POST-SESSIONAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3966, 24 June 1887, Page 3

POST- SESSIONAL.

MR BALLANCE AT WANGANUI. (By Telegraph.) WANGANUI, June 23. Mr Ballanca addressed a meeting of electors last night. Ho defended village settlements at length, and stated that it was the intention nf tho Government if retained m power to carry on the system. Ho dealt with questions of retrenchment j'-v tho Railway, Native and Education D '^rtments, with a view of showing that the j^ilways woro moro economically managed >™ an _j n an y other colony ; that if the x ft , llvo Department which now only cost £4(k°° a y ear could be done away with, it was the greatest testimony that could be given - T n the administration of Native affairs during tno past three years, and that any alteration m the Education Department really meant nothing else but the reduction of teachers wages, which now only averaged £94 103 pei annum. He compared hia own travelliii" expenses with those of Mr Bryce or °Mr Rolleston, hia predecessors m the Native and . Lands Departments, and showed that he had not been extravagant, though he did not accuse them of unnecessary expenditure. Ha indicatod that the question of Protection would be the te3t question of the elections and that Government was prepared to stand by it. He dealt at length with the success of the Government m the past, mentioning measures they had passed, and summed up by stating that. considering they had never had a strong party, they had done very well. Mrßallance was well received by a crowded meeting and a vote expressing a renewal of confidence followed, and three cheers waa accorded him.