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SIR FRANCIS DILLON BELL AT INVERCARGILL.

[Per Press Agenct.] Invercargill, Tuesday. Sir Francis Bell, M.H.R., Mataura, addressed hia constituents at the Theatre Royal. His Worship, the Mayor occupied the chair. Sir Francis said he was struck with the improvements which had taken place in Invercargill. They were more marked here than anywhere else. He would confine his remarks chiefly to one subject, which was fraught with great consequence, namely, the abolition of the provinces. Every other question paled before it. Were they to have a fundamental change iu the system of Government ? The cause of Government taking up that question was [understood. It was not a party question. Mr. Vogel was quite secure in his position. There were many reasons why a strong Government should refrain from touching the question, but one thing forced it on the attention of the House—the question, namely, of finance. The course of the Government had been attributed, firstly, to the reception accorded to the State Forests Bill; and secondly, to a quarrel with Mr. Fitzherbert. But no such paltry motive influenced Mr. Stafford and Mr. Vogel to decide on the question. For ten years the Colonial Treasurer’s difficulties had been growing. The unauthorised expenditure reached £400,000. The Treasurer had to manage the finance of the colony, and the finance of the provinces. That finance could not be properly done, and the provinces satisfied, and it was that impossibility that induced the Legislative Assembly to allow provincial borrowing, which precipitated the question. In Otago and Canterbury they could not realise the difficulties of the provinces in the Straits. The failure of the attempt to pass the provincial borrowing Acts of the previous year drove Mr. Vogel to his wits’ end. Last session £500,000 had been granted to the Provincial Governments, but it was not fair that the rich should pay for the poor provinces. The £8,000,000 borrowed for railways had been reduced to £6,500,000, owing to the necessity of buying the support of the provinces. No Government could last an hour without the support of the provinces. The proposal laid by Mr, Vogel before the House was not new, for during the last few years a feeling of uneasiness at the greatness of the burden, and at the prospect of more, had been growing. Mr. Curtis had proposed to take away the provincial powers of the Government, which really meant the abolition ot the provinces. Mr. Stafford pointed out that it had before 1870 been a question as to continuing the provinces. They afterwards attempted to put the provinces on their legs, but it was hopeless. Sir Francis said he had not changed his opinion, but circumstances had changed. When in the Provincial Council of Otago, he had warned the Council that its day was done, and that only municipal powers would by and bye belong to it ; but it was of no use thinking of past opinions. They must look at the question as it stood now. Mr. Vogel’s proposal took the House by surprise ; but it was not a revolutionary measure. When Mr. Fitzherbert wanted the opinion of the country, the answer was that no appeal was necessary. No one had any sentiment about the provinces. The public were apathetic because they were prosperous. The popular verdict had been in favor of abolition. The Thames, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, and Canterbury were all in favor. In Wellington the opinion was expressed in strong terms that Wellington would return candidates in favor of abolition. No attempt had been made in the public journals to treat the subject philosophically, except by the Canterbury Press. He (Sir Francis Dillon Bell) woidd vindicate his strong opinion in favor of Mr. Vogel’s plans. Few had made themselves masters of finance. The whole Consolidated Revenue for the calendar year 1874 was £1,518,000. Otago’s contribution was about £500,000, or thirty - two per cent.; of which the Customs dues amounted to £1,205,000 It became a Southern question, to compare Otago’s contribution to the whole revenue with that of the North Island, and the result was that the North Island’s Customs amounted to £445,000 ; Otago’s, to £407,000 ; Otago thus contributing to the consolidated fund within £52,000 of the whole of that of the North Island. Taking Otago and Canterbury together, the Customs dues amounted to £606,000. To all sources of Consolidated Revenue, Otago and Canterbury contributed upwards of £200,000 more than the whole North Island. It was not a political but a financial question. The whole land revenue for 1874 was £1,051,000 ; of which Otago contributed £278,000, and Canterbury £593,000, leaving as. the contribution of the rest of the colony £168,000. Even little Southland gave £116,000 last year, or within £50,000 of what was contributed by the whole colony outside of Otago and Canterbury, What became of the money? The projects brought forward by the provinces were quite monstrous ; they necessitated a check such as was proposed by abolition. As to the land fund, the magnitude of the figures threateneddanger to the fund. The proposal made was to put all into the colonial revenue ; but Otago and Canterbury did not want any change, and the latter, of course, will fight against any such proposal. A threat had been made to hurst up the compact of 1856. Sir George Grey was of that opinion. Mr. Vogel gave a distinct pledge that the compact should be held sacred, and Mr. Vogel was to be depended upon. He '(Sir F. D. Dell) would pledge h’3 word for him. The Bill to abolish the provinces would contain the ratification of an arrangement securing the land fund of Otago and Canterbury, Unless Mr. Vogel’s position was altogether changed, the land fund would be held sacred. The subsidies called for by the provinces were causing the real difficulties. Some subsidies could not be refused. The greatest difficulties came from Auckland, which stood next to Otago in its contributions to the Consolidated Revenue. They could not say to Auckland that its necessities should not be met. They must provide for her in some shape. They were willing to give the money, but would not give it to be scrambled for by provincial councils. Their first duty was to see to the safety of colonial finance. [jThey had come to an end, and could not go on borrowing more. According to Sir Donald McLean’s figures the total public debt to 30th Juno last ' was £12,500,000 in the two islands. Under the public works scheme £3,750,000 had been spent or contracted for. It was well that Mr. Vogel.went Home, and through the Rothschilds arranged the loan. £19,300,000 would be the total debt. The bucket was about full, and they could not go any more into the money market, and must not spend any more. He (Sir F. D. Bell) tried to restrain the expenditure, and it would not do to hurry public works. By hurrying them, they could not have the work properly supervised. The colony was fortunate in having the Hon. Mr. Richardson’s services, but they must not hurry him. Another evil was, that the money might be all spent, and the immigrants not settled. They must take time to settle. But ho was no alarmist. The expenditure would be reproductive. They had only to look to Victoria and New South Wales, where the railway system was prospering. The saving in New South Wales was estimated at £200,000 per annum. Our railways were costiug less than the Victorian ones did. He took a very cheering view of the future of railways in New Zealand. They must have an economical substitute for the Provincial Governments. Mr. Vogel’s first proposal was simply to abolish the provinces in the North Island ; but he (Mr. Vogel) .hinted that the change might extend beyond the North Island. Mr. Stafford said plainly he did not believe the proposal was final, and that it would not be confined to the North Island. Mr. Stafford always was against the provinces. He (the speaker) thought it impossible to abolish the provinces iu the North and not in the South. What Mr. Vogel means to do—what will certainly be done, whether we like it or no, —is to abolish the provinces North and South. If a new theory of constitution was to he set up instead of provincialism, he (Sir F. D. Bell)"

