THE PREMIER AT DUNEDIN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1447, 29 December 1885, Page 1

THE PREMIER AT DUNEDIN.

The Hon. Mr Stout addressed' big con» stitnenta at Dunedin last Wednesday evening. Replying to Major Atkinson's recerit speech he said, that the present Government had saved from £BO,OOO to £IOO,OOO. The cost of the Armed Conotahulary had been reduced by £39,800, the Sin vey Department from £2 J,OOO to £30,000 and savings had been effected in the Charitable Aid vote. As to the loan schemes, he charged M j;r Atkinson with having misapplied the three million loan. The mon- y had 1« on so manipulated that it b>d '0 be M‘t di.w > inn* months before it actually rum'; i o credo, and tbiahe regarded as one .if thw moat disgraceful episodes of financing-* colony could well have to disclose. In this matter Mijor A kioeon had not kept faith with tlieiHonae, or with the colony, >nd in order to make it appear that he had kept fai'h with the coiin ry, he had brought the loans to credit nine months before he ought to have done so, merely to bambooz’e t'ose who knew nothing of lie finances of the country.' As to the ex'ravagance of the Gove’nment with respect to the East and West Coast railway, he pointed out that the Aikinsoa Government in 1882 proposed.; parallel lines from (he,W*at Coast to Christchurch. .Speaking of railway management, he ■-tated that non-poliii'cal Boards were absurd, bo much eo that’ he hoped they would never bo- revived. As a-matter of fai t these non-political Boards were proposed by the Atkinson Government in 1882 as the only means of getting rid of political pressure in the management of railways. Major Atkinson bad no right to criticise the railways, because the Government as a Government had not come to a conclusion oil that subject a* yet. They should only borrow for works which would be reproductive, and hero there was a contrast between himself snd Major Atkinson, The letter cared little for railway extension, and , wanted to borrow for roads ami bridges. It was absurd to imagine that the whole, colony was to be looked upon as only requiring Road Bdarda dn bush ■ districts; > If they borrowed money they could lend to local bodies, who would, however, have to pay interest on it. That would be a means of aiding the Road Boards in bush districts and the outlying districts, end at the same time not unduly burden the colony In years gone by the mode of distributing charitable aid had been siihply disgraceful. It was not founded on any’system, nor were the hospitals treated on any system ; but the . present Government had endeavored to get a stable, fair and* comprehensive system.’ He did not say the system 'provided by the Hospitil and Charitable Aid* Act was perfect, but it w»s a long st'p in advance of what had previously existed.lit had been predicted by Major Atkinson that there would be a deficiency at the:; end of the year. He (the speaker) did dot know th- t there would bo any defi.imcy, but if there was it would not. be large. In conclusion oMr Stout stited that if the Government did not get a loyal suppoit from the Douse, -they woiild riot remain in office. They were carefully amj economically administering the affair* of the country; and it waartp their credit that not a single fault could be pointed out in their administration. Much as one might feel honored by holding the position of a Minister of the Crown, it had many drawbacks and worries, and the members of, the. Oibinetiiad no desire to hold office for a day/unless they believed they were doing some good for the colony. If they did not get a loyal support from toe House, and, in the event of a dis ulnt'oii, fnim the country, they would place the trust ■in other hands.- ’they were not going to lease office to please some malcontents anxious f> r office themselves, 1 Ha advised'electors'to take an intelligent interest in politics, and not to merely rely on et tements and criticisms of politicians, and they would have pol tc*l questions discussed with an interest, mid a knowledge, which they had notytt had ih New Zealand.. : ‘ In answer‘to quartions, Mr Pt-mt su'd he favored an iitc mie iixGat he? believed true tuition should be of a progressive character. With respect to borrowing, t he would not 1 pledge himself to borrow’ £10,000,000. The matter hud to be considered by Government,-- but aa‘ he had stated he would not favor any wild scheme of borrowing. Moneys bort-owed should be expended on reproductive works that would pay some interest* ; , A unanimous vote of thanks to Mr Stout for hU address and of continued confidence iii him was ' the meeting terininatodt i