PREMIER’S WARNING.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1952, 7 December 1906, Page 2

PREMIER’S WARNING.

SCANTY HELP FOR THE

PIONEERS,

PRESS ASSOCIATION. Wellington, last night.

Speaking at tho openffig of Awahou bridge, the Premier said the pioneers who were going out to the beok-bloeks deserved every consideration at tho hands of the Government, but he pointed out that the Government were now spending at the rate of 2\ millions a year on publio works, snoh as roads, railways, and public buildings. They were borrowing at the rate of one million a year for publio works, and if asked for more they might make the position of the country financially anything but pleasant to the people ; therefore, people Bbonld take a broad view of the matter. He and his colleagues and every member of Parliament were anxious to assist settlers, and be advised them, if anyone ehoutd say tho Government were not anxious to help farmers, or would do anything to hurt the farmers, or that their policy was inimical to the best interests of farmers, to accept his statement that this was entirely ooutrsry to the wishes and aspirations of members of the Ministry, and he for one would not be a party to anything of the kiod. Ho paid a tribute to the late Oolouel Pitt, and said his sueceesor would be a great aooession to the public life of the country.