THE PREMIER AT PATEA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1032, 11 December 1891, Page 16

THE PREMIER AT PATEA.

(press association.) Patea, December 8. The Premier addressed a crowded meeting last night, about 4CO being present. Hia speech was chiefly an the same lines. as already published, the chief interest being in reply to Mr Hutchison’s charges of extravagance. He defended the Payment of Members Bill, and aald Mr Smith, M.H.R. for New Plymouth, told him Mr Hutchison s name waa on a paper asking the Government to introduce the Bill. He slid the present Government had reduced expenditure by £44,000, and had only reinstated to the extent of £475. He said the Land Bill gave the choice of three tenures—cash, deferred payment, and perpetual lease, and only altered the existing tenure in depriving perpetual loasea of the power of purohase,

He scouted the idea of the new taxation attacking capital, and held that even if it did, a self-reliant policy in capital as well as other matters was the best. He upheld the one man one vote principle, and referred to the Legislative Council in similar terms a 3 in former speeches. He said they had no intention to burrow in the English mat ket, as they thought all they should require could be ootained in the Colony. He considered the electors would be to blame if they returned politioat adventurers to Parliament. All Governments had contributed to “stuff” the Legislative Council, but as the Conser. vatives he'd the reins of power the longest, they had been the biggest gainer. The land tax was to be fixed each year the same as the property tax, and if a penny was not required less would be levied. There was no intention of making it more than a*" penny. A hearty vote of thanks wsa carried by acclamation, and a vote of confidence in the Government by a large majority.

The following copy of a telegram sent Wednesday at 7 p.m. by Mr G. Hutchison to Mr E. M. Smith, M.H.R., New Plymouth, has been handed to us for publication: “Ballanceat public meeting at Patea, referring to me, is reported to have said Mr Smith, M.H.R. for Now Plymouth, told him Mr Hutchison’s name was on a paper asking the Government to introduce the Payment of Members Bill. Kinily wire if you made such statement, and, if so, on what foundation. —G. Hutchison.”