THE PREMIER IN THE NORTH.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8544, 26 March 1908, Page 7

THE PREMIER IN THE NORTH.

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 25. Tho Prime Minister, in a speech at Onehunga to-night, lcpliod exhaustively to Mr Massey's Hamilton speech, and to tho recent financial criticism at Wellington. He declared that the cctmtry was never in a more prosj erous condition, and dealt at length with financial matters to show that loans maturing- had been properly met and that the public debt per head was out-weighed by tho 1-übUp assets per head. H • went on to spealc of the Land Bill, showing that the Government had not aijxmptcd any nationalisation of land, but had endeavoured in every way to promote close settlement. He denied that Government had ever opposed advances <o sattlcrs and workers. He denied tha.t the Socialism of the Government was revolutionary in any sense of the term. It was a Socialism that had dene more for the small farmers than any legislation previously. The Government was determinedly opposed to that revolutionary Socialism which destroyed individual effort. Referring to "the cabbaga garden policy," be said tho people of the country were strongly opposed to the .grev, ing up in New Zealand of a Chinoso population, and to the footing they had already obtained. Government would do all in : .ti power to prevent the continuance of the Chinese in branches of industry which brought them into direct oinfliot as co>npotitois with Europeans. No jeering horn anyone wojlcl deter the Government from tho course it was pumiing in this respect. Ho denied that Government i:i the tariff had injured cither mining or agriteuitural industries , . On the contiary, both mining and agriculture had boon helped in numerous cireetio:ir. No suggestion of coalition en me from him. nor had it come to him from the Leader of the Opposition. As the lino of party demarcation was clearly defined, the project need not be seriously discussed. In conclusion, ho that the Government had recegnised its responsibility to the full, and the samo principles of progress and prosperity that had guided the party in the past would guide it, in the future. A vote of thanks and crr.fidenee w:;s carried with cheers.