THE PREMIER AT OTAKI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 29

THE PREMIER AT OTAKI.

Our special correspondent writes as follows under date May 7 : The Premier visited Otaki this afternoon for the purpose- of delivering a political address. He was met at the station by tho Liberals of Otaki, and Mr To Ao, Maori representative for the district, and, with tho Hon Mr Carroll, wdio accompanied him, was the guest of the Otaki Club prior to the meeting. Tho address was given in the public hall to a crowdei audience of both sexes, and the meeting was in every way a great success. Mr B. Brown occupied the chair. Tho Premier made a vigorous speech defending and explaining the policy of the Liberal administration amidst frequent and sustained applause. He dealt with the charges of the Opposition in most drastic fashion, and proved very conclusively that those of their statements which were not unfounded or distorted were frivolous and childish in tho extreme. Mr Seddon then went on to reveal some of the political sins and jobberies of the Conservatives when they held power, and said he felt sure that the comparison between the administration of the Liberal Government and the former

Conservative administration would bo all in favour of tho Liberal Party. Tho Premier said at present there was only one political saint in New Zealand, and that was Saint Sir Robert, who had arrived at the celestial stage, yet ho was the head of a Government which bad perpetrated some of the greatest political jobs ever known in New Zealand,and Mr Seddon instanced the purchases under the District Railways Bill and tho purchases under the Insurance Board set up by the StoutVogel Government, lie would allow the electors to study these things, and then form their own conclusions. Referring to the press and the manner in which it had been prostituted in the interests of the Conservative Party, the Premier drew attention to gross partiality and partisanship displayed by the Press Association. lie also referred to the exorbitant sum which had been demanded from the proprietors of a new journal at Hastings for participation in the rights and privileges of the Association, and said if the Press Association thought this highhanded action would be tolerated much longer they made a grievous mistake. He considered it was the duty of Government to ask the Press Association for an explanation of this proceeding, and upon that explanation would depend the course of action to bo followed by the Government. Mr Seddon concluded an able and spirited speech amidst loud and hearty applause, which was renewed with enthusiasm when a vote of thanks tor his address and confidence in his Government was carried with but one dissentient.

PUBLIC ADDRESS at JOIINSONVILLE AND VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.

The Oddfellows' Hall at Johnsonville was filled to overflowing on Tuesday by an audience assembled to listen to an address by the Premier. Thoro were a number of ladies present, and tho Promior received a hearty wclcomo as ho enterod the hall and took his seat on the platform. Captain Dawson was voted to the chair.

The Premier, wdio on rising was received with loud applause, said he believed it to be the duty of every public man and every Minister of the Crown to acquiesce in every request to explain public matters to the people of the Colony, and either he or his colleagues were always only too pleased to meet tho people face to face. They were on the eve of a great battle, and it meant a fight to the death—the question being, shall tho people of tho Colony govern themselves, or shall the select and selfish few dictate to the many, enrich themselves and impoverish the many r CONSERVATIVE TACTICS. All that money could do was being done, the press was corrupted, even the Press Association had become a Conservative political machine, and ho declared that a paid agent of the National Association was at work on tho Wellington wharves endeavouring to get ihe men working there to join the Association. The Conservatives hoped by legislation to repay themselves, and the public would bo made to pay very dearly for all the money they expended if they should get into power. Again, men whose names had appeared in the papers as having been appointed a deputation to the Premier were reprimanded by their employer, who said he did not object to it, but it was known they were in his employ, and the Conservatives being his customers, the result would be that he would lose their custom. It was a reign of terror that was now existing, ami the only way it could be removed was for the men and women to stand shoulder to shoulder, and though they might suffer for a time, tln-y must remain firm, and thus tho reign of terror would be removed. Further, the provisions of the Employers' Liability Act were being broken, and he declared he was prepared to use the funds of the Colony to assist any workmen to take proceedings against employers lor the illegal detention of their wages. (Applause ) An attempt was also being made to destroy the friendly societies of the Colony by establishing private benefit societies, which the men were forced to join, ami the result was the men must do as they wero told and take such wages as were offered them. These societies should be made to register under tho Friendly Societies Act, as this practice was diametrically opposed to the legislation of the Colony. (Cheers.) With regard to tho abuse that had been heaped upon him, he said if was un-Briti-'h that an attempt should lie made to ruin Ministers privately in order to get at them

