MR. MASSEY'S SPEECH

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 137, 4 March 1908, Page 9

MR. MASSEY'S SPEECH

THE LAND QUESTION. , , 3HAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY? - '-'V :, '■■ -Jr V-;" i-i'-' '• v!/ i:- ■;-X !/'' V SOCIALISTIC LEGISLATION. L- ■ - ■ , . THE PROPOSED COALITION. In tho opurso of his speech at: Hamilton on Monday-riight' (a portion,of which appeared in yesterday's issue) Mr. ■- W. F. Massey, Leader of the . Opposition,.-, stated?that tho • Government said tho 1907 Bill was not for ■) tho purposo of nationalising land. , It would not dream of such. a endow-; ments wero for tho purposo , of-education, '.'■■.■• :; '-' i ''ond--piiage-;i^nsi6n;s.--i ,^-Educatipn'!iiow;.''(»st .' £900,000 and,pld-a'go between--000. an^.'£4op I pAQ,^'' t Thp;;'wH6i©, i r6ypnub^f r qm' tho lands, sot vasido by, tho .Bill..was, oven, if they wore all i taken .up'to-morrow, only . £49,000- That revenue - would:-increase," it .' might'ijo. saidf;'bub'it i: could not-increaso for; 66 years,, and (i; lot of the;lan.Bs •bo taken up; on jlease-from now to the day of '• judgment,.-!; /(Applause:). >, -Who could,, toll , .what ■ would bo - the cost.. of. education or .old-age pensionsun. 66-years?,-..-It was quito <•}.! certain that : thevpropoftiriii of "differenco'be--'-i tw<»W,,tbal^ssi-*a^ lands,iWOuld bo far; greator.even.-than .it was. ■ now/ It-was absoluto nonsense..to: set. asido • second and ; third -.-class*wlands-.vfor,endow-ments, and the knew that tho •v-'-!'.'.eniio^enis'''\«eile^-Ap^.'^'pretest. ; vtOf.na- ( ,• : much'-land :as>could be>got. hold Vaf under that excuse! (Applause.) -When. . tho ' schedule'- of 1 -the; Endowments Bill. was <•_'neforo.'..the'-'.House.vii"umlje]rs' ! : . / .posod - that.- jshpuld i ;ed; andfwheu:-it f cauio,-,to..Nclson; tho mem-: ber for' that-distriot, >who -had- voted • against . ..:' ;jxompliipn : eleiferate;. an 4 his electorator.exempted.-,;.' He >Vffs,,rpady-i to .fihed 'his'' l ;brothors"blood, - butt'-not- his- own;; ' Quito a- changoVoamov'.over-''tho'-scerie 1 last session. . Tho previous J yea r njembers had been ' show ' thcir 'indepondcnce, : ' and to kick over the tracos, 'but last session .they were' all "obedience.' ' It; was ar'strango ' ■ V; itith^of ening'of the seSionit was; announced-, that. .tho. Hon.. W.;.Hajl-. . Jones iiaptb ab}e*'to-;.rbsum©^

' ' his'duties. iu-.-.'*-.:.- .; i-1.-v-.- ii ' ... ' 'NOT SETTLED ■ j■, ■": the land |qu«);i6ii^was-]sctfled.:; ; them [ifc;rSvasj:Upfc' i .s'ctfclecL. - : 4,(Applause:).:.. It.. ... was .■■■: ;\--- Vyears.' > i >;^ox^eptioii,.:U l tf section, would: comdvalong' and. ask, for....more;.- and■ .. expect,-, to' get - it, i for they ; had! bpeiV : getting *i ];/ _./'''■. a'*] little"every ''session':- for ? the", last.ll'-years j' whilo oil'theother. would endeavour ,t(j ( -havo: tho option of tho freeho]d -granted.''.to' every'! settler; who \had ■ taken up land under, tho Land for Settlement Act;: -V^itlib. -,Qn.-V'th®f -;Drdina^! : -;^j^p'i^i-s^landpi";: t 't That]Tyouid]:notrSuiC'-itho, - Socialistic.^party,; ;-. aiit - the.; people ;;§houli,' : not : -. fpi^et;',-that, the] '.UindsV.'of ; ; being;.i na-, . of i half,.-a- million :of, pounds, worth. per -year. . ~Tho. Government , ;.was~ ; 'spendihg-?Viial£.;: a];.,million;Xpbuncl3 ,peh - annum , thei-.'Land. -for. .