THE PREMIER AT AUCKLAND. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Auckland, Monday Night.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1852, 20 May 1884, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT AUCKLAND. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Auckland, Monday Night.

The Hon. Major Atkinson addressed a public meeting of the citizens to-night in the Theatic Royal. The Mayor (Mr W. R. Waddei) presided, and there was a crowded attendance. Among those present were the Hon. E. Mifcehelson, Sir F. Whitaker, and s«\eial me-nburs of the Uppei and Lower Houses of Assembly, and a large number of the leading citizens, and also ladies, were in the dress circle. The members of the Auckland Tiades and Labour Council were present on the platform, by inviLation of the Premier. On making his appearance, Major Atkinson was received with paifcy cheers. The Mayor said it was not necessary for him to ask at the hands of an Auckland audience a fair and com tcous hearing for the Premier, Mnjor Atkinson, whom he now introduced to the meeting. Major Atkinson, on coming forwaid, was well leceived. He said it was 31 ycais since he had landed in Auckland for the iirst time, and he noticed vast changes and progress. Owing to the colony being &ettlc.t from sevei.il centies, it was difficult to olicit public opinion, if it existed, and he had come to Auckland to ascertain what public opinion was there. It was desirable that their public men should addiesa the people on great public questions, and it was for the public to give caieful cousideiation to the policies laid befoie them. Referring to Finance, he said the country was thoroughly sound, and better able to bear its burden than before the borrow mg policy was initiated in IS7O. Omitting Education, which now rune out of taxation instead of out ot their pockets directly, the taxation was 2s lOd per head less than in IS7O. As to the railway tariff, Government were not piepaicd to go on continuing the deficit that was accruing, and theiefore raised the tariff. They took the consequences, and weie prepaicd for them. It showed the difficulties of paity government, when some membois ot a paity said they could no longei suppoit the Government on this matter, though agicenig with their goncial policy. The .so called leader of the Opposition, Mr Montgomery, thought he saw an opening to eject the Government ; but be was leader only in name. They Knew as well as lie (thespeaku) that the only possible leader who could lead the Oppesition in the Assembly was their rcpicsentative for City Exst, Sii George Giey. Mi Montgomery pioposed insular oepaiation, but that, apaitfiom being impiaoticable, would be i unions to both island*. With sepaiation, the constiuction of the Northern Trunk Railway would bo impossible The Minister foi Public Woiks had evimined the seveial loutes, and Government would be piepaied to make piopoaiih at the appioaehmg session with the object ot pushing thiough the Noith Island Ttunk lii.c. It was uecc&saiy to deal with the native lund, Avhieh would be impio\ed by the construction of a tiunk laihvay ; otherwise, these lands would fall into the bauds ot speonlatwib. They intended to put an end to puichaso or leaao of native Linda by pii\.ito paities. Natives would be allowed to du-po^u ot it through the vanous down Landa Boauls, and if necessary the natives would have scats on Mich boanK, and the Crown would have light to pnichiisc oiich land wheic desirable. At pie&cnt, when natives sold blocks of land the money had all gone, and Government pioposed that a large mn]oiity ot a tube should decide as to selling land, but that natives should only lecLive small portions ot the pi occeds in rash, and theioitiuannuitie?. The piesent pi o eedmgs in connection with the pinchace of native lauds, weio a diigiace to civilization, and puwite paities weie leaping a levwird which piopeily bolonged to the State. Ho then lefened to the questions of tedeiation, of colouied laboiu, and of piotcotoiate ovei certain South Sea Islanda in oidei to the development otohit oh i colonial liodc. With legaul to the continuance of the 'Fiiaco mail bervice, he under tood theiu was a gteat uneasiness in Auckland. The Amcucan Gov eminent lehued to pay anything towaids the service as >et. The Homo Government now intended to send all letteis, not specially add i eased \ ij, 'Fiisco route, by thethst opportunity. New South Wales had anangcd with Victoria under cci tain conditions to send letteis alternately by the Orient and P. and 0. lines. If these new arrangements 10sulted in New South Wales withdrawing tiom the (San Francisco service, it Mould make an mci eased cobt to New Zealand, with legard to the seivice, of £20,000 a year. The service costs very little at piesent, but mci cased cost was a matter of giave con.sideiation. Notwithstanding its cost, they should strain eveiy nerve to maintain the service, and he would be very soiry to see it fall tin ouch. With regard to the prospects of next session, he was not going to piophesy ; he would be a wise man v\ ho could do so, but this much he would saj , If member would not goon with the business the eountiy would be put to the expense of two sessions in the year Distend of one. lie hoped the Assembly would sec its way in aahoit session to accomplish the neceissaiy business of the co'intiy, and thus avoid the expense which otherwise would be entailed. The elections could take place cailici in the year, so that no gie.it loss of time could be inclined in ascertaining the feeling of the country on laiger questions submit ted to it. Ofcouisc, this was a matter entirely in the hand of the House, but he thought it light to make known to the country the opinion of the Government on the subject, and as Parliament was. only two years old, he hoped the House would see the wisdom of not putting the country to the expense of two sessions in one year. Theie was anothci question be desnedto refer to, that of National Insurance ; it was a mistaken idea to think Government were hostile to the fnendly societies. On the coutiary, they desnel to iostcr them. He had received the proposals ot the Auckland Fiiendly Societies, and thought them on the whole very leasonable, and Government would see their way clear to comply with most ot them. It was his desiie, by his scheme of National Insurance, to render paupeiism an impossibility in this colony. He then lefened to Immigration, and the necessity of keeping up a steady stieam of people of the light sort to settle on the lands of the colony and establish local industries. As to the question ot piotection and free tiadc, it would come in time, but he would not refer to it now. He leferred to the questions of Civil Service reorganisation and extension of the franchise to women. The Premier in conclusion thanked his audience for the fair and patient heating. There had been a little badinage and pleasantry by way of mtenuption, but ho did not think the woiseof them for that. He sat down amidst prolonged applause. In reply to quest. ons, the Premier said as soon as the Assembly agieed to the route for the North Island Trunk Line the Government would be prepared to proceed at once to iaise the million loan for its construction. He was doubtful if it would be advisable to make the Waste Lands Boards elective. He was favourable to altering the Licensing Act, so as to give eveiy adult in a district, male and female, the right of voting for the,election or members of the Licensing Committees. He was not in favour of a member of the Assembly going back to his constituents on, the acceptance of office.' It would enly lead to useless expense. If they insisted on perpetual elections they would soon have only rich men in the House. Captain D. H. McKenzie moved, and Mr John Lund.ou seconded, a vote of thanks to Major Atkinson for his address, ' ' Mr G.'Heslop (President of the Trades; and Labour- Council), moved, as an amendment, , u Thafc,< wtiileT thanking the • b9u, ; ttoe, jfremieif fm tfbl&jj4di'e|^ the

meeting has no confidence in the present Government." l ' The amendment li:cl to great hooting. t For som" tinrte thereTwas no seconder, but at last Mr Patrick Neylou seconded the amendment, but could get no hearing to speak, and amid, a storm of hooting had to ictire. On a show of hands being taken, the amendment was rejected, and a vote of thanks carried by a large inajoiity. Major Atkinson's speech lasted two hoius, and the questioning one hour, the meeting breaking up at 11 o'clock with checis for the Premier and also tor Sir George Giey.