THE PREMIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1471, 3 June 1905, Page 2

THE PREMIER.

REPLIES TO DEPUTATIONS.

(Per Press Association-) Dunedin, last nighi

The Premier reached Dunedin this afternoon, and wbb at once waited on by a deputation from the Taieri and Peninsular Milk Supply Company, which claimed to have the premier factory in the world. They complained of butter having to be sent to Lyttelton for export, which cost the company 411000 per year. The Premier said ho did not know how much further these companies and monopolies would go before public indignation was aroused. The only thing he could see was to have direct trade. They would have to bind down companies to given ports and maximum freights. It was a difficult position. Id conclusion he remarked he did not think the South African service contract would be renewed.

The Premier told a deputation from the Benevolent Trustees that he could not see hi 3 way to set aside a portion of the poll tax for the purpose of paying the passages of indigent Chinamen back to China.' Replying to a deputation from the Catlins River Railway League, the Premier said there had been jeering and sneering because of the decision to increase the expenditure on railways. The reason for it was that the Government found itself at the end of the year with jES9O,OOO in the public works fund, as against 11350,000 for the previous year. With more money it was only reasonable there should be extended works. The Government intended to spread the expenditure over as largo a surface as possible to meet the immediate requirements of different localities. That was the policy of the Government.