SPEECH BY THE PREMIER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10574, 27 January 1906, Page 1

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER.

— -♦ (Per Press Association.)

PAHIATUA, last night. On the occasion of a social tendered to Mr Ross, member for Pahiatua, to-night, at which Messrs Hornsby and hall, M.'sH.R., were piesent, the Premier referred to the subject of the Imperial Conference, which was to have been held this year. At the last conference of Prime Ministers it was decided that the conferences should be held not later than four years ancl not less than three years. A memorandum was received from Mr Lyttelton, late Secretary of State for the Colonies, asking for the views of the Premiers on this matter, and the reply of Mr Deakin, Federal Prime Minister, and himself were to the effect that they were quite willing to attend the conference, but stating that it was desirable to hold the conference early m the year. Mr Lyttelton then suggested that m view of the dissolution of the Imperial Parliament the conference would be postponed. The election of a new - Go\ r erninent at Home had since rendered the postponement of the conference necessary. Mr Seddon received a communication from Ah- Deakin m December to the effect that there was no objection to a postponement, and accordingly at a meeting of the Cabinet m Wellington yesterday it was decided that NeAV Zealand also had no objection to a postponement of the conference. Although this decision Avas not m accord Avith the decision oT the previous conference, it AVas m tbe interests of the colonies and Mother Country . The outcome of theso conferences would, ho believed, be the formation of an Imperial Council, which would be m touch with the people, and add to the strength of the Empire. Many difficulties and dangers would be removed by the formation of such a council.

Referring to the proposed Labor and Industrial Parliament, he said the Government had decided to abandon it, and he adversely criticised .the action of the Employers' Association regarding it. He deeply regretted that these Associations refused to meet the Labor Unions, but the Associations had weakened their case, and the moral effect would be that the people would have a much higher opinion of the Labor Unions, whoso case would be strengthened. He. deplored the attitude certain labor representatives had taken up m asking that their expenses be paid by Government, but this attitude was no indication of the feeling of workers generally. Referring to trade monopolies, the Premier said these were working silently, secretly, ancl surreptitiously against the interests of the producers of the colony. This was a matter that would engage the attention of Parliament.

There was also danger from shipping rings. The people of the colony were under the power of two or three companies, and when a new company entered into competition with these companies it was cither driven out or absorbed by thorn. Freights from New Zealand were 33 per cent, more than from Australia. Rather than allow the country to be under the power of monopolies, the State would have to own steamers and take its own freights. (Applause). He felt sure that the farmers would support the Government m seeing that justice was clone to the colony's produce at Home. He concluded amidst applause.