THE PREMIER AT FEATHERSTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1266, 4 June 1896, Page 38

THE PREMIER AT FEATHERSTON.

The Premier addressed a large gathering of electors in the public hall at * eatherston last week, the Chairman of the Town Board presiding. Mr Scddon received a most cordial welcome. His speech was listened to with the closest attention, and there was frequent and hearty applause, strong evidence of the sympathy existing between the speaker and his audience. In dealing with the speech of the Opposition the Premier said that Captain Russell and his party were continually characterising the graduated land tax as iniquitious and unfair, and were always agitating for its repeal, yet quietly they never lost an opportunity of buying and adding to their immense estates. They were doing their best to monopolise land, but if they thought their wholesale attempts at annexation of the lands of a colony would be tolerated much longer, they made a great mistake. Settlers' sons would not bo driven away from New Zealand to seek homes elsewhere while there were thousands and thousands of acres monopolised by a select few. In the Auckland district Captain Russell had stated that he claimedevery man who went on the land as his friend. This statement, said the Premier, was a most palpable blind made to deceive the people at the present juncture. The whole policy of Captain Kussell and his party had consistently and persistently been to prevent the people from getting on the land. The Premier read figures (which have been mutilated in transmission) showing how land was held in Hawko's Bay, and asked how in the face of this condition of affairs in the very diatrictin which Captain Kussell has lived all his life, and the condition which ho and his friends had done their best to accentuate, could the Leader of the Opposition be in sympathy with the efforts of tho people and the Government to promote the settlement of yeomen in New Zealand. No, these statements of Captain Kussell and his friends were simply parly cries to curry favour and catch votes, if Captain Pus..Hl was sincere, why did lie not start at home and cut upsomeoftiicse large estates? (Loud applause.) The Premier referred to a case of intimidation at the Christchurch by-election whore a tradesman had been threatened with loss of custom if he did not vote for a particular candidate. This system of intimidation, added the Premier, was not confined to Christchurch, bat at the present time was going on all over the Colony. (Hear, hear.) Wherever he went men had come to him and said, " We are with you and your Government, and believe you arc doing good work, but wo dare not hold up our hands at your meeting in favour of a vote of confidence in your Government." This was a frightful state of affairs, and the sooner the people of New Zealand put it down and asserted their manhood and womanhood the better it would be for themselves and their country. (Applause,) Had the old continuous Conservative Party been allowed to hold sway much longer, New Zealand would have ooen a very good country to bo outside of. (Hear, hear.) During tho last live years the condition of things had been improving, and if the people wore true to themselves at the next general election and voted conscientiously, New Zealand would soon bo free altogether of the domination of terrorism, despotism and Conservatism. (Applause.) In answer to a question, the Premier stated that lie was in favour of establishing technical schools in connection with all tho State schools, and proposals would be made in that direction.

At the conclusion of the address a unani mous vote of thanks and confidence wa. carried with great enthusiasm,

Our Feathorstou correspondent sends us tho following additional news:—Tho Premier, referring to the Russoll Land Grant Pill and tho denial of Captain Russell that the Pill was introduced into tho Legislature by his father, said that Captain Kussell was only splitting straws. Although the Pill was introduced in the House by Sir Donald McLean, yet it was introduced and its second reading moved in tho Legislative Council by the lion Colonel Kussell, his father, who pleaded that " Captain Russell was virtually never away from the Colony, insomuch as lie was in partnership with another gentleman in Jlawke's Pay, and only went Home to be married." Vet, said tho Premier, there wore cases where military men who for the purpose of joining active service had left the district in which they had resided, ami had received wounls by so doing, had been refused their grants. Vet tiiese men never ceased to reside in tho Colony. Tho Bill enabled Captain Kussell to obtain a land grant of 800 acres in lieu of a grant of lUi) acres originally selected by him,and subsequently sold during his absence in England, the reason given for granting the increased area being that as all the valuable land of which 400 acres was part had been taken up, 800 acres were supposed to be equivalent. The Premier quoted from Hansard of ISUs, and proved that tho clause providing for tho increase of acreage was carried by a majority of one, and that the clause providing for a grant of land instead of cash payment was carried by the casting vote of tho chairman. Captain Russell instead of selecting SOU acres of rural hind bad been permitted to take up a smallor area, some 115 acres, of better class land iu tho vicinity of his freehold properly, the valuo of which exceeded the cash value of tho grant. This difference Captain Russoll made up by a cash payment.

Captain Russell addressed a mooring of tho electors at Johnsonville last week. Mr .1. Chapman occupied the chair. At the conclusion of the address Air T. Colletfc moved, " That a hearty vote of thanks he given Captain Kussell for his address, and that this meeting views with satisfaction tho endeavours of the Opposition members to effect a pure administration of the Colony's interests." Mr Beach moved as an amendment chat a vote of thanks only be given Captain Kussell. Only six voted for the amendment, which was lost. The original motion was carried by a large majority. The Christchurch Liberal Association have written to the Government with regard to a case of alleged intimidation of electors at the last election. Tho Government have decided that they cannot take the matter up as a public prosecution, but that any information at their command shall bo at tho disposal of (ho parties interostod.