would have nothing to do with it. Barring Messrs. Macandrew and Rolleston, there were not six men in the House who would set up. a different political system from that we have already. General legislation had been so taken up by the Colonial Government that Provincial Councils were municipal only. The whole feeling of the House was represented by Mr. Reader Wood, who said, “ Nobody wants to put anything in the place of the Provincial Councils.” Mr. Vogel said there would be no new style of Government. Mr. Vogel would only supplement the organisation at present existing, and would be glad if the Provincial Governments themselves performed the “Happy Despatch,” instead of waiting to be abolished. What would happen if Otago were abolished ? Take the test of money. Last quarter’s provincial revenue was £151,312 ; or real revenue £113,000. What would have become of the money if there had been no Provincial Government ? Under the new scheme everything would have gone to the road boards.' What would have been the difference? Only £2OO would have been left to be expended by the General (government. Under Mr. Vogel’s plan there would be one treasury, but the money would find its way in a right direction. Road boards would be properly organised, and quite able to perform all their duties. The' Timaru and Gladstone Board of Works undertook large operations, and in aid of the work a well organised system of road boards was established. In Victoria the railways only were excluded from their jurisdiction. The Canadian Dominion was about to abolish provincial institutions,and the .English Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed to organise local authorities, to give them large powers and large means, just as New Zealand was going to do. The essence of self-government was to give the people the real management of their own affairs, and means of doing it. It did not want revolution and violence. Powers should be distinctly defined, and the revenues secured to local bodies. The work of change in that matter will not be done sharply. It will be begun, but not completed next session. There must come first a revision of the system uf representation. They must revise and extend the electoral districts. The Thames miners and others must be represented. The colonists, if united, will complete the work that has been begun ; and when the day of cohiplefcion comes, the country will be found rich and prosperous, and the abode of a happy and contented people. Several questions having been put and answered, a vote of thanks and unabated confidence in Sir Francis Dillon Bell was passed unanimously.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18750414.2.12

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4389, 14 April 1875, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,816

SIR FRANCIS DILLON BELL AT INVERCARGILL. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4389, 14 April 1875, Page 2

SIR FRANCIS DILLON BELL AT INVERCARGILL. New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4389, 14 April 1875, Page 2

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