WELLINGTON SUBURBS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1268, 25 October 1911, Page 6

WELLINGTON SUBURBS.

ME. W. H. D. BELL, AT POBIKUA,

In spite of the unfavourable weathei tost evening, Jlr. W. H. D. Bell's meeting at l'uriruit was well attended and ho was given an enthusiastic reception, the chair was occupied by Mr. A. ir. Aliluenhall. the candidate, in a clear a.nd lucid manner, dealt with tho inefficiency of the present Administration, especially in regard to the management and administration of the railways. He reminded the meeting that the Minister for Railways hail not treated the settlers on tho Alanav.atu line with the same consideration as he had treated those on the othci suburban linos in tho Dominion in regard to passenger rates. The candulaje aJso spoke of the Government's icckless boiiouing and the? enormous amount it was now costing to run the country. \\ ifh such huge sums as the Government had borrowed of late years the country should have been developed much more effectually than had been the ease. It had not beon develoneil anything like in proportion to tiio "increase of the public debt. He suggested that to obviate the squandering of public moneys the first step taken should bo' to placo the Civil Service under the control of a competent noii-noiitical board whose constitution should consist of men with a business training which would enable them to run the Scrvico much more efficiently than is at present the case. He had been asked by the Ministerial paper tj quote a specific instaneo of jobbery oil the part of tho Government, and had so at his meeting the previous evening at Wndestown, where he quuied the case of discrimination in the matter of giving out Government advertisements and the rejection bv the Government of tho simple principle that Government advertising should go into those channels wilich would ensure the best return for •the money expended. The instance had lieen complete.lv ignored by the paper in question, though its representative was present. At the conclusion of his address, a hearty vote of thanks and confidence was passed, on tho motion of Mr. 11. Buick, seconded by Mr A Mitchell. '