THE PREMIER AT STRATFORD.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 49, 28 February 1905, Page 2

THE PREMIER AT STRATFORD.

REPLY TO MR. MASSEY. CROWN LEASEHOLD ERS AND ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. THE LAND QUESTION. [UY TET'KQRAI'H — TOBSS ASSOCIATION.) STRATFORD, 2711 i February. Tlio Premier addressed n packed meeting in the Town Hall to-nigbt. Ho had a good reception. His speech was principally v reply to thai of Mr. W. F. Massoy, Leader of tho Opposition, doliverod here about a fortnight ago. Mr. Massey had, he said, misrepresented tTie Government. Of comae, that was nothing, but ho objected to his misrepresenting ono of hi« late leaders, tho Into Hon. W. Rolleston, whoso memory should bo held sacred by public men. Undor their noblo and beautiful mountain they hud an assembly which would bo a credit to any wart of tho colony. (Laughter.) When addressing them Mr. Musaey took exception to no-confidence motions, saying that whenever tho Lender of tho Opposition brought down anything particularly difficult the Premier took it as a want of confidence motion. Ho begged to inform them that whenever tho Louder of tho Opposition challenged tho Government, and said "Come on," lie would not bo worthy to hold that high position if he did not "Come on." Mr. Massey asked that when he (the Proiniorj cunie along he would speak on tho land question. Ho accepted the challenge. NOT TIRED OF SEDDON. It had boon said by the Opposition journals that tho colony was "tired of Seddon." From the vast assembly that night and the reception ho hud received he thought that assertion wiih incorrect. Only a selfish few who cared nothing for the wellbcing of their fellows, capitalists and large landowners, had had enough of Seddon. Thoy had enough of him twelve years ago, and wcro not done with him yet. (Laughter.) Under tho present Government New Zealand licked creation, as the Americana said. Ho did not nay him self or the Govcnnnont was responsible for that; it was the people of tuo colony who did it, under good conditions. Ho would like to know how we would havo gone on under tho old Conservative party. What was tho position in 1890, when tho people inado a. ohnngo? They -could not have dono bettor. Ho went further, and said there would bo absolute danger to the country if the old party came back with reactionary measures, nnd refused to allow the country to go ahead. THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION. In 1895 Mr. Massoy voted against tho Advances to Settlers Bill and the Land for Settlements Bill. In 1896 ho voted against tho Old-age Ponsions Bill. Mr. Seddon quoted from Hansard tho roport of Mr. Maasey'a speeches on tho lease in perpetuity, showing a radical ohnngo in his opinions. The Opposition had no right to claim tho sympathy of tho electors without putting any policy before them. The absolute refusal of Mr. Massoy and hifl party to foreshadow a policy was a souico of danger. They had a right to know whore the party was going. "CAPABLE AND HONEST MEN." Tho business of tho colony was now in tho hands of capable uud honest men. (Laughter.) Previous Oppositions advanced definite policies, and they had a right to demand one from the present Opposition, and if one was not produced they mv.st come to tho conclusion that thoy had none, and their stock-in-trade was " Wait till tho clouds roll by." (Laughter.) BORROWING NECESSARY. Mr. Seddon went on to deal at length with tho borrowing policy of tho Government, which ho defended vigorously. Ho differed' entirely from those who thought we are borrowing too extensively. If tho country is to bo developed wo must borrow j roads and railway construction must bo undertaken to enable the hcttlers to dispose of their produco in tho markets of the world. LAND FOR SETTLEMENTS. In speaking of tho Land for Settlements Act Mr. Massey mudo some astounding statements; which he quoted Hansard to refute. He challenged Mr. Massoy 's statement that every Crown settler cost tho colony £1150. Tho cost was really £379 — a wm quito incommensurate wftli the gain to the colony. It was cheap settlement. In this respect Taranaki was an object to other districts cursed with large estates. Tako the country from Patca to New Plymouth ; look at all these towns— they were all prosperous— and compare them with the land betweon Napior and Woodville Thoro waß tho muno land there, but they must fco what the closer settlement had dono for Taranaki. If the Opposition wcro in powor would thoro bo this closer settlement-? Would they buy up tho large/estates and cut them up? There were only three out of tho 129 cut up which wore unsatisfactory, and if no rents wore- paid on these lands thero would bo a loss of £166,000 to tho country. Mr. Massey did not tell them this. They should bo caroful whom they , returned to Parliament, for the land policy was a serious question, and it was for the country to say whether they could trust thoso who had so far been responsible for tho land policy of the country. SETTLEMENT CONDITIONS. Tho Government desired to give every oncouragoment to those who cumo on to the land, and instead of being harassed by Land Boaids and rangers they should receive every encouragement, and it had struck him if some of theso harassing conditions wero relaxed tho settlers would bo better off. So long as the Crown holds a paramount interest in tho land, and the tenant unduly worked tho land, then it was tho duty of the Stato to protect itself from injury. But thero was another view. Thoy would agreo with him when ho said the tenant's interest in the land was greater than the Crown's, and if tho tonant was boing unduly harassed it wm the duty of tho Crown to look into the matter. Land Boards and rangers hod no right to touch the tenant, ut all. The interests of tho Crown in the land amounted about to £1, and the improvements to £3 ; was It likoly that men wrro going to injure tholr prospects for tlmtV THE QUESTION OF ROADS. Lands should not be loaded for roads. In tho past thoy had not been. Tho loading of lunds for roads should bo abandoned altogether, and the sooner roads were made and metalled tho better. As far as roads were concerned, thero was room for improvement. Theio was a great difficulty in this matter as regarded "thirds." Instead of giving each local body £13 or £14 at a time these "thirds" should be capitalised, say, tor 26 years, nnd linn<l«d to the load Hoards for roading and improvements to roads. He thought if this wero done, and the money properly expended, and settlers worked with tho energy they should, then a great deal of tho trouble experienced by local bodies would be overcome, and the road difficulty would not bo so great. ADVANCES TO SETTLERS. Settlers had applied to tho Government Advances to Settlers Office, for an advance of £400, and had got £160. He did not know why this should be bo,

and ho Mould like to know who was to.>ipoiißtblc. It wa.s not fair to (lie leaseholder. The Hoard was responsible for this. He was only allowed an advance of 50 per cent, of hJB improvements, luit llin fiwholder got three-lift hn of his value. He intended to bring down a prnpoHal next HCrtrion so that the Crown tenant might receive an advance of three-tiftliH of thp value of his immoveini'iits, and thun bo on the same footing us tho freeholder. Ho thought this should ho t*o. Thou thoy would sec who wero their friends. They would bo met with tho cry that tho Government money should not be advanced on a throe-fifths valuation, but ho was not only going to try it, but to cany it through. EXPORT OF BUTTER. With a proper system of grading there was nothing to prevent their butter equalling Danish. If ho had his way, ho would not let Uutter under a certain standard leave the colony. Tho same applied to the flax industry. The Land Commission would probably cost, as Mr. Massey said, £6000, but it would be money well spent. A volo of thanks and confidonco was carried Amidst some dissent. A banquet followed.