THE PREMIER AT NAPIER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XX, Issue 2431, 19 May 1893, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT NAPIER.

(PER PEE 33 ASSOCIATION.)

NAPIEB, May 18.

I The Premier addressed a publio meeting | last night, when the Theatre was crowded in all parts. He made a feeling referenoe to the death of bis late chief. His speech was for the most part a repetition of that recently delivered by him at Grey month and Hokitika. He referred to taxation and the land policy, saying the Government had obtained the revenue required from their taxation. A question the Government would coon have to face was whether native lands should not be rated in the same way as Europeans'. The present Government thought the time had now arrived when natives who shear, say, 100,000 sheep should pay looal rates in the same way as Europeans. He referred at great length to the railway administration, expressing the opinion that the management of the. committee had not i

been a success, and he felt with eo&jfitttiiet the people wonld deoide against the Omd> misaioners. The grose surplus of fba colony for tbe year was about .£600.000, and the net surplus- nearly £300,00Qi If. conclusion, he said New Zealand wa* in the van to-day, and the Government intended to keep it in that position. A motion was unanimously carried thanking* Mr Seddon for his address, congratulating him npon his accession to tht Premiership^ and expressing entire confidence in tha policy of tbe Ministry. -; Mr Seddon moved that this meetini accords Mrs Ballanoe its htaity sympathy and condolence in her recent affliction^ and also records its appreciation of ib* services rendered by the late Mr Bittene*. and takes steps to commemorate his Srorii in a practical form. -\ '.. Mr Swan seconded tbe proposition, which was carried unanimously.