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

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5260, 1 February 1878, Page 7

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

(I’EK PRESS AGENCY.) Christchurch, January 4. The Hon. 0. C. Bowen addressed his constituents at Kaiapoi last night, and was well received. Referring to the Public Works policy, he said .since 1870 the public debt had been increased by £11,000,000, but had introduced 100,000 people, made about 860 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 tor 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 showed the total receipts last year from ordinary revenue, including the Laud Fund, £3,939,000; ordinary expenditure, including interest on loan, £2,879,000, leaving a balance of £014,000; but in consequence of provincial liabilities and expenditure where there was no laud fund, £1,284,0 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 bo 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 adop ed by some seemed to he 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 in by the late Government. The former was introduced 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,bnt defects could be remedied. From year to year it would be a subject for congratulation that .education bad 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 bona fide settlement. The Bill was so popular that the preseut Government were compelled to carry it through the House. The-subsequeut endeavor of the Premier to get theOpveruor to veto the Bdl 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. referred to the crude" Land . Sales Bill introduced by the present Government, and condemned the pri ciple of selling all lauds by aufition as playing into the hands of speculators. Referring to the Laud P nnd, 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 Laud Fund should be to some extent’chargeable for such works. I he 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 Govt rnment 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 Canterbury 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. Eeader Wood’s motion for the seizure, of the Land Fund. When, however, the Government were beaten, everybody was free to act. as he liked, and the defenders of the land fund were in a minority. The question qf 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 he 1 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 lo’cal 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 really required to pay debts and interest on loans, it should be 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 oivil police a reserve in ease 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 he was afraid there was trouble brewing up North, though he did not believe they would have another native war. The native question should not be made a party question, and this was the reason way 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, and 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. Larnach’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 1 They accepted the policy of the late Government, and were beaten whenever they attempted to act for themselves. They did not attempt to make their revenue and 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 tools and paupers nnd 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 wrs prepared to give every bona fide settler or resident a vote. What was required was an alteration in the law of registration. He eyas 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 neighboringcolonies. 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.