DEPUTATION TO PREMIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 978, 26 August 1903, Page 3

DEPUTATION TO PREMIER.

IMPORTANT SPEECH IN REPLY. Per Press Association. Wellington, last night. A deputation from tho Trades and Labor Conference held in Groymouth some months ago waited on the Premier this evening for tho purpose of bringing under his notice resolutions passed by tho colonial delegates at that gathering. The deputation urged tho establishment of a State Bank, abolition of salo of Crown Lands, and periodical re-valuation of all lands hold on loaso, extension of the parliamentary franchise to local polls, establishment of the referendum and initiative, State fire insurance, compulsory unionism, and subsidy to a trades hall. Mr Soddon, in reply, said that in some of the requests made by the deputation largo questions of policy were involvod. Some of tho questions were already before Parliament, and others wore beiDg dealt with by Government. So far as a Stateßank is concerned, ho would not go to tho extent of saying that the commercial businessof tbecountryshould bo conductod through a State bank. Ho was unable to sec that tho State would bo safeguarded against tho difficulties that would arise. Still, so far as tho Bank of New Zealand was concerned, ho boliovod that bank Bhould devote something out of its profits for what tho State had boen doing. Ho did not think it would be to the interest of the. colony to go furthor than retain a partnership. Concerning Crown lands ho pointed out that the area annually disposed of was rapidly growing less. In regard to periodical revaluation of leases, there was a largo majority of people against leasing when thoro was a revaluation. This a question that would have to be loft to the people to deoido at 1 next general oloction. Regarding municipal franchise, ho still hold to tho opinion 1 that tenants wero. virtually ratepayers. 1 Ho hopod to mako a furthor improvement In this direction. Touching on the ini- 1 tiative being placod in tho hands of 1 tho pooplo, Mr Soddon said that if Parliament widoued tho scope oi the pro- 1 sent Referendum Bill in that direction he would bo quite proparod to trust tho 1 «sleetors. A Stato Fire Insurance Bill was, s bo pointed out, now beforo Parliament. 1 Referring to labor mattors tho Premier 1 said that preference was now in a sense c established for Unionists, and he did not 1 6hink Parliament would be proparod to go I further. Ho would givo favorable consideration to the request for a subsidy for a trades hall if tho money was to bo spent s for the benefit of all workers.