THE PEEMIER AT HOKITIKA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10625, 21 March 1896, Page 6

THE PEEMIER AT HOKITIKA.

(Per United Press Association.)

Hokitika. March 20,

The Hon. R. J. Seddon (Premier) addressed a crowded meeting of bis constituents at the Theatre Royal to-night. A large number of ladies were present. The mayor (Mr Mandl) presided. Mr Seddon, in opening, expressed pleasure at mSfeting so m»Dy, especially at. soch short notice. It was always a pleasure to meet tho I people. Nothing created so much confidence as that those who represented the people in Parliament, and especially Ministers of the Crown, who were responsible for the administration of legislation should take every possible opportunity of rnfjefcing the people. If Ministers i rnst the people they could explain how the I moneys were expended, aad that they were not frittered away, instead of having to accept what was filtered to tonin through the contaminated columns of the Conservative press. He would deliver mainly an address on sessional matters. In Belf-defence, and to put matters right before them, it would be necessary he should meet certain charges that had been mada against the Governmeut of which he was hend. New Zealand was one of the most picturesque, grandest, and wealthiest countries on the lace of the earth, and he questioned very much whether any spot on the face of the earth had baeu so mismanaged as this colony in its earliest years. However, they had survived, having beea assisted by those sturdy pioneers who had borne the heat and bnrden of the day, and by the gold discoverers who suffered privations in j the bash, &c. These assisted in making the country what it now was. With saeh a people, it was not to be wondered at that it had survived tuch mis-management. The present Government hid bean endeavouring to bring the goveramsnt of this country up to d&to, to develop the country's vast resources, and to pass legislation in the interests of the people; to introduce administration so that there should be the least possible expenditure necessary, so that tho greatest good might eventuate by thftt expenditure. Whilethe Government were doing this, those who had previously mismanaged the country wore unpatriotic enough to endeavour to set cle.ss against class and widen the gap, as had been djne in the old country. In the past laud had been given to a solect few to the detriment of the many. These squatters had gridironed and spotted the land to that the small settler should not have a chsnee. Past Governments had borrowed moneys for which we were now pajiug the interest and principal, and absentees were receiving the profits from the land. The Government, however, had the confidence of the people, as the people knew they were doing good, honest work in the interests of the | country, and the Government intended to con- | tinue to make the country prespar. He had at Nelson replied to the leadsr of tho Opposition I and Sir R. Sfout, because, hid he not done eo, | it would have been said h« had no reply to I make. This was why he replied, although the j charges made were very paltry for his notice, j If those opposed to them h'id any charges to j make, and would come forward and make them | openly, it would bo found they would he answered in just as open a mxnonr; aud he was quite prepared to meet Ca;itoin Russell on his own ground. Captain Russell in his speech had referred to " poor Mi Ballance." Mr | Bailarice's memory did not require to be perpetuated in this way. It would alwavs live jin the hearts of the grateful people of New j Zealand, and the people did not wish to hear ■ him spoken of in this wny bv those people, j When he was alive and in his vigour, how was he spoken of by these very people—of the class of Captain Russell ? He was hated by them, aud they did not reverence bit* name to-day, ] The name remarks applied to the Minister for Labour. They regretted be had gone Home, and that he had left the Ministry. With Sir P. Buckloy's retirement O.iptoin*KasßfcH said there whs only the tail of r.hu Ministry luft. But he thought Captain Kusseil must be thinking of the Ministry in which the tail wagged the dog. It had been said the Government bad deviated from the policy of 1891. This was not so, and it would not be deviated from. The Governineot would continue to promote legislation which would tend to give equal righto to everyone, aud they nsked for the sympathy of the people in their endeavour to do this. The equitting classes at the present time wevs I refusing to give the unemployed work, but it i would be found that the working classes were j not to be starved into subjection, as was being tried. The Government had been accused of harshness by the cquatters because they refused to allow shearers to be housed in worse places than the horses, cotvs, and pigs of the station. It wa9 the duty of the Government, he claimed, to see that these psoplc were treated an human beingß. He asked what had Sir Robert Stout done for the people when he was in office for three years? He had cone nothing but simply carp and fiDd fault. The same applied to the Government of'-which Captain Russell was a member. He contrasted the present Government with these, and said the present Government had some beneficial results to show for their term. Sir Robert Stout had found fault with the GoverntneaS; for breaking the laws, yet he was found'getting up. in his place in the House and having to admit that the Piue Company of which he was a director had broken the law by, contrary to tbe provisions of the Truck Act, supplying their employees with goods. With reference to another company of which Sir R. Stone waa a director, the Minister for Blines on hii last trip to Rivertoa had visited a mine, and as he found the complement of hands required by law wera not about he asked where they ware. He was told they were not working by the person ia charge. A European minor, however, standing by said the men were not working that day because they were Chinamen aud had been kept away so that the Minister might not see them. And yet this was a company of which Sir R. Stout was a director. He simply mentioned these instances because the Rincerity of a man might be doubted wheu he was found advocating one thing and practising another. In the I latter instance it might be the directors did not know Chiaese were employed, but he doubted if this were the ease. Speaking on boy labour, this munt bo limited. He wa6 of opinien the J case would bo met by a misaeure being intro- ! duced limiting the number of boys to the num- I ber of journeymen employed. At the present time boy laboar was largely being used, but j when boys left shops they were not tradesmen, I and were uaelo.'s. With regard to land for settlement, the Guvnrmneat were doin?/ good j work, aud would continue in this policy. State j farms would be extended, »nd every provision ma do for pruviding workmen with land on which to erect their homes. The unemployed difficulty was a pressing one, bat the Government hoped to be able to meet it satisfactorily. The question of State firo insurance would receive attention next session. He did not sea why the Stats could not undertake fire as well as life insurance satiofactorily. The State had buildings which it was advisable should be insured. Last year the asylum at Auckland, valued nt £12.000, had been burned, and there was no insurance. There had been a general outcry agaiuso the high ratea of insurance, and it was one of tbosu matters which should be attended to, at there was a very large tiamber ef people iurerested. In Switzerland they hud State fire insurance at low rates, although the conditions were perhaps hardly the same as here. He knew of a great rainy cases where people coold not afford to pay high rates whose | buildings had been destroyed by fire. Dealing ! with tbe question of old-age pension, the Premier said they would have to ba careful, and do nothing from an old-age pauperism | standpoint. They would have to recognise tbe [ righto of those who would claim the benefit of the propped legislation. In view of the altered circumstances *in different parts of the colony it would be impossible to pass any measure that would work evenly and work out satisfactorily in each and every district. Length of residence in the country and physical health wera important factors to be coa«idered. At the present time they had in their midst friendly societies which would have to play an important part in the scheme. In regard to friendly societies, it was the duty of ths Gorernmont to lend them every assistance and to take every advantage of the facilities they afforded for dealing with old-age pensions. He was sorry to say sums frieudly societies were not financially strong, but lie thought there was a way in which, the Government could assist. Them were private societies in connection with many companies jwhieu employees were compelled to join, sometimes being forced to leave their regular lodge*. These private societies were destroying the friendly societies, and it was the duty of tho State to protect and use them in grappling with this question of old age pensions to deserving colonists! The private societies were an undui interference with the liberty of tbe subject, and it would be necessary therefore to introduce and pass legislation dealing with the question. The Undesirable Immigrants Bill had been ridiculed, but at the recent Medical Congress in Dunedin it was stated that »n epidemic of smallpox would be better than to have New Zealand made the dumping ground for the consnmpti ves of the old country. The matter should be dealt with by a public health conservation bill, so that the degeneration of the race might be avoided. The Contagious Diseases Act was an iDsult to the women of New Zealand, and the seoner it was removed the sootier the disgrace to New Zealand would be removed. Stepa for the better protection of girln of tender age would be taken by raising the age of consent. Referring to the question of borrowing, he said tho present Government bad no intention of pulling cbestuuts cut of the fire for rha Oncervatives by going in for a loan- He gave a flat denial to the statement that the Minister for Railways had said that tbe railways must be conducted on puraly business principles. The railways were for national purposes, and were not there as a purely revenue-squeezing machine. It was impossible to have a hard and fast railway tarifl. Ihe requirements of different localities must be taken into consideration, and very laree concessions had been m&de

