SPEECH BY MR PIRANI.

Wanganui Chronicle, 4 February 1902, Page 3

SPEECH BY MR PIRANI.

HE ANNOUNCES HIS WITHDRAWAL FROM POLITICS. j

PALMERSTON N., February 3. Mr Pirani' addressed a packed meeting at the Theatre Royal to-night. "Dealing with the work of the jnasti two sessions, he strongly condemned Ministerial extravagance, and estimated that at least one hundred*thousand had been spent last year on services outside the proper services of the State. He spoke in adverse terms of the continuous ■payments made to. the Governor, and regretted that Lord Ranf urly's term of office had been extended for another year. There ■were several hideous blunders in the Public School Teacers' Salaries Act, and he trusted that rthe efforts of the Government to usurp the powers of Education Boards Avould be firmly checked., He alleged that the Government administration was costing nearly two millions more than in 1891, while the annual expenditure, out of, the Public Works Fund was more- than a million' and a half more. A large amount of this money, he asserted, was used in bribing constituencies, ■while much was wasted. He condemned the native land legislation and the increase of honorarium to £300. He maintained that not sufficient provision was made in the Military Contingents Act for privates, although officers were fairly provided for. Mr Pirani announced that owing to family reasons he did not intend to contest his seat at the next election., He had decided upon the step in opposition to the advice of swp•porters and politicians, spoken to on the subject. He read an extract from a letter from Captain Russell suggesting that he should withhold the announcement, and eulogising his work in Parliament, stating that whether, on the one side or the other, he {Mr Pirani) was a man who should be in Parliament. Mr Pirani greatly deplored the course forced upon him, which'was absolutely unavoidable for reasons known to intimate friends.

A vote of thanks for the address and also for the satisfactory manner in which he li&d carried out hia Parliamentary duties for nine years was carried.