THE PREMIER AT TAIHAPE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 18 December 1907, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT TAIHAPE.

Per Press Association. ti,„ t. ■ T » ih »l'e. Last Night. Ihe Premier was entertained at a ample inthe Gretna Hall by the people Ji tne low,, and district to-night. There 'lic'cli • " attomlim<!C ' tllfi Mayor in Jj^-ro B JH) said he realised the . '•-kable Kimvlh that had taken place ,n u,e district, which was a re.narkal.ly progressive, prolific, and productive one. lie added that the whole of the development Zealand could be traced to the soil, and there was nothing in the bislory ol the country approaching the ■•> ■ „ ■-, solidity, and prosperity financially at present existing. Proceeding, <»'• he said there was some £31,000,000 of the people's money in the banks of the, country at the present time, includimr £11,000,000 in the Post Office Savings Hank. He pointed out that whereas we had previously had to rely on money from the Old Country to carry on, the institutions of New Zealand to a laree extent were now actually sending money out ol the country for investment in London and elsewhere. He went on to say that the present financial crisis in America had not made the slightest ripple on the nuances or institutions of -\ew Zealand. He contended that it was the duty of the community to see that tne financial fabric of the country was buili upon a sound basis, and that was what Had been the aim of the Government, and still was its aim.

Keferring to the Public Service, he said he de; ! red to see. that the officers should be able to discharge their duties and able to earn the right to a pension in old age sufficient to keep them. The Premier went on to refer to affairs connecting New Zealand and the Old Country in trade, and the cheap conveyance of our products to the Old Land. We had some of the best cargo-steamers with refrigeration accommodation earrying our produce to the Old Country, but the fact was that one of the greatest highways for the conveyance of products lo the Old Land had a toll-bar that was controlled by shareholders in England and France, which placed such a high toll on cargo that it was almost impossible to send any of our products by the Suez Canal owing to tuis impost. It was an impost that should not be, yet the controllers of this route in the Old Country allowed a system of greed and avarice to continue that, if it existed on the land, people would rise up and sweejr it out of existence. He went on to say tuat we had a right to raise our voice against this evil, and he had raised his voice in support of New Zealand and i Australia having one representative on the Hoard of Control of the Suez Canal. Continuing, he-referred to the Panama Canal, which, when it came into existence, would, he contended, go far towards wiping out this impost. Keferring to international affairs, ho said they were going on satisfactorily, ana we should keep an eye on international affairs that affected the Dominion. He went on to say that arrangements had been made to issue through tickets' from Wellington to Auckland on and from next month. A new timetable would also beraaoe which would allow passengers from Wellington to put up for a night in Taihape and proceed next day to Auckland.

Inferring to the fire at the Parliamentary Buildings, he said it had been suggested that it would be a splendid thing for the country if the people decided to rebuild Parliament Houses themselves. For instance, it would be a grand thing if the people, from end to end of the country voluntarily made a contribution to this end. It would have a stimulating .effect on. the youth of the country and the country generally. It would indeed be a grand thing if every one in the Dominion said he would have a share in providing, to the extent of one sovereign each, for the reconstruction of the buildings, which were not the property of any one city, but of every person in New Zealand. The Premier concluded his address amid long and continued applause. The Premier suggested that the newspapers should open subscription-lists for the re-erection of Parliament Buildings. •Sir Joseph Ward leaves at 5.30 o'clock to-morrow for Martinborough, when he opens a new bridge over the Huiaranga