MR. MASSEY'S SPEECH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1195, 2 August 1911, Page 6

MR. MASSEY'S SPEECH.

"AFTER TWENTY YEARS," ; THE COMING GENERAL ELECTION. Mr. W. P. MASSEY, Leader of the Opposition, was received with applause. He congratulated tho mover and seconder in their speeches, and added his congratulations to those already tendered to the Speaker. The honour to tho Speaker was an honour to Parliament, and the present speaker thoroughly deserved tho tumour. (Applause). The Governor's Speech contained a reference to noxious weeds, but very little that would tend to the welfare of the country or the prosperity of the people, and it was noticeablo that one oi those who had preceded him had discussed, not the Governor's Speech, but the plattorm of the Reform party. He hoped and believed that that platform would in the very near future, be included in a speech from the Throne. (Laughter 'ari applause.) The mover had said that it had never been harder than now for the workers to make both ends meet, and the seconder had said something in the same direction. AV as that the result of 20 years of Liberal government? kit h S . tall,rorth y : Not so bild as soupMr. Massey said there were soup kitchens in Wellington and alsonn Ciisborne two years ago. It was on record, and lie could prove it. Mr. Witty had said that he (Mr. Massey) and bis party'had opposed everything that was for the benefit o. the working classes. As an instance of tho contrary, he had moved ,for takiii" off the surtax last year and the Government had not consented. The Hine Charges,

In regard-to tho Hine charges,. Mr. Wl "y *""}, said that only ono had been proved. Tho fact was that three or four charges of taking commissions on petitions presented to Parliament were proved against an ox-member, as well as three or four against a Maori member. ' There were also two charges proved against a member of the Upper House. He would say no more on tho subject at present, as legislation had been promised. In regard to old ago pensions, it was a fact that in 1895 many members, althou«h anxious that tho old people should have pensions, had voted against the Bill' because they disapproved of tho methods P ro POsed, hut in 1905, when the late Mr. 1. E. Taylor moved against the provision which penalised the thrifty by preventing anybody, who owned a house worth from getting a pension, Mr. Witty was one of the members who voted against that excellent purpose of Mr. Taylor's. A difficulty in regard to land valuation was that tho valuations were often ba*ed' on sales in which very little money had passed, most of the money being left on mortgage, and this frequently Jed to hardship, tho valuations being too hi"h Another grievance was that the moro° a man improved his, laud, the more his unimproved value went up. There should bo a stronger distinction between improvements and the unimproved value, and ho would like to see tho reinstatement of the old provision for the Government to binland at a price based on its own valuation, when so requested'by tho owner. During the recess ho had travelled throughout the Dominion, and ho saw enough unoccupied Crown and Native land to keen tho population of New Zealand going lor ten years to come. There were two millions of-acres of Crown land in rarannki. A prominent New Zealand statesman had lately said at.Home that two million acres of Crown land had been opened up for settlement in New Zealand sinco last January. '£ he # on- U- Buddo: So there were Mr. Massey said it must have included mountain tops and other useless lands Where wore the two million acres' Mr. Fisher: He also said it was a splendid opening for men of small means (Laughter.) Mr. Massey said ho thought the Government should have corrected or ex 1 ,ni -.r , st ? tDmcnt he "ad mentioned lie Mokau land transactions' were next etwherf '* aS «*>«<*

Boundaries and Date of Election. Mr Massey next expressed a hope that the business ot the country would be conducted in a satisfactory manner durin" ho session, and that late sittings would be avoided, ltcforrmg to tho census and the using of boundaries he poinlcd out that the census was taken in -Vpril It was now August, and yet, .so far as ho knew, not a man in the House knew ■untiling about tho new boundaries. As « o on as tho boundaries were announced, a sort of lever would set in. Ministers and members would bo anxious lo interview their new constituents. The business of tho country would be slummed, and memhers would leave without knowing anvthing about I lie date of the election. No doubt, this would confer an advantage on the Government, which enjoyed too Tnanv advantages already. The speaked wanted to know tho date of the election beforo ho left Wellington. In a brief reference to the Second liallot, Mr. Massey said ho considered the Government would have been much wiser to introduce instead a system of preferential voting. The wirepulling and improper bargaining that undoubtedly took place between the two elections would thus have been avoided There, should be an amendment of tho system under which Maori elections were conducted. There should lie a roll, and if a second ballot were, neccsso.ry'in tho case of European elections, ii was erjually uo.cessary in tho case of Maori elections. The manner in which Maori elections were conducted at present was discreditable to the Government mid to the country, .The late ooeniu! of the session had

