MR MASSEY'S VIEWS

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12971, 26 November 1907, Page 7

MR MASSEY'S VIEWS

CANDID CRITICISM. (sriCIAI, TO "TK_ MUSS.") WELLINGTON*, November 25. "Tbo session has been very long and very weariaomo," said Mr Maafcey to your representative before leaving for tho north, "but a lot of very important legislation has been placed upon the Statute Book, though whether J much of it will be for tho benefit of! the oolony remains to bo seen. My own opinion is that there is a great deal of it the country would bo hotter without. "The Classification and Superannuation Bills 1 approve of; so with the Stock Act Amendment Bill and the Bill reducing tho rato of interest to local bodies, and some others of more or less importance. But there aro many provision- in tho Land Bill* and the Taxing Bill of a retrogressive character ; I believo will discourage and hinder closer settlement. That the Acts referred to are not nearly bo objoctionablo as tho Billa when introduced or a. the notorious Land Bill of last year, I willingly admit} but wo must recall that by tho Endowment Bill freehold teliuro is made impossible over an area of somewhere between 7,000,000 and 9,000,000 acres of Crown lands, tliat v 3_ years' renewable lease takes tho place of the lease in perpetuity on lauds to bo sottled under tbe Land for Settlements Act, that the option of freehold has been extended to settlers holding Crown land under leaso iv perpetuity on terms which in many cases aro unjust and in others impossible, that tho option of the ireohofd has been refused ""Altogether to settlers holding land under tbo Land for Settlements Act, and that a cunning device has been provided lor by legislation to compel many luiid-owncra to either incrense their own taxes or run the risk of having their land taken by tho Government below its real value. These ore matters for very serious consideration, and they show very clearly that tho sympathy of the present Administration ia not with the people on tho land, but very much the reverse. "I noticed through tho session more than ever before a sort of chiving to interfere by legislation with everybody and everything, .whether such interference was desirable or not, a craving for n hngo Statute Book, almost a mania for law-making on tho part of Ministers, ftn< J, i n consequenoo the ses-. sion has been, aa I think, unnecessarily and needlessly prolonged." "No, I do not think tlie Native Land «iv isi any improvement on provioue iegislation," said Mr Massoy. "It still treats tho natives as if they wero children . It propoaes to hand over thoir surplus lands to irresponsible* boards, who aro expected to administer them without- any necessity to consider tlie wishes of tho natives themselves. It seems to mo that the first factor for auocoss in connection with native matters i» to individualise the titles wherever possible, and by so doing give nntives a feeling of responsibility. But there is _b*olut€_y nothing in the Bill of the present session to encourage selfreliance or the other qualities which niako for good citizonship." * « . f^ Uont mention in the House of Socialism was recailed. Mr Mnasey said, "Yes, there is undoubtedly in parliament at the present time a section of "'embers who desire that legislation should proceed on Socialistic lines, ■Tooking forward to tho nationalisation of land and to nationaJisatiom of industry. They are not very numerous, but they have undoubtedly influenced tho proposals of the Government, and tboy havo been- moro outspoken and perswrteM in their demands than in any previous session of my experience, Whether this particular section will be strengthened at the next ejection, it is im/possible to say: but lam inclined to thiftk the indications point in that direction." Replying to a further question, Mr Maasey Raid :|'l think tho mannor in which tho business of the scsaion lina been conducted highly objectionable in this way—during the first weeks of the /session very little business of any importance was brought forward by th: Government; the House was practical!*" encouraged to wasto time. The rcsull has been that during the last SB-nth Parliament has been driven nt high presetnre, and measures have been rusn* ed through without l>cing properly Coinsidered, and, I h'uvo no doubt, hate reached tlie Statute Book in a form which will give lota of work to tlio lawyere, ana cause any amount of trouble later on, when the Acta of the present session are tested in tho law -courts. ..■■■'■ "Asi Leader of ilie Opposition, I think," said Mr Massoy, in conclusion, "it ia only right that I should acknowledge tho esprit do corps and loyalty of the Opposition members throughout tho king sesaion. There ha« notj been a single note of discord, and though it is; sometime- invidious to mention natnes of individuals, I am sure member* of tbo perty will be pleased rather than otherwise if I oxprei-w appreciation of bhe bard' work which has been done by, and the support which I have reooived from, mv lieutenants, Measm James Allen and Herries. That the Opposition has very considerably influenced the legislation of tho session - will, I think, be genorafly adnrittedj and I can only regret that when divisions took place we were wot able to ©bow a larger number of voters."