Captain Russell Before his Constituents.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 216, 13 March 1895, Page 2

Captain Russell Before his Constituents.

[Per Press Association j Hastings, March 12. The Hon. Captain Russell, speaking to his constituents at Hastings, con demned the police of the Governmeu* in regard to the Bank of New Zeaiand Guarantee Act and to their gene ral policy, borrowing in defiance to the promises held out of a self reliant non- borrowing policy. He asserted that the various statements made by the Premier were most unreliable and contrary to the facts. That just before the Bank Bill was introduced the Governor was made to say that the position of the colony was one of real satisfaction, and that when in reply to the Breaker ho was asked to explain the question, the Premier said when that was written they werenotawaie of the state of the Bank. If that were true it showed culpable ignorance and negligence. When the Premier said that the Assets Company had not depiotfid the Bank it was not the fact, as according to their own showing they had never got more than 1^ per cent, from the Estates Company, which was a loss of £70,000 to £80,000 in interest, and it was doubtful under the present depressed condition that the amount of in terest could be realised now. It was the duty of the Government to think first ot the interests of th« people before the interests of the shareholders of a private trading: concern, and he believed the best course would have been to have had the position thoroughly investigated, and even if liquidation and worse had resulted, he belicvi'd that the colo r y would have risen to a better position than before. The inaccuracies of the Pivrnier were ag'tiin forcibly shown in reference to the acquirement of native lands. In quoting" figures at JNapier, comparing his Government with the Atkinson Government, the Premier had taken credit not only for 30,000 acres, which they had been empowered to •acquire, but had not yet done so, hut also tor lands which had been virtually purchased by their predecessor. If tlioy had then largo quantities on hand where was the necessity for the Land Settlement Bill ? He (tho speaker) considered thai when the whole ot the colony was occupied would come the question of the resumption of large estates, and that Mr Fred Piram's amendment to the effect that the unimproved lands should be dt alt with first w;i.s ai thoroughly sensib'e one, but that the Governruent would not tolerate. He thought that confidence mu<t be restored before trade would improve, and he fully b lieveit that the snirxll majority the Government had in the country would be thrown in on to the Opposition side at the next election. The Opposition would go in with a name for restoring; confidence and a programme of social progress and reform, but not of revolution and confiscation. A hearty vote of thanks and confidenco was unanimously carried.