LATEST POLITICAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1261, 30 April 1896, Page 29

LATEST POLITICAL.

THE PREMIER AT GREYTOWN. ItEI’LY TO RECENT CHARGES 0E

THE OPPOSITION

SmciAL to the New Zealand Mail

Grkytown North, April 28

The Premier visited Grcytown to-day, receiving a most cordial and enthusiastic welcome. 0 He was met at the station by the Mayor and Councillors, the Liberal Association and a large body of townspeople, and addresses of welcome were read. To these Mr Soddon suitably responded, expressing his great pleasuro at once more meeting the people of that part of the Wairarapa. In the evening the Promier was banqueted at the Club Hotel, after which lie delivered a political address to a crowded meeting at tho Palace Hall. The Mayor presided, and the women electors were numerously represented. TUB RECORD OF THE GOVERNMENT. Mr Seddon, in the course of his speech, mot the more recent chargos levelled by the leading members of tho Opposition, and demolished these allegations by referring to what the Government had done, notably, tho passing of the Land and Income lax Act, which tho Leader of the Opposition now admitted to be a just measure ; the Lands for Settlement Act, making provision for close settlement, a measure which the Opposition would take the first opportunity to repeal; the providing of cheap money for tho settlers; tho avorting of a national disaster by coming to tho rescue of tho Bank of New Zealand;

the lightening tho burdens ana safo-guardmg the interests of labour, ami protecting workmon’s wages ami family homes ; tho introduction of the co-operative system, thereby finding employment for 11,000 men; the giving greater railway facilities to tho people and the reducing of tho freights and fares; the encouraging of the fruitgrowing, dairying and timber industries ; the furthering the development of the goldfields, and legislating to banish wihl-eat companies; the rating on unimproved value; tho settling the Native troubles in tho Urewcra, Paeroa and Wairarapa Lake districts, and, lastly, the saving the Colony by a bold course of action in regard to the seizure of the Midland Railway. The Compnay claimed XT,7i»*t,<foo damages, and the arbitrator’s award was nil. Yet the Conservative press said the day would come when the Colony would curse Mr Soddon for having had control of that rail way. CO NT HAST THU OTHER I’K.'TUIM

Following on, the Premier charged the Opposition with having plundered the people of their lands,constructed and purchased political railways, borrowed and squandered for the purpose of enriching themselves, increased the public debt ; taxed the masses, and let oil’ the classes ; repealed the land tax, and instituted the property tax, thereby taxing thrift; appointed their friends to olliec ; packed the Legislative Council, Sir Harry Atkinson appointing himself President after being defeated at the polls; purchased the l’olhill Gully and Okaihito lands ; appointed Mr Edwards to the Judgeship, and then deserted him ; repealed Mr Rollcston’s liberal Land Act, gridironed and spotted the lands of the conn try, opposed every reform and then preached self-reliance. Air Soddon referred to the Russell Land Act, whereby 1800 acres of land wero given to Captain Russell on the vote of his father, in the face of the fact that the law had not been complied with. THU PUBLIC DEBT. In reference to the increase of tho public debt, the Premier showed that of the total increase of eighteen millions during the years 1870 and DOS no loss a sum than sixteen millions had been added by Vogel and Conservative Ministries, the addition during tho Balancc-Seddon regime being two millions. The Atkinson Government increased the debt by twelve millions, the Vogel Government by four millions, the Ballance Government by <£Boo,ooo, and the Seddon Government by <£1,400,000. The Atkinson and Vogel Governments increased tho public debt at tho rate of one and a half millions each year while they held oflioe. a practical test. The Premier said the Government had been charged with having destroyed the credit of the Colony, and lie showed how utterly groundless this statement was by comparing the prices of New Zealand stocks in 1801 and at tho present time. When the Government took olliec, 31 per cents, stood at 07 and 4 per cents, at 107, while now the 4 per cents, stood at JMIS Ids ;31 per cents, at ifl.oß 10s, and 3 per cents, at <£lol, an increase of <£s. THE RAILWAYS. In connection with railway management ami the concessions which had been given, the Premier said the railway revenue for the year ending 31st March, 1800, was .£1,183,010 ; the estimated gtoss revenue was .£1,155,000, and the actual gross revenue exceeded this by 4125,040. The passenger traliio showed an increase of 250,818, season tickets of 7010; sheep traliio increased by 310,701, and lime, timber, eliaif and merchandise by 30,107 tons.

SOMETHIN'! LIKE EXTRAVAGANCE. Mr Seddon, referring to his Urewera trip and Native tour, tho results ol which had been very beneficial, said 1m had been charged by the Opposition with reckless extravagance, but tho Leader of the Opposition was careful not to mention the trip which he (Captain Russell), accompanied by the lion 'I. Fergus and Mr H. D. Bell, M .H. It., and some others, took for the purpose of exploring the rout e of the North Island Main Trunk Railway. This trip lasted 11 days, and cost no less a sum than ,£ H!>, which was charged to the North Island Trunk Railway vote. The Premier concluded his speech amidst most marked enthusiasm, and was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks for his address and confidence in his Government. This was carried with great acclamation.