SIR F. D. BELL AT WAIKOUAITI.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 450, 23 November 1875, Page 3

SIR F. D. BELL AT WAIKOUAITI.

The following special telegraphic report of Sir F. D. Bell’s speech at Waikouaiti on Thursday evening last is taken from the Otago Daily Times :— Sir F, Dillon Bell, one of the candidates for the representation of Waikouaiti in the new General Assembly, addressed a large meeting in the Mechanics’ Hall, Waikouaiti, this evening. The Mayor of Hawkesbury ( Mr J, Smith) was elected to the chair. Sir F, D. Bell said that at the general elections he intended coming forward as a candidate for Waikouaiti. He had at one time intended to retire from Parliamentary duties, but he changed his mind, principally because he thought at this difficult period every man of experience should not shirk from offering his services to the country. He had often thought it a pity that the district of Waikouaiti should go outside its own residents for a representative. He did not intend to detract from the merits of the present member (Mr G, M'Lean), and he hoped throughout the contest to avoid anything that would give rise to illfeeling. But the feeling he retained had induced him as a resident to come forward as a candidate. After deprecating the antagonism displayed in former political contests in the district between Palmerston and Waikouaiti. he went on to say that another reason why he came forward was the hope that the electors would cease that antagonism by electing one who had not taken part in their former contests. Referring to the future constitution of the Government of the colony, he had thought it was because of the existence of that question that he asked

> <vere in duty bound members furnished with skill, ..perience, and patriotism. Of course the great unquestionable cause of the present crisis was the financial position of the colony. The public accounts committee, of which he was a member, never realised four or five years ago how quickly, under the system of local pressure, the money borrowed under the public works scheme waj being swallowed up. While the expenditure was going on at this rapid rate, and the public revenue of the colony was increasing, the revenues of the provinces were dwindling, till at last, with the exception of Otago and Canterbury, all the provinces hid to bo carried on by the General Assembly. That reached a climax when the Assembly, in an excess of provincial enthusiasm, agreed to the provinces being allowed to borrow. There were some members of the Assembly who were determined to put a spoke in that wheel, believing that a time would soon come when it would be hard enough to keep the colonial finance right. The Legislature now gained the respect of the whole colony by putting an end to that proposal. He argued that if the provinces could not exist by their own efforts without borrowing or obtaining aid from the General Government, they could serve no good purpose by continuing to exist at all. Of course Otago and Canterbury always were able to hold their own. and formed an exception in this state of affairs. Last year large payments were made out of the consolidated revenue to the impecunious provinces, which really meant that the money was taken from the surplus revenue of these two rich provinces. Many members of the Assembly s fid, “ We will give these Northern Provinces assistance in carrying on their educational institutions, &c, but we will not give them money which they may make ducks and drakes of. We must know what the money is devoted to.” There was nothing to prevent Otago and Canterbury retaining the Provincial Governments, and any part of the colony retaining them where the people would pay for ihat Government, but those who had studied the financial position could not but turn a deaf ear to the request to continue the present state of affairs. The great question now was, what shall be done in the future. That is the responsibility the electors have, and that is the responsibility that will rest with their representatives. As he had said on a previous occasion in reply to the question, What will you replace the provinces with ? he now answered —Nothing. But, on the other hand, just as strongly experienced politicians, and especially those from Otago and Canterbury, were fully determined not to be governed and administered from Wellington. They did not mean to be governed by chief clerks and Under Secretaries at Wellington, and the Ministers did not mean it. He did not believe the Local Government Bill would be accepted by the Assembly. It was not sufficient. Whatwas wanted was to m antain the expenditure in the provinces, and administration in the same way as hitherto, without the expense and worry of the political part of the provincial system. There were very few who believed that the old provincial system could be maintained. Not a single man in the colony, with brains in his head, discussed the possibility of such a thing. There is not the ghost of a chance of the colony being divided into two or foui provinces, with a Federal Government. The theory was not a bad one, but it was impracticable. First, there was the public creditor to be provided for, and then interest and sinking fund, and, after absolutely necessary departments were provided for, there would scarcely be anything left. Then, let them look at the voting power that would probably be in favor of such a proposal. For all the central provinces, it would be more convenient to go to Wellington, and the representatives of these provinces would vote dead against such a proposal. If they had two f rovinc;s for the Middle Island, the same difficulties would arise, consequently the proposal was utterly impracticable. If the provincial system was abolished, and it was impossible to frame such a new constitution, the representatives would be sent to the new Parliament pledged to get the greatest possible amount of local self-govern-ment and local expenditure, and the electors should not hanker after new constitutions, which would only end in failure. Before the last session of the Assembly he expressed the opinion which he still held, that it was not necessary to entirely abolish the Provincial Councils, but that they should strip them of legislative functions, and convert them into Boards of Works. The thing he would do if returned would be to try to unite the Otago interest in the General Assembly. The Otago interest had not been united in the past, and they had regularly in the past been humbugged. He was not free to say anything about the result of communication which he had with leading men in the provinces, but he had hopes that such a union would be effected. As to the land question, the opinion of the people had been undoubtedly expressed in favor of the sale of land on deferred payments, as he told the House of Representatives last session, when the system was first introduced. He was opposed to it, seeing the extent of dummyism which prevailed under it in Victoria ; but, seeing that settlement had been successfully effected under the system in Otago since its introduction, he would withdraw all opposition to the deferred payment system. In reply to questions, Sir F. D. Bell said there was an idea abroad that the pastoral lessees could pay a great deal more rent than they do at present for their runs. Such an idea was a great mistake. There were only two ways by which a reasonable rent could be received from the waste lands ; namely, they should be divided into smaller areas, and fixed tenure should be given. If the runs were cut up, and no fixity of tenure were given, no higher rent would be obtained. Speaking as a pastoral tenant, he never saw a greater mistake than was made by those who altered the laud laws, because they played into the hands of the worst class of monopolists. What he was afraid of as a public man, was that when the leases fell in, no political men would be found courageous enough to propose a fixity of tenure. He would be in favor of a Bill proposing to cut up the runs when the leases fell in, and to give fixity of tenure. He did not think

the system of ballottiug hitherto existing in connection with deferred payments had ended successfully. Me thought it had done a great deal of harm. Reasonable run holders never objected to land bein'.' taken for bona fide settlement, but they did object to their runs being broken up to allow capitalists to buy large blocks. There was no class in the country more interested in settlement on agricultural land than the run holders. To men of property, it was their interest to see the number of taxab’e colonists increased, as future taxation must fall on propei ty. In answer to the Rev Mr Christie, he replied that he was opposed to the Deceased Wife’s Sister’s Marriage Bill, and would vote against it. He would have nothing to do with anything like the Contagious Diseases Acts of England. He did not think there was the slightest probability of such a Bill being introduced next session. He would not support a measure for the better observance of the Sabbath, as he did not think such a question—which was of a religious character —should be dealt with by the State.

In answer to other questions, he said he was in favor of a property tax, but there was the difficulty of getting the people to submit to the tax-gatherer calling at their doors. He did not think it would pay to cut up the runs into smaller holdings of 2000 to 6000 acres. The Waste Lands Board would be best able to judge as to the size of the smaller runs.

Mr Buckland proposed and Mr S. Wooley seconded a vote of confidence in Sir F. D. Bell.

Mr John Duncan moved as an amendment that Sir F. D. Bell be thanked for his address, as he thought it was too early in the contest to express confidence in any particular candidate.

Mr J. Bates seconded the amendment. The amendment was carried by a large majority. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.