required, and the duties on the necessaries of life should be lessened. He quoted figures to show that since tlhe alteration of the tariff by the present Government the increase had only amounted to Okl per head. The increase had been principally on wines, spirits, beei', and. tobacco. He would rather we had no surplus from such a source, but they could not blame the Government for that. The Opposition's principal grievance was the passing of the land and income tax, which had relieved 8000 farmers in this colony, and had put the balance on the land monopolists, Avho 'had never forgiven them< and unless the settlers were true to the Government they would have the property tax- back again. Already this year there, had for the nine months of the year been an increase "at £55,000 in railway revenue, w*hich was the result of a progressive railway policy:

THE NORTH TRUNK RAILWAY

He said the Government would spend £300,000 in roading back blocks, and they intended to proceed more quickly with the construction of the North Island Trunk Railway, as it was imperative that Auckland and Wellington should be connected by "rail-.as quickly as possible. ; , . : ; ,' |. SHIPPING FACILITIES. ; • •

! The State ought also to contract with the shipping companies for the carriage of settlers' produce to the markets of the world. The Govern-

ment had also broken down the monopoly that- formerly existed, and the rates had thereby been considerably reduced, but if the steamship companies thought they were going to get the same rates as formerly, lie would stump New Zealand from end to end, and the result would be a line of Government steamers for the carriage of New Zealand produce. Some months ago they sent an expert to the Cape of Good Hope to find markets for their produce, and he had received a letter from him, sayingl there was a grand opening for dairy produce, bacon, and hams. That day he had received a telegram, urging him to arrange a direct service, as big" business was waiting to be done. Despite the large orders that had been received in .New Zealand lately for produce for the Cape, they could not get a steamer for love or money. His efforts -to. come to an arrangement had been blocked, but. it was imperative that a direct line o. steamers should be put on. CHEAP MONEY.

He went on to enlarge upon the, benefits the people of the country had received from the cheap money scheme inaugurated by the present Government, and nlso dealt at length with the land policy of tho (lovernment. (At this stage Mr P'irani oamo into the hall, his arrival being the signal for a great outburst, of cheering and some hooting.) FEDERATION.. ■

Proceeding, Mr Seddon spoke, of the desirability of Imperial federation. Referring to the exchange of two ot' the Sampan Islands with Cennnuy;

said he would not express any opinion on the point,.because he felt it was his duty not to find fault with those who had done what they honestly believed to be in the best interests of the Empire, but, no doubt, had a Council of the colonies been held, it would have averted what he believed was inimical to Australia and New Zealand. On the question of Australian federation, he said he did not desire to see it come into prominence at the forthcoming elections. Federation with Australia for trade, and defence purposes, they must have, but he did not agree with the. arrangement come to at the Convention, as under it New Zealand woiilrl have to give tip many of her rights. COUNCIL REFORM.

• In a passing' reference-to- Legislative Council reform, he said he would fight to the bitter end against an elective Council, believing that such a system would be against the best interests of the people. He emphasised the necessity for local government re-, form. If he had his way, he -would cut the nuinbe.r of local bodies in the colony down by half, and give them an assured finance. After alluding to the Old Age Pensions Act. the Transvaal contingent, and a number of other subjects, Mr Seddon concluded by saying he felt he had done his duty, and, he had every confidence in putting'himself in the hands of the people of the colony that he would be returned to power. On the whole^.Mr Seddon had a capital hearing. -:>: J

MR PIRANI CREATES A "SCENE.

A vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Seddon was moved. "■-

: c ,Mr. Pirani.-thereupon mounted the, platform, and stated he intended- mov-. ing- an amendment, but his Voice was .completely rdrowned in, the great uproar which ensued.

Mingled cheers and groans were given for Mr Pirani and Mr Seddon. Vario\is endeavours were made to restore order,, Mr Seddon expressing the hope that.Mr Pirani should be given a hearing. The chairman attempted to put the motion, but he could not be heard above the fearful din. Mr Seddon likewise tried to say good-night to the audience, but his voice was inaudible,, even at the press table. As Mr Sfeddon was leaving the platform Mr Pirani was seized by a stalwart supporter and placed high on his shoulders, amidst great cheering and counter cheering1. -. '.;,,

In a few minutes, at. the call of Mr Pirani, another chairman was elected, amidst a scene of grfeat excitement, and din, but no one could get a hearing, the platform being' held by an excited crowd, in flip midst of which stood Mr Pirani, powerless to make himself heard. . Then', the crowd a% the back of the hall broke into "Sons of the. Sea,' and still the .audience sliovved ;no signs of cHimhisliiiig*; At intervals cheers were called and heartily given for Mr Seddon, followed by a similar hearty demonstration on Mr Pirani's behalf. '. "■'■■''.. '•

As time wore on a sergeant of- police ascended the stage, but his claim for the restoration of" orderi .had no effect, The lights Were half ■ turned down, but still the. audience showed, no signs of dispersing. ■■ Towards half-past eleven Mr Pirani managed to make himself heard, and put his amendment■ which was: "That this meeting has no confidence.in the Premier arid the Government." He called for a vote, and declared ■■■the amendment to be carried irnanimously. The meeting then dispersed in great disorder, amidst cheers, hoots,"" and singing. ■;