-Settlement/ Act, ■■ - and settling,,that(land on'flease,-<and/makifig -■' 1 .tt,'impossible^\for ..those settlersi,to.Vcven-;look; • forward-. to iat freeholdi -r, Tho-.proper, thing •/•■J was; tjie.Vfeeehbldy and ho lookod forward to.doing:something,in: this matter,next]; (Parliament; -A, (Loud- applause.). iWhen /the,-present' Administration- took > office; .., it missed- a.great .opportunity. -- .If; : -it : : -had; brought: out an-'up-toTdate /bf'settle-. , , J . nieht.' open _ tbe • land ; as .fast? as'-it] it,, and road ; , and give. th©iii" tTi'cf• bp'tiotttpf!]the : .thero.-*would^|l^iVe,:'b^ ( n r^u^ii t - : *- adyAncP, I ''iii' (Applause,- aiid-'a';voißo ' ''Givb' 'iHeiSj : tiin'jß!').. "\Vo ,-havo'^Wen' , 'themVtimo,"--retorted - havS^ul^/iMse^iy';' (Loiid daughter:)Their]^'hearts not" liij • the work; 1 but.Mn .I^%ffiwlaii3^on^V'''^nV - tinuing,vhe,;siiu.''' f if; '''the'-jGbyerrimeht'ha'il given'tbo]^frfeoii'9ld'HHor6';\iIwould1would "been" ... more goiii§/on'--tho" J , land]ini.Auckla^ ; -,fbr/ lO^yeairsi - (Appraiiso;-);^'-";But r -':thb'. l .iGpvbram^^ ; ~ tho .opportunity' and 'at; the. first charicb the' .- Minister';for -Lands showed'he"'was]ih'faiv6ur ■ of tho' land natjonalisatioii, theory .put. "for-- . ward by Mr. Keir ; Hardib"; and/'others of that. • cult, ;,;v y .THE AIM,Ob' SOCIALISM.

Mr. ! Keir ? Hafaie; ! said' ; iia'd ;onlyj one; aim;;'and''''thatlNwas .-'to, 'cbnvert : and'. industniir-ca^itar-fntb'''public iprop'erty.' But ho did* nbt ■ say how this was to iako , place. aifiy' , 'rato r when ;;t it as"; accomplished the-' whole " population "Would ; either .be.Crown;;teriants' r br emplb^ees^of : thb State.; 'i'Jiat sbrt;of»idc'a!.did him,' irid; he did not believe it was r possiblo,- but he'believed- this sort of theory, flight' 'do.' hn.iin-' . mense;'^6unt^#iV^ibefdJe. :i STje i! , putting' it' forward!realised''that'they "were 1 making' a''very, serious '•mistake'.'"(Applause.)' . Ho bpheved an'y iutibn'ibf cbuntry'jtakihg'up . this- theory, would- fall' behind' iii : :tho"''racoof: civilisation. ; (Applause.). ;'He;f spoke of the distinction wad>*liibecaljism;. ■ and went enterprise • made .J^-.;cpjiiit^frJ&¥;^-..jfas;XaaU''.pn'<a(io' ' enterifrisb'drained.,'tHe;Ayailtato'and/'niadpite a happy',country.' (Applause.:)*'. Socialism Would' never"' pay -'the national debt/, nor. -the' interest on tho national■ debt:;,;v' Although ho' was''.noMover of the loaserin-pcrpetuity.'he believed'it was- 1 ; preferable ■■■ tov,tho, ! 1 system *;under; which; if a - man aiid (his;'fainily.. > woro'-indus-- >■ trious ;. their; industry ..-would bo - taxed-with : . : higher.'rent at the endii.ef 'v 66 v<years; by, which, time many great 'improvements would . .. bavo become. invjsible", and.' ; ; bo!.; called exhausted .Most 'of those pre--.'aont knew nvliiit'exhausted - improvements . were fW'heri'^the::>.Government'; i fValuer ; ''was round.,T- This was;not ; !'tho iWdy to/encourage" settlement!"! :• ■ f It- .wa's>thb'. way to 'discourage' it, and. it: was j.'impossible; to '' encourage settlement- ;'unloss<:. they; gave .the 'incentive - of the' freehold. (Applause.) -'^Probably '■ but 'few. of : .'th(Hn>'had:heardvof "till) Rewisettle- .- ment near Taupiri,-. which- was;'ppenedon'>re~ . .iJfijvvatJe.lease—the. very.-firstv'to 'be'opened ' u-ndeijtho new^jLCt^in^se'vpnt^n;.largc sec/v tions, and thoref"'was a 'single applicant ,-Jin: any bno "6f r Hhb' , '-. ! sectibhs.; : .; -Ho did" not' know - tho 1 reason';' but- ifairhail; been '.opened '• . with the fr'eehold'option;^ aero would.'liavij been;; : ')'applied'.■ fpr:'"'-'''(Lou'a applause.) -Why should riot "t ho 1 Matairiat'a and Fen'cburt'<settlers'ji ; whb\'occupieU laiid; un-! - der the Lands - for Settlement l Act;-have'. '.the I? option':® the freehold''just 'as%eil as' any ■), other settler: .-'j (A^plaiise). r !'' ri: ';'.';. i? ' "■ 'f

