Mr Bailey at Birmingham.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 121, 20 November 1896, Page 2

Mr Bailey at Birmingham.

Ffrom ottr own coebespondent.J Mr Bailey, a candidate fox Parliamentary honors, addressed a large meeting in tbe Public Hall last evening. Mr T. R. Taylor was voted to the chair, and claimed for Mr Bailey a fair bearing. Mr Bailey felt sure that he would get a fair hearing. He did not intend being a blind follower of the Government. He had been a follower of tbe Liberal party ever since he took an interest in politics. He thought the Government did a good thing when they came to the rescue of the Bank of New Zealand. In time to come it would be shown that it was the Conesrvatives who brought the bank to its unfortunate position. He was a thorough believer in tbe present system of education, but thought that school committees should have more power. In the Education Board there is too much spent in clerical work— the secretary, a clerk, and a boy, costing .£4OO a year. A large mercantile business house could do its clerical work on £200 a year. Then they spent £1000 on enlarging their building. That money should have been spent in the back country school districts. Seeing that the settlers have to wade through seas of mud, he would exempt them from all taxation until roads were made to their sections. He was not in favor of an Elective Executive. He said, "If tbe present Government is turned out away goes your Land and Income Tax, and the old Property Tax will take its place for the Conservatives." He was a strong believer in the co-operative works. They were perfect in principle, bnt they did not pan out right. In Rangiwabia and Timaru it worked well. At the former place one of the leading men at at this work showed him (Mr Bailey) section after section belonging to men on tne work In a short time these men would be able to leave the co-oparative work and go on to their sections to live, and thus make way for more men to come on to the co-operative works. On the burning question of the day- Prohibition — he said he was not a Prohibitionist. The question is in the people's hands. On the day of tbe election the papers will be placed in the hands of the voters. If they want Prohibition, <. U they have to do is " Strike out the top line." He could not understand why a candidate should be bound down on this question. A candidate should go to the House free to vote on all questions. The people were not'yet advanced enough for Prohibition. If it is forced on tbe people there will be a revulsion of feeling, and Prohibitionists will lose more in one year than they have gained in ten. The people were improving, as in 1869 the. drink bill per head was £10 10s, whereas in 1895 it was £3 3s per head. Our railways, be contended, were better managed tban they had ever been before. He was speaking on a question which he understood, au tbe firm ta which be belongs are doing a large business with tbera. Concessions have been made to fruitgrowers and others, but not to sawmilllers. He intended, if returned, doing his utmost in gettingsome reduction on the carriage of timber. Mr Bailey resumed his seat amid loud applause. The Chairman invited questions. Mr Boggis : If the settler pays nothing in taxation, how are the roads to be made? Mr Bailey: The thing is simple enough. Increase the graduated tax, and burst up tbe big estates. Proposed by Mr Tuohy and seconded by Mr Albert Mcßeth, That Mr Bailey be accorded a vote of thanks and confidence, and that be is a fit and proper representative. — Carried. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the procedings.