MINISTERIAL SPEECHES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1290, 19 November 1896, Page 31

MINISTERIAL SPEECHES.

THE PREMIER AT WOODVILLE AND PAHIATUA. Pahiatua, November 11. The Premier visited the Woodville Agricultural Show this afternoon, and in the evening addressed the largest political meeting' ever held here, at the conclusion of which a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence was carried, amidst prolonged cheers for Mr Seddon. THE HON. MR HALL-JONES AT TIMAEU. Timaru, November 11. The Hon Mr Hall-Jones, Minister of Public Works, in his address last night referred to the trying session, and said that the work done was not entirely to his satisfaction. He referred to some of the Pills passed and others rejected, and said the Private Benefit Societies Bill, the Alcoholic Liquors Bill and the Eight Hours Bill must be introduced again. He discussed the finances of the Colony at considerable length, showing that the Liberals had had a real surplus every year. He denied the charges of extravagant administration, and showed that the Education, Postal and Railways Departments —the three principal departments —necessarily required increases, and that several other departments also required lesser increases, yet the total advance on the Estimates over the expenditure last year was only £‘15,000. He dealt with the public debt, showing that the increase under the Seddon Government, except .£210,000, was reproducing its interest, and that though the total debt had increased nominally since ISOO, the interest charges had decreased 0:202,000. He denied the allegation that the revision of the Customs tariff had added to the burdens of the people, or that the surplus was due to an increased tariff, showing that most of the increases came from articles the duty on which was unaltered, or from increased receipts from luxuries. The remission of 2d per lb on tea and other remissions more than counterbalanced many increases. He quoted Sir Robert Stout in July, 1803, when the latter declared himself in favour of utilising the sinking funds for reproductive works, and showed that this was a complete answer to the charges that the seizure of sinking funds was improper. When the Liberal Party came in in 1891 they had only A 1-78.000 of loan money available, arid free. Since then they had spent over two and a-ha.it mu non on public works, mainiy by contributions from ordinary revenue and debentures against sinking- funds. He admitted that the million loan was borrowing, but denied that any part of it was anticipated. Tnere were funds in hand to defray liabilities,

but no more, and if the loan had not bet u agreed to, the works must have been stopped, and 2000 men thrown out of employment. He deprecated the Canterbury people taking the narrow-minded view that more money had not been, allotted to that district. The success

of the northern mines would be a factor hi the prosperity of the southern farmers, lie indicated what was proposed to be done in aid of the mining industry, and in this connection ridiculed the suspicious objections to the Premier’s connection with a mining syndicate. The purposes to which the loan money was to be devoted were practical, useful and reproductive, the oniy doubtful case being the <£50,000 for scenery, and this would bo indirectly profitable. He contended that the raising of this money was quite consistent with Mr Ballance’s own policy of self-reliance. 1 to stated that the Advances to Settlers and the Land Settlement Departments were both in a satisfactory condition, each returning' a profit. He spoke of the banking legislation and the enquiries, defended Mr Ward, and asserted the necessity of aset rtaining who had benefited by the huge writings-olf, and if possible of making them disgorge for the benefit of the distressed shareholders. The Liberal Party Had falsified all the pessimistic prophecies of their opponents; and though they had had to face great difficulties, they had steered the ship of State with credit to tho country and themselves. A vote of thanks and confidence was carvied unanimously. . - HON J. CARROLL AT GISBORNE. Gisbornk, November 11. The Hon J. Carroll had a grand ree< ption last night, when he addressed the off otors at Gisborne. The hull was crowded to the doors, and the speaker was warmly applauded throughout. He made a vigorous defence of the Government policy, a ad said he felt confident they would. be returned to power stronger than ever, if not in numbers, at anyrato with more loyal support. (Cheers.) Ho said that the party lines would be more determined than, ever, and men would have to declare for one side or the other. (Oncers.) 9 jo • Government had a strong and defiuid j policy, which they intended to adhere :o. j The Oppositionists said they approved of I some portion of the policy, but objected to i the jtti'SOii'iicZ of too Ministry. >; >w J humiliating it must be to serve a side that i had no other policy than to kick out a ! Government that had got one. (p- ------: pl.f use.) The Libm-:;1 Baity v.-cve a : dcHrueflvo <:on iu-.es. < Apphinsej ’’ho ! created the greatwM enthusiasm. | A who of fbanka and confidence in Mr j Carroll and ilm Government; was moved i by Mr T. j. Hickson, seconded by a la y,

