THE PREMIER AT FIELDING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2310, 9 June 1898, Page 12

THE PREMIER AT FIELDING.

THE GOVERNMENT POLICY OUTLINED.

Fbilding, May 31.

The Premier delivered an address in Feildiog lapfc evening to a large audience. In the course of his address he* referred to the Mataura election, -wlipre tha Goveranienl had gained a seat. Mr M'Nab was an advanced Liberal, and would nofc throw in his lot with the Left Wing, but would vote for the Government on any no-confidence motion. Referring to tha member for PalmGrston'a declaration that he would not support the Government any longer, his proper course, seeing that he had departed from his election pledges, would be to resign and allow hie constituents to endorse his acfcioa or otherwise, if he desired to maintain his honour in Parliament. But for the Government support the member for Palmerdton would not have been returned at the last general election. If'that gentleman would how give his constituents an opportunity to endorse his action, he (Mr Seddon) would be quite satisfied as to the result, but in his opinion Mr Fir&ni would not go back to Parliament. He" would treat Mr Pirani's persona,! referancee,to himself with the contempt they deserved ; but as regards attacks on his (the Premier's) wife, he said that the innuendo » gainst her was absolutely untrue, and a mere fabrication. Mr Seddou said that Parliament would meet for the despatch of b&ihesa on June 24. The present local government system had almost entirely broken down, and would have to be amended. The representation on local bndiea would have to be enlarged. The Government proposed that for borough and county elections those on the electoral roll for not less than 12 months, property-owners, and lessees would have the right to vote at the election of members to local .bodies ; that every ownsr and lessee should have a vote for loans for drainage, lighting, and water purposes; and that the bar« majority should carry the poll, irrespective of those -who did not vote. In respetst to loans under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act, the voting should be decided by the majority of those recording their votes, irrespective of the vsltzes of the properties owned by those voting. With reapect to rating on unimproved value?, he said that, irrespective of the numbers on the roll or values, tha majority of thoss voting should deoide Yes or No for the principle in boroughs. He hoped next session to have this measure placed on the Statute Book ; j that the majority should settle it once for ] all, and that it would prove serviceable to the j colony. Touching on the liquor traffic, he said ] that whatever the people insisted on Parlia- i ment would have a right to gr&nt. The Opposition and the extreme prohibitionists were now united with the object of putting out ths Government, but that union could not last. The Goverrimsnt desired to carry out the wishes of the people, but it was never intended I that one sectiou of the people should be j eternally flying at the throats of the others, j Tha colony tould not prosper trader such con- j ditions, and there should be an end put; to it. ] The law laid down must be complied with. ! Whether liquor was cold in a hotel or club, it should b9 under control, but there should be • some certainty. The time had arrived for a ] State fire insurance scheme. The present premiums were still too high, and the State should step in and bring them down es it had done in regard to the rates of interest. He considered that tko time bad. Arrived for & State accident;

I insurance scheme. There would be little risk I and great benefit, while half the present ! premium* would suffice and leave a profit. I He had had the tables prepared and the J risks calcaJated, »»i3 he knew of nothing better I that tha Government could do than take

jup thiu question. Touching the Technical 1 Education Bill introduced last tession, he said

that the chairman of the Wellington Education Board (Mr B2air) had informed him recently that he had gona through the bill, and cuuld

not see that it h«sd the tendency charged agttiusfc it, while it woald be of immense beucfib to the youth of the colony. He (Mr Seddon) was prepared to sUH stand by the bill. He referred to the railways and to fcho dairy industry, which were now in a satisfactory position. Dealiug with the advances to settles, he said that where there were Ckown tenants there was no reason why the Government, should not advance money to assist; such settlers in erecting creameries. He defended the Land for Settlements Ac!;, and said fchftb there was some land

in this district which should be taken under

the act, and cut up for close seMleoient. Speaking on the quoetioa or' defence, he said that his

Government had done more in this respect than

any other Government The Government; desired to encourage the present patriotic feeling existing in the volunteer tores.

At the conclusion of his address a Tote of thanks to Mr Seddon and confidence id the Government was carried.