The Premier's Address at Apiti.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 98, 22 October 1896, Page 2

The Premier's Address at Apiti.

The Hon. Mr Seddon delivered a political address in Mr Guy's Hall, Apiti, last evening, when the hall was well filled. Mr Guy presided. Mr Seddon commenced by saying it was the duty of the Ministers to meet the people to place before them the position of the colony. He defined the powers of the Legislative Council, and said that as at present constituted it was not in touch with the people and must be remedied. During the Conservative administration the legislation was not to the advantage of the colony. In 1890 the Liberals were returned and now their policy was intact. In 1888 the customs tariff was increased and a quarter of a million was placed on the masses, with the result that a depression was caused. Settlement bad been retarded and there was no system by which the people could get on the land. When the Liberals were returned this was remedied. The property tax was done away with and 8000 farmers were relieved by this step. They should not tax but should assist thrift.. In the land system introduced they had freehold tenure, occupation license and the eternal lease. The latter was just as good as freehold and only 4 per cent rental was paid for it. The Liberals had placed hundreds of poor toen and their families on the laod, what was neyer done by the Conservatives, whose administration he strongly condemned. During the past year 322,671 acres of land were taken up and settlement was proceeding a pace. The more people they got on the land the bettor the stability of the country. The Government came to the rescue of settlers by providing cheap money under the Advances to Settlers Act. On the £825,552 lent under this Act, the Government had made a profit. Tb« cheap money meant a saving of 114,000 a year to the settlers in the country. Tho Government asked for a threefitths margin of value, so that they were perfectly safe, while it was a boon to the people. Despite all said and done, it was growing in popularity. He ridiculed the statements tkat the credit of the colony was being ruined, saying that when the Liberals took office the N.Z. 3£ per ceat debentures were .£97 15s and the 4 per cents. LlO7, while last year, 1895, the 3 per cents were LlO9 15s and the 4 per cents £'116 10s. This proved that financiers had confidence in them. It was quite true that the public debt had increased by four millions, but the general taxpayer only paid the interest on £301,774, the balance paying interest on itself. The quarter million borrowed to purchase the Cheviot estate was now returning 6 per cent. The results were such that the Conservatives dare not say they would repeal any of the Acts passed by the Liberals. With reference to the sinking funds, he said the Government had issued debentures against the accretion to sinking funds, and instead of this money lying at 3 and 4 per cent, interest they were making use of it. As far as the local bodies were concerned, their liability ended when they paid the 5 per cent, for 26 years, and they could not be called on to pay again. He accused the Conservative Governments with having seized sinking funds every year to the extent of a quarter of a million. Money had to be paid for roads and bridges, and they did right by openly and straightforwardly saying what they did. There was a net decrease in the national debt of 5s lid and a gross decrease of 6s 2d per head of the population in the colony since they took office, while there was an increase of about LI during the Conservative administration. He defended his action with reference to the Midland railway dispute and said the judgement of the arbitrators supported his action as legal. Touching on the banking legislation be said there were 160,000 people in the colony affected by the Bank of Now Zealand and the re suit of its going into liquidation would have caused widespread disaster, which was avoided by the Government going to the assistance of the bank. He defended Mr Ward, whom, be said, had been persecuted, and the Parliamentary Committees said there was nothing wrong with the motives leading up to this legislation. Dealing with the labor question he said they should all have eqnal facilities to gain a competency. The hours of labor should be limited and he insisted upon improvements being affected in the treatment of laborers. There were 500 girls and 200 boys working in this colony in the towns as apprentices with* out pay for the first twelve months. Five per cent of these girls were paid 2s 6d a week after the first year and the re* maining 95 per cent were told they were not wanted after that, fresh girls being engaged on the same terms to fill the vacancies. The election system was the bast known in the world, haying a tendency towards doing away with the pro* perty vote. The Act relating to old age pensions was very desirable as there were many deserving colonists who should be provided for. Every person who had been in the colony for twenty years and was 65 years of age was required to send in applications, which would be dealt wirh next session, when he intended to complete this work. In conclusion he said there was no middle party and they were either for or against the Government and he urged his hearers to say whether they would have the present Government or cot. Mr Gascoigne moved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to the Premier for his address and that this meeting express its confidence in the Government. Mr Dicken seconded the motion which was carried. Mr Seddon expressed his thanks for the vote and for the kindness shown to him and Mrs Snddon on this, his first visit to Apiti. The usual compliment to the chairman terminated the meeting.