THE PREMIER.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 130, 29 November 1904, Page 5

THE PREMIER.

[BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, 28th November. The Premier left for Naseby to-day. The town was gaily decorated on his arrival, and he was presented with an address of welcome from the Borough and County Council. In the course of his reply, the Premier paid a tribute to tho electorate's .former representatives^ — Mr. Scobie Mackenzie and Sir John M'Kenzie. In the evening the Premier was Entertained at dinner by the Borough Council and the Manitoto County Council, and afterwardß received deputations. [BY TELEGRAPH? — OWN CORBB6PONDBN* ] DUNEDIN, 28th November. The dominant note of the Premier's ] speech at Omakau to-morrow,» on the oc- j casion of the celebration of the Otagp Central Railway extension to Ophir, will be the necessity for the State under- j taking irrigation works in Central Otago, and providing cheap railway rates for the conveyance of fruit to the markets. • SPEECH BY MR. SEDDON. OLD-AGE PENSIONS. THE HIGH COMMISSIONERSHIP. [BY TELEQRATH — PRE 33 ASSOCTATION.J DUNEDIN, This Day. Speaking at Naseby yesterday, in roply to the address of welcome, the Premier said our immigration laws must be more strictly administered in order to exclude consumptives. He emphasised the necessity of the irrigation of the Maniototo Plains, which would, W said, be one of the most profitable uridertak'-, ings ever carried out in tho colony. The old-age pensioners were a noble army of veterans, who deserved all they could get, and he was not at all sure he would not ask Parliament to shortly increase the amount of the pensions. The cost of living Had been very much increased o! late, and rents had gone up. There had been a large surplus last year, and why should the old-age pensioners who founded the land not receive a share of the surplus? Referring to the High Commissionership, Mr. Seddon saidj emphatically that He felt sure that as long as he was able he could do more good for the colony in New Zealand than he could anywhere out of it. Personally the High. Commissionership had no attractions for him at all. He paid a high tribute to the AgentGeneral, and said the creati6n of the High Commissionership was never intended to cast any reflection on Mf, Reeves. The position of Premier wa3 far above that of High Commissioner. At the conclusion of the speech a number pf the audience sang "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." At the dinner subsequently tendered to him by tho public bodies, Mr. Seddon said he still adhered to the idea of meat shops, and Spoke of the necessity pf having a High Commissioner and SubCommissioner for the grain, wool, dairy produce, and meat trades. '