SPEECH BY PREMIER

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1810, 17 July 1906, Page 3

SPEECH BY PREMIER

THE FINANCES. REFORM OF LEGISLATIVE OODNOIL.

PRESS ASSOCIATION’

Wolliugtou, last night. Tho Promior, Mr Hali-Jones, was present at a mooting of the Shipmasters’ Association to-day, celled for tho purposo of preonting the Assooialion’s gold badge to Mr Frank Bullou, tho woll-known author and lecturer.

TEMPORARY SUCCESSION.

Mr Hali-Jones,in reply tea toast, made a speooh having several important point*. 110 sold ho had boon called upon sc, for a time, succeed Mr Sadden. Matters would go on os nearly as possible on tho lines laid down by tho Into Promior. SOUND FINANCES.

There had boon nn iooteasn In the revenue for the Juno quarter of 11118,064, mado up principally as follows: Railways £56.438 Customs 19 614 Land tax ... ... 1.558 Income tax ... ... 2,042 Beer duty 783

Tbo finances were sound; tho oountry was prosperous, and Ministers were going to do all they could to keep it so. TRADE WITH EAST.

It would bo necessary for New Zealand io enter tho field with Australia in seeking irado for produce iu the East.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wiibin tho last few weoks oortain members of tho Legislative Oounoii retired through thoir torm of office having expired. For soma time there had been a controversy with regard to tho constitution of the Upper Chamber —whether it should bo mended or oador’, His own viow was that in comieciioii with the Upper House tboro should be at least an Advisory Com mitts e. consisting of anything from 12 tu 20 members, without power ot initiative. Ho recognised, however, that tho oolony was not quite prepared for that, but he did think the time had arrived to consider what should be done Jo mend the LegisI stive Council. When ho fi:st entered Parliament odo plonk of his platform was that tbo LegHativo Council should be elected by tho Houso of Representatives, end after giving it considerable thought, and comparing the proposal that the Council should be elected by oleolorates, bs was still of opinion that tho bast way was to have election by tho Lower Hons?.

It had not been considered advisable to make roappointments to the Council, and the Houso should be afforded an opportunity to consider the matter before any further appointments were made.