THE HON. MR. BOWEN’S SPEECH AT KAIAPOI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5237, 5 January 1878, Page 3

THE HON. MR. BOWEN’S SPEECH AT KAIAPOI.

(per press agency.) Christchurch, Friday. The Hon. C. C. Bowen addressed his constituents nt Kaiapoi last night, and was well received. Referring to the Public Works policy, he said since IS7O the public debt had been increased 1 by '£11,000,009, but had introduced 100,000 people, made about S6O miles of railway, 2300 miles roads, and 3260 miles of telegraph ; lighthouses had been erected, and they had obtained from the natives large tracts of land for settlement. When the General Government undertook public works, concurrent expenditure, in : the provinces should have been, stopped. The system; was ruinous, and necessitated the change which subsequently , took place. The statement prepared by’Major Atkinson showedthe total receipts - last year from ordinary; revenue, including the Band Fund, £3,939,000; ordinary expenditure, including interest on loan, £2,879,000, leaving a balance of £514,000; but in consequence of provincial liabilities and expenditure where there was no laud fund, £1,284,000 was expended. This, added to about £1,500,000 from the Public Works loan, made a total expenditure on works in one year of nearly £3,000,000. He proceeded to show how the late Treasurer provided for the, £770,000 required above last year’s revenue, and also for reducing expenditure to a very, great extent, with the view of preparing a policy for dealing with finance, taxation, and land fund, to be submitted with, the amended Representation Bill next session.: The late Government brought all their measures down early last session ; but they had to face a minority which, though unable to defeat the measures of the Government, were prepared to use every means to obstruct business. There was a disgraceful waste of time, and the style of debate adopted by some seemed to be inspired by the hope that if they went on talking the affairs, of the country would be left to the most shameless tongues and thickest skins.' The two most important Bills introduced were the Education Bill and the Land Bill, both of which were brought m by the late Government.- The former was-in-troduced early so as to let the whole'country discuss the question. It met with general approval, the great • object was to provide elementary teaching, irrespective of religious; opinions, and it was gratifying that after three: previous attempts, the duty of the, State had now been recognised. The work could not be undone,but defects could be remedied. From year to year it would be a subject for congratulation that education had been placed on a firmer basis than the Land Fund. If it were. dependent on the latter it might at any moment have been starved out; but Government must; now provide for it out of the Consolidated Revenue. The Land Bill was a consolidating Act which greatly facilitated fide settle-: ment. The Bill was so popular that the pre- 1 sent Government were compelled to carry it through the House. The subsequent endeavor of the' Premier to get the Governor to veto the; Bill showed that the present Government acted really under compulsion in taking the Bill up. The attempt to get it vetoed was a most, unconstitutional: proceeding. Ho referred to the crude Land Sales Bill iutro--"duced by the present Government, and condemned the principle of selling All lands by auction as playing into the hands of speculators. Referring to the Land Fund, he ■ said it had become evident that as the public .works opening up the country were paid for, out of loan, a new arrangement should be made whereby the Land , Fund should be, tp some extent chargeable for such works. The late Government were anxious in dealing with it that the interests and rights of the whole colony should 'be consulted. The Southern members of the Government stipulated that no radical change should be effected until the question had- been referred to the constituencies, ‘and it was agreed this year to take £58,000 out of . the Canter'bury Land Fund, £109,000 from the Otago fund on account of previous ‘ expenditure on ' works in those districts: This'would have enabled the'Treasurer to balance his accounts, and next year, together with an amended Representation Bill, the -Government would have submitted a policy on- all financial questions; in such a form that constituencies could express an opinion on it. Both North .'and South members of .the Government 'thought this far , more preferable- to a ,haphazard bid for popularity, such as has been lately made. The party which supported the late Government was also content to wait for a matured policy , till next session. Hence the defeat of Mr. Reader Wood’s motion for the seizure of the Land Fund. When, however, the Government were beaten,’ everybody was free to act as ho liked, and the defenders of the land fund were in a minority. The question of taxation should also go, to the constituencies, and must, not-be dealt with as a class cry. Although Mr. .Bright talked in England about a free breakfast table, it does not follow that a parliamentary cry to the same effect would be appreciated here. The question was; will the people here rather pay an increased percentage on land and other property than a slight increase in the duty on tea and sugar, &c. Half the Customs’ duties are on spirits, tobacco, and other luxuries, and it cannot be said that the Customs duties are bearing unfairly on any section of: 'the community. He advocated the revision of ad valorem duties ' now that the Land Fund had been made general revenue, and - considering the increasing income from ‘ railways, the Government should as far as possible leave direct taxation for local purposes. To take the land revenue, and at the same time deprive the people of the resources of direct taxation to keep up roads, &c., would be very hard. To impose direct taxation for General Government purposes would be to cripple people of local rating. If, however, any further taxation were roally required to pay debts and interest on loans, it should he on property, not on articles of consumption. He referred to the attempt of the late Government to save £30,000 on the Constabulary by making the

-oivU-police a-reserve in-case of rising in-the. North. This was a falsely-called militarising police, and a large economy was carped at. The whole expenditure was: sanctioned, but £IOO,OOO, for which no provision was made at the end of the session; This made the scramble worse than ever. Canterbury made a great mistake by not adopting the Counties Act. The counties with extended power would be admirable for good self-government. The native policy of Sir Donald McLean was fully justified by those who most bitterly opposed him when they came to' have the responsibility of action. Mr. Sheehan was able enough to understand the necessities of the position and the advantages of this policy ; but the great danger lay in too lavish promises to the natives. It was said the Government had promised to restore confiscated lands. No Government dare do this. The danger was in leading the natives to expect too much ; and ho was afraid there was trouble brewing up North, though he did not believe they Would have another native wa>-. The native question should not be made a party question, aud this was the reason why the late Government did not make the Native Land Bill a question to go out on. The native' question should be dealt with as foreign questions are at Home. He next referred to the tactics by which a change of Government was brought about, and the unconstitutional position ‘ of the Premier as representing a minority of the House. He also referred to the attitude of the Middle Party, aud said a man should be prepared to go into one lobby or the other. The position of the Premier, as representing a minority, rendered it necessary to challenge it at once ; but unlike the late Government, the present Government evaded the motion of want of confidence in every possible way. He described the frivolous grounds of Mr. Larnaeh’s want of confidence motion, and asked what is the policy of the present Government ? Is there any policy in which the several members of the Government are supposed to agree ? They accepted the policy of the late Government, aud were beaten whenever they attempted to act for themselves. They did not attempt to make their revenue aud expenditure balance. They asked: for a loan of four millions, but accepted one of two and a half, and the Premier talks of the wrongs of the people as if they were fools and paupers and were crying for patronage. The Premier had vaguely shadowed forth the future representation Bills, to include manhood; suffrage, triennial parliaments, and the payment of. members. He (Mr. Bowen) was opposed to manhood suffrage, though he wes prepared to give every bona fide settler or resident a vote. What was required was an alteration in the law of registration. He was. opposed to the payment of members, which would induce people to go to the Assembly merely for the sake of emolument. This plan had signally failed in the neighboring colonies. He would also oppose triennial! Parliaments. The only policy of the present Government appeared to be adherence to Sir G. Grey, whose ambition was personal government. He (Mr. Bowen) deeply regretted the attitude of the Premier towards the representative of her Majesty, and considered it a great public evil. After alluding to some local matters, Mr. Bowen concluded amidst loud applause. A vote of thanks was unanimously carried. .