PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

Bruce Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 41, 26 May 1910, Page 5

PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS.

THIS MEMBER FOR BRUCIS Points from the Speech.

Misrepresentation by usl ('ho Opposition). What has ho (tho Primo Minister) shown to havo come trom our lips ? Wc said extravagance was going ou. Tho Prime Ministor admits it and cuts down the expenditure b> a quarter of a million, and says tho efficiency of tho service has not been impaired. Extravagauoo ro borrowed money. Tho things I have told you before which should not ho charged to loans, but to tho consolidated rovonuo havo been altorod. Misrepresentation. Tho Prime Minister can find that in his own spoech. In order to make his accounts look bottor ho has compared thorn—not with tho actual figures ot tho yoar before—but with his oatimato of them. Is that not rnisrop resentation ? Carping Criticism—We will continuo to criticise and raiso our voices against tho taking away of Parliamentary control over expenditure. Tho committal of the country to the cost of a Dreadnought, and tho Midland Railway contract without tho voice of Parliament being heard were only two things which showed n tendency to whittlo away tho powers of Parliament. Yes, wo havo criticised the superannuation sohemos. Why? bccauso thoy wero not started on a sound financial basis. Wo said the schomes wero not actuarially sound. The Primo Ministor said " Tune would toll." Time has told already, and now you havo to submit to extra taxation to make up the dc> ficiencios which havo bocomo appiront. I believe in superannuation schemes, i have supported them, but 1 insisted that they should bo started on a proper basis and that tho pooplo for wliom they wore intended should not bo deceived.

Take Sinking Fuuds. I havo urgod their establishment. They help to keep our credit good. Tho Prime Minister htis. adopted my idea. No one understands tho Prime Minister's Land Bill. Ho doesn't understand u himselfWo want numerous frcoholdors settled throughout tho country. " Whining over loans to local bodies." That is a charge against us. Wo did our host to protect tho local bodies for having tho great privelege of borrowing at por cent, and wiping tho Joan ci'f in 41 yoars. Tho new Act certainly provides for more money, but at a higher rato of hneresf, and ihe lorm of repayment reduced to oG years. This will suit tho largo Councils, but not the small onos. As between the parUes in tho State no body or organisation should bo punished for us political opinion Wo havo helped tho Government ro puss Acts for tho benefit) of the inhabitants oi tbo Stato. Take Old Ago Pen sions. Wo urged that nll'.nvanco should bo made for tho aged wuo bad n. home built with their own savings. That has now beon conceded. Mr Masaey was the real author of the Workers Homes scheme. Mr Malcolm, member for Clulhn, was ho father of tho Land Sottloment Finance Bill. Does tho Government give him any credit for it though they borrowed the idea from him ?

Wo havo been attacked, but wo can reply. Now as to helping tho tlovornmont to to pass their Acts. Will tho Primo Minister givo credit to tho member for Druco fur tho support ho gavo tho Defence Bill V With tho principlo ol the Hill I was in .thorough accord, but with some of the details 1 way not. I cave not whether I got credit or not. I do what I conceive to bo my duty to tho Country. It may bo unpopular, I am glad to see tho question of Defence is not unpopular bore. I will buppor'- the Prime Minister to got his amended Defence bill through. It will coat us a lot ol money and self sacrilico. lJut it is worth it.—(Applause). You will get into trouble if you adopt a ballot system as to who is to serve and Who is not.

Make tho exemptions wider is a hotter remedy. Tho service will not interfere with industry, My reading ol experiences in other countries shows that service will not imerforo with industry to any appreciable oxtont, It will be an integral part of tho National Education, and bring all the people together .in a common cause. Thero will be no insuporabie difficulties to employers or employed. I am in hearty accord with the Primo Minister in rawing the ago to '25 yours. Sea supremacy is first consideration, our locvl defence the second. I am not altogether in nccord with tho Naval Dofonco Act, I doiib:. if the cost will be in tho best intorest of our national life.

It would have been better to have put. our two millions into submarines and provide for lhe defence of our own harbours, The .land defeneo should conic first with us, then harbour defence and then defence of sea routes adpeoot. Our solf respect would have been bettor satisliod if this had been done ins'ead of an■ Indomitable in the China seas, .During the live years of tho Ward administration tho growth of expenditure over rovenue had been ,£215,000. Our taxation has increased in the anino time £1 15a 7d per hoad of tho population, and thero was a proposal to add to that. The Primo Minister says wo are hotter oil and can pay. Our land values have boon increased—but how, largely through Government valuations. Can you take more out cf your land ih in you could formerly ? Tho returns huve not gone up but the taxation bas. In reducing taxation on

tlia food of t.h-3 people, tho had the support of the Opposition m no betfl. No duly should bo charged on a gift, of JGSOO given to a member of one's family to stmt him in life, but the law does so. The Primo Mi mat or shares remissions but ho does not show tlio iucroascH, it. is necssary to encourage a growth of national feeling in thia DnmLibn. The young should be etiCuuni;,' J ioleel it. more potently year by yo<u\ We are now out of swaddling ciotboa as a Dominion. ami wo want to bo in a position to prevent tho porpotufiiion in this land of any evils of tho old.—(A.p. plause), Now Z'-ialand must remain an iitegcal part of tho wo hi' 1 .: putting money into Empire concur/is, hue havo no Ray in its future. We must havo froodom for devolupmont and growth of a national life. Boom must be found for the expression of our national sentiment.

Tho days of dependence) arc over, and in schools thero should bo laugh'. tho necessity of having an ido>i, anil tho young give their besr, to thetn, study their gam? 3 and their physical tl'ivelnp-nont so ilvit their ideals will follow thorn into their business. Wo shou'd ondoavour to bui'd up a strong moral am! b"!id'an.] (Irs velop a nation of si long, king people, bu". with all not, :o fovgi we aro part of a great Empire.