MR BUCHANAN AT GISBORNE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11453, 19 June 1899, Page 5

MR BUCHANAN AT GISBORNE.

(Per United Press Association.) GISBORNE, June 18. Mr Buchanan, member for Wairarapa, addressed 5 a crowded meeting at the Theatre" Royal last evening upon political subjects, and obtained a good hearing, being frequently applauded. His speech was mainly a reply to that delivered by the Hon Mr Carroll last Wednesday. He exDlained the facts of the Russell land grant and the trip up the Wanganui River, contrasting with the,latter the Premier's and Mr Carroll's trip, through Urewera, for which expenses amounting to £680 were drawn, and charged against the vote for aged and indigent Maoris. He challenged the accuracy of the various statements of the Premier and claimed that his pledges of a nonborrowmg, self-reliant Government had been broken. He strongly advocated the freehold tenure, and said whilst the Opposition would not interfere with the present land legislation, they would give settlers'who desired it the right to obtain titles to their holdings. In a similiar manner, they wou d nst upset the old-age pensions, bu* would seek to improve them in the direc tion of encouraging thrift. The Premier, he said had voted for every loan since he had been m Parliament, and also for increases of taxation, which Captain Russell and o her Oppositionists resisted, and he promised they would still endeavour to obtain a reduction of the tariff on the necessities of life. With regard to the reduction of freight, which Mr Seddon claimed credit for, he (Mr Buchanan) said the agreement was signed by the shipping companies some weeks before the Premier bad approached the companies. Mr B u : chanan was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. As the meeting was breaking up Mr W L. Rees attempted to speak, and there was considerable uproar for some minutes. Final y he made himself heard, and said be only wished to propose that the Opposition party should be asked to support the Government, and if necessary to compel ' the Government, to bring in a law to throw open the Native lands of this district to settlement. The motion was seconded by the Mayor, and carried unani;