MINISTERIAL BANQUET.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3941, 17 October 1891, Page 2

MINISTERIAL BANQUET.

Reform of the LesrltlatiT* Oowwil.

The Land Bill

Br Telegraph.—Press Association.

Palmerston South, Saturday.

The complimentary banquet to the Hon Mr McKenzie l«Bt night was largely attended, the chair being occupied by the Mayor. The Hon Mr Ballance, replying to the toast of His Excellency's advisers, said the Government did not intend to abandon either their principles or the measures rejected by the Legislative Council. They meant to make those measures still more liberal and more aooeptable to the land owning and other classes in the country. They hoped to introduce them into the Upper Cham* ber next session under mors favourable circumstances than before. Bo far he had not advocated the abolition of the Legislative Council, but, if he thought the obstruction they v had witnessed in that branoh of the Legislature last session would continue, be would raise the flag at once and proclaim himself a supporter of the numerical system. The Hon Mr Ward also spoke in defence of the Government policy. The Hon Mr McKenzie, who was received with loud applause, deLied that he was trying to abolishes freehold in land. His Bill provided Hit there should be no more large with very few improvements ontMWP'' Tberc was no truth in the etaterinpt that the Premier and he differed as to accepting the Bill in the form amended by the Council. He repeated the description he gave to the House of the men who destroyed the Bill in the Council, and spoke generally in severe serms of their aotion. He defended the one man one run principle, on the ground that £*« Colony would get much more for the land if occupied by small owners. He concluded by saying be hoped he would never do anything to disgrace his constituency.