ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 5, 6 July 1910, Page 3

ADDRESS-IN-REPLY.

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The debate on the Address-in-Reply was continued in the Legislative Council after The Post went to press yesterday. The Hon. R. A. Loughnan referring to the Government's " water-power scheme said ho looked for great things from it. The time would assuredly come when nearly all the industries of the country would bo run by water-power. He praised the Government's proposal for the establishment of a sinking fund to wipe out the national debt. The national annuities scheme also commended itself ito his approval. Coming to the land question he said that judging by the controversy outside and in the n&vrspapI ers one would imagine the fate of the Government was at stake. Indeed one might suppose that the fate of the country was at stake. Personally, he did not know whether a lack of a sense of proportion was not in evidence. Personally, he did not think the question of ! tenure mattered a two-penny piece. The [ present Aci supplied all that was required. The question of tenure had been settled on a reasonable basis. What should be done was to take every possible step to increase the productivity of the soil and extend markets. The export of apples was a subject requiring attention, and the possibility of developing a market for frozen meat in America was one which should be considered by every fanner. The Hon. J. B. Callan at the outset quoted from a book written by David Christie Murray, in which the writer stated\ that "with a little energy and a little courage New Zealand could be mado the pet recreation ground of the world." He referred to the efforts of the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie to popularise the tourist resorts, and spoke of the reported destruction of the beautiful bush along the banks of the Wanganui River. This, he understood, had, not yet been entirely stopped, and it was the duty of the Government to see that something tangible was done to preserve the beauties of nature. Passing to the land question, he said he was glad that settlement on the land had been going along smoothly. Ho could not see why we should not leave well alone. In his opinion it would be wise for the Government to rest on its present legislation. If the Government passed its intended Bill dealing with the development of water-power, it was to be- hoped that it would promptly put the law into operation. The debate was adjourned on the motion of the Hon. J. Anstey. , The Council adjourned at 4.30 p.m. j IN THE HOUSE. '"'" A TAME DEBATE. The, debate on the Address-in-Reply \ was continued last night. Sir. Hogg, who safd there were three questions which every Parliament in , New Zealand had to consider, and that j was land, labour, and capital. If these three things could be brought into harmony a great problem would be solved. It was the duty of Parliament to make the land as productive as possible, it land was held unproductive againfit labour, and land monopoly permitted to flourish, it was virtually a crime. Of coerce, the question of freehold andleasehold wa& always raised, but the difference in the two tenures was not so I very great. Personally, he had always claimed that State leasehold was thebest system. As to the l.i.p. holders, he said he would be only too pleased to assist them to come to a reasonable compact with the State. Proceeding, he spoke of the manner in which native lands had been sold or leased. One could hardly believe that such transactions had been possible under aXiberal Government. One firm consisting of two individuals in Bawkes Bay had secured 15 7 797 acres in the King Country from the natives on leass (as shown by a Parliamentary Teturn), while another family had 21,244 acres in the King Country. Still another family had 15,914 acres. The list was very instructive, and showed how the Government of the day had allowed the modern squatters to' mop up the hest of tho King Country at rentals of 6d and- 9d per 'acre for 25 and 50 years. The eyes of the land had been picked out. The meetings of the Maori land boards were simply a farce. Recently he had tried to get a little bit of land for a friend of his, and wrote to the commissioners at Taranaki and Auckland. All that was offering was second-class land. He advised hie friend not to go to Auckland ; in fact, said it would be more profitable to commit a burglary and get seven years' hard labour. If his friend had gone to Auckland he would have had to suffer about ten years' isolation. Mr. Hogg spoke approvingly of the graduated tax as a ' means of bringing about closer settlement. Inasmuch as a man had a right to exercise one vote only, he should be obliged to be content with one good farm. Passing to the workers, he said they had suffered far too long. No man should be asked to accept a living wage only. He should be so situated that he would be able to provide for the proverbial rainy day. The speaker com- i plained of the amount of money to be spent on the defence camps for both J islands — money which could be better spent 011 providing roads and bridges. If defence camps were to be established there should be camps for the unemployed too. As to 1 capital, he had always held that the Government of the country should be the sole custodian and distributor of capital. This country, with its grand possibilities and splendid resources, was simply parched and dried ! up for want of capital. , Capital was j locked up in greedy and avaricious hands instead of being available for use by the people The "rings 1 " were all playing on the people. SOUND PROGRAMME WANTED. Mr. Geo. Forbes (Hurunui) said he did not think the country wanted anything extraordinary in the way of legislation. What was wanted was a sound sensible programme. Referring to the working of the Land for Settlements Act, he said nothing had been done in his electorate — which included some very large properties — since the acquisition of the Culverden Estate. It was the duty of the Government to see that lands through wheh the railways ran were producing to the greatest extent. He urged the Government to do something definite in regard to the large pastoral leases in Canterbury which fell in in February next. EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. Mr. E. H. Clark (Chalmers) ucged an extension of the scheme of experimental farms. He did not think it right that farmers of the South Island should be obliged to travel to the North to see the work done there. , The new member for Auckland East (Mr. A. M. Myers) was well received on rising to speak. He advocated a vigorous policy iv afforestation. Waste- lands should be settled mor& expedittously. He failed to see why the charge of parochialism should be levelled againut those who asked for justice for A Member : Auckland. Mr. Myei* : No ; the North. The debate was adjourned at 10,45 p.m., on the motion of Mr. Lawry.