THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

Evening Star, Issue 12899, 23 August 1906, Page 3

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE.

[From Our Parliamentary Refortkr.] _■•' ■- Augnsfc 22. Ihe galleries were full to-night, the large one acred to the ladies being crowded to its -utmost capacity.- The attraction was the maiden speech of the new member for Westland (Mr T. Y. Seddon), who has been called upon to represent the constituency so long held by bis father and New Zealand's greatest Premier. Mr T. Y. Seddon has already become well liked by the members, and his youth in years and politics has ensured the favor of the fair sex. • The member for Westland, a tall young clad in the traditional evening dress, took his seat at 7.30, and entered mto conversation -with/Mr R. M'Kenzie, another of the West Coast's representatives. A few momenta later Mr Seddon was called upon by Mr Speaker, and rose to move the Address-in-Reply and incidentally make his maiden speech. A ripple of applause went round the Chamber. The junior member of the House was evidently and naturally nervous but he spoke clearly and with decision. He had provided himself with copious notes, to which .at first he referred frequently, but presently he became more confident, and by the time he had reached his eulogy of the West Coast he was speaking freely and forcibly. The speech contained nothing startling, but it was an earnest and capable statement of progressive views with more than a touch of the ;hnmanities associated with the late Premier. The/applause that followed his concluding sentence, indicated not only the friendship of .'the members, but also that he had made a thoroughly successful maiden, speech in his first Parliament as the youngest member of 'that Parliament. Li his opening remarks, he said.:. "I claim that indulgence which is,due to ; my youth and inexperience. I must' mention also another source of embarrassment,' greater and deeper, and I hope that in doing so I offend against no canon of good taste. These walls to me are hallowed, as they are not hallowed to other members. For • twentyseven years the late Premier sat' there and rose to the highest position the people of this colony could offer him. He has passed away, and I have been called' upon to take his place; rather I should say that I have been called upon to represent his old constituency of Westland. I will do :all I can to show the influence of his life on mine." (Applause.) Mr Seddon then congratulated Sir Joseph Ward on his elevation to the Premiership, and proceeded to deal with political questions in a manner that showed a good grasp of current questions and an appreciation of the Liberal principles that had guided his illustrious father. He demanded more educational facilities in the back blocks and a decrease of the old age pension age for females. He then urged with earnestness and evident knowledge the claims of the West Coast, and, in conclusion, thanked the members for their svmpathy and friendship, resuming his seat amidst hearty and prolonged applause-. Mr C. H. Poole (Auckland West) seconded the motion. He is a forceful and fluent speaker, with more than a suspicion of an American accent, due, it it stated, to his residence and not to his birth. He congratulated the new Ministers, and hopetully suggested that the very large amount of caution in the Governor's Speech must bo taken as an indication that the members of the Cabinet were Scotch to a man. That indicated, stability. He vigorously supported Imperial commercial unity,. and demanded immediate and thorough attention to the Defence forces of the colony. In a somewhat lengthy speech Mr Poole dealt with most of the current questions on progressive lines, and on resuming his seat was also accorded a hearty round of applause. The Leader of the Opposition was the next speaker, and after a few introductory remarks he proceeded to complain that the Speech had contained no policy. He had been disappointed, and, incidentallv, the people had been disappointed. What the colony really needed was roads for the back blocks, and these were not hinted at in the Speech. The references to the Land Question had contained no policy; the native land difficulty.was to be solved; Legislative Council reform was not. even mentioned; and Public Services appointments were not to be placed on a proper basis. The Government, in fact, had not formulated any policy, and" the .regrets of the Leader of the' Opposition. on that account were great and sincere.. Mr Massey spoke for the full time allowed him, and made a vigorous speech on the usual Opposition lines. . . ' '

Sir Joseph Ward rose in reply,, and commenced by congratulating the new member for Westland in warm terms on the speech with which he had opened the debate. He added a tribute to Mr Poole's effort. The Government (continued the Premier) desired to be judged on their policy, and no Government had ever given their policy in detail in a Governor's Speech. The Government would not be found wanting in a progressive policy. It was true that differences of opinion existed in the Ministry, who, however, had been well received from end to end of Tfew Zealand. But the colony's system of land administration would not collapse because one of the eight Ministers was a Single Taxer. Seven of the Ministers were not Single Taxers. The real policy of the Administration would be found in the Financial Statement, and then members would have information and details that could not possibly be included in the Governor's Speech. The Premier proceeded to traverse the speech delivered by Mr Massey, saying that he was not in favor of the abolition of the Upper House. When a change was to be made the country should ask for it, and the country had not asked for the changes suggested in some quarters. It was very easy to talk of changes, but he woufd ask members to examine the records and see whether the Legislative Council had really stood against the will of the people during the past ten years. The Council had during that time done good work for the country. "Eevry hon. member will lmve an opportunity of judging the Government on their land proposals this session," said Sir Joseph. "When our measures come forward! the House will find that we have the courage of our convictions. I believe we are going to settle the Land Question for many years to come; at least, we are going to try." Touching on the Tariff, the Premier said that the Reciprocal Treaty would mean very considerable reductions in Customs taxation. Tariff reform was necessary, but it could not be undertaken in a short session. Sir Joseph made a lengthy and effective speech.

Mr James Alien followed the Premier with a criticismi on approved Opposition lines, and at 11 p.m. the debate was adjourned until the following afternoon.