THE PREMIER AT DENNISTON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9088, 13 May 1908, Page 5

THE PREMIER AT DENNISTON.

BY TELEGRAPH —PKESS ASSOCIATION. DENNISTON, May 12. To-night the Premier addressed one of,the largest gatherings that has ever assembled in Denniston Volunteer Hall. The Premier in his speech contrasted the condition in the Old Country, America and New Zealand, showing how much better off in many ways the people were here both because of the Government's land for settlement policy and because the'railways were in the hands of the Government, and not of private companies. He laid stress on the great advantage derived in connection with the unlocking of native land in the North Island. He said that the main object of the Government was to give the poor man a chance to settle on the land. The people in one breath asked the Government to nationalise the whole of the land, steamers, butcheries, bakeries, etc., and in another said they must not borrow. The Arbitration Act should not be repealed but amended, and the Government proposed to do that next session. The Government proposed to introduce legislation next session to give annuities to those outside the Government service. Reference was made to the breaking down of the usurious rates of interest by Government loans to settlers and workers.

In his replies the Premier scored heavily, and finally received a hearty vote of thanks and confidence in the Government with but few desserters.