Two Questions Answered.

He had been told that two questions were to be asked him. First, whether he had pledged himself absolutely to support the present Ministry in any proposals they might bring forward? and second, what was his position with regard to the present state of the House of Representatives ? He would try, if possible, to explain himself so fully that it would not be necessary to put these questions. With reference to the first, a statement had been insidiously circulated that he had bound himself in writing to support the Government in whatever measures they brought forward That simply was not true. (Applause.) Since he had been their member he had written many letters to the Premier, and in reply to one from Mr Seddon asking his views, he had stated what he had stated to his constituents, viz., that he would support the policy inaugurated by the late John Balance, but he reserved to page 3 himself absolute freedom upon any questions brought forward which were outside that policy. A gentleman had gone to Motueka and told another person that he had seen such a written pledge, but it was not true, and he (Mr Graham) knew the names of the parties he was referring to. (Applause.) He had spoken to Mr Seddon about the matter the day after his speech in Nelson, and Mr Seddon had replied that it was absolutely untrue, and that the would, had the matter been mentioned to him before, have publicly refuted it at his meeting from the spot where he (Mr Graham) then stood. (Applause.) But he did not wish that, he would rather explain to his constituents himself, and he believed that his statement would be accepted. (Applause.) He did say to the Premier that if necessary he would ask his support of the statement just made. Then, with reference to which side of the house he Would support. He had stated at the beginning that he would support the John Balance policy, and he had not budged one iota from that statement, and would not then. The main points of that policy were the substitution of the Land and Income Tax for the Property Tax, and the division of the land into portions sufficiently large to make homesteads for the people. The Opposition, on the other hand, were in favor of the Property Tax, and he had it from one of the leaders of the Opposition that that Party would, could they do so revert to the Property Tax. The Land and Income Tax had reduced the payments of the poorer portion of the people, and increased those of the richer. (Applause.) But the Government, while maintaining the leading portions of Mr Balance's policy, had done things he did not agree with, and some things he strongly disagreed with, and in doing so he believed he was doing what he had been sent to do. When some of the supporters of the Government objected to things, the Opposition would bring forward a motion of want of confidence in the hope of obtaining the votes of these Government supporters who were in disagreement. Then the choice lay between voting against those partially disagreed with. That was his position two or three times, and he had to vote with the Government, not because he agreed with them in everything, but because they were carrying out the main features of the Ballance policy. It was a case of Scylla and Charybdis, and he thought it better to stick to the rock than go into the whirlpool and be absolutely lost. (Applause.)