Mr Bellringer at New Plymouth.

Opunake Times, Volume V, Issue 219, 9 October 1896, Page 2

Mr Bellringer at New Plymouth.

Mr C. E. Bellringer addressed • meeting at New Plymouth on Monday evening. He denied that he came out in the interests of any candidate but intended fighting to a finish. He was an Independent Liberal because he believed that the time had comt when members of Parliambnt should take a firm and an independent stand. He expressed admiration ofMrSeddon, but considered he had dominated Parliament too much. He disapproved of Party Government. He was in favor of an Elective Executive as under it men would not keep their toagues still on account of party ties, and it would be productive of purer legislation. He was also in favor of the Referendum. It was contended that the electors would not take sufficient interest in questions to vote intelligently, but he was of opinion that the people were educated enough to vote intelligently on any large public question. He was in favor of colouial prohibition, and that by a majority vote, and believed that this would never be rightly settled until by a majority once and for all. He was opposed to denominational education, and was against any interference with the present system, although in some minor points it might be improved. The present land system met with his approval, and the sentiment with regard to freehold would die out and people would come to recognise that the State should be the owner of the soil. He criticised the Government finance, with- which he did not agree in full, and thought the Government would be condemned when they came before the people for it. He was in favor of direct taxation, and if returned would do his best to introduce some system to that effect.- He thought the Government should take up the whole matter of dispensing charitable aid, and the funds should come ont o f the consolidated revenue. He favored the control of the railways being in the hands of the Government. He was of opinion the Government would have to establish an old age pension scheme, and agreed with the Government entering into fire insurance!