THE PREMIER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9210, 13 April 1908, Page 1

THE PREMIER.

. ■ ♦ VISIT TO CENTRAL OTAGO. [Fkom Our Corkespondent.] DUNEDIN, April 11. After the social broke up at a; late hour at Naseby last night, more deputations waited on the Prime Minister in regard to local matters. At Waipiata, to which the Prime Minister journeyed from Naseby in a motor-car, a large number of the settlers extended a cordial welcome. A number of deputations brought their wants under the Minister's notice, the most important being water conservation for mining purposes. The Ministerial party was entertained at luncheon by a number of the prominent residents; of Waipiata. Along the line at Hyde, Middlemarch and Barewood deputations were in waiting to bring various local, matters under the Premier's notice. Ringing cheers were given at each place for the Prime Minister. The Minister of Lands left Naseby this morning and visited the State plantations on the outskirts of Naseby. Some hundreds of acres of undulating land there have been planted with larch and pines. These trees are in a flourising condition. After walking over the grou'hd, the Minister and his party went to the Eweburn Nursery, which is close to Ranfurly. Here most interesting experiments are being made in arboriculture. KAITANGATA, April 12. The Prime Minister was cordially received by the miners at Kaitangata on Saturday evening. In the course of a lengthy speech he dealt wjth taxation matters and with the Conciliation and Arbitration Act. The only increase id taxation, the Premier said, had been in the graduated land tax, and as the result of thatj settlement had been promoted, and the intention of the Act was realised. That had been the one increase in the taxation. On the other hand the Government had given the people remissions in the way of taxation to the extent of £1,550,000, '£850,000 of this having been in railway rates, £405,000 in % tariff and £274,000 in the postal, telegraph and telephone branches. The Premier referred at some length to the trouble at Blackball, and the meeting passed a vote of confidence in the Government.