THE SEDDON ADMINISTRATION.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 12171, 17 April 1905, Page 2

THE SEDDON ADMINISTRATION.

m ATTACKED BY MB H. D. BEDFORD, M.H.R.

WHY IT SHOULD BE ENDED.

(WJ-CIAL TO "THE -.-MS.") DUNEDIN, April 14. Mr H. D. Bedford, the senior member for the city, Tr » s announced to give four reasons why the Seddon administration should be ended, addressed a large body of electors at the Garrison Hall to-night. The Mayor (Mr Christie) presided. Mr Bedford opened by saying the man who desires sound finance cannot support the present Government; the man who desires clean and efficient administration cannot support the Government ; the man who desires to see Parliamentary proceedings carried on on business methods cannot support tho Government; the man who desires to see progressive legislation on the lines ot principle cannot support the Government. He acknowledged with thankfulness that our credit-stood higher in the Home market than the credit of any other Australasian colony, but it was not a difficult matter to declare a surplus. If they swelled the credit side unduly and artificially, and reduced the expenditure unduly and artificially, they would not have much difficulty in finding a balance to credit. The Government employed methods of that kind in making its surplus. Was it a business method, he asked, to sell one's assets, the Crown estate, and count the proceeds as annual revenue? The proper thing to do with the proceeds from the sale of Crown lands was.' to put them into one special fund, and use that fund for buying large estates to be cut up. The Government wero unduly swelling the Consolidated Fund by items which had no right to belong to that fund, and unduly keeping out of the expenditure side of our accounts items that should be there. That being so, it was not difficult to declare a large surplus. He (Mr Bedford) could give them a million surplus in that way. The Government supporters and the Government Press did not dispute his second point with regard to clean administration. ' The country was tired of seeing the men who served Mr Seddon's party, irrespective of qualifications, exalted to the Upper House. If the Upper House was to continue they wanted men of ability and with qualifications as legislators. Amidst laughter Mr Bedford said that he had had a dream which depicted Mr Seddon as just the man required for the Czar's position. He honestly believed tho Government used its Public Works Fund as a means of holding the support of the constituencies, for too much money was being spent on ornamental buildings instead of spending it on railways. He condemned the Government's midnight legislation, and declared that with Mr Seddon party was first and principle second. The party was the first principle, and the policy was the second. He was convinced the time would come when they would modify their system of party government. He would have no hesitation in going into tho lobby with Mr Massey on tho Government's administration offinance. Ho believedi Mr Massey was a straight, upright man, and would help him to get the reins of office to clean up—a work that would take a new Ministry about three yearsto accomplish. Nothing could be better for Liberalism in fliis country than to be in opposition for a while. It would get purified and rejuvenated. The party that were going to control the Liberal forces of this colony in the near future was the left wing. He honestly believed a young New Zealand party, with a true Liberal* policy and sound administration, would, before very long, get hold of the reins of office.