DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 35, 11 February 1914, Page 5

DOMINION NEWS.

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. [Pee Press Association.] Te Aroha, February !<’ j The Prime Minister, in the course of a political address to-night, reviewed the legislation of the past session. He said that nearly 20,G0C Crown tenants now had the opportunity of converting the leasehold 'to freehold.. During the year, ended December ill last, the Government had placed 2143 settlers on the land, who had taken up 677,910 acres. Referring to loan matters, Mr Massey said that the four and a-half millions raised about two years ago cost £144,049, and to raise the money to pay it oil’ would cost £2115,000, a total of £379.019. He announced the Government’s intention to shortly raise the limits for advances to settlers from £750 to £1000; to workers from £4OO to £450 (maximum allowed by law at !present); to local authorities from : £2OOO to £SOOO for any particular ■work; and the advances within towniships (excluding the populous centres' ! to be made up to £2500. • Mr Massey spoke in support of tlr Government’s defence policy and it; iattitude in the recent strike. ! The Hon. W. H. Kerries and Dr {Poinare also spoke, the reception ac 'corded to all being most cordial. A CHARGE OF PERJURY. 1 Invercargill, February. 10. At the Police Court, Herbert Watson, a painter, was charged with having committed perjury in the Magistrate’s Court at Invercargill by swearing, with reference to a painting job, the .following words: “My brother took the job. He is a tailor. He put me in charge, I got paid by Austin at Is 3d per hour. My brother gave orders to Austin.” Detective-Sergeant Cameron said accused was summoned by Broad, Small and Company for £3O 12s 7d, a debt owing by him, to which he confessed judgment. A judgment summons was issued later, (and ho used the words stated when arrested. The accused sairj it would break his mother up that he had got mixed up. Defence was reserved, and accused was committed lor trial. Bail was allowed in ona surety of £IOO or two of £SO.