THE PREMIER'S SPEECH.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXV, Issue 291, 16 December 1901, Page 2

THE PREMIER'S SPEECH.

The Premier ought to have been, and we have no doubt, was, a very proud man on Thursday nighfc, when one of the largest audiences ever gathered together in Blenheim to listen to a political address accorded him such a palpably hearty and cordial vote of thanks and confidence. Mr Seddon was in good form, and his address was at once a manly and courageous defence of. his Ministry's policy and administration, and an instructive exposition of the financial and general political condition of the country. So far as we can judge, his explanation of the finances furnish an absolute assurance that the colony's finance is safe and sound, and when a statesman in Mr Seddon's position makes such a declaration as this his critics must remain silent or openly accuse him of misrepresentation and mendacity. Last financial year and the early part of the present financial year were periods during which there was exceptionally heavy and unavoidable expenditure. The Premier rightly reminded us the other night that £150,000 had been remitted in Customs duties, and over £100,000 had been allotted to railway concession -. This year, too, the revised colonial scale of teachers' salaries is responsible for a substantial charge in the revenue. Mr Seddon made a good point, too, in referring to increases in Civil Service salaries, and his jibe at the members who, having voted for the increases to the railway and post and telegraph servants, objected to the advances in the salaries of other civil servants was quite justifiable. No greater mistake can be made by a democracy than to pay its servants inadequate salaries; and when, to gain a little cheap popuarity, the "candid friend" class of critic abuses the Government it is only right that the Colonial Treasurer should give the other side of the question, and remind his hearers that utf

we wanted brains we must pay for [ them." We need not follow Mr Sed" don's speech through in every detail. On the Federation question he was outspoken, and logically supported the contention this journal has ever put forward—namely, were New Zealand to join the Commonwealth it would be outvoted, and have the mortification of seeing its interests sacrificed to those of the larger States. The Premier's defence of his policy a3 afrectiug the farming interest was interesting aud convincing-. On certain other points his uttcrsuees deserve a lengthier com ment than we can find space for in this issue.