THE PREMIER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1200, 1 March 1895, Page 31

THE PREMIER.

By Telegraph. — Press Association. Springfield, February 22. The Premier by invitation addressed a crowded meeting of settlers at Annat, Selwyn electorate, this evening. He received a hearty reception, and spoke for three and a half hours. Mr Seddon declared the statement made by the Colonial Treasurer that there would be a gross surplus of .£350,000 to be absolutely correct. He quoted figures to prove that the indebtedness of the Colony was ,£5 per head of the population less than when the Liberal Government took office. The Government had been charged with having appropriated for use .£200,000 of the cash deposits of foreign insurance companies. As a matter of fact, only .£2OOO had been deposited by the companies, and this was in the hands of the Public Trustee, and not at the disposal of the Government. They had also been accused of having issued .£BII,OOO of Treasury bills but they had not issued a single Treasury bill. It was true there had been an increase in departmental expenditure, but it was in connection with the Post and Telegraph, Education and the Land and Survey Departments, in which it was absolutely necessary. The Government had not received the they deserved for the reductions in many other departments. The statement had gone forth that the annual expenditure had been increased by .£220,000, but this increase did not exist. Dealing with the question of loans to settlers, he pointed out that in 1885 it was reported by a committee ot the House that the credit of the Colony might be pledged to provide money to assist settlers. The resumption by the Government of the control of the railways had not resulted in an increase in rates.or a decrease in revenue, but they had benefited the small fruitgrowers and other settlers, had instituted cheap , excursions for school children, and had made a change in the rates for the carriage of sheep, which would prove of great benefit to pastoralists, and at the same time increase the revenue. The Government had determined to so control the railways that while the revenue should not decrease the people should get the advantages intended when the railways were made. With regard to the tariff, while some alterations were necessary the time had not come when the people should be more heavily taxed. He was pleased to say that thero was in the land and income tax a sum of over .£24,000 above the estimate. Touching on licensing legislation, he said the next Bill would provide for elective committees and for local option polls to take place on the day. of general elections. . He did not despair of a satisfactory result of arbitration in respect to the Midland Kailway. At the conclusion of his speech, the Premier was presented with a bouquet from the school children. A vote of thanks to the Premier and confidence in the Government was carried unanimously.