The Premier at Kumara.

Opunake Times, Volume IV, Issue 184, 7 April 1896, Page 3

The Premier at Kumara.

Kumaka, April 4. The Premier addressed a great audience here. He paid a high compliment to the men engaged in the rescue work at Brunnerton, which was attended with great risk of life. He denied that the Conservative Party had secured triennial Parliaments and manhood sufferage. As was well known, these were planks of the Liberal Party under Sir G. Grey's Government, of which Sir R. Stout and Mr Ballance were members. The National Association he regarded as one whose aims and objects were large expenditure of money to corrupt public opinion. The return of the Opposition to power would mean disaster to the masses, unequal taxation, and monopoly, bad land laws, property tax, aggregation of wealth to' a few, and poverty to the people. The payment of the sinking fund into consolidated revenue was in accordance with law; if the law was wrong those complaining should alter it. He denied the statement that the Government bribed the press by the appointment of some members of the profession to the Council. Regarding Round Hill and employment of Chinese, the Premier reiterated the statements made in Hokitika and read telegrams supporting it. He next referred to the position, of the Legislative Council, to every reform demanded by the people, and said personally he would lose no opportunity in bringing the Council more in touch with the people. He mentioned the rise in wool, and it meant a million of money coming to New Zealand. How much money finds its way to the pockets of the workers it was difficult to say, but now that everything favored wool growers, he hoped they would be more liberal in employing. Unanimous votes of confidence in himself and Government were carried.