THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue LXXVI, 1 July 1908, Page 3

THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.

Mr. Massey was received with applause on rising to speak. He said that there was little to find fault with in tho speech of the member for Tuapeka, who had described himself as in his political infancy. Following the simile a little further, he would say that the seconder of the Address was in his political boyhood. Mr Greenslade aske"d what category the speaker was in. Mr Massey : I will toll you — in my political manhood. Mr Greenslado : That is better than political dotage. Proceeding, Mr Massey attacked the contention v that tho Government had dons anything for "the farming community. The farmer was taxed heavier than any other section of the community. Then, what was tho use of the Lands for Settlement Act if a man could not borrow money in consequence of tho Government getting money from 'every lending institution in the country? One of the very best tenures this country ever had was the homestead system, which tho Eon. Mr. "Duncan had fruitlessly endeavoured to get re-enacted last year. Ho was not oppesed to experirnentii farms, but when a farmer went to the experimental farms he should bo given tho details, and shown what, a particular experiment cost. He did not even say that the experimental farms should be made to pay. (Hear, hoar.) Mr Massey then had a word to say about Socialism, which ho dtSned thus — \vh2ro the . State assists private enterprise that is not Socialism ; whers the State steps in and takes the place of private enter-prise that is Socialism. Mr. Greenslade : What about State fire insurance? Mr. Massey .- "That is partly Socialism." He went on to say that while the member for Waikato had commended what the Government has" done for tho raining industry pome years ago, when contesting the Thames Feat against the Minister for JMinos, he had adversely criticised the work of Hie Mines Department. And as- to Socialism he would ask • who raised tlis red fiaij of Socialism? Mr. Wilford : itlasscy. Mr. Massey : "The people who raised the red flag of Socialism and single ta A are those wno included a single taxer in the present Ministry." After criticising the arrangements made in connection with the sitting of thu present Parliament (reported elsewhere) ha jokingly referred to the statements ones mads by the Premier that' prisoners might be made to work as market gardeners and that Parliament Buildings might be re-erected by shilling subscriptions. It pleased him to know that the Chinese Immigration Restriction Ant had received the Royal assent. If "it, would UGt check the Chinese influx, then tho straightforward thing to do wna to increase tho poll tax. He criticised tha manner in which Ministers had htcu. travelling round the country on the evo of the general election. It was to Ijo regretted that there was no mention in the Speech from ths Throne of the longpromised local Government Bill. Tho people of the country should insist on tlje system of local Government being brought up-to-date. Then there was to be a Bill to amend tho system of audit from pre-audit to post-autjit- He was not very much enamoured of tho present system, but the matter was a highly technical one, and mftmbers should I be given anrple opportunity to study its provisions. Turning to the subject of native lands, he described the policy of the Government as "Micawberisin" — wailing for something to turn up. lie was, however, plessed to notice the paragraph relating to native townships, and promised the Government every assistance in amending the law. The fault of the present position was not due to the natives, but to the Government, and he could not help thinking that thero wore men who professed to bs endeavouring to help the I natives, and at the same time were doing everything they could to place difficulties in the way. He was grieved to I see paragraphs in ths papers about New Zealanders going to Queensland in search of land. Capital was being sent away owing to the feeling of unrest and di"«» content that prevailed. He put that feeling down to the tax on the freehold. If wo were going to keep our young New Zeilanders in the country we must make the rewards of industry and energy just us good as in Queensland, or Canada, or the ' Argentine. As to the renewable lease, the appearance of its popularity arosa from the fact that no land was offered on any other tenure. If land was offered on tho optional tenure there would bs plenty of applicants. Further, in regard to land, enough was not being done for the small man. (Hear, hear.) The blocks were too b)g. In this connection he quoted the article on the subject of tho Culverden Estate in that evening's Post, and again urged that the small man was not being sufficiently encouraged. Turning to the State Coal Mines Department, he expressed the hope that in the balance-sheet allowance would be made for interest on capital, and also for depreciation. It should also show whether the price charged to the Railway Department was the same aswould be charged by a private company. In regard to Waiotapu treeplanting camps, he expressed the opinion that the treatment of prisoners was absolutely ridiculous, and ho hcjsd greater care would be taken in future. 'He believed that it would be a good thing to appoint a Committee of Enquiry into the whole of the prison system. Ho was told that the huts in which the prisoners were housed at Waiotapu and elsewhere were merely schools of crime. Mr Massey went on to urge the necessity of improving the .Vancouver mail service, and expressed the belief that no member would grudge the necessary expense. In conclusion, he urged the necessity of amending the Old Age Pensions Act, so as to remove in particular the anomaly of penalising thrift, and that the Gaming Act should be amended so as to relieve racing clubs from the necessity of licensing uookmakers. The Land' and Income Tax Act should be amended so as to relieve persons from the tax on mortgages, and the Land for Settlements Act should be amended so as to do away with the land nationalising which is going on by giving settlers the option of the freehold. Finally, he wanted to see a Civil Service Board established, and the Legislative Council made more representative of the people. (Applause.) ; THE PREMIER IN REPLY. The Premier followed. He congratulated the mover on his speech, and then I went on to dissect the speech of the Leader of the Opposition, finding fault at the outset with the flippancy with which he had dealt with certain questions. In regard to the land question, it must be remembered that no Liberal Government had exempted the wholo of their improvements from land taxation. Also he denieel*- tho charge that the Treasurer had gone round to the different financial institutions collaring money wherever he could get it. He had not gone to either the A.M. P. Society or the Auckland Savings Bank, and he declared that the Government had had no difficulty -in raising sufficient funds. He denied also the claims of the Opposition to any credit for the Advances to Settlers Act or the Advances to Workers Act, and declared that the credit for those Acts belonged to the present Administration only. After dealing briefly with Mr. Massey's references to "land nationalisation," he stated that in' the last fifteen years £420,000 had been spent upon telephones. Always ru-

