THE PREMIER AT NAPIER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5994, 1 August 1887, Page 4

THE PREMIER AT NAPIER.

Splendid Reception. [Per Press Association.] NAPIER, Jolt 31. Sir Robert Stout addressed a public meeting in the Gaiety Theatre on Saturday night. The building was crowded, and Sir Robert waa received very enthusiastically. He claimed that the policy of the Government was retrenchment and the threa "DV — distribution of property, to prevent its accumulating in a few hands ; distribution of land, to prevent it remaining with the large holders, and diffusion [of education. He said the policy of the Opposition was one to import Kaffir labour to reduce wages, and in raising the revenue to tax the incomes of the working people, and to tax through the Customs 1 what the working classes consumed, knocking off taxation upon such things as silks, satins, laces, &c, only used by wealthy people. In support of his contention as to wages, he said that ten days ago, on either the Tuesday or Wednesday before he left for Auckland, the Neio Zealand Times stated that no working man ought to be paid more than five shillings or six shillings a day, whether for skilled or unskilled labour. This was greeted with cries of " Produce the paper," "Read the statement," and so on ; but Sir Robert referred his hearers to the files of the papers at the Athenamm. The conclusion of the speech was an eloquent and masterly appeal in favour of education primary and secondary, which was received with thunders of applause. A vote of confidence in the Government was carried, there being no opposition.