Mrs Maynard, and carried amidst cheering, not a dissentient voice being raised. Mr Seddon’s name was also warmly applauded. The Opposition have been working hard here, a house to house canvass being made through the country ; but as Mr Carroll’s supporters are guarding against over-con-fidence his election can bo considered a certainty.

THE MINISTER OF LANDS AT NASEBY.

Naseby, November 16

The Minister of Lands addressed a crowded meeting of electors at the Town Kali, Naseby, this evening, and spoke for over two hours. Mr Gufne, Mayor, presided. The Hon John McKenzie, who was received with general applause, said that some of his friends thought he was entitled to a walk over, but he did net himself adopt that view. Any elector was within his rights in seeking- the suffrages of his fellow-electors. During the whole of his (Mr McKenzie’s) political career, he claimed to have been mindful of the rights of the electors. He had never made a personal canvass, and had no intention of soliciting votes by asking individuals for their support, and lie claimed as a member and a Minister that he had treated all electors alike, whether they had been his supporters or opponents at the elections. A WARNING TO THE ELECTORS. He was not going to assert that the Government was perfect, but he reminded his audience that the critics were numerous, and that they were certain to hear all that could be suggested .against the present administration. The opponents of the Government consisted of two classes —the Opposition proper and the Independent Liberals ; and against the latter class he warned the electors. K veryone would admire an honest antagonist, but the so-called Independent Liberals were of no use in Parliament. There was no lobby in which a third party could vote, and the Independents were either Conservatives in disguise, whose only hope of election lay in a profession of Liberalism, or they were railbitters with axes to grind, prepared to jump to any side on which they could get them ground. He urged the (hectors to send to Parliament straightforward opponents or supporters of the Government. AN ABSURD CHARGE. As to the charges brought against the Government, the charge that they had departed from Mr Ballance’s policy was absurd. When Ivlrßallance was alive his policy was said to be everything that was bad, and those who condemned his policy in no measured terms now found fault with the Government for departing from it. But the fact was the policy bad been consistently adhered to, and the main linos had been carried into effect with advantage to the Colony, in the face of the most determined opposition. Other questions had arisen, such as the banking legislation and the Midland Railway. These also had been dealt with boldly in the public interest. NO INCREASE OF CUSTOMS DUTIES. Another accusation brought against the Government was that it had increased taxation on the masses of the people through the Customs. This was quite erroneous. The Customs revenue for the vear ending the 30th June showed an increase of =£102,660, but of this amount .£85,142 was received on goods the duties on which had not been touched by the reoent tariff, and this left only =£15,000, which was fully accounted for by the increase in the population and tho greater prosperity of the country. Then in tho tariff, remissions had been given to the extent of =£4s,' 00 — =£34,000 on tea alone —so that, even deducting the =£15,000, there was a balance to tho credit of tho present Government in the way of reductions amounting to =£30,000. Clearly the alteration in tho tariff did not bear out the contention of the opponents of the Government. BORROWING FOR REPRODUCTIVE WORKS. In the matter of borrowing, the same accusation was made; but a reference to his speeches would show that tho objects for which money had been borrowed had been clearly advocated by him. It was necessary to have monoy for tho purchase of lands for settlement, for cheap money to farmers, and for the purpose of carrying on the work of colonisation. There was a great deal of hypocrisy- in the House with regard to borrowing, and eight members who voted against proposals of the Government in this respect made request to him for no less than =£204,744 for their districts. These members were Mr George Hutchison, Mr Lang, Mr Massey, Mr F. McGuire, Mr T. Mackenzie, Mr Pirani, Mr Buchanan and Mr McNab. He believed in men being consistent ; and if these members were in earnest in Irving to prevent the Government from borrowing money, they should have said they wanted none for their own districts. Members marie certain statements in the Ilom-e and gave a vote in the House iu a different direction simply for the purpose of getting a little budvs from their constituents As against the money borrowed, the Colony had several valuable assets. For instance, there was the purchase of Native lands, the area bought being 1.867,1)46 acres, in which half a million of borrowed money had been spent, hut any syndicate in the world would give three-quarters of a million for it to-morrow, i t would not be good policy, however, to sell the land. The land was required for purposes of settlement. Then there was the Land for Settlement net, under which 38 estates had . been purchased by the Government, the cost of tho land to tho Colony being =€872,911, there being upon the land in March last 603 settlors. On (. heviot alone there wove 1 i.iOU people, -where previously r hove w. re only 80, a-J-.d the purchase was yearly ret a -n----ing a profit of jGtuuO to the Colony, besides which in the middle < f last March not- sixpence of rent was in arrears. That was y>ro.,i: positive that Cheviot had been a success. Under the improved farm scheme there were settlors in the Colony, the urea of land being 63,597 acres divided into 665 allotments taken by people who were now residing «>n if with their families. The cost to the Government in the way of assisting- the people on t.) the land was £22,438, and when improvements were valued tor the last halfyear, the value we.s 22-6.984, showing that settlors hud themselves improved the value of the land to the extent of A-1516. Those people were, therefore, good settlers. Other a a.-ots against the borrowing were the dray roads, the bridle tracks and the bridges the Government, had made during their term of • rice at a cost of TG14.252. pari, of which uilifi'-j iir.-.d come oat vcvo-.r.0. G was absolutely neves ary tiuwo work:, should he pushed on, other'.'.iso people oouid not be expected to go into tee back country to settle.* In the way of railways, tho present Government had constructed 1.2 miles, while 138 miles were under construction, at a cost of =£996.264, which was a substantial legacy to leave to the unborn millions, who

would have to pay for the loans when they came due. The Government Advances to Settlers Act was another excellent asset. Advances amounting to £1943,952 had been authorised to 3237 settlers, and the Government still had half a million invested in liquid securities to be converted when the money was wanted. It would be found, when returns were laid on the table, that this branch would show good results in working. The total cost to the settlers in fees and costs was =£3806, no procuration fee being charged ; but taking the lawyers’ usual scale of fees, the cost of the transaction if carried on by private individuals would have been =£20,856, thus making a saving to the settlers of ,£1.7,050 on the first charge. Then 67 per cent, of the sum granted went to pay off mortgages, and there was no doubt the rate of interest in the Colony had been brought down. There were other assets as well to be put against the borrowed money—in fact, there was not more than =£210,000 which was not directly remunerative. THE SINKING FUNDS. Another accusation against the Government was the seizure of the sinking funds, but the fact w r as that all the Government has done was according to an Act passed by the StoutVogel Government, which Act had since been taken advantage of by every Government in office. ANOTHER SURPLUS PROBABLE. Then they were accused of having bogus surpluses, but was it to be supposed that the ’late Auditor-General would, to please the Government, attach his name to fictitious statements to show a surplus that bad no existence ? The statement that the surpluses were bogus was all moonshine. They were quite genuine, and judging from the returns for the past six months of the present year the Government would meet the new Parliament with another surplus. Wo other Government that had held office had been able to meet Parliament year alter year with a surplus as the present Government had done. It was said the Government had failed to carry its measures, but somewhat strangely at the same time other opponents urged that the Government was doing far too

