MR BALLANCE AT WANGANUI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 30 September 1890, Page 2

MR BALLANCE AT WANGANUI.

Mr Ballance addressed a crowded meeting on the 28rd instant, the Mayor being in the chair. H« olaimed for the Opposition the credit of saving the country between £44, 000 and £45,000 without in the slightest degree infringing on the necessities or convenience of the people. He approved the formaMon of a Civil Servants' Association. With regard to defence, he l>elieved the intention of the Imperial anthorities who hud inspected the def n'-es was to pet rid of tho volunteer foive altogether and ea-tibli-li ii partly p-tid fnrce, which practi aly was th« nucleus of a standing aruiy. To this ho was •trongly averse. Speaking of :the

lab iv tfoub es he vigorou ly coii* dtiumtd the action of the Rai wa? omm -sione s. The four men disi i sed at hri tchu cv had been most cruelly dealt witli ; they had not even v calved th* tieatm nt meted out to a CJinmou thief. T vniug to m ttet'ri o' th j co onial pol cy, >lr Hal ane ■ spoke at 'engh on the and question : a graduated land tax should be imposed, an-1 a vigorous polu-y f land settlement a«l"pte i ; * try man should havn the right to goon t-ie I-ii'l. and every po sible srep should be takeu to put down dummyism, monopoly, aud speculation in land. During- the last three years the Atkinson Govt. had done practically nothing, and he contended that the Government should give way to another who could do better. The issue of the cocniug elections would be whether the Atkinaon Government was to remain in office ; and he called on the electors to return members pledged to get rid of the Government, that was already dead In conclusion he asked them tn remember that he still retained compete conßdence of his party, he could with great pleasure say that during last session there had not been a single desert' r from the ranks of the Opposition. After Mr Ballance had answered a few quea - tions, he was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence.