SIR ROBERT STOUT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6887, 24 June 1890, Page 4

SIR ROBERT STOUT.

[Fib Pb_sb Association.] OAMABU, June 23. Sir Eobert Stout addressed a large meeting here to-night.. The address was mainly a reply to Messrs . Hisiop and Bichardson. The Mayor occupied the chair. - Sir Eobert said he came before them as a citizen of the Colony, but he would make some reference to what other speakers had recently said. He said he had never a.ked Mr Hislop's consent to address an Oamaru meeting, and Mr Hislop's strictures on that matter went for nothing. The speaker first dealt with the land question, and more particularly referred to the remarks Mr Hisiop had made on the speaker's so-called changes of opinion on the subject. The speaker said he had always held the opinion that the land should not be Bold. Mr Hisiop had voted against the village settlements being held in perpetuity by families, and by his action had Bwept away the perpetual lease system. Their member, had also voted against, the area of the runs being limited to 20,000 acres. Mr Hisiop also at first liad expressed his satisfaction afc the alliance of Sir B. Stout and Sir J. Yogel, and had afterwards spoken against it. For the sake ot getting revenue the present Government . had parted with the perpetual lease system,

but, with the growth of labour union 8 and other factors, he expected to see the same thing that existed in America — the State holding the monopoly of lands in its , own hands. The overthrow of the Stout- j Yogel party's village settlement scheme ! had hindered the progress of the Colony. ! The present Government had not given due attention to the settlement of bond, fide settlers on the land, but had, by their cash sales, opened the lands to all and i Bundry. The Midland Eailway Company j had got a better contract from the j present Government than from the j Stout-Vogel Government. The present Government had granted concessions ; to the Company that would cost ! the Colony three-quarters of a million of j money, besides losing 40 per cent of j the earnings of the railway to the • Colony. The Government took credit for ; ! doing something for education, but they had endeavoured to raise the school age, and that was doing very little for education. The speaker then dwelt on the good that would follow the State keeping possession of the laud of the Colony, and concluded his address amidst much cheering.