■•;: THE, GOyERNMENT POLICY. - : Referring L t-o Sir, J. speech at iVfr/'MasM^'rwont, oil: to ,say; ho'understood^';' it'.,was;', a:, policy,: speech', '!,and'. Sir.; . Joseph'-;had ;'arinbuiVced jt, as ;ii.'policy.speech.;. Ho (Mr:-: Massey)Vhad taken' the ■troublo .tb. i look carefully ;thi:bugh.,it ;iyith ; .: tho. object, of. finding thb policy''which' was iiiterided .to bo ■ disclosed; and regretted W find , toothing,, in. it to indicato'lajiy-policy whatever. '"He: was not. alono irf.this.Others- had■ -'' scrutinised tho speech arid faijcdjto, find any.policy. Tho ' 'Lyttelton; .Timps,">,a::: /Governmenf., .-.-paper, ■ had dcclarM editorially;.-that, it was, bound, ■to say;it;did.,ribt',khp'vy,wherp ? ,.to;-.find,a full statement of.,thb'liberal policyj.and feonld find .nothingin',.Sjjr,:;Joseph.,.Ward's-, speech which ! 'cpuld j ,„bo..accepted ,as. apolicy ,in- thp truo.sbhso,;pf'.the ivord". ■>(Applause.) • -Ho . (Mr. could : only, find , 0110'-now pro- ; posal.'arid'that.was,what might bo.called tho, cabbago garden;- policy—a proposal that vegetables,' should .'be' grpwn,...: and hp:, presumed delivered, by-.'jiidivlduals wehriiig. ono' of. hisMajesty's uniforms',;iyith., tho- 'broad arrow conspicuously displayed • tlioreon.... Sir -'-Josephhad- said hp to. ; soe 1 the, peoplo'-of : tho Dominion, Wealthier and happier," and' ho (Mr. Massey).,presumefj from the speech that' , Sir Joseph .tq. make-them healthier ;.'. and happipr-..by ,supplying thorn ,with .prison-' .grown,,vegetables'.' „ (Laughter.).,-If. that was the only; policy tho Government i could .put forward, then ho (Mr. Massoy), was soa'ry

for tlio Government, and sorrier still for tho oountry. Dealing with Sir Joseph's' statement that ho was not.in favour of revolutionary' Socialism, Mh v Masse.y said that seomed like asking' somo' ono: resident in Hamilton whero he lived;'-and - that - pprspu ,;. replying somewhere on tho railway lino between "Wel-lington-arid Auckland. - (Laughter.)"-Thnt reply would- riot 1 convey miicli' information, neither.did Sir 'Joseph' Ward's reply ;wh'eu/ho said lie ,did liot' believo.<ll.' revolutionary. So-;-cialisni, arid-'rieithcr.. or his' party, Conservatives'. ..(Applause.)'. While, on this j point ho, (Mr., Massey). .w,ould point out, that there was;ia .very .wido,difference be-, tween- State aid-, to ■: privato., 'the State coming-into competition, or ;trying. to take-the' place of" private "enterprise!.: The ono ;waS absolutely right, ■ and tlio other- was absolutely wrong; Tho latter . was' what tlio. 1 . true! Socialist' was'after. ' Tho ; true' Socialist wanted'to dp away with 'alliindustry'oxcept wjiat ;was 'run",by'the Goyernmerit',i'and, to;.do; away with, all .competition except ... competition'- for ,Gpyo'riimerit; billets; .and yet' would not Udmit. that;. ho,.was arevplutionary Socialist. . -t. /; -,- /../; . /..- ■-.../ ■■

