THE PREMIER AT HOKITIKA

Clutha Leader, Volume XXVII, Issue 1547, 7 May 1901, Page 3

THE PREMIER AT HOKITIKA

The Premier irldressed a l:>r«e me%Ung in the Town Tinll, TTokitikr, or Friday nijiht. ,U«-r touching on I hi death of Qn<<on Victoria, the vint of tlio ]iis own n:111 years' Premiership. tht prosperity of the country under his policy, land for th" people. fnir taxation, and i. -Instriul pew, he Paid one of ()),■> bohWt aei- of the Governliicnt 'A',!.-; th» rescue of the 15a ik of Now 7mland, the position of which t'-.w fully jnstilied the conrs-* taken. Itcfi:)"ing to chaws nf extravagance he said tie detractor*, in nointing to the increa.vd exp nditure of the last 10 y-ars omiif'-d the inc ea«ed population avd increase of revenue. The expenditure had increased L1,1!>:!,000 yearly, and last year hv T,l ,(Wi.">,ooo ; las!: year's revenue being L1),012,2(i7 and tin expenditure L 5.170,703; snrplus, L53'2,:>!>4. From this deduct. L105,;!i>2 brought lorvard from last year, and L"2,i-'OO accretion to sinking fund (which cannot he regarded as revenue) and there remains the actual sureius of L 374.412 for the year. Considering nil the remissions mad'> lie could claim a recoil financial year. , The statement that half a million of the previous year's surplus had not he.en transferred to the Public Works Fund was pure fiction. Since the people h»d resumed control of the railways their demands had been ; met in a manner that gave eeneval satisfac- | iion. The reductions amoun ed to L 300,000. and this year the percentage of earnings on ' cost was L:i 19s sd. The acuol profits were ' L599,0!-fl against L;>71,533 in the. previous | year. The year's revenue was L 1,727,240 ; ' expenditure. L], 127,S47—increase of revenue, 1 L(ios,").j ; increase, of expenditure, Tj 127,144. The Government intended to make further remission?, Notwithstanding remissions the Post and Telegraph results for the year had been most satisfactory, the revenue of "In department for 1900-01 being L 503, 181 (?) and the expenditure L 1555,707. Mr Seddon referred to the establishment of the Pacific cable and th • benefit to the Empire and the colonies of an all-red line. JTc spoke in favour of a Rhte-owncd cable between New Zealand and Australia and explained his action therein and referred to the almost imperceptible and involuntary drawin? of close bonds with the Mother Country, and the change, of policy of Imperial statesmen towards the, colonies. He thought the time was rirja for a conference in respect to Imperial affairs, and it world be an advnn tage to the Home Government. He favoured a Koval Commission with Canada, India, Australia and New Zealand represented in the interests of the Empire. In respect to the serious competition with foreign countries and the apathy of British manufacturers he hoped that the time was no' far distant when the colony would manufacture its own iron and steel, and preserve Brill-h trade with the l Empire. ; l'egavding railway stock, locomotives had s been imported to we* the increase of traffic, but in future the Govern rnnt intended to • manufacture their own voirstock. They would encourage ti: hnical education • and schools of agriculture in the country : districts. Mr Seddon alluded with pride to the success [ of the Government's land policy and the

settlement of the people in the country ; the demand for land was growing greater every day. He suggested an amendment in the Land Act in the direction of the betterment principle. The railway scheme laid down last session would be adhered to and the basis of expenditure adopted last year be continued. Inferring to the extension of trade lie dwelt on the great opening in South Africa and the proposal of the Government to erect cool stores there. He also said there was a favourable opening in Chili. The Premier justified the Government's social legislation, which was attracting notice in other countries, and spoke of the unsatisfactory condition of the timber industry and the waste of the forests, also the advantage of State control in the interest of the colony ; rating on unimproved values, and a, proper system of taxation. He hoped to pass the Local Government Hill next session, us at presuit there were too many heal bodies.