THE DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS.

Evening Post, Volume LII, Issue 21, 18 June 1896, Page 4

THE DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS.

+ It is satisfactory to find that the general tenour of the debate on the Address last night was not tinctured by any of the repulsive personalities that had marked the painful exhibition of the ex-Treasurer on the previous evening. Mr. Ward's shocking example had perhaps brought home to hon. members the risk of the degradation that must always follow upon vicious and unlicensed speech. Be this as it may, notwithstanding the present acerbity of Party feeling, the debate was temperate, if not altogether dignified. Mr. Lawry, who moved the Address-iu-Eeply, appeared to throw out a "feeler" {or a loan, and did it with some

adroitness. His general contention was that an increase in our obligations to the Old Country would be an added reason ior our protection, while he appealed to local interests by urging the completion of the Wellington-Auckland Railway. Mr. Meredith's speech, as seconder of the Address, was chiefly remarkable for an urgent recommendation to the Government to acquire a quarter of a million acres in Canterbury to meet the demand for settlement in that province. If there is such demand, and it is legitimate, it should be met ; but not before the land laws are so amended that the man who wants to occupy and knows how to use the land has a prior claim to the applicant who only means to gamble with it* The Leader of the Opposition, who was later treated with regrettable lack of courtesy by the Government, was properly insistent upon the duty of the Ministry to ensure an immediate redistribution of seats, as to which we may add that the Premier is widely suspected of "jerrymandering" intentions. Captain Russell drew a disquieting picture of the state of our defences, as to one important aspect of which — the number of trained artillerymen — he was later flatly contradicted by Mr. Seddon. Questions should, and no doubt will, be asked upon the subject. The volunteers, we were told, had the spirit, but were not officered. We do not know if the Leader of the Opposition wishes to set up an Imperial military caste in this colony, but if so, we are opposed to him. There are plenty of colonial officers available who have all the necessary qualifications, who will not be likely to patronise the volunteers as " locals." Finance received some attention at his hands, but the criticism was not incisive, and the peregrinations of the Premier on his late election tour were properly condemned. We are glad to observe that Mr. Seddon took occasion to say, by way of interjection during Captain Russell's speech, that if his position as a mining director conflicted with his obligations as Premier, he would " leave the company." There the matter may, we think, be allowed to rest for the present. That the positions may at any time conflict is obvious, but "at the same time much undeserved abuse has been flung at Mr. Seddon over the business, which, besides being undeserved, is a tactical blunder on the part of those who employ it. Contrary to usage, and in disregard of the courtesy usually shown on such occasions, no Minister was permitted to reply to the Leader of the Opposition. The Premier was waiting no doubt to follow Sir Robert Stout, but that should not have induced him to commit a breach of Parliamentary manners. As it was, the senior member for Wellington, after some waiting pause, proceeded to address the House, and was followed by the Premier. Neither of the speakers advanced anything new, and both speeches were somewhat lacking in force and effectiveness.