MR PIRANI ON THE GOVERNMENT.

Evening Star, Issue 11673, 4 February 1902, Page 3

MR PIRANI ON THE GOVERNMENT.

PLAIN SPEAKING

INTIMATES HIS RETIREMENT

Mr Pirani, member for Palmerston North, addressed a packed meeting in the Theatre Royal of that town last night. .Ie dealt with the work of the past two sessions. He strongly condemned the Ministerial extravagance, and estimated that at least £IOO,OOO had been spent last year on service outside the proper sendees of State.He spoke in adverse terms of the continuous payments made to the Governor in the nature of sops, and regretted that Lord Banfurly’s term of office had been extended for another year. There were several hideous blunders in the Public School Teachers’ Salaries Act. He trusted the effort of the Government to usurp the powers of education boards would be firmly checked. He alleged that the Government administration was costing nearly two millions more now than in 1891, while the annual expenditure out of the Public Works Fund was more than a million and a-half more. A large amount of this money, he asserted, was used in bribing constituencies, while much was wasted. He condemned the native land legislation and the increase of honorariums to £3OO. He maintained that there was not sufficient provision made in the Military Contingents A'ct for privates, though officers were fairly provided for. Mr Pirani announced that owing to family reasons he did not intend to contest the seat at next election, and had decided upon this step in opposition to the advice

of supporters and politicians he had spoken to on the subject. He read an extract from a letter from Captain Russell suggesting that he should withhold the announcement, and eulogising his work in Parliament, and stating that, whether on one side or the other, he (Mr Pirani) was a man who should be in Parliament Mr Pirani greatly deplored the course forced upon him, which was .absolutely unavoidable, for reasons known only to intimate friends. A vote of thanks for his address and also for the satisfactory manner in which he had carried out his parliamentary duties for nine years was carried.