THE PREMIER ON TOUR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 27 January 1911, Page 5

THE PREMIER ON TOUR

VISIT TO STRATFORD. A POLITICAL SPEECH. (United Pkess Association.)' STRATFORD, Thursday. The Premier (Sir Joseph Ward) arrived by the Stratford mail'train this ■evening, ✓and was accorded ' a very v hearty reception. The Mayor gave him a civic welcome,-and Mr Joseph jMcOluggage, on behalf- of the local Liberal L.oague, presented him. with an address expressing cordial and hearty welcqjhe a.nd confidence itt\him as head, of the' 'ountry. The address also stated that the attempts to undermine the . Prime Minister's influence and destroy his. Government, which had been made by certa'n politicians, had only recoiled upon themselves, and that to-day -Sir Joseph • stood higher in the esteem arid, regard, nob only of the Liberal party, v but of the people of New Zealand, than .ever before. The Premier Suitably , -acknowledged the address, and was cheered by the large gathering present. The Premier addressed' a crowded audience in the Town Hall to-night, and was accorded a hearty reception. He defended tho Government's action in regard to the five million loan, and deprecated the unfair criticisms, which; injured tho country's finance. The figures went to show that while certain. critics had-said the Government was driving capital and population out of the J>fcountry, that was not at" all the position. The Government had endeavoured • to meet the requirements of ■ the settlers c 'i- roads and bridges to give access to their properties, with as little delay as possible. The revenue of the Dominion "c - nine months up to December amounted to £7,149,000, and the "ex-wc.-iditure to £4,034.000. The revenue was a record for nine hlonths. Referring to the Public Works Department, Sir .loseph showed that during the five yeavs ho had been head of the Government the total expenditure on railways, -o-'ds .bridges, etc., out of public works and other funds ~had been £11.672i843. Sir Joseph referred to the legislation of session ,and outlined many measures which had become law. He showed where important reforms had been effected. Tho session they had just gone l.hrmieh had been referred to as a long session. It had been a long session ; hut ho believed nyire good work had been done in it than in anv previous ' session in,his experience. The Government was animated by one common idea —to do all that was possible for tho good of the country, and to b*e judged, not by assured ideas, but by the results of their efforts." The Premier resumed his spnt amidst applause, and a motion according him. hearty thanks for his statesmanlike speech, and expressing continued confidence in the Liberal party •>nd in the Government of which Sir Joseph is the distinguished head; was carried by acclamation 1 and without dissent.