SPEECH BY SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL.

Gisborne Times, Volume VIII, Issue 574, 19 November 1902, Page 3

SPEECH BY SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL.

GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION LEADERS FIGHTING ISITT, MR SEDDON’S IDEA OF “GOING SLOW.” HE ADDS OVER THREE MILLIONS TO PUBLIC DEBT IN A A EAR. SEVERE CRITICISM OF GOVERNMENT POLICY.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Hastings, lust night. Sir W. Russell addressed a very large meeting in tho Princess Theatre to-night, tho Mayor (Mr Dennett; being in the chair.

Sir W. Russell, replying to the Mayor’s remarks, said tho kindly feeling shewn to Mrs Russell and himself all through Hawke’s Bay in regard to the honor conferred on hitn by tho King had been specially gratifying. He mado some humorous remarks respecting the position in which he stood at present, inasmuch us Mr Soddon and himself were lighting tho saino man (Mr Isitt;, butlio hoped that on the ‘2sth they would again honor him by Bonding hitn back to Parliament. Ho did not intend making a strong Parliamentary speech on that occasion. Ministers, by rocklcßs expenditure of money, bad boon placed in a most inimical position, and the policy oarriod out now was vastly divergent from that enunciated when tho present Government took oflico. lie quoted the opinions of three Colonial Treasurers (Mossrs Bftllanco, Ward, and Seddon) in support of his contention, and said that although Mr Soddon had last year advisod thorn to “ go slow,” they had this year added to the public debt of the colony £8,075,202. Tho colony must stop such excessivo borrowing, or disaster would suroly result. They wero told that tho works to bo constructed would bo reproductive, but ho hud hoard that urgod in tho oaso of every loan that had 'been ruißod. Ho pointed out that tho Govornmont had power, in addition to the l-j millions authorised last session, to borrow no less a sum than .£4,562,007, arid he appouled to them to say whether they could possibly stand this reckless extravagance. It was tho duty of every thinking man to try and stop such reckless bor rowing. Tho enormous sum of over two millions wero sent out of tho colony for interest evory year, whicli could he much more profitably spent in developing the country of making roads, etc. Not only was public indebtedness increasing, hut tho dopartmoutal expenditure was also increased to an alarming extont. There was an increased expenditure this year of £91,000, and thoy had all to bear that. Thoro was also a loss on the railways of tho colony. Concession after concession had boon granted, so that tho railways only paid 0 per cent. Tboy had cost £20,000,000, and if thoy paid only 3 per cent, on tho cost of construction, thoy wero losing 1} per cent. Ho spoke at some lougth on tho railways question, and quoted figures to prove that his contention of bad management was borne out. In advocating that thoy should concontrato thoir efforts in pushing on tho North Island Trunk line, ho Baid that in eleven years that lino hud only been constructed at tho rato of one mile and ahalf por your, which was a fair specimen of tho manner in which their railways hud been managed. He instanced also tho Makohino Viaduct, which six years ago was tendered for at £48,000, but owing to . Ministers’ desiro for day labor had actually cost £72,000, if nut £82,000. Ho strongly condemned the manner of raising tho last loan, and although ho accepted Mr Soddon’e statement that ho had not approached tho money market during his recont visit to London, ho thought Mr Seddon would bo wanting in his duty if ho had not takon some steps to ascertain wbothor tho present was a favorablo opportunity for raising tho loan authorised last Bossion. Hespoko at considerable length on education, Native questions, and old age pensions ; and said that, although Parliament would not accept his proposal for a contributory system of ponsions, ho was glad to find now that his proposal was Doing adopted, as they had a Polico and Railway superannuation fund, which ho would liko to seo extended so as to include schoolteachers, which wero a most deserving body. Ho advocated borrowing only a million a year for reproductive works. Ho Htrongly bclioved in froehold tenure, and had no sympathy with land national isors. Sir \V. Russell then reforred to some local matters, and replied to several questions. Ho contended that ho hart always ropliod courteously to any lotters Bout to him, and had done his best in the interests of tho district, which had pros pored during tho 25 years he had repre sented them in Parliament.

A hearty voto of thanks to Sir W. Russell was proposed by Mr Wollwood in a vory oulogistic speech, aud was carried unanimously.