QUESTIONS.FOR THE PREMIER. ■i.'.'He ;(Mr.; : -Massey) - would.''lilco; 'to ask' Sir' J. ■ G.;; Ward : whotiicr he was 'in'- favour, of. •nationalising .'the .land, and if not -ill..favour 1 ■ of;it.why * did .his Government ~introduce.-;t ho i Land .Bill"of ' 1906,. and; ,t-ho /Endowment ;Bill "of-1907; both oi"wliich,went-in that and. if; Sir was not .in' favour .of ' naV tionalisation'.of land would.ho, give -.the:;sot-, .tiers reasonable opportunity of .acquiring, the: freehold.- ' (Applause.) / 'Then.-/.Sir" : Joseph Ward said 'hp was' in favour; ofgiving. every-. one ill- the Dominion .an 'opportunity:-of learning'-a-trade, > : s'o -was "ho (Mr.jMasSey) ;■ ■but 'he had always been' under 'tho impressioil .that tlio. Government, had placed',difficulties' l in the^yay ; .pf. yo'uths 'iyhp .desifW 'toVleanv' a trado. or'prdfossioii, as.' many. .i'of. those 'pre--sent, who had sons or daughter's would, kribw. i/Ho:-(Mr..- Massey) .. was . ■to;remove/.tlieso,,difficiilti6s, and-if;Sir. J.-.G-Ward^iwould: lead '-.'the .-way' - this- session, lie. .(Mr, Massey) would.'assist him;-and thought: ' .'could-' saytho ' same ■ for - the ' members ■; of .'thoOpp6sitjon r 'party.'/',(Loud_applause:)'Th'at riimiuded hiiirthat;'last..'session tho Goverii-' 1 , niiSutintroduced - a ! Bill,, air aniendniOTtto the •'Arbitration'...'and Conciliation. Actj/ i>ro'felsing i'.tp' abplish/.thei ossipnal.'. agitator,., What becamo'of that Bill?. • It was -not .pro-' ceeded' with.- -Ihe Government, ran away; from it as it. did from tho vLand.-Bill-., of--1906. ((Applause.) Ho would like to' ask Sir' Joseph / Wardif. ho 'intended; to. ; '' rciii'■,troduco' i : this. - Bill this ,''"session',' ' and- whethjir. ho /. ,intended v. to..' make, an V elfort :tb plafcp ,' It;/on\.the ,; Statute'-Book ?. .-..These ,\yero !reasonable^r questions'- to_'ask, | and.ihe ; hoped , tlioy, wp'iild| bo answered in a reasoiiablo: Jand ; straightforward .maimer,'* pot; by.; wordy . platitu'dps 6i- : woll T turned phrases-over ' which • tlio' Attorney-Geheral' wasted. •: so- many ' gal-' ; ions. of .'midnight' These were; questions . of.' .iiiiportancp; 'just ( ;iip\y. ,Ho ■'(Mr. Massey).. ;believctV ,tliai jtho'lmajority: ofVtho;,members' •'of;;Parliairiehti'.,. including" tho .' Legislative 'Council'.;,' and^.xhomembers ..of. ,tlie; Cabinet, •. '.we're.; willing, to -accept! Socialism;:; meaning-' .therobyj'the'-Stato''taking-over-.',the!;, oiy'ne'r--jsliip of l tho. -.lands,'; -arid of the: countries in 7' [Su'stri&V'ilf'- •;(Mr?- , Mass.eyj''asked'what'"were '^thp-'electors^ 1 going" to':^po' about' it. That:.Tya's-the..question;;.;tn'o : .ques-. tioh.tho'olcctprs would be asked'noxt Novem-, iber,, aridwhich.'i hp'., hoped, and ; believed. .they jvould answer', iii ; a' . satisfactory. ;! maiincr. , (Loud applause) -.-

FINANCE 1 ; •.- Touching "On- : finance >Mr.-. Massey ' said he would- not :say v tho /country'was; bahkrupt; be-' cause"it';was -not. -Vlt/was sound;'and"'prbST pro'sporo'us;' it was 'jukt'pbssiblb; Pur 'financial, methods'were';'nbt] wh'at' be,'.-.'and... ho, bblibved] $Kejr;' left.:a],great deal'; to.,be]desired. /']'.lt '.would bo /.well , iftho peoplo; of. this: country,, .would .thiiik'.a-little, more about',the,finances.; Few; peoplo wero ;awaro- that :during tho ;lastsix] years tho - debt -of -tho 1 country, had ] in-' creased';by 16-millions, and-'there; werby'few, j'awaro 'jbf-/tho' oven more /nnportaht fact; .of the - great ';'ihcj;b.ase]in /the ,]het -indebtediiess] -per head.of]population sincb"lS9s.ln 1895. it was "£57! 9s.'.9d,,p'er-'bcad;^'d i in-'l9Q7v£67 Is 1 ;-, ''an increase - approximiitely of'£lo per. head..].,; During' tho'; last 14 yKirS.;.tho; : ;cbuntry ; jhadi increased]; it? debt' by. 25 millioiis.',,]'.' He js7«s-Sn'o t ;gpirtg]itp.,say,,]it ], was,] ,to V.4<>, i.jrithout;ih'e; 1 4utetibn'iw.as>-vyere: they getting-,full'valub: for?.these..enormousivsiims? . .Ho,.was-,wiling; ito- ailmit; that.