A RETROSPECT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 53, 26 November 1907, Page 5

A RETROSPECT.

MR. MASSEY ON THE PAST.SESSION CANDID CRITICISM. " Tho session lias been very long and verj wearisome," said Mr. Massey to a Dominion representative before leaving for the North. "But a Jot of very important legislation has been placed upon the .Statute Book—though whether much of it will bo for tho benefit of tho Dominion remains to be seen. Aly own opinion is that there is a great deal of it tho country would be better without. Tho Classification and Superannuation Bills 1 ap prove of; so with tho Stock Act Amendment Bill, and tho Bill reducing tho rate of interest to local bodies and some others of moro or less importance; but there are many provisions-in the Land Bills and tho Taxing Bill of a retrogressive character, and which I bolievo, will discourage and hinder closer scttlomcnt. SOMETHING TO REMEMBER. ; " That tho Acts referred to are not nearly so objectionable as tho Bills when introduced, or as the notorious Land Bill of last year, l willingly admit. But wo must remember that by tho Endowment Bill freehold tenure is.made impossible .on. an area of somowhera between;: 7,000,000 and 9,000,000 acrcs of Crown land, that.a thirty-three years' renew. i able leaso takes tho placo of tho lease-in-perpetuity on lands to tho settlers under the Lands for Settlement Act, that the option tf freehold has been extended to settlers holding Ctown land under l.i.p. on terms which in many cases are unjust and in others impossiblo, that tho option of freehold has bee.'i nefused altogether to settlers holding land under tho. Lands for Settlement Act, anj that a cunning dovico has been provided for by legislation to compel 'many land-owners to either increase their own taxes or run the risk of having their land taken by the Govornment below its real valuo. These are matters for very serious consideration, anl show very clearly that the sympathy of thfi present Administration is not with the: people on the land, but very much the reverse. LEGISLATIVE INTERFERENCE. " I noticed through tho session, more than ever before, a sort of craving to interfere by legislation with everybody and everything, whother such interference was desirable or not—a craving for a huge Statute Book, almost'a mania for law-making on the part of Ministers, and in consequence the session bus been; ns't think, unnecessarily and needlessly prolonged. NATIVE LAND BILL. " No, I do not think the Native Land Bill is any improvement or previous legis- ■ lation," said Mr. Massey. "It still treats the Natives as if they were children. It proposes to hand over their surplus lands to - - irresponsible Boards, who aro expected to administer them- without any necessity of considering the wishes of the Natives them- y selves., It seems to mo that'the first factor', for success in connection with Native matters is to individualise ■ the titles wherever possible, and by so doing give Natives a feeling of responsibility; but there is'abso- i lutoly nothing in the Bill of the present session 'to .cnccurage self-reliance or the other qualities which make for good citizenship." ', SOCIALISM." ' Tho frequent mention in the" House of Socialism was recalled. Sir. Massey said yes, there was undoubtedly in Parliament at the. present time a section of members, who , desired that ■ legislation should proceed on Socialistic lines—a' looking forward to the nationalisation of land and to nationalisation of industry. "They are not very numerous, but they have undoubtedly influenced tho ' proposals of the Government," said Mr. Massey, "and they have been more outspoken and persistent in their demands than • ' in any previous session of my experience. : Whether this particular section will bo strengthened at the next election it is impossible to say, but I am inclined to think. , tho indications point- in that direction." HIGHLY OBJECTIONABLE. Replying to a further question Mr. Massey said: "I: think the manner, in which the " business of the session has been conducted highly objectionable in this way: During the first weeks of the session very little business of any importance was brought forward by the Government;.the IJoiisc was practically encouraged. to„waste. time. The. result has . been that'during tlie last month, Parliament has been driven at high pressure, and measures have been rushed through without being properly considered, and I have no doubt- have reached the Statute Book in a form which : will' give lots of work to the lawyers and causc any amount of trouble Inter on when the acts of the present session are tested in the Law Courts. THE OPPOSITION. "'As Leader of the Opposition I think it".is only right that I should acknowledge the. esprit do corps and loyalty of tho Opposition' members throughout the long session. There lias not been a single note of discord, and though it is sometimes invidious to mentions names of individuals I. am suro members of the party will be pleased rather than otherwise if I .express appreciation of the ' hard work which has been done, and the support which 1 have received from my lieutenants Messrs. James Allen and Herries. That the Opposition has very considerably influenced the legislation of the scansion, will, I think, bo generally admitted,; :'. , and I can only regret that when divisions took placo wo were not able to show a larger Inumbcr of voters." -