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Star (Christchurch), Issue 5583, 5 June 1896, Page 4

Some of the leading p members of the Eoyal Academy have been severely criticised and taken to task for selling their creations to advertising firms, and even executing " works of art " to the specific order of "somebody's soap" or "general pills." Punch has recently issued a clever skit on the advertising mania introduced between paragraphs of bond, fide interest, and publishes a specimen of what we may expect in the novel of the future. There is (says a London paper) undoubtedly a grievance in this respect. There is nothing more annoying, or more likely to make a . man want to get up and kick himself than to commence a subleader on the Chitral war, or the Salisbury foreign policy, and eventually find himself literally in a lather of Seagull's Moonlight Soap. We quite agree with this (says another exchange), and hold such a practice to be quite indefensible. There is a time and a place for everything, and there is plenty of scope for advertising without monopolising the reading matter of public interest. There is only one plea of justificacation, and that is when an article of sterling value and indisputable quality, such as Vanity Fair Cigarettes, is to be brought and kept before the public.

settled 14,000 people on the land, but these were not on the land. To take one period only: An official return laid before the House in 1895 showed that out of 2605 selectors, whom the Minister termed settlers, only 344 of the original settlers were on the land. Even adding to these 492 transfers, there remained l/jj selectors to be accounted for. There was no system by which absolutely penniless men could be put on the land. Capital and labour must work together. Returns showed that there were 698 settlers in arrears. Under tlie system of- balloting, dummyism was more rampant than ever. He quoted figures given by the late Sir H. Atkinson to the effect that in two years and a half of his Government, 1,150,000 acres of land had been disposed of for settlement against 700,000 acres during the three years of the preceding Liberal Government, and that the increase in the number of agricultural holdings was 1000 in excess. (Applause.) CUSTOMS TARIFF. He referred to the Customs Commission which brought 'up a voluminous report. The Treasurer was out of the colony, and never had an opportunity of reading the report, and the consequence was that after several attempts the present tariff, which was very unsatisfactory, was evolved. He declared himself a freetrader, and he and his party were opposed to more taxation, and struggled against the present duties, which added something like .£54,000 to the re» venue. He recognised that it was impossible at the present time to remit taxation. The Premier had said there was to be a surplus, and therefore there would be one, but not a surplus in the true sense of. the word, as it would include the sinking fund, which the Government had seized. The country was steadily going to the bad, the railway and Customs revenues were gradually decreasing, and yet they were more heavily taxed than any other colony. They were taxed to the extent of 25 per cent, whilst Victoria, which came next, paid only 13 per cent by way of taxation. " The country was being taxed at a ruinous rate, and the inhabitants were now taxed for everything consumed from the cradle to the grave. (Voices : " Start your political speech now,"' " What about the bank legislation," &c.) He contended that it was time to do away with the Old Country titles of "Conservatives" and "Liberals," and educate the people tip to a national feeling. There were no classes in this colony. (Oh! Oh! and laughter.) Many of the leading men of New Zealand were self-made, and had risen from the ranks. conclusion. . In conclusion, he said he believed that the people in New Zealand had that selfreliance and dominant character which had distinguished the greatest men the world ever saw, if it had not been taken ,away by Government interference. He believed that they had a country that they might be proud of, and the men and women of New Zealand should hand down to their children an integrity of government which would bring about such prosperity as they had not had for ten years, and make the country the foremost in Australasia ; and he hoped that Canterbury would progress with the rest of the colony. Captain Russell resumed his seat amid applause. QUESTIONS. Several written questions were handed up, but Captain Russell said he would only answer verbal questions: This being dissented from by the audience, the Chairman said that Captain Eussell was entitled to say what questions lie would answer, or whether he would answer questions* at all. In answer to questions Captain Eussell said that he had no intention to repeal • the graduated tax. While he was in office his Government had not raised a loan at all. In reply to Mr T. E. Taylor he said he might have opposed the introduction of a graduated land tax. Probably he did, but he did not remember having done so. He considered it was quite fair for him to take office and continue the graduated tax, though he did not personally believe in it, as it had been passed, and should not be repealed without a fair trial, after the people had asked for t. In reply to Mr J. A. H. Marciel, he said he did not believe in prohibition, but was in favour of the most drastic administration of the licensing laws. In reply to Mr T. E. Taylor, he said that he did not believe in the right of the majority of the people to say what he should eat, drink, smoke or wear. Iri answer to other questions^ he said he could not say whether he would be in favour of borrowing for public works until he got into office and saw the exact state of the colony's finances. The loan of .£400,000 from' the Colonial Bank was negotiated by Sir Harry Atkinson before he joined the Ministry. Mr G. T. Booth moved— "That this meeting accords to Captain Eussell a hearty vote of thanks for his address." Everyone, he was sure, would believe that Captain Eussell was delivering these addresses believing it to be a public duty. He was doing the work at considerable sacrifice, and was making no profit out of it. (Oh ! Oh !). He did not ask them to say whether Captain Eussell was a better man than the Premier, but merely to thank him for his straightforward and manly address. (A voice: "Abuse of Seddon.") ■ Mrs Delainare seconded the motion. An amendment was moved and seconded " That this meeting of electors, whilst thanking Captain Eussell, for his address, is of opinion that the Liberal legislation of the present Government is in the best interests of the colony." On being put to the vote the voices appeared to be about equal, and on a show of hands being called for the Mayor declared the amendment lost. The original motion was then put and carried on the voices, and the meeting broke up with " three cheers for Seddon."