The Premier's Address his Constituents.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5001, 22 January 1885, Page 2

The Premier's Address his Constituents.

(Pee Pbess Association.)

DtrwEDiN, Last night. Mr Stout addressed his constituents tonight in the North Dunedin Hall. There was a full nttendance. He began by dealing with the history of last session, showing how impossible it was to form a stable Government from the Liberal party alone, and how requisite it became to adopt.a coalition. He regretted extremely that Mr Macandrew was not a member of the Government, and defended that gentleman from the accusation of being solely an Otago man. He referred to the action of the present Government over the San. Francisco contracts, showing that by the firm stand they took, they had been able to save the colony £9003. He referred to the measures for social reform carried during the session, such as the Married. Women's Property Act, the Workmen'! Lien Act, and the Amended Laws, &c. In regard to the Hinemoa affair, he said the newspapers had got hold of the wrong story ; the Government had asked Lord Derby if they should send down-th? Hinemoa, not to annex Samoa, but to inquire into the reported action of Germany in forcing an agreement.upon the SamoanV. Lord Derby had, however, taken action in the matter, and had sent the warship Miranda from Sydney, and she would be there now. He defended Lord-Derby from the blame cast upon him in regard to the matter. The speaker then referred to the intentions of the Ministry as to local government. He proposed that there should be no rude carving and cutting of existing institutions, but that they should be taken as they were and utilised: He would not destroy Road Board Districts, Counties, Boroughs, &c, but would let each locality carry out its own wishes as to the manner in which their institutions should be constituted. He did not believe in having all the institutions throughout the colony upon one exact pattern; that was a kind of Chinese system. Let Auckland have a different institution from'Otago if it chooses, but he said distinctly that the present system could not continue, and proceeded to enlarge upon the sums of money which had been expended upon roads and bridges from the public purse since the abolition of the Provinces. Then it was said that reference to roads and bridges would never require to be made in the Assembly, save for purposes of congratulation, but how different had there,-, suit proved. He then spoke oh education; and expressed himself as firmly resolved to have a change in the syllabus; and also stated the present need that existed for technical education in our primary and secondary schools. This must be com'-J menced by the teaching of drawing in all the schools. The necessity for reform in charitable aid was also dwelt upon. The meeting closed with a unanimous vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Stout.-