Liberal Legislation.

Who was there who would go back to the property tax in lieu of the land and income tax? Who would advocate now the repeal of the Act dealing with coal and gold mines—that measure concerning which Sir George Grey had said, in one of his telegrams, "Bring in the Coal Mine Bill," because he desired that for the lives of the men engaged in coal mines the owners should, prima facie, be hold responsible should accidents occur. This was the first Act passed under "which the hours of labour were fixed at eight hours. (Applause.) He had alwavs said, Give a man eight hours' work; let him have heart for his work; pay him a fair day's wage, and it was to the interest of the employer. (Applause.) Who was there who dared to propose that we should repeal the legislation which gave the franchise to Hie women of this colony? (Applause.) He had not met a candidate or a politician or a canvasser yet who had dared to say that this privilege should be taken from them. Ho wanted to ask this question. Could they show where woman had been untrue to tho great responsibility cast upon her? In the legislation of which we boasted, in that great social advancement we had made—more particularly in that beneficent legislation, the Old Age Pensions Act—he would say that the women were behind all that, and he would say more—that in respect of progressive measures, in respect of that which is for the good of the lives of others, women were keener and more determined than tho lords of creation. (Laughter and applause.) In regard to labour legislation, Mr Seddon referred to the threatened strike in Glasgow and the struggle in Victoria, and to labour troubles in France and America, and said that in New Zealand we could look on with calm placidity, working as we did under our present law. The demands of the workmen had been fairly met, and he declared that employers and capital had never been safer than at the present moment in our country. (Cheers.) If this legislation had increased the workers' wages, he asked this question. Had it done any harm to the employer? The latter's property, his machinery, his profits, and his stability, were better to-day than in the days of low wages, with a strike inevitable. (Cheers.) Had that legislation brought down the value of properties in this country or stopped industry? The answer most be No. It was inevitable that in a country where high wages were paid, the peoole would be in a condition of advancement and prosperity. They wanted harmony to reign, and he declared that tho employer had nothing to fear from the Liberal party, and that the worker also might rest assured that the protection given him in the past would be continued. (Cheers.) Speaking in reference to the old age pension scheme, the Premier said that last year it had cost in round numbers £203,000, and this year it might cost another £5000 or £6000. He had said that there would be a time in the history of the scheme when its expense would be at a standstill, at the period before the younger people would become entitled to the pension, and he believed that in the coming year the cost would not he more than £6000 more than that of last year. And what had the old age pension done? It had removed anguish; it had given joy, and it had given us the consolation of knowing that our deserving aged should not want for the necessaries of life. (Cheers.) There had been no increase of taxation necessary, such as they had been warned would be the case. His worthy colleague was presort. Sir Joseph Ward. (Cheers.) We had had the penny postage. (Renewed cheering.) They had been told that financial disaster would result from that, but he believed that to-day our revenue was almost as good as when the postage was on the old lines.