undoubtedly been a mistake. The Houso should have dealt with a Local Government Bill in the absence of the. Prime Minister. Another matter not mentioned in the .Speech from the Throne was the necessity of an amendment to the law that, would ensure the independence of the Judicial Bench, if the judges were nut bein? paid sufficient salaries, the salaries should be increased. The speaker was very willing that judges should bo paid properly, but something should bo done to prevent these extra payments to judges. The same applied to magistrates, who should bo appointed during good behaviour, as judges now were, instead of at the pleasure of tho Government.

Imperial Affairs. In a brief reference to the Coronation celebrations, Mr. Massey declared bis gratification at the fact that they had passed oil' so successfully and that the reign of King George had been so auspiciously inaugurated. The might and power of Britain had never l>ecn more, in evidence than during tho late celebrations. The assembling of tho mightiest fleet the world had ever seen had shown that Britain still ruled the waves, ana would continue to rule them. Mr. Massey disclaimed any intention of them discussing tho Imperial Conference, but stated that at the proper time he would call for an explanation in regard to matters arising out of the conference. Explanations Wanted. Mr. Massey also mentioned the sending of invitations by the Home authorities to members of the Legislative Council, another matter that called for explanation. It had been understood that tho Attorney-General had gone Home in connection with the To Akau case and the Webster claims. The speaker had information, that the former case, was still held up. An apologetic paragraph had lately appeared to the effect that tho Webster case was on the point of settlement, but both matters called for explanation. New Zealand had been tho only British country not officiallv represented by its members of Parliament. The thanks of the country were due to Mr. Heaton lihodes, member for Ellesmere, who had unofficially represented New Zealand. The subject of compulsory insurance against sickness and unemployment was exercising public opinion all over the world, and there was a general opinion that the German system was the best in existence. If a month were spent in considering the German system, it would be a month well spent. Mr. Massey endorsed a suggestion that tho heads of. friendly societies should be consulted in the matter. ! The Death Duties. . It was quite evident, now that th« Death Duties Act of 1909 hart gone further than was intended by Parliament. Previous to tho passing of 'the Act small estates were exempt. Now an estate of .£IOO was taxed if- left to strangers, and the tax was a heavy one Again onlv gifts in cash from a man to his wife of part of his estate were dutv free. In any other form these gifts were taxable, which was most unfair, as wives often had more to do with the accumulation of property than their husbands. The law as it stood was apt to induce evasions of its own provisions. Mr. Massey concluded with a reference to the late Mr. T. E. Taylor, reported in another column. MINISTER FOR EDUCATION REPLIES. • THE LAND QUESTION. Tho Hon. G. FOWLIiS, who was next to speaH, congratulated tlie bueaser upon ins Kiugluauud. tie a.so congratulated trie mover and seoiiuor of the Autucss-m----liepiy upon tne quality of tueir tpeecnes. Continuing, no compared tne activities ol tuo. Leader of tu c .opposition and his leutenants, during t.to past few months, to the eitorfs of the Houso of Lords iu England. Ho believed that the Opposition would not.succeed in their "(forts to sprog the wheels of progress." Speaking of the Opposition platform, Mr. l'.owlds said ho was afraid a little more ginger would have to'bo infused into it be ore it became attractive to the people. While the lion, member for Taumarunui was speaking, the Leader of the Oppo^ilon had interjected that there were only 1G .million acres of freehold in New Zealand. On page -19G of tho Year Book it would be found that the number of free-holders of country land*, exclusive of ;i"£S m boroughs and townships, was ,'S'?oiVc\ nd that fteir holdings aggregated 10,5!t1,5u3 acres.

