TOWN V. COUNTRY.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 953, 28 July 1903, Page 4

TOWN V. COUNTRY.

SPEECH BY THE PREMIER. The Premier is evidently becoming very much concerned about the growing feeling in the country against certain planks in his political platform, and at a social gathering of the Liberal and Labor Federation he deolared emphatically that there was danger ahead. “ Don't think for a moment,” he said, 11 that the territorial magnates of this colony are quiescent. Don’t think that those dominating in other respects are looking on oaimly and quietly. No 1 Silently, secretly, surreptitiously, they still, in respect to our lands, I am sorry to say, have their ambitions. They still hope, they still cling to the traditions of the older country, and they still have the earth hunger. I say to I you, ‘ Keep for the people that which is I the heritage, the natural heritage of the people.’ (Applause). Silently, seoretly, surreptitiously are they at work. Firßt of I all they are endeavouring to create disI sensions as betwoen town and country. If I they can get the Liberals of the country at I the throats of the Liberals in the town I their object has been accomplished. DieI sention means their opportunity, and they are at work endeavoring to bring about I that position. But I say to the Liberals I of the country ” —and he said it with reI sounding emphasis —“ Stand fast; be firm; I rely upon the support of the Liberals in I the towns, because your interests are I identical.” (Loud applause.) Mr Seddon I showed how the interests of town and I country were bound up with each other. Of the farmers and those in the country I he would ask this question : “ Who are your best customers ? Who pay you best ? Was it the Home markets or the combinaI tions which fixed what they would give, I and who fixed what it was going to cost I the farmors to live ? ” -There wero the I middlemen’s profits, shipping charges, and I bank and other charges. Whon the produce' arrived in another country, what was the result ? He would tell them. Fifty I per cent profit. Nelson and Co., a comI pany principally engaged in distributing meat, largely from New Zealand, made 50 per cent profit for its shareholders. Another company's net profits came to £46,000. (A voice ; “ Outrageous.”) Did this not show the farmers that they wanted to be strengthened'? Where were they goI ing to get that strength ? From those.here who were prepared to see that the farmers received a reasonable price for his produce. (Applause.) Those in the towns had ever been fair and liberal to those in the country. The Government had never asked for the country yet, and been refused. Take the large remissions given on the railways. The expenditure op grading, in promoting the agricultural and pastoral interests of the colony, in roading, in making the railways. The town had never refused. In supporting the people in the country they supported themselves. He therefore said that this attempt to raise

town against country or country against town was the work of the enemy. (Applause.) After the shipping charges, after the charges, after tho middlemen’s profits, they could buy meat cheaper to-day near London than they could buy it in the city of Wellington. It might be argued, with some force, that that was the result of the Government’s assistance by grading, etc., in the development of the trade, but he said to those in the towns, did not this state of things and the send-' ing away of the meat raise the cost of liviDg in the colony ? It was the combinations .who caused that. Why should there bo a difference of 6s per bead on lambs fattened in the Wanganui district and lambs fattened in Canterbury ? Why should there be 4s or 5s a head difference in the price of sheep ? And why should sheep be worth more in a butcher’s shop on Lamblon-quay than it was in a butcher’s shop in London ? (Applause, and a voice “ Down with the combina-

I tion.”) “ They are playing with the people of this colony,” said Mr Seddon, f‘ and whilst, as you know, there will be I proposals to assist by administration the extending of our markets in the Mother I County there will also be proposals sub. mitted to this Parliament in the way of checking these combinations which are banded together (Cheers) and which unduly maintain unreasonable prices and raise the cost of living to the people of the colony. When combines are formed I which are against the well being of the Commonwealth ; when they interfere with the eating, with the clothing and even the housing of the people; then these are three points upon which there must bo a j combination in Parliament so that these oonditions must, by the will of the people, I be a thing of the past.” (Renewed ap. planse). [The Premier made a grievous error in I regard to Messrs Nelson Bros.]