on tbe railways. The mining interests had not been neglected in the past, and since tire present Government came into office no less a sum than £4-87,334 had been spent in the colony on the goldfields. He hoped that now ho had given this inform&tkm he would hesr nothing further about the Government doing nothing to develop the mining industry. The Premier touched on the subject of local government, and said that owing to misgovernment aod excessive cost *i administration it wa» time for a change, and legislation dealing with the subject would be brought forward again next sessiou. This being a matter of great moment it would probably be Slid that the question should be referred to the electors before legislative action was taken. He thought the principle should be discussed and the bill put in workable order, and then, if thought neoessary, as ia the case of the Abolition of the Province* Act, its operation could be held in abeyance for a year until the electors had given their opinion at the ballot box. The question of distraint for rent was another evil to be grappled with, and a bill abolishing this piece of bsrbarintn would bo introduoad next session. He could not understand how, in this nineteenth century, such a system could be tolerated. It was monstrous that ope man should have power without reference to a magistrate, of turning a family into the street. Neither was it right that a landlord should have a prior claim over *U other creditors. There was no truth in thfi statement that he did not intend to contest West-land at the next election. It had been said he was going to stand for Wellington, but he took an early opportunity of saying he would remain their member until it was decided at the ballot box that he should not be, and he hsd refusad to accept invitations to contest other seats. Th« next election would be most keenly contested. Those opposed to him and his Government intended to spend money upon it, and he believed the money would flow like water. As he had promised that his speech would be presessional, he would give them

THE POLICY which tha Government would pursue next cession. The Government proposed to introduce the following legislation :—Workmen's village) (adapting the Laud for Settlements Act for this purpose) ; limitation of boy and girl labour; legislation affecting tho timber industry, so as to preserve the forests and have timber cut in the proper season ; the development of mining by the construction of water races, prospecting, importation of improved machinery and gold-saving processes, and security of tenure; abolition of distraint for rent, all creditors to be an the same footing; legislation fixing the maximum rate of interest; audit of public companies' accounts, no as to protect the investments of the people; State fire insurances; labour legislation to bs completed ; boy labour limited; a living wage condition in public tenders; private insurance, employers' and private companies' private friendly societies to be declared illegal snd an uuduo iatertvreuce with the liberty of the subject; purit.y of the race and the exclusion of Asiatics ; no Japanese ; legislation for the conservation of pnblic health; protection of girls of tender age; repeal of the Contagious Diseases Act; Betterment Bill; Losal Gaveroineiit Bill; amendment of the liquor law to briog clubs uudcr supervision and give an opportunity for having uational prohibition decided at a poll, which bad been well thought out. Mr Seddon thought it would enable them to make the next session a short one, and the next session would be a littte earlier than usual. The Premier concluded on able speech of over three hours' duration amidst loud applause.

A vote of thanks to the Premier aud confidence in himself as the representative of Westlaud and »lso confidence in his Ministry was carried unanimously with acclamation.