Sir Robert Stout’s Address.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 4, Issue 21, 17 March 1893, Page 2

Sir Robert Stout’s Address.

Auckland, Maeeh 10. A political address was given by Sir Robert Stout to-night at the City Hall a crowded audience, Sir Robert described himself as one of the rank and file of the Liberal -Party, and said that therefore he was in a unique position, as"it was not is duty to support the Government or to criticise the Opposition. He then proceeded to reply to the speech delivered by Mr Rolleston on Monday night. * He , pomled put with regard to the Midland Railway that the party now in power stipulated .that'the land given ■ to the company should be in alternate blocks,, and that this proposal was afterwards abandoned. He reminded his aiidience that in the property AsBill of 1885 he proposed that agricultural improvements and industrial machinery up to £B,OOO should be exempted from taxation, And that that was opposed by those who now wanted all improvements He defended the policy of thb Government in devoting the surplus to public- works rather than to reduction of taxation, and while he gave[credit to Mr Rolleston for ,having introduced a perpetual lease of ,-a kind, said he would never have passed it if he had depended on the votes of his own party. Neither was it a true perpetual lease which Mr Rolleston had proposed. Sir Robert spoke of the present prosperity of the colony as the result of the judicious administration of the' present Government, in reference to the constitutional question reading 1 the appointments to the Legislative Council, he said the logical outcome of the argument of those who opposed the reference to Downing Street was that we should have an elective Governor, Sir Robert Stout argued at some length that the railways should not be under the control of an irresponsible Board of Commissioners. Speaking of the liquor traffic he said that the direct local control would have to be given to the people, J - '■niiwiiii m ■■■ • m