Mr. Massey: Will you allow mo to saythat I; emoted from the Crown; lands report of last year? Mr. Fowlds: I don't care where you quoted from. This is a Government nublication. Continuing, he stated that these fi"iircs were very _ significant. Something" like 8 or_9 million acres of land must be hold by Europeans in freehold, and kept out of cultivation even to the extent of bavins surface-sown grass. Mr. Mander: They are paying taxation upon it. Mr. Fowld?: Tes, they pay a little, and they will have to nay more. The Natives had not had much chance as vet to do much with their-lands. " ,- Mr. Massey and. other members: Hear heir. ' - Mr. Fowlds declared his belief that the current year would bo a. record, vear in the history of Native land settlement. ; I ouclung upon the Hine charges, Mr Fowlds contended that an atfenmt to home a. Tammany charge against the Government had absolutely failed. Next Mr Fowlds. read in detail Mr. Massey's recert reference to the Government a* ■) variety troupe, and stated that he thought if needed no comment. Advances to Workers. The Leader of tho Opposition had tried for years to make people believe that he was responsible for tho inception of -advances to workers. The Minister proceeded to quote from Mr. Ma«ey's speeches whon the Advances to Settlers bill was before the Houso in 1891. Mr Massey, he stated, had explained his onl position to -tho Advances to Settlors Act in that year by stating that ho had then {^m U lV, e "g ecl to oppose any borrowing isill. let bo had, in that same year supported a Bill involving tho borrowing of half a million. In his attitude towards tho Valuation Act, the Leader of tho Opposition cgtun resembled the Hou<e of Lords in tho Old Country. Ho desired to repeal the Valuation Act. Mr. Massey: "1 never said that." Mr. Fowlds-. "Oh, very well, then, what about, the harmony that obtains in tho Opposition party?" AVould the hon. gentleman attempt to form a Ministry without including the member for Wellington Central? let that raember had stated that the Opposition, if returned to power would repeal tho Valuation Act. After some further references to land valuation, Mr. Fowlds stated that, taking land sales in the Dominion for the six months ended September 30, 1910, the prices realised wero .29 per cent, (nearly a million of money) more than the amount.of the Government valuation. Tho member for Wellington Central represented m grave danger to the country. Mr." Fisher: "That statement was never made." <

Mr. Povrlds quoted from!-a report in Tim Dominion' of Juno 1, 1911, in which Mr. Fisher was reported as saying that the Opposition, if returned to power, would repeal the Valuation Act, amongst others. Mr. Powlds added that he had never seen any repudiation by the hon. gentleman, and consequently had been perfectly satisfied that the report was correct. Mr. Fowlds declared that the Opposition pinned its faith to damaging criticism. Its'members believed that if the Government could only borrow money at high rates of interest, there would be a 'disinclination to borrow. Discontent would result throughout the country as a result of the stoppage of works, anil then the people would turn in desperation to the lion, gentleman opposite and his party. This, 'aid Mr. Fowld?, was the hope of the Opposition. Electoral Matters. As to what Mr. Mnssey hail said about, driving tho House, that would depend largely upon whether the Loader of the Opposition behaved reasonably. Tho Minister stated that personally ho preferred preferential voting to the second ballot, and he preferred proportional representation to either, but how Mr. Masscy would iiavo ridiculed him if he had lefl the Government on that account! With reference to. Mr. Massey's complaint of delay regarding tho revision of (doctoral boundaries, tho Minister said that the Commissioners wcro called together within three days of the completion of the figures by the Registrar's Deportment. Thoie fißurei were completed. & week.

earlier than at the previous census, when the population was much smaller. The Government was fully conscious of the desirableness of expedition, and every elfort was made to secure, a prompt anil correct compilation of (ho figures. Sir .1. Findlay had been instrumental in effecting a settlement of the Webster claims which would he satisfactory to the country, and ho had done ss much as could bodono in tho Te Akau case, without waiting upon slow legal processes for another twelve months. Mr. Macitonald moved the adjournment of the debate, and tho House ro«o at 12.20 a.m.