THE REFORM RECORD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1853, 12 September 1913, Page 11

THE REFORM RECORD.

MR. BELL'S SPEECH. A GENERAL SURVEY. "The difference botween tho parties in tho Houso was that one party was for tho country and the other party was for itself." In these words Mr. W. H. D. Bell, member for Wellington Suburbs, summed up the political situation in the course of his address at Karori on Wednesday evening. Tho gathering was held for tho purpose of forming a Wellington, Suburbs branch of tho Women's Political Reform League and was entirely successful in its object. . Mr. Bell, in reviewing the course of politics since his election to the House in 1911, said he was not consoious of departing from any of the pledges ho had made when ho first came to tho electors of Karori. (Hear, hear.) He party to which ho had attached himself was step by stop carrying out tho pledges it tad made to tho country. It had gono_ to the polls at the last eloction against great odds, and much misrepresentation, and the other si3e bad alleged that tho Reformers would repeal tho old-age pensions and do away with the graduated land tax. They had dono none of theso things, but bad carried out their pledges right through. They had carried out the pledge of reforming the Civil Service. There was a certain amount of discontent with the administration of the commissioners, but there was far less dissatisfaction with tho classification than might have been expected in a change from one system to another. The Civil Servant was getting a perfectly square deal under the nonpolitical administration of the commissioners.

Tho Reform party, despite the prophecies of the Opposition, had also increased the graduated land tax. It was true that the increased valuation of improvements would tend, in the case of the small man, to decreaso the return from_ tho ■ graduated land tax, Vhich was in favour of small settlement in New Zealand. The Land Bill introduced by tho Prime Minister was going to be an enormous power for good in furthering closer settlement in Now Zealand. Tho Bill was designed to force the large landowner to cut up tho land himself, for it was quito impossible for the State to borrow money to purchaso all tho big estates. The party had also kept its plodgo to grant tho freehold. Discussing the much vexed question of the cost of living, Mr. Bell suggested the removal of indirect taxation on foodstuff so that people might get their food as chcaply as possiblo. An industry which _ might oventually stand on its legs, might fairly be given the benefit of protective duties in its early days, but he did not believe in protecting an industry which could never support itself. It was impossible to take off Customs duties without putting increases on direct taxation. The Government recognised this and they had inoreased tho graduated land tax, and also were going to increase the graduated incomo tax. Until they knew wTioro they stood in regard to Australia in reciprocal matters the Customs Tariff could not be thoroughly revised, but before the year was out there would bo a revjsion of tho tariff, which would probably bo found to reduce duties on necessaries of lifo, and thus reduce tho cost of living. Tho Reform party would deal with the matter of teachers' sal-aries—-neglected by tho ' Liborals—and would do it in a proper way. (Applause.). The Reform party should bo in a much hotter position than it was at the . last [ election. Were they going to return to power a party which had carried out its election pledges or a party which had clung to office for twenty years and endeavoured to tho last to cling to power by keeping in its own hands all instruments of political control over tho people? The Reform party was solid behind one leader; the other party was divided behind many leaders. That party after -a whole year of wrangling among thomselves had at length chosen their old leader—it was a great waste of Sir Joseph Ward. (Laughter.) A strong plea for tho back-blocks settler was mado by Mr. C. K. Wilson, M.P. for Taumarunui, who followed Mr. Bell. In a passing reference to tho party system Mr. Wilson said lie thought it should not bo developed too much, for thero were ugly sides to it. No matter what tho Reform party did, it was abused, and it had not committed any crimes yet. Tho claims of the teaohors should bo supported and conditions should bo improved, especially in the back-blocks. The teachers wero paid on an attendanco basis in a country where bad roads kept ohildren away from school. Thoy 6hould do more for the-back-blocks in the way of medical attendance and nursing in the bush. Ho knew of a case where a.woman fell dangerously ill, and it took thirty-two men all day to get her out of tho bush to tho railway. _In another a boy broke his log, and it took a party forty-eight hours to get him to hospital. Tho day would come in New Zealand, Mr. Wilson declared, when they would have to wipe out the Native landlordism. Tho Natives wero squandering their unearned money and becoming idlo and indolent and useless peoplo. Thoy took Maori land compulsorily to build a railway, but they could not take Maori land compulsorily to mako the railways pay. Wore they going to encourage a Native landlordism to the injury of tho Dominion itself, and to the downfall and ruin of tho Maori race itself? They should think over tlio problem (Hear, hear.) Ho congratulated tlio women of tho district for having formed tho branch of the league. (Applause.) Mr. JameSj secretary of the Reform League also addressed th« meeting.