THE HON MR WALKER.

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

THE HON MR WALKER.

In the Auckland City Hall the Hon W. 0. Walker delivered a political address. The Mayor presided, and 500 people were present. On tho platform were ladies of the Auckland Women's Liberal League and Women's Democratic Union, the lion W. Swanson, M.L.C., Major JI irris and Mr P. Lawry, MILK.

The lion Mr Walker apologised for the i absence of the Hon J. McKenzie, but said the Minister of Lands would address the (doctors before leaving Auckland, probably on Monday. He also apologised for the absence of the Hon T. Thompson, who was unable to visit Auckland through pressure of public business. At tho outset of his address, Mr Walker paid a tribute to tin; memory of tho late Hon Dr Pollen and Sir Patrick Buckley. The latter, he said, had done great service to the Liberal Party. The speaker went on to eulogise the land legislation of the Minister of Lands and tho administration of tho Liberals during their fivo years of power, tho policy of which had been moulded and shaped by Mr Ballance. Ho hoped and believed that women, having now got the franchise, would purify

politics in the future. The speaker then referred to the working of the Land Act and of the Advances to Settlers Act, which was all in favour of the small farmer, to the improved railway management, which had justified tho resumption of the Government control of tho railways, and which had made them a greater factor in our industries than they had ever been before. Ho alluded to the success of the cooperative system on public works. Although Auckland was flourishing through the development of the goldfields, tho South was also sharing in the prosperity, and times were better there than for the past ten years. The evil predictions about tho Liberal Government had been completely falsified by events. After alluding to technical education, hospital and charitable aid, and the necessity for improvement in tho mode of the election of local boards, Mr Walker said tho local Government Pill to bo introduced next session would deal with some of these matters, and was to give greater popular control over boards, and he hoped the measure would pass next session. He could not forecast the legislation of the session, but an effort would bo made to carry still further Liberal legislation. The Government measure's previously rejected would be brought forward, and if rejected anew would be left to the arbitrament of the electors at the general elections. He hoped the Liberal Party would be united, select their candidates judiciously, and present to the enemy an undivided front. Great monopolies had been scotched, but not killed. Their opponents were fighting for thoir existence, and no expense would be spared to accomplish their ends. It rested with the electors to say whether progressive legislation was to be arrested, and a period of reaction again set in; and with them would rest tho decision, and the final responsibility.

Mr Theo. Cooper proposed, and Mrs Yates seconded, the following motion, which was carried unanimously :—"That this mooting of Auckland citizens accords a hearty vote of thanks to tho Hon W. C. Walker for his very able and instructive address and of unabated confidence in the present Government." A. vote of sympathy with Mr McKenzie in his sudden illness was also passed.