The Premier at Wanganui.

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 218, 15 March 1895, Page 2

The Premier at Wanganui.

Per Press Association.) Wanganui, March 14. The Hon. the Premier delivered a political address at the Oddfellows 1 Hall, Wanganui, this evening. The building was packed to its utmost capacity, those present including ladies. Mr Spurdle, in the absence of the Mayor, presided. Prior to his speech, Mr Seddon was presented by the Liberals of Wanganui with an address of welcome, expressing confidence and referring tc the bond of union which had always existed between the late member fox Wanganui and Premier, the Hon. John Ballance, and Mr Seddon. On rising to speak Mr Seddon was greeted with three ringing cheers and loud applause. Having expressed his pleasure at receiving this unexpected address, he said he had always considered it his duty to continue the policy bequeathed by his late chief, and had always endeavored to do so. Referring to the Sergeant-at Arms question, he said that this bad been the chief attack of the Opposition after the session, but it had signally failed. The most amusing part of the affair was that the first thing the Stoat- Vogel Government did on their accession to office was to appoint Colonel Fraser a Justice of the Peace. Now to say that he was an improper person to be Ser-geant-at-Arms was a contradiction he (the Premier) could not understand. The charges had fallen to the ground, and he would leave them there. (Applause). So far as the present Government was concerned, no person had been appointed to the public service who was not qualified to fill the position, and within the Civil Service Act. (Applause). The charges of placing relatives in the service was entirely incorrect. Mr Seddon complained of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce descending from their high position to become mere political machines. He had received information to the effect that Mr Thos. Gale, manager for Johnston and Co., merchants, and Mr McLellan, manager for Lysaght and Co., galvanised iron importers, ex-president and president of the Chamber of Commerce, were members of a secret committee soliciting subscriptions towards a fund for paying the expenses of a good speaker to stump the country in opposition to the present Government — to use the words of his informant, " Tear them up into rags I" He divulged this information for the first time because he thought it was time to bring their enemies from behind, and force them to fight face to face. (Loud applause). If this information was incorrect, he would make ample apology at first opportunity, but the authority was reliable. He was greatly pained to read that day an extract from Captain Russell's Hastings speech, where the head of the Opposition he said, in reference to the guarantee to the Bank of New Zealand, that a number of Government supporters in the House had voted for the measure in self-interest, whilst a small band of the Opposition fought against the measure. His information was from a newspaper extract, and he sincerely hoped it was a case of misrepresentation. If the report was accurate, Captain Russell was not fitted for the high position he held. On the afternoon the Bill was introduced, as was customary, Captain Russell, Mr Mitchelson, and Sir Robert Stout were taken into confidence, and approved of the measure. The Premier also defended the resumption of the control of the railways by the State, his remarks being loudly applauded. He reiterated the statement that the present Government had purchased a million more acres of land during their term of office tnan the Atkinson Administration. Mrs Bullock, president of the Women's League, moved a vote of thanks aiid confidence in Mr Seddon and the Goverumeut; This ; was „ seconded by Mr Montgomery and carried unanimously, to an accompaniment of " For He's a i Jolly Good Fellow!" and cheers.— Times' correspondent.