MR. C. C. BOWEN AT KAIAPOI.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5666, 28 May 1879, Page 2

MR. C. C. BOWEN AT KAIAPOI.

(per press aobn'ct.) Christchurch, Tuesday. Mr. C. O. Bowen, member for the Kaiapoi district, addressed his constituents in the Odd Fellows’ Hall, Kaiapoi, this evening. There was a large attendance. The Mayor, Mr. G. H. Blackwell, occupied the chair. ,t, Mr. Bowen said that last year he was one of the first members to speak, but this year, on returning from the Assembly, it being harvest time, he had deferred his address to the present. In a conversational way he intended to state why he was in the Opposition, and intended to continue so, towards the present Government. He appealed to the audience to put out of their mind the ideas of parties , in Government formed through historical association. The party now in power arrogated to itself the name . of Liberalism —how far it was liberal - he would leave them to judge. If it was liberal to treat the laws passed by Parliament in any other than the way intended after the session was oyer ; it if was liberal to spend public money without the consent of Parliament; if it was liberal to favor a portion of the Press ; if it was liberal to stuff electoral rolls and manuipulate the electoral roll to the advantage of the Ministry, then all he could say he was done with Liberalism. (Cheers.) The present Government was in power without the consent of the Parliament, they having obtained their seats against its wish. With reference to a previous speaker who had addressed his constituents, he thought when Mr. Montgomery could determine what side in the House he would" support then he might be competent to lecture .the members; (Laughter.) With regard to the .- questions brought up by the Government last session, the Executive promised electoral reform, financial reform, a public works policy, and a native policy; in which latter the country was assured that peaceful relations had been established with the natives. (Laughter.) . In reference’ to the question of electoral reform," he regretted there was no provision for the representation of minorities, so that they should not be tyranised over by temporary majorities. Mr. Whittaker’s Bill was an infinitely more statesmanlike measure, in making provision, for electoral reform than that proposed by the Government. He favored the trial of a similar system to that proposed by Air. Hare. An electoral law might have been passed last session had the Government not desired to insert in the Bill, a provision to give double voting powpr, tp the Maoris of the North Island, which even their own supporters resisted, and he himself could not see in such a measure any liberal principles. (Hear( hear.) "" He should advocate a redistribution of seats, and an opportunity being given to minorities to have representation. Speaking of financial reform, he submitted that the changes in the form of raising taxes ought to be brought about on a well considered basis. The members were told that the Government intended to stand on the Land Tax Bill, Beer Bill, Companies - Tax, and changes in the tariff, bat when the- test came they did not stand, but gave up all but the Land Tax Bill Iguominiously. ’ The Beer Tax Bill, which the present" Government found in the pigeon holes of the late Minister, was the American measure which required to be:modified for the colony. The Companies Tax was a most unfair one, as it was in the particular instances of the lines of steamers. It was handicapping a few like, McMeckan’s against the New Zealand Shipping Company,".' In respect to the land tax, it was unfair that land should

be taxed and other property free. Those who had the curious land tax papers failed to understand them, nor could the collectors,, and when they came into courts of law the lawyers would not kno w in reference to what theimprovements were, which were to.bo exempted. Who uudeistood what the unearnedincrementmeant? It was possible under the Act to charge the same laud tax for a small plot upon which a barber’s shop stood that brought in a few shillings a week as it was for a large hotel on a section of equal size, which paid tho same tax, while its income came iu at the rate of thousands per month. If this was a tax to reach the rich, then all he could say was that he gave it up. It was fatal to play fantastic games with taxation, which would result iu doing injustice to the public by such efforts at favoritism. (Cheers.) The only result of the laud tax was the hopeless position that Government was in. It was unable to collect the tax. This year he was sure there would be a large deficit, and a big loan wonld be required. When tho Assembly met, when the loan of £4,000,000 was asked for and reduced to two and a half millions, ho was pleased that tho larger sum had not been agreed to, because the colony could not have shown tho security required to raise it. The Government say they have plenty of money, and had not found it necessary to issue more than one deficiency bill. Now there was a way of putting a thing not strictly true, so that it might appear to be true : ho ventured to say that the Government had exhausted every balance in hand. He referred to the unauthorised railway at the Thames, which, on the part of Sir George Grey, was a scandalous breach of constitutional practice, and he should be surprised if tho House as tamely submitted to this ns it did in the case of the Tapanui job iu which Mr. Macandrew was interested. Coming to native affairs, the first sentence in the speech of last session, that “ at last peaceful relations had been established with the natives,” had a most surprising contradiction in telegrams of that day, and tho position of the Ministny-in Ihp arraugements at Orakei, the Native Minister snubbed on the West Coast, and tho promises of Sir George Grey at Hikurangi, when read with that day’s telegrams. Private letters from the North revealed a bad state of affairs very different to the position of affairs which was being brought about under, Sir Pouald McLean’s policy. In public works, they ought to depend for the success on tho wisdom and self-control of the country, and ho wished to see the main trunk railways completely made by the Government; the branches being made under the District Railway Act. With respect to what florae were pleased to. call his “fad” of gaols or hospitals, .it was discreditable that there' was no classification, in tho former aud proper inspection of the latter. The present Government had opposed tho importation of an inspector who was now bringing to light the way in which these institutions were managed. Mr. Bowen con-, tinned, relative to education, the. present Bill was a compromise, and it was his wish to make it a means of promoting the elementary education of the children in the colony, and if it was not perfect they must try and make it, and after a fair trial make amendments in it. With regard to religious teaohiug, he kuevv. of schools, where such teaching was carried, out, and it was quite within the Act to allow such teaching. He did not object to it, but he would certainly resist, the attempt to bring about a denominational system. In conclusion, 'he trusted in reference' to native affairs the country would rather press the adoption of Sir D. McLean’s policy to the benefit of tho friendly natives, and as doing away with meddlesome interference amongst the King natives. (Cheers.) In reply to a local question put by Mr. Allen he said the fact that no answer had been given in reference to the protective works of Kaiapoi was ovvirig( probably, to the constant absence of Government and consequent neglect of the.business of the country.—-In answer to Mr. Woodford, Mr. Bowen said the fact that the endowment to the Waimakariri Harbor Board had not been made was due to the field of Harbor Bills last session. He was an earnest advocate for the opening of every harbor which would afford every means of communication for the facilities of carriage and trade in the colony. (Cheers.) —The following motion was proposed by Mr. Eller, seconded by Mr. Woodford, and carried unanimously with cheering : —“That this meeting record a vote of thanks to Mr. Bowen for his speech, an'd desires to express the renewed confidence of the electors of Kaiapoi iii him as their representative.”