-; lands purchasedj.andi loans' to lOoal ■ bodiesi had 'been ; judicious -expenditure; ■ but-with-regard to the ten millions on'public .wiprksj, /and y_l;iiowing sompthijig 'of,, tho;, me- ! thods on 'which ;they 'wero carried : o'u't, and of tho. method .'of, selection of -woi ks to' be, dbnb,• ;he questioned'whether ftho cbuntry-'got l . value for - its - money- -. (Applause.) Ho '-ivas ; not a' believor; in ■ royal".; commission s! - ibauso the -.Government ' generally" appointed :men,!whose- views were; known''beforehand; but if two 1 experts oould be got from ]'outside tho Dominion, to iepprt.von thp. public works,', and ; whether • tho ; System "" was';'' thb' : most' econbro'ical-a'nd^the most]efEcientl';thb;report : inter'est-irig-]; reading!' - venub'arid'capital : accbuiit; he said ''there was ,much']rplling\ ! itbcky-iMiich.,'should ,!h'ave; : been' written ;pff'.ybar3, ; ago'vand -withjiiow! : stock paid for. out of ■ revenue.,(Applause.) 'He spoke, ]bf-,tlip; difficulty l of -anyone; except an expert'/understanding, tho accounts)' and of .the necessity for preparation "of'clear and - 1 easily] intelligible statements. . '■

1 i'-i GOVERNMENT ■: PATRONAGE. • •. ''Dealing ; with-; Government'; patronage, ho thought representative'; in should receive any 'side .benefits;;, fr'oni. . the Govermnbnt, ' 'It.: would be,;very,. intpresting to knpiv how. many 'last ten-years 1 had been.grateful.for...'favours -received. .Hov/ many :VhM' been'appointed to ißoyal Commissions, and payment in addition: to their honorariums.. -He 'would' liko to know how many., laud . transactions were' '' inilueiVce;'" hot: only .-Native, r ;;but ; European 'landf'as < well: '. .Then there vyero public works gi-ant'ed ' to the, men :who' had the political pull."'Tho passing of -Vthe , Estimates' -.was '-'a' : 'mero farce: There''.was', not"^'a.-jn'omber.' of'"Parliainenii'ivho! :krtew 5 per ceiit.'.of the'roads,.lie ;w'as .'voting ' moneytor.. '"'Had. it',not: been for "this' system,; which gave, Minister s :. such: patronago',, he 'hbne'stly,: believed t-here;!WPuld: havo' been'.an,amcndiiient<of. ; the locahbodiesSystem, long agb.>i .(Loud: applaUso;).- j : ' v, LOCAL BODIES. ' • He dwelt' jtho? n.eccs'sity.' for : impi;oye' mont 'in' :; the:.'lodal . bodies' law, : : pointing out hot?' much better' 'position'' ,'tho .local , 'were in to know what were ; tjic. most: iirgeht, works .tlian'; ,was 'Parliamdht.• J Tlio people ! in the babic;j!distrjcts'*';des'eryed'. r every - facility, and bncburagement with roads .it; the earliest possible ,-mßnienl,; ; and ...with; , assiiredfin'a'nce tlio local bodies would :giv'e,.tlie roads.', (Loud applause.).'l'The' Government '.was-'at' a' ! _loss.;for ; a' poMcy.: ; He had: supplied .'them; .with:.a.policy before,-and w6uld';'do. so again,': and it : w'as Vo'f: tenure for 'the' settlers'.' and - 'good,- roads for; the;"out' ',dis- t tricts—(applause)—and, ho;';knew* of ~iip.tjiin'g' that i would so conduce to the-prosperity ; of. the country, as.,that.' (Applause.).: :Tlib' Govornment "should, maintain.-tho arterial roads and leave the rest to'the local bodies, giving.'them, an assured finance,., and tho .local ,bo.'ly; .which rated itself highest; should rc'Ci.ive tho. .highest/ subsidy;;. ,(Loud' applaiiseO . He', iviinted -to' see Parliament' more than,:a;,h'uge'. board of,': works.:' , (Ap-.. ,plause.) . '. ' ;'...{' v ", V..- r : . • PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS : ' Tlib.fiuniing of,'Parliament;Buildiiigs v ' Mr; - Massey. wont.