much, and that what was wanted was less legislation and political rest. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Of course they had not carried ail they had attempted, for very often what had taken weeks of fighting iu the Lower House was killed in an hour by tho Council. '! hey had tried strengthening the Council, but already six of the 12 apostles were plainly fully in opposition against the Government that had appointed them. It seemed to him as though the Upper House was a shop for the manufacture of Tories, and that perhaps the best thing they could do would be "to abolish it altogether. (A voice: •’ Vo, no: we could not do without the Upper !U-use.”) Mr McKenzie said the gentleman who expressed that opini m had not had his experience. or he would have found the Council very difficult to manage occasionally. it scorned to him d; would ho well to aboli-sli the Council, and to have an appeal direct to the people. LAND FOR THE PEOPLE. A very important question that had been before the electors was the question of supplying laud to the people, for the bulk of the young people must go on the land if the Colony was to bo successful. To this end land had been purchased largely from the Natives in the North Island, and a number of private estates had been acquired. Dummyism had to a large extent been stopped. The dummyism in the interest of large landowners bad ceased, and he believed that the legislation of last session would put an end to the new form of dummyism in which all the members of a family put in applications to secure the best chance afc the ballot. The first Land for Settlement Act had been a very mild measure, of but very little use, but, then, the thin end of tho wedge had to be got in, and they had. to careful not t > ruffle the temper of the Upper House. However, when people saw the beneficial character of this legislation, they returned members to support the Government so that more could be done, and the consequence was that theyhad passed an Act for the compulsory taking of land, The member for Bruce said the

Minister of Lands had admitted his Act had been a failure. That was wrong. No such admission had been made, but he had said that he desired to get the Act to work more smoothly. Now, the opponents of the Government said they would not alter the law affecting the settlement of the land, and he believed they would not, but what they might do would be to alter the administration so that the system would prove a failure. Whoever held the position of Minister of Lands must see that the rents were paid, or that, if the lessees would not pay, that they should make room for others, for only in that way could the land policy be made a live policy. Otherwise, arrears would accrue, and then it would be said the policy bad failed. They would admit he hid had a stout heart to resist all the hostility he had met with, and he could assure them he should as stoutly resist the flattery which was now bestowed, and which he referred to simply as proof that his policy had been amply vindicated. The Wellington Post, that had strongly opposed his policy, now in connection with tho Woburn estate commended it, and blamed the Opposition members for not going one better, for not approving of the polic3 r , and naming the estates they would acquire if they got into power. THE BANKING LEGISLATION. Mr McKenzie pointed out that, tho Government having resumed control of the railways, during the first .year of their control, the revenue had increased by =£32,190, or, deducting work done for other departments, =£13,762, and very great concessions had been given. He went on to speak of tho banking legislation, saying that this was another matter that could not have been anticipated. Had they allowed the bank to go down the result would have been so serious that the calamity would not have been got over for many years. Work would have been stopped throughout the Colony, and many people ruined. No less than 76,000 people were involved ; 1470 local traders were banking with that institution, which also had tho Government account. Anyone could see what a calamity it would have been had notthe Government saved the bank. He could name twenty financial institutions in New Zealand that would have had to close if the Bank of

New Zealand had closed its doors. That v.-as where ruin would come on the people. They knew what had happened in Newround land when the banks were allowed to go down, and in the other colonies whore tho banks had closed tho revenue had not come up to what if used to be, and the same thing would have happened hero. For 25 years the Bank oL' New Zealand had been made use of by the Conservative forty : and Mr Richardson had told tho elector- of Mataura that at ou*> hush five millions was borrowed in order to bo] to,- np the bank, when three millions would have satisfied rim < hdony. That was slv borrowing, if Umy I ii-.-u. and it was the people of the Colony through the Liberal Party who had to come to the rescue, and the moment the bank was about right, the Conservatives wanted to get control again. They knew it as a fact from tho Banking Committee that the bank had lost millions through the Conservatives, and they might depend on it, if the Conservatives got into office, they would have the two millions now guaranteed by the Colony. A great deal of capital had been attempted to be made out of tho statement that the Government were involved in tho banking legislation, and before the session there were demands for an enquiry. When the House met, tho Government assented to this, but as soon as it was seen the Government were in favour of it, those demanding the enquiry opposed it, and why? Because they were afraid the writingsoff in connection with the Conservative Party throughout New Zealand would see daylight. It came out in evidence, and it was not contradicted, that the late Ministers had had between them =£150,000, and that being- so it would be seen why certain parties were anxious not to have the state of tho Bank of New Zealand in the past divulged in any way. Tho Opposition met Parliament fuily believing that Mr Ward’s private affairs would be the means of bringing down the Government, but the Upper House Committee, on ivhieh there were seven Opposition members, could say nothing against Mr Ward, but that ho should j have resigned whoa fie found himself in |