incur was spiinginc; up about the alleged doings oi the Government. Tho old attack of single-tax had been ir.r.do upon one member of the Ministry. Tho same flxtraordinary statements wera made, but the hon. member surely recognifled that it was possible for a member of the Ministry to hold a private view which was not acceptable to the rest of his colleagues. He illustrated his point by quoting the fact that lie had heard the ltight Hon. A. J. Balfour deliver a speech in favour of bi-metaliism. Bnt Mr. Balfour had never advocated this doctrine when in power. In Mr. Massey's own party there, was a gentleman who was a strong supporter of tha leasehold system, and if he were in 'he position of forming a Cabinet to-morrow ho could not possibly pa*-s over that gentleman. He spoke at length in reply (o Mi\ Massey's remarks on the question of tha temporary home for Parliament (reported elsewhere), and thsn dealt with the absence of Ministers from Wellington. The Government, he said, was frequently charged with not looking aftor the interests of the people. He had not gone to a single place during tha recess where ho had not bscn invited. If needs bs he would ""go again, and ha might say that during the wholo of the time ho had only i:oed two Epecial train?, but if he did require a special train or :>, motor to carry on the business of the country, ho would have it, and he would not ask tho Leader of the Opposition. A statement had been made by tho Opposition organiser that the Dunedin railway station has ccr-fc £CO,GOO, and when it was challpnged he (Mr. Martin) enumerated signalling apparatus, alterations to railway yard, etc. Why, when a new railway station was erected at Auckland, the duplication of the Auck-tand-Penrose line might be addsd to the cost by como critics. If tho poll tax on Chinese had been unduly increased in the Act passed last year, it would not have received the Royal Assent. He denied that there was no mention in the Speech of local government reform, and pointed out that while thsre was a demand for tho abolition of many cf the smaller local bodies, these bodies wished to continue in existence. At tho samo time a member of the minor bodies could be disposed of, and by giving those remaining more extended powers, and by having siisking funds, and guaranteeing rates up to a certain extent, a great improvement would be mado. Some of tha local bodies were asking for increased subsidies. At tho present time counties wcro limited to £€000 per ysar, but fomo of them wanted the limit raised to -520,000. The country could not in justice bo asked to borrow {ho increased millions necessary to do this. If thero was to be a widening of tho system the thing would not havo to be dono precipitately. Parliament would have to bo in possession of facts showing what the requirements were and what suggestions had been made. lls was sincerely anxious |o impiovo the present systom. If they/ could udopi a syni.em thereby the money could b3 obtained on a repayment sysfem of capital and interest, it 'would be a very good thing. It was a very important matter and one which they | should approach with a desire to put it into effect. Mr. W. Frascr : Tt is wanted, , The Premier went on to defend tho proposed change in the system of audit, so that every payment mado by the j Grown could be compiled in a book. [ There would thus bo a complete record mado. Tha matter was not ono whidh should bo rushed through. Ho was prepared to leave it for tho calm and ! dispassionate criticism 01 members and the country. He spoke of tho work of the Native Land Commission, and declared that if Queensland was to be hold up as a bogey as against settlement in thi« country, then wo had not very much to fear. In regard fo the Vancouver service, New Zealand was only one country and not the large part of the- machinery. It was almost impossible for Australia, Canada, and New Zealand to do anything without tho assistance of Great Dritaui. This country was preparecilPto do its part in reason. If mortgages were exempted from land taxation on land, say, worth up <o £2000 or even £5000, every man in the country would mortgage his land and go avoid tax.. Mr. Jas. Allen, at the suggestion of the Premier, moved the adjournment of tha debate, and tho House rose at 11.40 p.m