POLITICAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 568, 12 November 1902, Page 2

POLITICAL.

SPEECH BY MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS,

Per Press Association. TIMARU, last: night

The I lon. Hall Jones addressed e.n enthusiastic meeting to-night, unking a strong defence of the Government administration. He compared the canny to a company, which had to increase its capital if it was to extent its operations. Of the 15 millions borrowed in eleven years, he slated 3 millions were profit-producing, and not ;l burden on the taxpayers. Referring to the scheme for the .superannuation ot school eeac-liers, lie said he would he glad to see any branch of the Government, service enjoying the benefits or a scheme upon the same lines as the railway superannuation scheme. He agreed with those critics who said that certain railways should lie completed and got out of hand one at a time, so as to make them remunerative. But who was to say which railways were to he dealt with in that, way? And who wad to say what the terminus of such a line as the Otago Central was to be? Every district considered its claims the most urgent. lie strongly ed the co-operative scheme of railway construction. lie defended the manner of dealing with Treasury votes hv transference from one class to another The speech lasted two and a half hours, and a vote of thanks and confidence in the Minister and the Government was carried unanimously.

INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE, “COUNTRY HAD HAD ENOUGH OF SEDDON.”

Per Press Associate in. WELLINGTON, last nightMr McLaren addressed the City electors to-night. He declared himsetf an independent labor candidate. He was against Bible reading in schools, and said he thought, the country had had enough of Seddon. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks.