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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 80a

What the Government had Done and Will Do

What the Government had Done and Will Do.

Those who had been with him during the many years he had been a Minister of the Crown; those who had stood loyally by his late chief, John Ballance; those who had supported the Liberal chiefs of this colony, as time went on, had seen great changes. The franchise was extended. Men and women were given opportunities which had been denied to their kindred in other parts of the Empire. As a result of this extension of power given to the people, all parts of the civilised world had their eyes upon New Zealand, and the; were copying the laws the Government had passed. We page 8 were held up as being financially strong, paying our way, making provision for the future, settling our lands, disputes of Iabour and capital settled by reason instead of recourse to physical force. All this had been done under the liberal franchise and with the rights of the people given to the fullest. Speaking of what had been done during the last few years he would say this: The Government had given practical effect to schemes which were outlined by dreamers, who were told they were impossible. Constructive ability, they had been told, did not exist in the present Administration, but he thought it would be recognised that during all these years there had been constructive ability shown. Measures had been conceived and placed upon the statute-book which had lifted New Zealand to the proudest position within the great British Empire. Orphans were cared for, and educated, and sheltered, and the old were relieved from necessity and provided for. They had been told that they would require special taxation for old age pensions. He had said there would be a time coming when the amount required for pensions would not be increased, that as some of the old people came on others would be passing away to the shades of death, and that our country would never feel the cost of doing justice to the aged. Did we feel it now with a surplus of over £700,000? We paid £200,000 to the old people and never missed a penny of it. Education, too, was essential. Time would not permit him that night to go into this question as freely as he should have likedt but, with his colleagues, he said there should be a still further extension of our educational system, and though it might cost more money any money so expended was in the best interests of New Zealand, for with an educated democracy they were safe, and progress and reform were bound to be achieved. (Applause.) Reforms had ever entailed sacrifice upon those who had endeavoured to bring them about; but there was a cheering and a bright side to this, that so long as there were results one never felt the effects of the sacrifices that had been made. He claimed that in our colony there had been good and noble men who had made sacrifices for reforms. Some of them had fallen before the people, some of them not understood; but be himself had been one of God's favoured men, because he had lived to see his policy completed. He had seen its working, and had been left here to have the reword of results. (Applause.) When he went through the colony and met the people; when he met the younger generation and saw the happiness and the contentment everywhere; when he saw them all well fed, well housed, well clothed, and with bright prospects before them, the sacrifice was nothing. Its effects were cleared away as the mist was cleared away from the mountain-top by the sun. (Applause.) When he met the people as he had met them that evening, and when, as during the last few weeks, there had been so much kindness, and so many things done to cheer him, he said that given the same opportunity again, he would do more, if he could, for New Zealand and its people. (Applause.) He had his enemies to-day, but whoever fought for reform, whoever opposed selfishness, and attacked monopolies, and took from the grasping few when they were profiting and the many were suffering—whoever did these things created enemies—(applause)—and so, in the struggle of the last few years, enemies had been created. He was happy to say now, however, that those very people who had declared that poverty was facing them, as the result of reforms, were to-day the best off in our own country. They were in this position against their own wishes—(laughter)—they had been fighting against these reforms for years, and he had had to force the good things upon them. (Laughter.) They were not yet altogether converted, but they were fast coming round. (Laughter,) It was a big step to take, but they agreed at any rate that the Premier was not so bad after all, and that they might have had worse than he as Prime Minister. (Laughter and applause.) If, in passing through life labouring for the love of our fellows continued Mr Seddon, we are in that labour bringing mankind nearer to the ideal put before us by the Saviour of man, then I say our work is good, and we are entitled to your commendation, If in this colony we have laid lines down to give opportunities, and are promoting and will continue to promote a happier and brighter humanity, then assist us in that good work. In speaking to you to-night, I am speaking to the colony, and I speak confidently—health permitting—of meeting Parliament with my colleagues, and with a programme which is for the good of our country; and I feel that in the work as it proceeds I shall have the confidence of the great majority of the people. In the meantime, it may not now be said that the Ministers were afraid to speak to the people. The Government to-night have spoken to the people. I have spoken to you, and I have placed matter? before yon so that you clearly understand them, and with the hope that the good feeling existing before I commenced may be continued. Your chairman has mentioned the confidence of the people of Newtown, and your wish and desire for a pleasant meeting, and in the meantime we shall carry out your wishes for our good and the good of the colony, and that of the Empire to which we all belong. We are all one kindred; touch one part, and you touch the whole; and I say, Let us keep together, and the world will envy the happiness of the people of New Zealand.

The Premier, who had spoken for about an hour and fifty minutes, resumed his seat amidst loud and prolonged cheering.