CAPTAIN RUSSELL AT AUCKLAND. Auckland, April 16.

Otago Witness, Issue 2199, 23 April 1896, Page 11

CAPTAIN RUSSELL AT AUCKLAND. Auckland, April 16.

Captain Russell, M.H.R. for Hawke's Bay, addressed a public meeting of citizens to-night in the City Hall. The mayor (Mr J. J. Holland) presided. There was a large attendance. Among those on the platform were the Hon. E. Mitchelson, C. E. Batton, W. F. Massey, W. Crowther, andF. Lawry, M.H.R.'s, and a large number of repreienfcative citizens. Captain Russell, who was received with cheers, said it was not his first appearance in Auckland, as he had been there as a subaltern in 1858—40 years ago— to take part in the defence of the colony. The country was not now so self-reliant as then, and men were looking to the Government, and were taught to look to the Government, to do everything for them, and ; were having their; ' independence sapped by ! paternal legislation. What was the position of the colony at present P Certainly unsatisfactory, although he had to congratulate Auckland on her present prosperity. Referring to changes in the personnel of the ministry, the speaker I asked if they realised that the present Ministry was a very different one to that originally termed the Liberal Ministry. Mr Reeves had left it for the Agent-generalship, Sir P. Buckley had ascended th« bench of the Supreme Court, and Mr Montgomery had gone. The tail and following were going also. The handwriting was on the wall. As the result of the

latft Chfisfcehorch election tbe Opposition would sweep Chrfstwhurch 'at tne next general election, and probably other parts ol the south. In place of the departed Minister* the. Ministry had now gob Mr Hall-Jones, c geo'd man, »nd Mr Thomas Thompson. Whea the latter spoke in the House he (the speaker) always put his hand on bis head and mentally asked himself to what parfcy did he belong. Fivti years ago the Government p'romisad bighei wages, more work, and to make men happy. Had these hopes been realised ? It was » most noticeable fact that the members of the Ministry had looked out - for themselves. Officers of the oivil service found the only road to promotion was by truckling and sycophancy. The Government was now carried on in a despotic; autocratic, and dogmatic spirit, which bad never been submitted to by any free race of British men in any part of the world. - They had not grappled with the unemployed difficulty in a statesman-like way. They had harassed trade in all i's branches and committed blunders and political evils of various kinds. Referring to the pertooalities in the Premier's speech at Neleon,, the speaker expressed a hope that, the next Premier would have a batter idea of cqnrtesy towards^ hia political opponents. He complained of undue delay by the Premier in furnishing information. as to the financial condition of the colony, and ' doing so autocratically. Th© language used by the. Colonial Treasurer in London in raising the' three; millions would yet, • possibly, haye j .to be retracted if nob apologised for. The 1 financial arrangements were the poorest- speoimen of financing which: he had ever seen. • What had the present Government done to earn the title of the true Liberal Ministry ? Positively nothing. • They Conefcrvk tires first introduced eleotion by . ballot, triennial Parliaments, and had initiated much of the labour legislation, alUiougb it had nob passed into law. The Seddon Ministry opposed the enfranchisement of women at the outset until, seeing the tide rising, they floated with the tide. Messrs M'Kenzie, Ward, Carroll, and Thompson voted against it, while the Premier went out of the flouse, not having tbe courage of his opinions. The greatest blessing New Zealand enjoyed was the Education' iot, introduced by a Conservative Government. As to thei Christohurch election, its political effect could not be overestimated, for that constituency was the most influential in the colony, and had given the Government support for years past. The Opposition claimed the result as a m»gniflcent victory, while the Premier denied this, saying it was only th» outcome of a triangular duel. Why, Mr Taylor acd the Prohibitionist was more bitterly oppesed to the Government than Mr Lewis, the successful candidate. Toe speaker then referred to the Advances to Settlers Act, and said the loss to the colony in the administration would be serious. During the present year the board was being urged to put out the money, showing that the demand for money was not so great as had been represented. He did not; believe all the evils befalling tbe colony were due to the Government, for he wished to be fair. It would be mora pleasant to state that the colony was in a prosperous condition, bub to say so was simply to live in a fool's paradise. Some impoitant sources of revenue were diminishing, and the liabilities of the colony were iuorrasiug. Some people imagined that if the Opposition got into power they would revolutionise everything. They did totintend to do so, or to interfere with, the land and -income tax or labour legislation on the Statute Book.' They aocepted tbe "action of Parliament as accomplished facts. The speaker next referred to railway administration,' and thbnght it was a. serious thing- tbat the revenue was less than in 1893, as shown by Mr Vaile's figures. The country was indebted to that gentleman for hi* labours in tbe cause of railway reform. In the face of a decline in important items of revenue, the Treasurer at Winton talked of borrowing millions for a fleet for the defence of ■ the colony. Tbe Government twitted Sir Robert Stout and himself as to varying statements about the fall in the ouitoms revenue. The statements only differed through their computing the decline for different periods of time, which was a satisfactory, explanation to the charge. But for the action of the Opposition in the tariff charges the Auckland island trade would have been ruined, and tbe Government had raised a far larger sum by fresh taxation than they claimed to need. As to the proposed surplus that was announced, he did not believe that there was any surplus in th« legitimate sente of the word. Several windfalls had come in which had nothini to do with the year's revenue. With regard . to the settlement of the land, it was stated that he (the speaker) was inimical to land settlement. . That was not true. Ha welcomed every man who settled on the land, as he was sure to come round in the end to his political creed. The statements of the Minister for Lands as to the success of settlement were misleading, but he believed the Hon. Mr M Kenzie honestly desired to promote land .settlement. The Liberals .seemed to forget tbat Mr Rolleston was father of the Liberal laws and author of the perpetual lease. With regard to suburban dwellings for city workmen, he did not belieya in any Government undertaking the project. It could be better accomplished by corporations who could supervise the scheme. As to colonial defence, speaking as a soldier, he believed the colony was practically defenceless, as there was only one trained gunner to each gun, and a volunteer force poorly organised. If warships in war met with disaster they would be afraid to come to dock or refit through a doubb as to whether they could be protected by the harbour defences. The number of officers and guDiiers should be increased, and an tffieieab Force raised in the four large centres of the colony well disciplined and fairly paid. Ab present the colony got for the £80,000 defence vote practically nothing, but fer £10,000 more matters might be put on a much bettor footing. Captain Russell received an excellent hearing, Three or four members of the Liberal: Association kept up a running fire of interruptions till the ohairman interoosed.

Mr Hugh Campbell moved, and Mr Arthur Heather seconded, a hearty vote of thanks ta Captain Russell for his able address, which: was carried by acclamation amid prolonged applause.

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