THE PREMIER AT DUNEDIN. (BY TELEGRAPH.) Donedin, October 20.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 7272, 21 October 1891, Page 3

THE PREMIER AT DUNEDIN. (BY TELEGRAPH.) Donedin, October 20.

Despite a heavy downpour of rain, the Premier had a crowded Jmeeting at the theatre to-night, when the Mayor presided* Mr Ballance said that as the Land Bill was amended in the Council its inevitable effect would have been to enable persons to purchase lands for speculative purposes. The next Land Bill should be a measure containing only perpetual leases, and the Government should be so sustained by the people of the colony that the Council itself would bo awed into passing the Bill. The Government did not mean to stuff the Council, but would put in a few members of the right color, and they hoped to get them from all parts of the colony. They would probably ask their friends to meet in large centres and suggest suitable nominees. Care would bo taken that those appointed represented the flesh and | blood of the country, and the manhood of the country, and he waa satisfied that when the appointments were made we should have a better second Chamber than existed at the present time. The Government were satisfied that the time would soon come when the electoral laws would provide for the one-man-one-vote principle being extended to bye-elections. He denied that the Railway Commissioners had improved the management and administration of the railways, and said that they had been saved from the universal hostility of the farming classes by the trouble between the railway employees and Commissioners. In his opinion but for these differences the Act appointing the Commissioners would have been repealed, and the Commissioners would now be no more. A Conciliation Bill would be introduced next session, and the Government hoped then to pass it. With regard to party government he warned th* people not to Be carried away by the Swiss or similar schemes, but to atand to their present constitution. On Dr Fitchett's motion a vote of thanks was passed amid great cheering to the Premier for his address, and confidence wai expressed in his Government.

Mr Ralinnco snid his reception on ftdflrchsing a Dunedin audieuco for tho firsi time hful been so flattering thut probably hu wnuld Bponk n^aiu at a fuiuro thte.