SPEECH BY PREMIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 335, 7 February 1902, Page 2

SPEECH BY PREMIER.

WAIRARAPA LANDOWNERS GET A SHAKE UP. CONFIDENCE IN COLLEAGUES. GOOD FINANCIAL OUTLOOK. (By Telegraph—Press A .tint ion.) Welling! ■■ isi night. The Liberal picnic lie' Di.ieiieid today was attended by Prei-tier, Hon. Mr Duncan, lion. Mr Muir. and Messrs Hornsby and Hogg. in the course of a speech, the Premier, referring to land settlement in the Wairarapa, said that all efforts of the Government to acquire land there so far had been frustrated. Either the land was not suitable, or the price offered was lower than the owners could reasonably be expected to accept. Though Government had attempted time after time, it had not been able to secure one estate. The officer in charge of the Land Purchase Department had been changed, and now two or three estates were being reported upon. There would be no more humbug. An offer would bo made to owners, but if it was not accepted the compulsory clauses of the Act would be invoked. Referring to the statement that there would bo two short sessions during the year, the Premier said there would be no such thing. Though ho might, have diffidence in going to England with the responsibility of representing New Zealand, he left the colony to the control of his supporters with perfect confidence. Speaking on the finances of the colony, the Premier said that „he revenue of the colony for ten months of the financial year exceeded that for the same period of last year by £151,000.