POLITICAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2920, 11 March 1893, Page 2

POLITICAL.

(ME PRESJS ASSOCIATION)

SPEECH BY SIR ROBERT STOUT. [per press association.] .Auckland, March 10. A political address was given by Sii Robert Stout to-night, at the City HaW, before a crowded audience. The Mayor presided. Sir Robert Stout described himself as one of the rsnk and file of the Liberal party, and said that therefore ne was in a unique position, as it was not histroty to support the Government nor t» criticise I the Opposition. He then proceeded to reply to the speech delivered by Mr [tolleston on Monday night-. He point out with regard to the Mi Jland Railway that the party now in power stipulated that the land given to the Company should be in alternate blocks, and that this proposal was afterwards abandoned. Re reminded his audience thab in the Property Assessment Bill of 1885 he proposed that agricultural improvements and industrial machinery up to a value of £3000 should be exempted from taxation, and that that was opposed by those who now wanted all improvements exempted. He defended the policy of the Government in devoting the surplus to public works, rather then to the reduction of taxation ; and while he ghve credit to Mr Rolleston for having introduced a perpetual lease or a kind, he said that that gentlemen would never have passed it if he had depended on the votes of his own party. Neither was it a true perpetual lease which Mr Rolleston proposed. Regarding the appointments to the Legislative Council he said that the logical outcome of the argument of those who opposed the reference to Downing street was that we should have an elective Governor. Sir Kobert argued at some length that the railways should not be under the control of an irresponsible Board of Commissioners. Speaking of the liquor traffic he said that direct local control would have to be given to the people. He received a vote of thanks.