Mr Pirani at Apiti.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 222, 20 March 1895, Page 2

Mr Pirani at Apiti.

Mr F. Pirani, M.H.R. for Palmerston N., addressed his constituents at Apiti last evening, Mr Guy being in the chair. He reviewed the work of last session— the bills passed and rejected. He said the Elective Executive Bill, which was thrown out, was intended to abolish party Government. At the present time it was Government by the Premier, whose acts could not be questioned by his colleagues providing he had the confidence of the country. The bill proposed that the Ministry should be elected by members of Parliament. He would have liked the scheme to have received a trial although he did not think they could do without party Government. Dealing with the Licensing Bill he thought it would have been better to have passed a small Amending Bill. He was in favor of allowing women the privilege of all elective offices, even to becoming members of Parliament. The Government deserved praise for the manner in which they had opened new means of employment for women such as in telephone offices, inspection of factories, etc. Mr Pirani was in favor of atuendinp the Education Act, in the direction of abolishing Boards and giving committees greater powers. He contended the resumption of railway control by the Government had resulted in greater facilities for the carriage of passengers and goods. The Shop and Shop Assistant's Act had been mangled in its passage through the Upper House, but it would probably be amended next session, when a measure dealing with old soldiers claims would also be dealt with. The Native Land Purchase Act was a good measure. The Government intended to deal with the question of old age pensions. To provide persons over 65 years of age, who had been twenty years in the colony (excluding criminals and drunkards) with 8s a week for single persons and 15s a week for married couples, would require, according to the Registrar, L 780,000 a year. No land should be sold or leased until it had been given access to by a road. Speaking of the labors of the Tariff Commission he expressed himself in favor of Freetrade. He was in favor of the voluntary system of support of hospitals as against the present mode. He had succeeded in getting the Pobangina Road Board constituted a County and in obtaining a subsidy for the Apiti bridge and also a reserve for the bridge. In reply to questions he said the telephone would be erected at once and the delay in dealing with applications under the Advances to Settlers Act was caused through amounts under LSOO being dealt with first. At the conclusion of his address Mr Pirani was , accorded a hearty vote of thanks.