THE PREMIER AT PEATHERSTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2205, 4 June 1896, Page 29

THE PREMIER AT PEATHERSTON.

Featherston, May 30* The Premier addressed a large meetiug hetft lost night. In dealing with the speeches of thd Opposition, the Premier said that Captain Russell and his party were continually characterising the graduated land tax as iniquitous and unfair, and were always agitating for its ' repeal, yet quietly they never lost an opportunity of buying and adding to their immense estates. They were doing their best to monopolise the laud; but if they thought their wholesale attempts at annexation of the landJji of the colony would be tolerated much longer they made a grsat mistake. The settlers' conS would not be driven away from New Zealand to seek homes e'sowliere while there were thousands and thousands of acre* monopolised by a selects . few in the Auckland district. Captain Russell bad stated that ho claimed every man who. went on the land as his friend. This statement; Mid the Premier, was a most palpable" blind, mode to deceive the people at the present juncture, The whole policy of Captain Russell and hifl party had consistently and persistently bsen to prevent the people getting on the land.' II Csptain Russell were sincere, why did ho nofi starb at home and out up some of these largo estates P During the last five years the cojttdiion of things had been improving, aud if the people were true to themselves at the general election and voted conscientiously New Ze** laud would soon be free altogether of the domination of terrorism, despotism, and Conservatism. A unanimous vote of thanks and oi confidence in the Government wai pasfed.