ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XLI, Issue 5683, 16 October 1909, Page 3

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

CHARGES AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. '

SPEECH BY MR ALLEN.

WELLINGTON. October 13. The Adidress-in-Reply debate nearly c-ame --to an abrupt termination tonight owing" to the enforced silence of the Government party. The Opposition, however, put up a number of speakers in succession, and &t midnight Mr James Allen was making a forcible speech in condsrn nation of the Governimant's administration and finance. During tho course of Mr Allen's remarks the Prime . Minister admitted that another Loan Bill woiuld be brought down this session. " S Mr Allen made definite enai'gea about political influence being still rampant in the public service. Ha gave one specific instance in the Valuation Department. A man in the Department had Ijeen shifted from Dunedin to Christchurch, and was then •entrenched, but influence was brought to bQar, and he was taken back again. This was not the only man in Dunedin who had been kept ,on, while others with 12 and 13 years' servicemarried men with families — had been dismissed. Then again, member* of the Department in Dunedin had been told that if they retired in. June they would get full pay up to August 31, but later on the present Minister reversed this decision. Same worked up to August 31 and received no compensation, while others left in June and were paid to August ,31. Those who did the work were no better off than those who did not work. There were 'five patients— Wo males and three females — in the Tuapeka Hospital last evening. One patient was admitted during the week and' one discharged. '