Speech by Mr Seddon.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXIX, Issue 114, 16 May 1895, Page 3

Speech by Mr Seddon.

[United Press Association.] OruNAKE. This Day. The Premier received a warm welcome on his arrival hew yesterday afternoon. He addressed a pul lie meeting in the evening. Referring to the so-called exodus, he pointed out that for the year ending March last the arrivals showed an excess over the departures of 1051. During tho time the Government had been in oilice the population had increased by 50,441 while in the three year, between 1897 and 1800, 14,0(0 people left the shores of New Zealand. . B to the surplus ho said that it was quite tru' as some critics pointed out that £117,010 credit from sinking fund debentures was included in the surplus of £180,r00, but the Colonial Treasurer had stated last year that it would be so. The Premier went on to show that Sir H. Atkinson's surpluses were far more largely made up at sinking fund credits. In fact il 17,000 was the lowest amount of those sinking fund credits, a"d the lowest amount during any year of their predecessors was £20,300. In reducing the rates of interest under t c Advances to Settlers Act by two per cent tbo Government was saving the people over £000,000 in interest, while taking into account the collateral saving it might be said that by this stroke of policy the Government had saved the people a million a year. Next session the Government would reintroduce the Bating on Unimprovsd Values Bill and would insist on giving this measure of relief to struggling settlers. The Premier was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address.