PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESSES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 11916, 10 June 1904, Page 5

PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESSES.

MR VLAC'HLAX AT ASHBURTON. Mr J, McLachlan, the member for Aehburton. addressed his constituents at the Oddfellows' Hall, Ashburton, on Wednesday evening. Tlie Mayor of Aehburton (Mr H. Davis) waa in the chair. . Tire attendance was gcod. j Mr McLachlan, in the coon* of a review of last session's work, said that the AusI tralian and New Zealand Naval Defer** Act enabled the Government to increase the naval subsidy to £40,000 per annum. Tho Bonk of New Zealand Guarantee Loan Act was one of the most important passed during the session, and was a corollary to the one p_secd in 1895. The Bank of New Zealand was now a paying concern, and its shares were valuable. The Governmept haa taken up £000,000 worth of capital in preferential shares, and the profit to be derived from tho shares would be considerable. Further, tho Government of the colony had a controlling power over the institution. The Counties Act Rating Act Amendment gave the counties increased rating power where such was required. As long as the ratepayers had confidence in tlteir councillors there was no reason to suppose that the provisions of the Act would be abused. Tlie Juvenile Smoking Suppression Act was introduced by w» inveterate smoker. Ho (the speaker) did not know whether the Act, had dor* any good, but he had never in Lis experience seen a boy smoking in Ashburton. (Laughter.) " He was uncertain whether much business would be done under the Mutual Fire Insurance Act. He considered there was a great deal of claptrap in the agitation that the national scholarships should be made available for children whose parents were worth more tlutn £260 per annum. Mr Seddon hod insisted on that maximum, and he supported him. He did not know whether Ashburton was "scaly" or not; if it was he would have an inspector under tne Orchard and Garden Pest Act sent to the town. The surplus patriotic funds -were to be distributed next January, but ho did not know how the money was going to bo applied. Mr Cliamberlain's tirade reciprocity proposals at Home resulted in Mr Seddon introducing and passing his Preferential Trade Act. He did not know whether tbe passing of that measure had stimulated trade in Great Britain, but it had certainly increased the colony's revenue. If the adoption of the Produce Export Act resulted in the produce of the colony acquiring a good name in foreign markets, then the cost of graders and officials would, in his opinion, be infinitesimal. He had opposed tho Scenery Preservation Act, because he held that the best scenery in tho colony was indestructible. He had sent in applications on behalf of different people for positions in connection with the State Fire Insurance Department, but had received no definite information as to when operations would commence. He believed, however, that the Department would do good work. He had before stated that he would oppose the subsidising of any foreign steamship company, for he was in favour of the Vancouver service in place of the San Francisco service. Sir Joseph Ward, however, had assured him that the 'Frisco ser-. vice was the best for the colony, and he had, therefore, not voted against it. Other measures mentioned by Mr McLachlan were the Animal Protection Act, the Agricultural and Pastoral Amendment Act. He claimed that both publicly and privately tho colony in the past had shown an unnecessary extravagance. Nearly £89,000 had been paid by the Government for the Royal visit, in addition, to what had been paid by private people; £16,000 had been voted towards a Queen's memorial in London, the city of millionaires and multimillionaires. Notwithstanding those extravagances, the colony had improved its position financially, and • with prudent economy would continue to improve. Last year the revenue had shown an increase of £634,776- over that of the previous year. He had had a long • experience in the laws relating to the land, and those who were agitating for a change in those laws were not friends of the Government. Mr Fowlds was a respectable, and intelligent man, but he had a fad, that of being a single-taxer. The poor man probably contributed to the revenue out of proportion to his earnings, yet tlie bulk of the revenue was derived from luxuries which the poor man did not require: Not a single penny of tax was paid, upon necessaries. (Applause.) To place all the taxation upon land would not be of advantage to Ashburton. He did not believe that from the twelve million acres of land, spoken of by the land reformers, any adequate rent conld be obtained, for, as it was, the Land Board and other corporations holding reserves could not find suitable tenants for them. He believed a larger vote should be passed for afforestation, for the end of the colony's timber supply was in measurable distance. He was in favour of continuing the present optional system of acquiring land. (Applause.) The Minister for Lands himself, speaking at Mosterton, said that he would not object if the freehold proposals were adopted the next day. He would not allow. a man to possess more' than the 640 acres of first-class freehold Crown lands fixed by the Land Act. An amendment to the Land Regulation Act, preventing a man from becoming registered' proprietor of more than 640 acres of land, would prevent the aggregation of large estates, in" case the freehold proposals were adopted. Most of the remaining Crown land was of an inferior description, and much of it was inaccessible. He strongly opposed any proposal' to subject the lands of Crown tenants, who held a 999 years' lease without re-valuation, to periodic re-valuations. If the proposal were adopted, the tenants would be subjected to a great deal of annoyance on the part of land officials, and would feel no (security of tenure. He held that the 999 years' lease was a sacred contract. He did not think the Crown tenants would be so anxious for the freehold, if they were required to pay the present Value of the land. Thousands of acres !of land in the North Island bad been offered for selection on the optional system, ! but had gone off very slowly and with I difficulty. If the re-valuation proposal ' was adopted, he predicted that there ' would be such a slump in land settlement as would cause a depression in the country. Sir Joseph Ward had visited Hanmer a short time ago, and had ' partaken of the hospitality of the Amuri wool kings. Upon his return he had stated jhis intention of adopting a proposal to construct a light line of railway from Culverden to Hanmer. He would certainly vote against such an extravagant project. ; The present coach service was adequate for ! ordinary purposes, and invalids could be carried in motor cars. The train journey from Christchurch to Culverden had been shortened at a cost of £10000 annually, but he considered that expenditure a, waste of money. The service was, in his opinion, perfectly satisfactory. He did not know whether a Licensing Bill would be introduced next session, but certain alterations in the.law were required* Technical irregularities should not invalidate a legitimate poll, and it was-a disgrace to New Zealand that the decision of the people at Newtown should be set aside on legal technicalities. An amendment of the law was required allowing the taking of a second, poll in such cases. (Applause.) In fair justice to the people of the colony some such amendment should be made, H» regretted that the Premier was at present suffering from indisposition, and hoped that be might be able to return to hi? duties before long, and lead, the House with the same brilliancy as in the past, 'In reply to questions, Mr McLachlan said that a 999 yean' leaseholder could dispose of the land by will, subject to the approval of the Land Board. The construction of the railway to the Mount Som:rs coal mine, could not be commenced until the necessary land" had been acquired ,by proclamation. . Mr R. Alcorn proposed a hearty Vote of j thanks to Mr McLachlan. The motion r was seconded by Mr Andrew Orr, and car* | ried' unanimously.••:. •'. :. , ,':_ -<'■;.