THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9430, 30 May 1896, Page 5

THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

ADDRKSS BY MR COLLINS.

Mr W. W. Collins, an M.H.Ri for Christchurch, gave an address in the Oddfellows' Hall, Liuoolti load, last night, under the

auspices of iheßallauce Liberal Assooiatioii, ou the political outlook , . Mr J. Y. Beattie occupied the chair. There were between sixty and seventy persons present, of whom some twenty were ladiea. . "

Mr Collins commenced his address by saying that in spite of all that had been ■said to the contrary the political position, so fai as the Liberal party was concerned, had not altered as compared with the condition of affairs at the last general election. The Liberal party was jusb as strong, united, hopeful and determined as ever, and all

kuew how to appruiee at tiieir full value the assertion that the Liberal parly's programme aud policy would be found wanting in the wear future. Not • ouiy was the Liberal party as strong, united, hopeful, consolidated, aud determined aa . ever, but as represented iv the present Liberal Government it had ike confidence of the eonatry, aud in support of this he iuatauced the successful tourfl through the country of the Premier and his Minister*. The leader of the Opposition had declared Mr Seddon'e policy to be that of bounce, bluster, b&uquets, and bunkum. What was the policy of the Conservative party f If subjected to a political analysis there would only be found the slightest trace. As' a matter of fact the Opposition had formulated no policy, because they had none, except todatraob from aud misrepresent the _ policy of those whose seats they wished to occupy. All tlio criticism was to so damage the present ououpanta of the benches that - the Opposition might occupy them. They wanted to get office by any moane bo long M , they got it. The object «a they said was to BP.VO the country Irom impending ruih. He was,cart*ia that the uouulry was anffering from no suuh thing, and that the political Dr. Captain Russell w»s notj likely to be called iv as the patient was perfectly well. lustead of the assertions made about the colony galloping to ,ruiu, *w., why did not the Opposition tell how their people had mauagod the country iv the past ? They - did not do so because, thai management would tell most dearly ag&iust them, and was so well understood by the country iliac the least they said about it the better. Aa to their assertions that the legislation of the previous Administration w&* class legislation, he challenged them to show &v in. stance when it was such. Why, an Opposition candidate recency agreed to nearly all , the pUuka of the . Libeinl p>j.rty to catch votes, aud Mr John iMthie had actually said he would not dream of attempting to undo

the working of t.h<* present Adnuoiettaiion withouO givjiig it a fuic trial. Lt the Uoueervntivwa wanted to hit pacliuulftrly hard they moat in variably did it by teiuccuce lo the previous Administration, aud if the Seddoa Government had followed iv the footalopa of John Balhuce there would have been nothing bub congratulations, and adulation, ' of the Liberal Party. The . mriici«a. by the Conservative Press, and lite speeches of . the Coiiservativa politicians reierred to John' Balance as they ought to, ua , good, great aud noble. But; it \v»* not aiwity* co, and if they were now bitter and hard against Mr Seddon, they were cruel and more.bitter against Mr Balance a fow years ago. Uβ was described as, ignorant aud conceited, nothing was too imrd, unkind, or unjusb to be said of him, becAUbO he would ■ not accept the warnings of tlteOmservative Press. An spite of all this he (Mr Coiliua) contended that lime bad proved that Mc UalJauee and Alia policy were riglib. The Seddou policy was .a fulfilment of thaC initiated by the late John Ballanee, and in < •-■ every single detail was in tlie interest or the development of the country, and for the welfare of the people. Mr (Jollhia then went on to speak of tiie neceeeitj for land in Canterbury being obtained i under the compulsory oiansaa for the par poses of eeltlement, uad he upoUe in favoai of the liocal EligUt lioursi Fair Rent, Payment of Jurors, Divorce Act Amendment, Abolition of Capital Punish* menb and Usury Bill*. In conclusion he said that a shore time a»o there was a political contest in Christchuich, and theLiberals loeb a seat to a Conservative who promised to eupj>orfc nearly every Liberal . measure. The loss of that aeut to the Coneeryativee had been trumpeted tip and down the country as a sign of the times, as the writing on the wall, and so od. Hβ would say that when the 1896 general' election arrived, with the policy pursued in the past foreshadowed for the future, with the Bills passed and promised, with the -xprosperity now setting in throughout the . country, the country would not forsake . either the policy, party or leaders, bufc. wonld return them to still farther carry oat that policy that the settlemenb of the . country should be completed and the happiness and prosperity of the people doubly assured. (Loud applause.) On the motion of Mr H. Claukh, seconded . \ by Mrs Gunner, a vote of thanks to and confidence in Mr Collins was carried. The proceedings closed with the ueu&l - compliment to the chair.