POLITICAL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 12865, 25 May 1905, Page 5

POLITICAL.

TTXE PREMIER AT DU.NEDIN. Per Press Association. Djunedin, May 24. The Premier addressed a very largo meeting 'of Dimedin electors this evening. Dealing with Mr Massey's recent speech in .Diuicdin, 21 v Seddon complained ot tlie unfairbodming the Opposition received from the , preas, but after the booming would come the burst, and that in [November next. He said emphatically that he did not intend to fccccypt the High Coniniissionership,' Mr Massey had cast a slur on the press by saying a section of it had been corrupted 1^ Government support.! The Premier quoted the amounts paid to the Opposition and other papers,, showing that the distribution had been fair. lie criticised Mr Bedford's charges that the ' Government practised unsound finance. IJe 'had stated that the Government was manufacturing surpluses by appropriating money derived, from the s a le of Crown lands. Instead of the supplies being swollen l by money derived as injdieated, the Crown Lands Department owed the colony over £500,000 for cost of , administration, surveys, and other work. The Premier then proson tod the biudget of the colony ,, amounting to a surplus of £761,036, made tip as follows r — Receipts : Revenue '£7,282,870, sinking fund accretions '£03,200, othor receipts £1127; total £7,3-17,197. Expenditure j Permanent appropriations £2,070,972, animal appropriations £3,964,930; total £6,635,902, e.vcess of receipts over expenditure, £i 711,295; balance 31st 'March, 1904, £649,741; transferred to public works fund, £600,000; balance from last year, £49,741; balance at 3lst March, 1905, £761,036. The 'Government had not been extravagant. Ho denied that loan money had been transferred in large suftns to the Public iWbrks. The press .did not know; of it, but it "was a fact that £600,000 had, been transferred from the Consolidated Fund to the Bublic Works F.innd. Regarding the Public Works Fund, he might say that on the 31st 'March there was £S9'J,GO7 to its credit, move money than at any previous time "before. The present Government !iad dorm more than any other in bringing capital and labour together. ' Ho criticised the Opposition for decrying Jew Zealand. The Opposition press never told the people when ]New* Zealand 3^ and 3 per cent, stock were 5s higher than iNew South (Wales, but tiiey never failed to 1 loudly cry > out v»'hen they happened to bo lower, ,w>hich perhaps occurred after the paying of interest, nor were they told of the great success of the New Zealand loan, when one million was asked, and two and a half 'proffered. The criticism of spoils to the vistors ccyuld at bost only have reference to the appointment of a few telmporary clerks. The .^Government had been charged with charging the capital account with amounts which should have b«en charged to revenue. There was nothing in the cfrarg-e. He asserted that it was perfectly right that the cost of buildings which represented permanent assets should be charged to capital account. He justified the existence of the Land Comjmission. Regarding the taking of lands lor settlement, il| was manifestly unfair to ■take the free-, hold from one and give it to many. He* deprecated the agitation set up by thg Opposition on the lands settlement rjuestion, which tended to upset Crown tenants. The Government, he maintained, should faithfully keop its contracts. The iGovernment had been desirous of getting urban and suburban lands for workers, but Mr Massey had opposed it. The Government claimed that it had decreased direct taxation by over a million. Regarding 1 old age pensions, he (did not knowi that they could do* better "khan increase the payment to recipients. There wore not sufficient niirics in the colony, nor sufficient opportunity for training them, but the nurses* training homes would mean the providing of an additional 100 or 150 nurses per annum. The .Government would at once take steps to prevent a repetition of the Christoliurch scandal. The Shops and O.ffices Act as at present ! was an abortion, and would be amended. It would maintain,, however, the hours of closing, but making certain exceptions. In conclusion, the Premier announced the 'Government's intentions for the future. He also contrasted the Government's policy with that of the Opposition, as announced by Mr Massey, which would, however, Jead thenx to nothing. Hearty dicers were given at the conclusion. iA vote of thanks and confidence in iMr Seddon was passed. The cheering was resumed when Mr Seddon returned thanks; Masterton, May 22. Mr A. W,. Hogg, M.H.R., delivered an address to-night. A votel of thanks and confidence was passed to Mr Hogg. In his speech" at Dune/din, Mr Seddon, defending clauses in the Public Revenues Act, said that this same bill went before the Public Accounts Committee, who unanimously passed it. Beforo that committee the Auditor, Controller-General and the Secretary for the Treasury gave evidence as to their requirements. There were no alterations beyond a technical one moved by Mr Fraser, member! for Wakatipu, which \vas opposed, Iho might say, by Captain Russell, but the opposition pro«s.s would not toll thorn Hiose things. Thoy had boon mislot also in regard to the Audit Depart Aient, I •