-; 011 to say, secined to have drawn attention to the absence' of arrangement- for insurance, and . for depreciation, of our. own public buildings.lt was impossible for,.him. to.ispy- what, tho ..loss'through tlio lire amountedito.'- He should think it-would cost £150,000 '• to .erect > new buildings. • Had. tho. library gono' it woukl ; havo been a ni-' tional calamity ; but .the; point to' which 'lio' .wished to' direct, attention was ;tlio,'modo. by, ,which bur' public', buildings were'l'paidrfor! •when they, were :.erected.; They were paid,for out of the. Public .AVorlcs- Puud.,. He did not suggost.that tho'public'works fund.was all borrowed money, because in'times of pros-' 'perity, they, transferred part of tlio surplus fromi'the'' C6nsolidated Eund to/.tho 1 Public -.Works Fund; but;. taking tho. last half-dozen years, lie' '.thought ho was witlijn. thp mark in saying ..tliat'.thb 'Public Works Eiind .consisted ,'of,/75 per. cent, of borrowed, money;: ■ and 25 ..per ccrit. from tho revenue. Financial, experts: .were almost 'unanimously pf opinion that there were many items charged

to capital account which should bo charged to royonuo. ' If that was tho ease, it meant that •tlio capital account was almost, if not wholly, borrowed money, so-that our. public buildings wero paid for out of borrowed money, and! as time , went on, and they. got,'out .of dato, or burned, they wero repaired or restored out of-borrowed lrioriey again. Ho wanted to know whethor anyone .would' say that sound finance.' Ho said it was not. (Applause.) l Thero-should be a depreciation fund, so .that at.the end of tho average life of. any biiilding. thcro. would bo sufficient to! ■replace-it.; . That woifld be both; good business; and sound'finance. (Applause.)' There wero .differences" of opinion as to, where the new;-., buildings should bo: erected.': Some urged' tho; centro of. the North .Island;, and some the centre of the South'lsland. Tho suggestions, wero' evidently made• without serious thought. In Wellington, where tho .departmental buildings ivero, some thousands; of' pcoplo wero .employed,, and . tho printing works,,.employing some hundreds; wero there.: There was. the library, which .cost -between £30,000 and £40,000.,' Sri that, -whatever.'may have been..the ..case 30 or 40 years.ago, . they .. could . noil-get'' away .from i..Wellington as .tho best city ; for tho seat of Government/; He thought ■ the new . Parliament Buildings should bo erected.on tho old 'sitb,''.'arid while/he was .quitewilling': that, : should bo mado for i a ' building which',, would servo for ■ parliamentary purposes for many years to come, '~ ho . : was I strongly/'opposed' to anything'in. the way. of •w'astoful extravagancoi': aric| anything in that . direction-'-, would/meet; .with; his; most" -strenuous opposition.' '(Loudapplause.) There had beeti .'t'oo: 'much- legislation' in the 'last"ten years,'/'and if all the Acts wore" enforced, three-quarters of tho people" would be in gaol, and • the other quarter would be looking -after/.them. :Ho deplored the fact that '.Customs, duty was made payablo on mining ■ and- agricultural machinery, tho Government having/gone iri.'for a 'protectivo duty instead • ofift revenue duty. He believed in . protecting.establish.ed industries .to. a reasonable extent, but: whero-ithey,.could'do hbthing-'to. assist, or encourage .such' industries as:mill-: irig' -and- agriculture',,,tho .Government. should have .done-nothing.- to injure/them. THE NAVY i!' ; i Referring- to ; the - . Navy . contribution/ >Jlr. iMassey .-said-'that.. .thoj/'present-subsidy- was' :'quite' .inadequate -for itho ■ defence afforded.;' ,'lt..now ■'meaut oiily; Is; -.per -head;; and wo; could/ afford;; moro: (Loud:- applause.). .- .In 'Ti'asiSs; 'per; head,-and the "aver,'age; New -Zealander was > just -'as ; jnuclv interested ,in .defence as : tho peoplo.';6f. Eng-. j'landj_-7- (Loud applause;') Ho. also advocated 'enoouraeemeht '-of' the "Volunteer system, and ''ari.efficieht; supply of-arms'and ammunition. (Applause.) ■ /■"■ ■' -----