politically. Although he might differ from :» man politically, he would yet do all in his power to help him privately it he was in difficulties, and would do so frankly and with the best heart possible. (Cheers.) Evct' since the Liberal Government came iut-» power the Conservatives had bceu holding back capital with the object of wrecking tho Government, but the working men had seeu through the move, and he believed the bulk of the men wdio had suffered would bide their tin.e, and at the general election assert then." freedom, and tell the Conservatives they wero not slaves or to be dictated to. (Applause.) Captain Russell had charged to the Government the fact that last year there were 1318 less babies born than ought to have comu into the world, but last year was the besn lambing season they had ever had in NewZealand, and if the Government wero to be blamed for the loss of the babies, they ought; to get the credit of the lambs. (Loud laughter and applause.). THE GERMAN SYNDIC6.TK. Witii regard to the charge made against him of having accepted office on a foreign syndicate, ho said he should be the last to take any private position that would (dash with his public position or bring in tho slightest degree any discredit on the peoplo of New Zealand, and he also asked, whether Captain Kussell and Sir Uobert Stout did not hold positions as directors of public bodies when they were in officer It only showed. to what straits the Opposition were driven when they had to attack tho Premier because, as a mining export, he had joined a certain council, and was going to use his brains to endeavour to lead moneys for investment in mining into legitimate channels. (Applause.) THE FLIGHT OF THE OPPOSITION. As to the charge made against the Government of having hurried on the Public Wicks Estimates, he read an extract from the Nkw Zealand Times showing that Sir Koberr, Stout had on tho evening iuquestion attended a musical performance at the Opera Bouse, and had simply wished to adjourn the debate on the Public Works Estimates for that purpose. Why, he asked, did Sir Robert want to go to a performance by a musical society while the business of the country ought to have been going our and yet. he had the audacity to now accuse the Government of rushing through, the Estimates. (Applause.) In ISS2 and in 18S0 the Estimates were brought <l*vn\ at far less notice than last year, and the Opposition ol'that day fought them inch by inch. Tho present Opposition should havo dene ilia same, and not turned (ail and run away. (Cheers.) THK CREDIT OF THE COLONV. He gave figures showing that the credit of 7 the Colony had increased instead oi having: been destroyed, as alleged, ami he had m» hesitation in saying that the credit oi' the Colony never stood higher than at the present; day, thanks to the "Liberal Parly and the present Government. He asked them to compare the position of New Zealand financially when the Conservatives were in office witii tho position of affairs to-day, and they must admit it was honestly in their favour. (Applause.) THE UKEWEIU Ti;IT. It had been stated that the trip through, the Urewcra country made by .Mr Carroll anil himself cost J.'<ißo, but that sum was the wind,, of the contingent vote on the Civil list for the year, and the whole cost of (he Urewcra, trip was J!150. Lot them compare that, trip with the North Island Trunk Railway trip up the Wanganui River made by Captain. Kussell, the Hon Mr Fergus, .Mr I*l. I>. Bell, Dr Newman and others. That (rip lasted I U days, and the expenses were .£ll'.'. while one of the party landed at Wanganui suffering from delirium trains its, (Laughter and applause.) THE 0000 WORK OF THE (InVEUNMENT. The Lands for Settlement Act, which had been of immense service, would not la.st very long if the Opposition came into power. Cheap money had made New Zealand what it is to-day, and the passing of the Advances to Settlers Act reduced the rate of interest in the Colony 2 per cent, and there bad been a direct spending power given to I ho people by that Act of .I'l,'Joo.nnii. Captain Pussell has also expressed approval of this Government's labour legislation, which, however, the Opposition had blocked in its passage through the House and ren- | dered imperfect. However, if the Opposition generally were now in favour of that legislation it showed that both sides of tho House admitted the Government w< ro right in promoting labour legislation, and placing the labouring classes in a position to earn a livelihood, and to be free and independent. Further, tho dairying, fruit-growing, mining, timber and meat exporting industries had been fostered by the Government; they had settloel tho Native troubles, and, in addition, they had given tho franchise fo the women of New Zealand. Whatevcrjpreceded it, no one could deny that that Act was passed by Parliament nl a time when 1 !,r Seddon adniiiiisir.-.tion was in office. (Applause.) He hoped the women would worthily fulfil tho obligations placed upon them, and select as their representatives men who would bo in favour of a policy o£ progress and not of retrogression. WHY UNDESIRABLE IMMIGRATION SHOULD l!K STOPPED. In regard to the Undesirable Immigrants Bill he quoted from a return prepared by the Detective Office in Wellington showing that there are at present four Kuropean women, living with Chinese in Haining street, and a number of other women or! the same class visit the houses kept by Chinamen. Pour European women, are living with Chinamen who keep small, fruit slums in tho city. One place in Haining street is kept a/> a Chinese boarding-house, and a number of women aro in the habit of visiting there, and yet they were told tho Chinese were desirable immigrant.-:. Their numbers were increasing, and there were at present 152 Chinese greengrocers, Ac, in Wellington, and 20 of them had joined tho ranks of the unemployed, and were put down as being of no occupation. It wiis inconceivable to find women urging the passing of laws to protect children of tender years, and yet saying that the Chinesewere desirable immigrants. (Applause.) AN* INJURY TO NEW ZKALAND CIiEDIT. It had been telegraphed throughout tho Colony audio the Old Country th it there «;is a deficit of not. h ■.-•-; than a. , f ~ !,.■!• •■;' ; >, million, whilst at the came time any lion-st. person must have known there was -,'. •:irpln.-i of over half a millior. 'll i.-. rlislardly ,:<■< w is committed when returns were give i, mid the question was. was it not better under * ! "- "!;■- Ctltustances that they should, wail ::■;'.! I!:.-;.' had complete re'io'iis eiv-u with :ii! f l .•■'!<-'. explanation. ( ipplanNo.) THE si' :,!•','':•; At (lie next clcetion cvotyihing por-siblo would ho done to deprive the people of their just rights. The Conservatives had in the

past failed to do their duty to the people. The present Government were simply desirous of nerving the Colony, but let them have fairplay. Judgo them by their works, which were carried out under greater difficulties than any other Government had had to contend with, and yet they had now brought the country to a prosperous condition, and this year again they would have a surplus of over .£150,000. (Loud applause.) Mr F. T. Moore moved a hearty vote of thanks to and confidence in the Premier, and at his invitation threo cheers were given for the Premier. Tho vote of thanks and conn fence was seconded by Mr M. Atkinson. At this point a member of the audience asked a question with regard co the fares on the railway, but the Premier said he must refuse to answer questions, as he had simply come there to deliver an address. (Applause.) Tho vote of thanks and confidence was carried unanimously, and, the Premier having briefly returned thanks, tho meeting concluded ,r 'ith the customary compliment to the chairman.