THE COMING SESSION.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 477, 8 April 1909, Page 8

THE COMING SESSION.

TO BE DECIDEDLY INTERESTING. MB. MASSEY INTERVIEWED. .'eel TKLBGKArH—SPECIAL IXlllUKSl'nNniiNT.l : Auckland, April 7. ' 'A remark to the effect that he had 'heard • it seriously rumoured that another Land Bill was to bo introduced.during the next ses- • sion of Parliament was made by Mr. Massey ■■: in the course of his Buckland speech. Subsequently I had a talk with Mr. Massey on : this point. ..-.••■. ■ -.-...■■• ... ■■>... "I do not know, of course, what business ' will be brought before .the House," said the Opposition Leader, "but'.Lam inclined to prophesy that the session will, 'bo rather more interesting than usual. There are a number of matters that the House will want to know about. I heard in. more - than' one quarter that we aro to have a Land Bill; but I should ■ have thought the Government would'have let that question severely alono. I notice that Ministers have boen trying to convince somo audiences that we have the best land laws in the world., but I do not agree with them, added Mr. Massey with a smilej reminiscent of the leasehold campaign which so signally failed in this province. Mr. Maesey went on to-remark that, once the freehold incentive to settlement, which • settlers had under the optional system; was removed, settlement would suffer, and he knew that it was suffering now where lands had been opened only)on leasehold tenure. ; If a'.vote of farmers arid settlers and intending' settlers were taken to-morrow; 999-out of every 1000, would vote for the optional system. The settlers knew what-was best- for themselves and best for the'laiid/aiid what' was best'for the land was best'for the State:; '"Yes," replied Mr. Massey to -a., further question, '-'next session will be decidedly in- - teresting; and I anticipate some pretty warm discussions on certain subjects. .'.'There are plenty of matters to discuss, and they > are going to be discussed freely. The financial spree is over, and Parliament will'requlre'to get a,strong pull on the M reins." •■• ■ ; "