THE PREMIER AT BAWERA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 20

THE PREMIER AT BA WERA.

IIA'ttERA, February 3.

The Premier, accompanied by Messr3 Major, Symcs, and Willis. 1! H R q, arrived by special train this morning to open the Industrial Exhibition. The Premier visited the District High School, with the conveniences and equipment of which ho expre = jod! himself plcaoad, and addro eed the children at length, urging tho/n on to earnest pursuance of their studies. Afterwards h-e opened the new male ward cf the hospital 1 m the pre-senco of a number of people. Tne fountain at the hospital in memory of Mr Lawrence Milmoe was plso unveiled by the wife of the chairman of the Hospiral Boaxd. Preparations are now in progress for the opening of the Exhibition. Tne tov»n is gaily decoiatcd, and success seems assured.

A BANQUET.

A banquet was helu in the opening, and) attended by nearly 100 perrons. Mr Hobb:ns (the Mayor) was in the chair, with -\tr Scddon in the post of honour. Air.onj ethers, the Hon. T. Kolly, M.L.C.. Messrs Jennings, Willis, L)uthie, and Major, M.lilt.'s, were presc-nt.

In responding to the toa~t of " The Parliament," Mr Duthie eaid that while the democracy ruled and would rulo he for one did not think the democracy eufficiently 'insisted on the maintenance of the power of Parliament. It had been shorn of its privileges in respect of the control of finance and administration. Of course, he spoke us an Opposition member, and he hoped in the good time to come the democracy would insist on Pai'hament regaining lt^ grasp of public affairs.

Mr Major considered that if there had been a weakening of Parliament it was duo to the constant demand for a referendum, wHch, if granted, except perhaps in respect cf a very few questions, would >.tili further weaken Parliament.

Mr Willis said the Hawera Exhibition quite eclipsed anything of the kind yet li«ld in Wangaivui. As to the democracy, thfi splendid prosperity of the colony waa a sufficient answer to Mr Duthie's rcu arks.

In responding for the .Ministry, Mr Soddon, who was we-U received, said Mr Bubble's feeling evidently was that the democracy had cent the wrong men to Parliament, and not a majority for hirr> ; but, on tho contrary, he (Mr JS?fldon) thou^bt everything was all right, and tnero w& no occasion for Parliament to regain its power, for it had never lost it. Roforrnig to other matters, h-o said th-er'e must ba a foiling nf disappointment that as a re-sult of t-he colonies' efforts in South Africa the Transvaal wao to be peopled not by Europeans Sufc by Asiatics. He claimed that there was an Imperial interest in resisting pollution fry Chinese. Mr Kruger would not hava allowed it, and if the mine-owners wf>re> permitted to get in Ohine»3 they wouid i;s» their influence to prevent kveal srov&mment, knowing it would mean a reveal o c their pro-Chineso policy. The itfcid-"Mt showed the necessity for an Advisory Imperial Council on a broad basis. He cxpres<?e'<i gratification at the special mention of ;'■* KNow Zealand preferential wrifr by iha King in opening t-he Imperial Parliament. Dealing with tL<j Far Eastern cp?stion, he said if war resulted the British Erap.re must be involved m order to check Kusuia He gave the financial results for the 35 months of the year. The revenue iva* £t>.5fc0,600, as against £4.885.000 m the 10 ircnths of the previous year — an mcrej •«* of £4-£O.OOO. Thf expenditure had not K'pfc pace with tho revenue. Replying to in. interjection by Mr Duthic, ho r?id t•« J'-jblia Works Fund would be in r> nnre> satisfactory state on the 31st Mai oh tho a it had been for 10 years past. He Lclc/ed, there would be available about £300,000. lv concluding, he paid a compliment; to t li=» Hawera people on their virility and energy.

Thirteen, constables who passed their examinations in November, and smco then, h-ivo been undergoing training at Mount Cook, have been sent to duty. Four will lcmain at Wellington, three go to Duncdm, two io Christchurch, two to Auckland, one> ti Wanganui. and one to Uroynouih.