SPEECH BY PREMIER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1602, 15 November 1905, Page 3

SPEECH BY PREMIER.

IMPORTANT PROPOSALS.

THE "CROWNING EFFORT OF

HIS LIFE.”

A WIFE'S INTEREST IN THE HOME.

(Fob Press 'Association.). Auoklend, last night. Tho Premier addressed an andionoe oi about 5000 Auckland eleotors in tbe Drill Hall to-night, tho Mayor (Mr Myers) presiding. Mr Seddon dwelt on the prosperous

condition of the oolony, and at length the assertions of unfairness to Auckland in the distribution of tbs Publio Works Fund. The North Island Trunk railway, he said, would bo completed within three years. The Government had undertaken to renew the guarantee respecting the export of apples, aod also inionded to assist iruit-growara to get tbo blight out of trees and remove difficulties attending the industry. Any inoreaso in taxation would go in the direction of a gratuated land tax. The promised reduction in Gustoms taxation should inolnde, amongst other items, oheap oalloos and clothing worn by the working olasjos, besides a substantial reduction on tobaooo and the freeing of the breakfast table. The condition of tbo colony was shown by the faot that the Government now wanted from 400 to 1000 piok-and shovel tnen for railway works and oould not get them. Provision was being made for the , erection of 800 workers’ homes in the j vioioity of Auckland. He hoped the orowning effort of his life would bo the establishment of a system of annuities under which the working classes could invest any jES they had to spare towards the purohase of annuities, tbo Government to subsidise such deposits. Another reform ho hoped to acoomplisb was an enaoiment giving a wife the right to half of tbo family home, so that the husband oould not sell or mortgage it without her consent. The Government submitted themselves to tbo colony with confidence, knowing they had done their.duty faithfully, and had nothing to fear. A vote of thanks to Mr Seddon and confidence in the Administration wsb oar lied unanimously.