; THE LEGISLATIVE -COUNCIL. ;/■ TWicgislativo' Counoil ■ system;"was an ■ anomaly in a country which .talked, of its 'democracy and representative institutions. The f present ■> system? suited party. ..'purposes, ! ai)d] therefore it reniairied. Two candidates .who 1 had'opposed' him] had';.both been called .to.thp.-TJpper-Housb, so lie ' expected a'.ruslr oif; candidates. for : Franklin- at'/the election'. ■(Laughter.)y ; There wero ] men: .in . different 1 parts .'of "the : ' Country, who had vbeen hi Parliament or on- local, bodies, men- who''should be in the' Council; but tlicso men ! wero:. not chosen; : Ho wanted 'ithe-pominion to' understand that the Legislative Council was being !used for party- and political ■ purposes, and ho ; . hoped to- see; tho ( ;pobplo, insisting -upon -tho . Council being 'mado directly representa; tive of-.the people.''- (Loud applause.) . ■'-■'•'• GAMBLING 'BILL. ,• . With* reference " to" the Gambling, 8i11,,. ho, .'condemned, ."tirof" "yes—no" ; attitude" of . the :Government,which. had in 'a' Bill - to sup-' ■press-, gambling ; provided' .that racing ..'clubs] ;miist-give 1 bettihg] facilities."'to .bookmakers. Gilbert';and ? Sullivan']hover T'itaagiiied /any-, thing /'funnier; "Ho. spoke'-' as ono ■ not' very, keep. ,on theHotalisator;' 'and lie' thought; the] ]tbtiilisatpr,'';if t it '.'was,/. licensed,'"should'; have' . its.'prbfits.'turned-.to; other purposes ..than the, Consolidated -FiiikL' (Applause'.) -But. /the totalisator "method - was .preferable' ] to]] tho bookmaker. (Applause;)-; ■ Tho 'Legislative-' ■Cpunqil had--'votedout''.'the" restriction', of racing;, days,'and. thus • h'ad'sone against tho--Wish .-'Was -thef way'-gambliiig-'wh's suppressed.. 'Hp-: 'called;'.it/humbug.; (Applause.) 'Tliero, wero .fclause'S/iri".th'kt.iAct'wKich^yero't disgrace tiif 'an^'farUamen^.''and.- lie lipped;, thi^ -'would /]]']];. ~]' .],

NATIVE LVNDS ;.Thq',Native '!Lajjd:iCoi!\riigsioii;''said it.was. its intention tp r . ig : ettlo.. tlio .question, of, Native -lands,m the near futuro,, and ho hoped ,it ..would,'.' but., lib.'.had :not-, forgotten : ; that' the •road; .to fa . certain-', country, [was , pared '. with; ■good.'•iiitentipnsiyiandvhp .expeot'eaj little''.from; that '.Commission,'.fan : it . seemed'it'.had:'lieen ! appointed l to pick ..up' information; which' should? be jidssess'edf'by thq v Natiyb Departf merit.;.;;: (Hear,! hear.) The; patience..of ,thp' .'.European' .population-.was just about,, px? hausted,' and ; 'hajl niado' up.;their minds, thatf.tho'Natiye;.lands had'to. be utilised' for. ..soino fptlier'. purppsb "..than.'.gi'qwing, noxious r^ce^j'\andi^p\I W(^StMy''.to. 1 ,1tr.!: Carroll,' and - other, Maori,' leaders; that* if; they had tho.idea;, they .were going .to, : sot.up .Maori .iqndldrds'tb: li'vo on tho : industry' of white, tenants thoy were-.making a great mistake. : (Loud applause.). .The time .had' come •when, ■■tho'' Jyativds should be- called Von'' to. share thedutiesland: responsibilities: off the. pakehas, and lit* would bo abetter -for : both.- - (Apv plause.) . '.■■':■ •• ■<: .. --. '.: . , .:' ':; :..

