CAPTAIN RUSSELL AT PATEA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2375, 7 September 1899, Page 10

CAPTAIN RUSSELL AT PATEA.

(From Otto Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 29. Captain Russell addressed a public meeting at Patea on Monday evening. The hall was densely packed, and the audience was most attentive and enthusiastic. Captain Russell explained that though the Opposition months before the election could not set out in detail the whole of. the policy which they would desire to give effect to when opportunity offered and a Cabinet was formed, he might say that he desired to see appointments to the civil service made in a mannei quite different to that now prevailing, so as to ensure that employment and promotion should depend on efiicency, and not on Ministerial patronage; that instead of tho power of expenditure of the public works fund being left absolutely io ihe discretion of the Minister, the local bodies should be employed to' supervise the administration of the funds in their own districts to ensure the best results/and avoid the political bribery now going on. He recommended care in borrowing, but a reasonable prosecution of arterial railways, the money for fauch purpose being" vested in«aome body to prevent its misapplication "under" political piessure. Captain RusßeU 6poke at length on the settlement of the land, and by figures proved that land settlement had been more succensful and more extensive under the Atkinson Government than under the present Administration. He alluded to the intention of Ministers to introduce a Fair Rent; Bill whenever opportunity offered, and thereby cancel the Jease in perpetuity, and stigmatised such a proceeding as a confiscation of the pioneer and other settlers' improvements. He urged a definite sum being fixed as the capital of the Land for Settlements Board, and- allowing all Crown tenants to convert their leasehold into a freehold whenever they were able to do so, the money so paid being repaid to the Land for Settlements Board to ■purchase other land for struggling settlers. The Legislative Council was also reviewed as at present constituted, and Captain Russell urged that the power of making an unlimited number of Councillors for limited periods was destructive of the independence of Parliament, and was creating an uncontrolled power in the Premier' and destroying the power of Parliament. A reform of the method of appointments to the Council was essential. He pointed out that the increase of the debt last year was nearly £2,000,000, while the addition to the number of miles of railway open was most limited. The alleged prosperity of the colony was due to inordinate borrowing, and nothing but puro administration could restore the country to -true prosperity. Captain Russell received a^unariittious vole of thanks. The speech undoubtedly created a very good impression.