POLITICAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1171, 29 April 1884, Page 3

POLITICAL.

Major Atkinson addressed a meeting of fully 2500 persons at Christchurch on Saturday evening, the Mayor occupying the chair. He speech was mainly n recapitulation of his utterances at Hawera and Dunedin. During its delivery he was frequently interrupted, and but for one or two prominent and popular citizens appealing for a hearing for him, and pointing out that if they did not hear the Premier out they would not be able to pass a vote of want of confidence in the Ministry, he could not have continued. He said that since his Hawera speech he had learned that the deficit would only amount to £150,000 instead of £170,000, and that if the Ministry had not raised th erail vay tariff when they found they were not paying, the credit of the colony would have been damaged. He held they were quite justified in raising the railway rates as the deficit was caused by the railways. If the Opposition were to get into power they would not lo ver the rates. At the conclusion of his address a vote of jo confidence in the present Ministry was proposed and seconded. Mr Wakefield, M.H. R., said he objected on colonial grounds to Government raising the railway rates to make up a deficiency in the general revenue. It was a most dangerous precedent, and might be greatly abused by a wicked Government. After the Premier had replied, the want of confidence motion was carried, about twothirds af those present voting for it, and a dozen or so against it. Cheeis were then given for Mr Wakefield and Sir George Grey, and the meeting dispersed at 10.40. The Premier left for Wellington the same night.