CAPTAIN RUSSELL AT WANGANUI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1204, 29 March 1895, Page 31

CAPTAIN RUSSELL AT WANGANUI.

By Telegraph. — Press Association. Wanoanui, Marclv22

Captain Russell addressed a large meeting at the theatre to-night. He said the people of New Zealand in their wisdom had seen proper to place unlimited power in the hands of the Premier and his colleagues. Bills had been forced through the • House, the Opposition being obliged to sit .in their places until rendered physically weak, because an overwhelming autocratic majority refused to allow them to adjourn at reasonable hours. As a result, much of the legislation passed was imperfect. He impressed upon them that the people were the real government, and that, there being no beneficial fairy to keep the public exchequer filled, they themselves had to dip deep into their pockets to carry on the extravagant public works policy with which they had been encumbered. They had a Tariff Commission travelling round the country, and in contradiction to what the Premier had said, he believed that the object was to ascertain some means of wringing further taxation from the pockets of the people. He contended that the indebtedness of the Colony had increased by .£1,500,000 odd during the Government's term of office, and it was time the people put a stop to the reckless expenditure which had been going on for the past four years. Amongst the many rash things done last session was the transfer of the control of the railways. He contended that when the railways were handed over to a Minister they were no more under the control of the people than when they were in the keeping of the Commissioners. Referring to Colonel Eraser's appointment, he (the speaker J said he had nothing to say against Colonel Eraser, but he contended, that there had been a gross violation of the law in his appointment. With reference to the Premier's refutation of the charges of nepotism, Captain Russell said all he knew was that the law said no one should be appointed to the Civil Service unless they passed a certain examination, yet dozens, scores, perhaps more, were being appointed who had never passed those examinations. He termed the Pomahaka purchase an execrable affair. Dealing with the Bank of New Zealand ■ Share Guarantee Act, .he said the matter was more serious than had yet been recognised, as the Colony was now pledged, if necessary, to pay up a round sum of .£2,000,000 when called on. There was a certain degree of truth in the Premier's statement as to Sir Robert Stout, the Hon. Mr Mitchelson and himself, but Mr Seddon had not taken him into his confidence as stated. The Premier's statement that he had not heard of the crisis until three weeks after the delivery of the Governor's speech was wrong. If Mr Seddon's statements were true, then the Premier and the Treasurer were guilty of negligence in allowing the Colony's . money to lay in the coffers of the Bank without their knowing the position of the institution, and if untrue and the Government knew about the crisis, their failure to mention it -was a deliberate attempt to mislead the House and the people. He concluded by saying that a great majority against the Opposition existed in the House only, and not in the country, as the returns at the general elections showed only a majority of 4000 odd votes in favour of the Government party.