THE PREMIER AT WELLINGTON. [BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Tuesday.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1847, 8 May 1884, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT WELLINGTON. [BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Wellington, Tuesday.

M\jo;i Atkinson addressed a crowded meeting in the Theatre Royal to-night, there being also a large number of ladies present in" the dress circle. The chair ■was taken by Mr John Dnthie, and amongst those present on the stage were the Hons. Messrs Bryce, Dick, and Oliver. The Premier on coming forward was received with prolonged applause. He commenced by saying that up to the present time there had not been any strict party lines in New Zealand, at any rate since the abolition of provinces ; but it was necessary that men should follow some broad line of policy. There were at present three parties in Parliament, consisting of the Government party, the party led by Sir George Grey, and another led by MrMoutgonery. The difference between Sir George Grey and Mr Montgomery was as wide as the difference between either ot them and the Government. Sir George Grey was really master of the situation, and without him Mr Montgomery dare not move in any diiection. Mr Montgomery had now unfurled his banner, which was the sepai ation of the colony. Last session Mr Montgomery introduced certain separation proposals, but he was careful not to give the House any details of the scheme. When the Public Works policy was first introduced, it was on the disdinct undei standing that there was to be a main tiunk line ot railway through the colony. The people in the North Island were toltl by Mr Montgomery, when contending for the fulfilment of that pledge, that they were " milking " the South. Island. He (the Primier was confident that the people of New Zealand Mould always be in iavour of a united colony. He then went into the question of property tax vcisits income tax at considerable length. He said the large property holders paid a great deal more under the pioperty tax than they would under a shilling income tax. There was a veiy heavy land tax in the colony afc piesent, by the imposition of £d in the £ under the property tax. He thought it was manifestly unjust to> impose an unfair tax upon a \eiy large class of btingghng sefctlcib- The imposioiou of tlie land tax also meant, the confiscation of so much land of the present holilci3 of it. He could not tor a moment believe that the colony would o\ er agree to a laud tax lying imposed, while they hadaheady got the tanest that could be levied on the people in the. shape of the propeity tax. Ho held with all the Liberal .statesmen in England that the land belonged to thepeople, and if it woie found that large estates were deti hnental to the community he was sure Parliament would find some means to remedy it The maintenance of hospitals and charitable aid were also subjects that necessarily occupied a good deal of attention at present. He thought that if they adopted a poor rate they would simply be introducing a race of paupers. It was reasonable that the poor should be supported out of the general re\ enue of the colony, but that was not expedient at present. He: was certain they would yet have to come zo national insurance. That was his opinion, but he thought they would have to follow the lines of the Friendly Societies in this respect. National insurance could never be brought into operation until it was demanded by an overwhelming majority of the people. If those present did not like national insurance, let them invent some other scheme, for the whole matter would very shortly have to be dealt with. He hoped Parliament would say to the various local bodies that they must provide half the funds for the maintainance of. hospitals and charitable aid. He thought that the loual bodies should contribute something to the fund from the publicans' and other licenses which they received. The Premier then went into the land question at some length, especialy the relations of landlord and tenant. The people of the colony, he thought^ should endeavour to devise some general tenure of land which should be beneficial to all parties. With reference to the land still in the hands of the natives, consisting of thirteen or fourteen million acres,, they must, during the next session, either resume pre-emptive right, or throw the land open for anybody to purchase it. The Government had theretore determined that the only legitimate way of dealing with the matter was to resume the pre-emptive right. He was sorry to observe that the question of federation had not been, received with much favour in the colony, but he considered it was well worthy the atteution of the electors. He hoped to address them fully on this subject before the session opened. The late Conference, considered that the only May to speak t» the Imperial Government with a united voice was by passing the Bill brought before it, which each Minister promised to biing before their respective Parliaments. It was also felt that the British Government would listen to the representations of the millions of colonist? with twenty millions of revenue sooner than to the voice of a single colony. The Premier next referred to the present; position of the colony as compared with that of IS7O, and said that notwithstanding all the borrowing the taxation at present was even less than in that year. He thought it was a very gratifying fact that the duty on spirits had lately fallem very considerably. Major Atkinson cod* eluded by stating that the present Government was practically the same as that of 1879, but with a different Premier. The Goveanment in 1878 had to face an enormous deficit. They had to restore the credit of the colony in London, to carry on public works, to> reduce the Civil Service expenditure, and to» impose taxation on the people, all of which r had been done by the present Government. He ventured to say that no, Government in this country had a. more difficult' task to perform, and it would be for the electors ot,tb# colony to decide during the, ooßftin^ election how they had ac* compjishedlt. He' had full faith' that 1 Ijhe ejectors would return honest . and competent members to the" *Hcii[& f Srbo> woujd car^y out, the ,views t that<tfcy r bad), 4"eterniraed 'sHould rule Hehce|artbr/ThV 'Premier resomedj hig Joudt

A number of unimportant questions were put and aoswered by Major Atkinson. Mr Hutchinsou, M.H.R., who received a somewhat noisy reception, came forward and congratulated the meeting on the pntient and decorous reception accorded the Premier, and asked that the same courtesy be extended on a futiue occasion, when the electors would be invited to hear the other side of the question. A vote of thanks to the Premier, moved by Mr Plummcr, and seconded by Mr Thos. McKenzie, was put and carried Unanimously. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the chaiunan.