Sweating.

The law provided there should only be six paid Ministers. They had had eight Ministers some time ago; they had seven now. The Government said that only five were paid. He thought in a great slur upon his friend Mr. Thompson that he was not fit to be paid a salary. (Laughter.) The Ministry had brought in a Masters and Apprentices Bill by which there was to be no sweating; every apprentice who went into a shop was to get a wage. There should be no sweating in the Cabinet. (Laughter.) If it was wrong for an apprentice to be taken into a workshop to learn his business without payment, why should the State take these two new Ministers without salary? (Renewed laughter) Passing on, Sir Robert said he had just received a request to speak on questions—one was the licensing question. He was never afraid to express his views, but he had spoken on it the other night and time would not allow him to deal with it then. It would take a whole night. He, however, believed that, that like every other question, should be settled by the majority. (Applause) In conclusion, he said he desired to impress upon all their duty in the present crisis in the colony's affairs. It was said that the Democracies of the world were watching New Zealand. He did not know that it was so. He did not know that the working classes had been benefited by the legislation passed. In the great political crisis in 1875, Auckland came nobly to the front, and he now appealed for a purer Government; that there should be a free Parliament, and that the ablest men should be selected, pledged not to be a delegate to any one man. If the present Government was to be maintained in power, there need be no talk about Liberal legislation. He appealed to the citizens of the colony at election times not to be swayed by beer, bluff, or bunkum, but let them ascertain the true bearings of political questions, uphold no autocracy, and show themselves determined to have pure, honest administration, and progressive legislation. (Loud and prolonged applause.)

A few questions having been answered,

A hearty and unanimous vote of thanks to Sir Robert Stout was passed, on the motion of Mr. Upton, seconded by Captain D. H. McKenzie, 'for his interesting, able, and Admirable address.'

This vote having been briefly replied to,

A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings.