THE PREMIER'S ADDRESS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1594, 14 June 1887, Page 3

THE PREMIER'S ADDRESS.

The following is Sir Robert Stout’s address to his constituents Gentlemen, I again offer : myself as a candidate for your suffrages, and I will take an early opportunity of meeting 1 yon and explaining the political ■ situation. Meantime, 1 may state that the following, amongst others, are planks in my platform:— 1. Retrenchment in the public service. 2. Any additional taxation required by i means of the property tax to be so arranged | as not to increase the hardens of persons of small means, 8. Any necessary increase of Customs to be imposed so as to assist bur local industries. 4. The -continuance of the Small Settlement Scheme of Grown lands inaugurated bv the present Ministry, and the general furtherance of the agricultural .and pastoral interests in every way possible. 5. The strengthening of Local Government by the decentralisation of all possible Government functions., .

6. The maintenance at all hazards of onr educational system. 1 am adverse to any scheme that would throw the representation: of the people into the bands of the few or the wealthy, and unduly reducing the number of members in the House of Representatives would hare this very effect. I believe retrenchment in onr legislative expenditure can be effected, bnt this can be carried out without interfering with the number of the members of Parliament. Were the numbers reduced several outlying and thinly-peopled distriots would be practically unrepresented. Even now some districts are far too large. It seems passing strange that many of those who increased the nnmbet of members in 1881, when the population of the colony was 490,000, should now advocate a reduction, when we have 695,000 people. What the present Ministry has done for the colony by its legislative measures and administrative acts I shall detail to yon when I address you. I may just add that our aim has been to frame truly liberal and democratic laws, and to carefully, prudently, and economically administer the affairs of the State. We have succeeded in many instances, in the face of strong party opposition in both Houses.

We have effected large savings ia the pub* lie expenditure, and more families have been placed on the land by ns than under any pre vious Administration.

With the hearty assistance and co-operation of the Liberals in the colony we can do much more than we have done, and it remains for yon and the other constituencies of the colony to say whether this is to be permitted, or whether the legislation and administration of the colony are to be banded over to a party that has denounced our attempted savings in the Civil Service, repudiated our effort to relieve the less wealthy of the property tax, refused to aid the local industries of (he colony, attempted to burk our Tillage Settlement scheme, and whilst in power neglected necessary puolio works in many districts.

Thanking you for all you hare done for rap in the past, and for your many kind* nesses, Believe me to be, Gentlemen, Tour obedient servant, Robert Stout.