THE PREMIER AT WANGANUI.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXVII, Issue 229, 9 October 1891, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT WANGANUI.

♦ ■' . , [UNITED PBESS ASSOCIATION.] " ' Wangandi, October.B. The Premier addressed his constituents list aight m Wanganui. He detailed the work accomplished by the Government since they came into office, with a special reference to the more important bills. He asserted that the settlement of the land has been carried on with energy and vigor, bat it was absurd for anyone to expect that & Government could carry out all the items of its programme during the first few months of its existence. With regard to the penny po tage, the Hon gentleman defended the proposals for the- reduction to a penny, and predicted that within the next, five years we should have a universal penny postage over the whole of the British Empire. He claimed that m the.Publio Trust enquiry the Government had remedied a great social evil as they bad also m the Friendly Societies Bill. He asserted that the Government m their conversion operations were m no sense borrowers. The Bank of England acted as their agents, and if the conversion were borrowing chat bank and others m England would soon let them know they were breaking their word. He regretted the Bryce episode, but he and his party had done all in -their power to bring about a reconciliation. Everything was done fairly, and it was significant that while the Speaker had been reproached with weakness and unwisdom nobody had ever given rise to a suspicion of unfairness. Beforring to the Payment of Members Bill, the Premier said that all were agreed on the principle of payment, and that being so, it seemed to him only just that payment should be sufficient to support tha members. A good member not only worked for his constituents during the session, but hewaa busy all the year round addressing meetings, and working amongst the people.' . The circumstances connected with the Old Soldiers' Bill were detailed, and the Premier said that the Government were at present considering the advisability of paying off the older men m cash, and a decision would be come to soon after his return to Wellington. Eeferring to the Land Tax, he considered it an advantage if, as had been said, large capitalists had refused to buy land m New Zealand for that tax. We did not want large land holders and a small population, but a large population and small land holders. At the close of the speech questions were answered, and the meeting adjourned' with a vote of confidence.