Sir John Hall's Speech.

Manawatu Herald, 29 April 1893, Page 2

Sir John Hall's Speech.

Sir John Hall addressed a wellattended meeting of his constituents at Leeston on Tuesday evening. He referred to the v unitedness of the Opposition under Mr Rolleston, and defended his Party f»'om the charges of ob.truction. He dealt at length with the finance of the Government and said that the state of the colo. nial Treasury was from causes independant of the action of the present rulers no longer a source of anxiety. He pointed out, however, that the receipts over expenditure left no surplus, and the estimated surplus of £830,000 was not a genuine one. He ridiculed the idea that the Government were carrying out a selfrelient non-borrowing policy, pointed out several inequalities in the present system of taxation, and quoted from the recent speech of Mr Seddon to show that the Government, by intending to put the whole taxation on land, were not friends of the farmers. Dealing with Womanhood Suffrage, he said some of the Ministers would, by hook or crook, endeavour to prevent its passing next session. He advocoted electoral reform giving protection to minorities, and expressed dissatisfaction with the present mode of appointing mem* bers of the Upper House. He touched upon the Labour Bills, and referred to the drifting of Ministers towards Socialism. At the close of a two hours' address, Sir John announced his intention of retiring at the close of the present Parliament A unanimous vote of thanks and confidence, and regret at his intended retirement, was passed.