POLITICAL ADDRESSES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1424, 15 June 1899, Page 35

POLITICAL ADDRESSES.

WOODVILLE, Tuesday. Captain Russell' addressed a crowded meeting here last evening, and was accorded a cordial reception. The Bnlla.nce Government, said the bon. gentleman. was one ox such overwhelming strength that the Opposition of that day was powerless. The Opposition was no longer to be looked upon as lielp-leas, and it was his firm conviction that the Government which had so long misruled the country would be swept cut of office and give way to a pure Administration. The overwhelming defeat the Government had suffered in the very seat of Government when Mr Dutbi'e was returned end the glorious victory of the Opposition at Tuapeka were signs that the power of the SerJdon Ministry was waning. He was told perpetually that the Opposition ought to declare a policy. He ventured to say that no wise man would do so before he got into office. When the new Government was formed they would then discuss the details of a, policy. It. had been said that different men speaking on _ different platforms had expressed different views. But among many men there must be many minds. Tho present Government had been in office for nine years, and had not yet bad time to declare a policy, excepting, of course, the “spoils to the victors.” AfterMr Ballance had been in office for some time he was asked what his policy was to be. and he replied that he would not declare it till 'after the next, session .

The country was perpetually being stirred up by flying Ministers, who spoke from every platform, Instead c-f attending to the business of the colony. Much of the legislation brought in by the present Government wn« introduced by the Atkinson Government in 1890. People thought that because a Government was lavish in its expenditure it was necessarily a good Government. Bys motto was that the most economical Government was the best.

Having dealt with various other points on lines similar to those of bis other recent' speeches, Captain Russell said that the system instituted by the Government of sending men round • the country to put the names c-f electors on the roll was a direct violation of the electoral laws. The inability of the district to return a Conservative member was due to the want of organisation, and he exhorted the electors above all things to organise. The district ought not to be dominated by gangs of cooperative labourers sent here six months before the election to qualify. ■ No one who read the papers could shut bis eyes to the fact that ccrrnption was rile in the country.

Mr John Stevens, M.H.E., addressed meetings of his constituents at Shannon, Levin and Foxton, where he was warmly received, and listened to with marked attention. At the conclusion of each address the speaker was accorded a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, proposed respectively by Messrs Stephen Milner, C. W. Nation and Alfred Eraser, Mayor of Foxton. At the conclusion of Mr Stevens’s Foxton address, Mr E. S. Tbynne proposed a special vote of thanks to Mr Steven's for the time and attention he had devoted to all questions and matters affecting the welfare and prosperity c-f the district, which lie represented, and especially for his successful efforts in obtaining a subsidy towards the cost of erecting the Wirokino bridge over the Manawat-u river, the bridge being a great boon to the people of the West Coast. The motions were carried unanimously. In acknowledging the votes, Mr Stevens said that the thanks of the people were also due to Mr Stansell (late Mayor of Foxton) for the time and attention which he had devoted to this matter.