THE PREMIER EXPLAINS. (BY TELEGRAPH.) Marton, April 19.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8165, 20 April 1895, Page 3

THE PREMIER EXPLAINS. (BY TELEGRAPH.) Marton, April 19.

The Hon. the Premier addressed ft Crowded audience in the theatre this STening. Tht» Premier coufined his ppening remarks to the Wanganui cam|>aigo, and referred to Captain Russell's and Mr Hutchison's speeches. Whilst »pproring of the publio men of tho

colony travelling through the country and coming in touch with the peoplo, nnd acquainting them with mat tors of public importance, he repudiated sympathy with personalities. Ho w,,9 forry to say tint Oiptain Russell nnd Mr Hu eh son doBctnded t<. I hi", and ho thought it became neither of thorn. He doalt with spvoral ma' ters refi rred tv by Oppositl n spoik < rs in detail. Ho scouted the idea that his wife h>d been influenced by him in sel'ing Bank of Now Zealand shnre?, saying tb «t the s»mo wero sold in S -ptembt r, 1893, and were only 21 in number, worth LB3. R-girding the Bank of New Zeiland, he said I hat he considered the Government had saved the colony from a nation tl disaster, »n(' ho folt Bure that the people of New Zwh'id appreciated tho hgislation. Wiih rtferenoo to tho appointment of Colonel Fr^er as Sergeant-nt-Arms, he considered Colonol F.aser had born un f airly treated by the pros?, and said it the nmo ciicu matinees occurred ho would make tho same appointment. He referred to Mr Hutchison's assert ion tha r there must be a deficit, and proceeded to show that l he contrary was tho caso. On the question of finance he said he would ' mike a most impor'ant statement, which would be hailed with delight throughout tho colony. Tho actual receip s for the yenr 1894-95 wore L 4,406,515, and tho actual expenditure L 4,266,722., 266,722. Tho oxcess <>f receip s over expenditure was L 139,793, and the balance to begin tho year L 250.238, so tint the gr >. c 8 surplus for the year was L 430.031. Of this sum the amount of L 250.000 hid been paid into the public works fund, leaving u net surplus of L 180.131. The customs revenue had boeu declining for some time pant, and the revenue under the cstinvito wn L 30.000, while tho railways showed a shortage of L 17.000, chiefly owing to tha falling off of gr.iin export. Under oth- r heads the revenue raoro than compensated for theao losses, and at thu end of the year the revenue exoeeded the e9tim<ite by L 47,000. This was a matter of general congratulation. During the year the public works expenditure under part 1 had been L 317,000, the lowest since tho public works policy had been iniugjurattd. Out of the ncr surplus of LlBO.OOO there will be available for public works in tho current year L 150.000. The unexpended balance on the 31st March, 1895, was L 259.000, so tint with L 150.000 from the consolidated fund would leave over L 400.000 for expenditure during 1895-96. Mr Seddon touched on several other nutters mentioned in former speeches, and received a hearty vote of tbanku fur hia address and of onfidonco in the Government.