.... COALITION Touching' on- tlie.'cbalitioii idea,; ;Mr.! slas- . sey jmado ',a 'very,; definite! .pronouncement. .He.said 'there,; wisrb'.many pebplo.'who thought, there .was" very, littjo difference between .the political beliefs, .of; the Government, and tho political, beliefs . of; 'the Oppositibn... '' Thoso people Vvideiitly tp'ok' a very superficial.,vieiy bf the position.; ..Tliero was, first,,of - all; 'the ■ Opi)bsitipn ? '..which,h h , was';;a ; party; acting upoii principle', ~'aud;fho Goycniment,; whbso policy :seenied' : tpV:.be c'xpcdiehcy ,;br' 'conipi-oinise. '.(Loud' applaiisc:).. .quite . tiruo ; there was. ;hpt so much'differencb"between the two' .;as there .was'prior' to' thp.' big back: down of thjb Go'yernriient'.on; the. iahd ,',ques;,: rtion^(a\)plause)—and.; prior to. tho'..Govern-. : nient , accoptihg!io..many./ 'bf;':tho.;OppoSitipn' !Suggestions-^(applaiise)'.;--butoii'..; the.; land 'question; .there. .waS'';stiir,a :".v'ery .important difference between, the .parties.. Thp Opposiwas that "every settler,' 'wherever po'ssiblo, should have the opportunity. of'. ac'qiiiiing the freehold. Tho idea of the Government seemed to "be \to -.stop the- freehold jWherevor ..possiblo': ' Then; it r.wont without.saying'tthat the tiovernmeht' w'tis aiixioiis- to .increase tho tax -upon land; Thp increaso in ! •laiiclt'tax : for'Hho,'"-current' year...was over' £100,000, 'arid. ; the increase 1 for''nox't 'year, /would'■probably be evcii a larger V' ariibu'nt.! ;Thpv, Government 1 - had ; shown '- its sympathy wifhi the -single:'tax ; idea-by-including- in tli'oCabinpt tho;: most straight-out single-taxer ; : in:Parliament; and- the'fact of tlio Govern.ment hjiving' llauntod the/single -tax. : flag 'in', "tlio; faces of : the'settlers.' in this way would ;bp':;.'sufficient "to; .keep'.'him' (Mr, . Massey). iii -.'opposition, if there'- was.llo . other,, difference oL-opiriipn.- '(CliePrs.),.;'Then';in 'corinection with tho.., Legislative Council, .the -Govern-, merit, jf,.it .had, any- belief, at all, seemed to believe in the-, system of nomination, whereas the Opposition believed in'making the Legislative. Gouncil'-electivo and 'representative of 'the, pcbploil i (Che'ers.)) In 'connection' with' 'thb; appqintmeiits' to tho public service of the' : Dbniiriion, ;.apart;' from - the'- small, proportion who were .appointed .oii-'accpuiit'.ofi.hav-. iug' passed Civjl,.,Service ..examinations,', the Gpverri'nient .'evidently' believed in appointment by political-inlluenco. Tho Opposition belioved- in ' appointment according to inorit and fitness —that'was.in appointments'being ■made by a.Civil Service Board, 'such as was ■in operation in Groat Britain, Canada, and Australia, whero tho ; pdoplo 'woiild certainly 'not consent 1 -to go back to ' tho, obsolete methods; iii ' operation ill. thbso cpl.oiiies years, and, which" 'were. still in' operation hero.! (Loud 'applause.);' Another,:ppirit !of differ-, ■enco. was the Socialistic, theory., -Judged by its actions .rather.' than..words, 1 the. Govern-, ment' eithor. sympathised : .with, ;or. wero, afraid, of, .tho Socialistic , influence.', (Applause';) The Opposition, ,011 tho otlier hand,was opposed to Socialism. (Loud applause.) There wero other, perhaps miiior, points, biit lie.' had .inaiitionod '. 'sufiicicrit to show that there was more-differenco between the .parties; 011 important--.questions, than of. the more' "ins" and "outs." Ho could say for the Opposition that it was anxious in every possiblo way to promote' the prosperity of ■tho people and of tho Dominion, (Chcors.) J