difficulties. There was no question of corruption and no charge was brought against Mr Ward or the Government. He (Mr McKenzie) was not afraid of any investigation the Colony might desire in connection with the bank. The sole desire of the Government was to save the people of the Colony from a calamity. [Owing to the blocking of the wires, the remainder of the report had not come to hand as we -went to press at 2.30 a.m. The first portion of the telegram was not handed in till half-past 11, and did not reach Wellington till after midnight, and the telegraph operators were still busy with the speech at 3 a.m. These facts are a sufficient commentary upon the character of the arrangements made by the .Press Association. Part of the telegram, giving the last portion of the meeting, came to hand, and says : —The Minister was frequently interrupted by outbreaks of applause during a speech that occupied a little over two hours. A vote of thanks and confidence in Mr McKenzie was carried all but unanimously, with cheers.l

“THE PREMIER AT WEST OXFORD

Special to the New Zealand Mail. West Oxford, November 10

At the invitation of the Waimakariri-Ashley Water-supply Board, the Hon the Premier this afternoon performed the ceremony of turning the water from the Waimakariri river into the board’s irrigation races at a point about 10 miles from West Oxford. (Notwithstanding the distance to be travelled, many settlers from all parts of the district assembled to witness the important ceremony. Luncheon was served up in a large marquee on the bank of the race close to where the river is tapped, and the usual toasts wore given.

In the evening the West Oxford Town Hall was crowded, when the Premier delivered a political address, Mr John Weld occupying the chair. Referring to the appointment of Colonel Fraser as Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr Scddon said that for a time this was the most serious charge the Opposition could make against Hie

Government. They had, however, heard very little- of the matter lately, as circumsfc.ir.aeH had arisen last session in connection with the retirement of Mr Barron, late chief of the Hun.-avd staff, which had placed the Kraser appointment in an entirely different light. ilr Barron claimed a pen-ion or retiring allowance. Being satislied that lie was not legally entitled to either, he (the Premier) referred the matter to the law officers, who hold that Mr Barron was not a Civil .-errant, being a .Parliamentary officer on! v, and therefore not entitled to a pan-don or compensation, it had been contemn ;i 1:y the Opposition that the Set-gearl.-at-r..-> ■. being a Parliamentary officer, wa.-» a • .v:i servant, and therefore Colonel was disqualified ; but the decision of the law ofiieers proved that this contention was erroneous. Last session Captain Bussell, Sir JBobert Stout and otiiers were found voting for a special retiring allowance for Mr Barron, and thus in effect admitting that the appointment of the Sergeant-at-Arms was not illegal. At the conclusion of the Premier’s address, a resolution of thanks and confidence was passed unanimously, accompanied by much cheering.

Our Masterton correspondent writes: —Mr 1). J. Cameron, the Opposition candidate for Masterton, addressed a meeting in the Drill Hall on Wednesday evening. There was a good attendance of the public, the chair being occupied by His Worship the Mayor. The attempt at a speech made by Mr Cameron was painful to listen to. He could not be heard at the bottom end of the room, and those who did hear him were reminded never so much of a schoolboy reading an essay. Ths “ speech ” altogether occupied a little over half an hour. After a pause of several minutes somebody proposed a vpte of thanks, which was carried, and the meeting dispersed, wondering what really was the idea of the Conservatives in taking such a palpable rise out of a worthy settler like Mr Cameron.

Mr 8. Vaiio is to bo a candidate for Parnell.