THE SPEAKER AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Colonist, Volume XV, Issue 1522, 26 April 1872, Page 3

THE SPEAKER AND HIS CONSTITUENTS.

Mb. Dillon Bell addreßse-l t> crowded meeting of his constituents at Mataura on Monday evening last, and was favorably received. He began by justifying his acceptance of the office of Speaker. ile then suid that the main point to be discussed during the coming of the present session was the same as the last—whether the country could carry out the policy inaugurated by the Ministry, which must have the effect of inducing great prosperity, or plunging the Colony into absolute ruin. Many people had thought that tho loans would not be taken up by English capitalists, but he had never entertained any doubt on the subject. Next session a strong effort would be made to put a stop to the whole plan, on the ground of expense and future taxation; but no Government could now adopt a retrograde policy. Tho ordinary revenue of the Colony was sufficient to piy the interest on its debt, as well as the cost of administration; but if they wanted to develop the resources of the country by public works, it was necessary to borrow. He thought railways decidedly preferable to common roads. The geographical configuration of the conntry, and the distance between the settlements, render railways absolutely necessary. The revenue w»s very expensive to collect, owing to the number of ports, nnd formed the chief cause of the expense of the Government. The Provincial charges also formed a heavy administrative burden. Th« Colony was now drifting in the direction of abolishing the the farce of responsible Government :u Provincial Councils. The Californian sorvice, ns forming a social and commercial bond with the United States, he regarded as a great advantage As to immigration, he was not satisfied with the steps nlreadv taken. If a vigorous effort was made in th« agricultural counties of Britain and Ireland, lip had no doubt we could succeed in bringing out. a sufficient supply of laborei'3 and small capitalists. He was in favor of free selection of land over the whole Colony, as an attraction to settlers. A vote of confidence in Mr. Bell vias carried by a large majority.— Wellington Independent.