THE PREMIER AT MASTERTON.

Otago Witness, 14 December 1893, Page 17

THE PREMIER AT MASTERTON.

Masterton, December 8.

At the banquet to the Premier last night about 100 guests were present, including a number of ladies. Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R , occupied the chair. The Premier, in replying to the toast of "The Ministry," said that the highest legal authorities had informed the Government since the close of the session that they could appoint whom they liked when the present Railway Commissioners' term expired. He would not say who the Government would appoint, but in his opinion one of the members of the board should occupy a seat in the House, and the lines should be used in aiding settlement. He wished to say that the commissioners had mistaken the intention of the public works policy of the Government. Workmen in the lower grades had been dominated by the higher officers. The press had never noticed that since the appointment of the Railway Commissioners three inner circles had grown up apait from the Government — first, a separate audit of the system of railways apart from the audit system of the colony ; second, the locomotive branch ; third, the trams department. The elections showed that the country wanted a change, and the Goverament would try to carry out the wishes of the colony. He was not pre« pared to say what the Government intended to do with respect to the legislative Council appointments, but did not mind telling them it was recognised by the Government that the farming community was not sufficiently represented ; alfo, ib was an anomaly to find men sitting side by side for a period and some for life. The only fair course was to say that life members should be put on the same level as the others who are there fc r seven years. Another matter he had forgotten to bring forward was the question of the early completion of the Eketahuna-Woodville railway. The elections were now over, and the Government could not be accused of any effort to bribe. He could therefore safely say he hoped to see the line completed at as early a date as possible. The Ballance Ministry and the USeddon Ministry were a happy family, banded together to do good to the country. They were nob a one-man or two-men Ministry, but worked together. The country was not now governed by under-secretaries, as in the past, bub by Ministers.