MINISTERIAL CRITICS.

Evening Star, Issue 12973, 9 June 1908, Page 7

MINISTERIAL CRITICS.

THE PRIME MINISTER REPLIES.

That the Ministry have no sympathy with tho Socialistic doctrine wiis- made clear hy the Minister of Labor in tho Garrison Hall last week The Prim© Minister referred to tho subject in his address at Cbristchxtreh last night. Ho said the- Socialist theory propounded by land nationalists was that tho -whole of the land in the wunfcry was to be repurchased by the Government, but he would nek the Socialists how that could he done. The land and improvements in New Zealand to-day wore valued at 160 millions, and where was tlie ir.o.ney to come from? Tho Government had been told to rationalise- all the land, steamers, coal mines, flour mills, and bakeries in the country; but at the same time they were told (hat they must not borrow any money. If the Socialites tried to put their theories in practice they would Irarst the country before they could make a start. In New Zealand to-day there were no unemployed, if a mar. wanted to work, raid tli© unemployed difficulty did not exist here; and it was the business of the Government to see that there were no unemployed, lit? wished to call attention to the peculiar political position in tho colony today. Since the death of Mr Seddon there had lx*n a continuation of advanced laws put upon the Statute Bcok. by the same party under a new head, as was carried out prior to, that. Vet to-day there were sonio fv;oplo trying to create a. new party. If thee© people had their way. they would ftop the projrrorvs of advanced legislation instead of helping it on. It was of far greater importance that tho Government fliould adapt their legislation to the circumstances of the different people in the country than to try to achieve the impossible. I n Now Zealand to-day the Government were carrying out a land policy that was enabling a. hirpe .number ot people to Liet ■upon tlve hind, ruul they hcliovrd that that policy wa,* a practical one, and kit that it win better to do some in their day and penetration than to trv to achieve the impossible by supporting tlv; theory of the nationalisation of the whole of the land ii: riie country. Tho Prime Minister then replied to Mr Allen's recent speech at Mili'ia. explaining that the policy of the Government h-id never suggested the adoption of a Single Tax system. The Prime Minister was subjected to continual heckling by a. member of the Socialist party during tin- eour.-e of his speech. At tho riofe a vote of tiumkr. and confidence was proj»ofl, whereupon two local Socialists invjuhvi the pi.uform, and. aft-er i-onsiderablo tumult, ii wis announced that :.n amendment, of (.hanks only had l>eon proposed. The t.\v> Sociali ; 7ts essayed to speak, but owing to interruptions they eonld not l» heard. The amendment was lost. .ml the motion i-arried by an overwhelming majority, ;unid cheers.