THE SESSION'S WORK.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 15184, 23 December 1909, Page 7

THE SESSION'S WORK.

PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION. SOME OF THE NEW LAWS. REMARKS BY MEMBERS. [From Our Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, December 22. " The session has been a very important one and a very valuable one," said Mr George Laurenson, in answer to a question from a " Lyttelton Times" representative to-day. "An unusually large amount of progressive legislation has boon put througb, and the fact should not be overlooked by the members of the Liberal Party. The new law in regard to death duties places a large burden of direct taxation, not less than £200,000 a yea]-, on the shoulders of the- wealthiest class in the community. A fair share of taxation has been placed oil bank profits and totalisator receipts. The amendment to the Land Act will render it possible to deal with the sort of land monopoly that has flourished on Banks Peninsula, for one man will no longer have the right to hold two thousand acres of rich land iji the faco of an urgent need for closer settlement. The amendment to the Advances to Workers Bill makes it possible lor the worker to borrow up ta £450 instead of only £350. The House has decided that tiie liquor licenses granted in the King Country shall bo removed, so that faith may be kept with the Maoris who have desired to keep their country clear of the Jiquor trade. Pony racing, with its accompanying gambling in the most objectionable forms, has been made illegal. The Hospital and Charitablo Aid Bill marks a long forward step in connection with hospital and charitable aid administration. The possession of a home will no longer disqualify an old citizen from drawing the old age pension. Tlie Defence Bill, providing for the training of our youth for the defence of the country, and the important Native Land Bill, are also being placed on the Statute Book. In addition, the House has been through a number of 'other Bills having an important bearing upon the'social welfare of the people "of the dominion.

''' The record of work done shows that we have never had a more progressive Government. The only complaint that has been made, or that could have been made by Liberals, is in connection with the new land legislation, which is being held over until next year, and the fact must be remembered that the electors have sent to Parliament fifty-three freeholders and twenty-seven leaseholders. Had the minority not been prepared to make some concessions, a freehold Government would almost certainly have gained office, and its first etep would have been to give effect to the desires of the extreme freeholders. There would have been no national estate to protect after a year or two of such administration, and the work -of twenty years would have been thrown away. As things are, the men who stand for the rights of the people in connection with the public estate have succeeded in giving the electors time to consider the situation, and there is no longer any immediate prospect of our State property being handed over to a few thousand individuals. I have not the slightest doubt that when the people of New Zealand examine the work done by Parliament this session, they will arrive at the conclusion that it has been markedly progressive." " The work of the session from a legislative standpoint has been much more extensive than some newspaper comment would lead the public to suppose," said Mr T. E. Taylor. "The passage of the Hospital and Charitablo Aid Bill alono would redeem it from any charge of barrenness. The financial legislation which has been passed this session has been of farreaching importance, and will probably not require to be modified seriously for many years to come. It has dealt in a comprehensive manner with the raising of money for land settlement and advances to local bodies, besides consolidating the various departments. The new legislation in regard to Native land, friendly societies and shipping and seamen, has good points, and the Reformatory Institutions Act, which I imagine is the work of the AttorneyGeneral, is a distinct advance in the direction of humanitarian methods of dealing with the various social problems. The naval defence legislation has been largely a question of finding the money to pay the piper for the patriotic outbreak that culminated in the Dreadnought offer. The Defence Bill itself is going to throw upon the Executive'a most difficult task. The foundation for a comprehensive system of national defence is laid, but the whole superstructure has to be reared b" the judgment of the Cabinet. Few Ministers have had to undertake a task likely to prove more embarrassing. The Act suppressing pony racing is worth having, and the right and just thing has been done in suppressing the liquor licenses introduced into the King Country. lam personally gratified with the amendment to the old age pensions law. I have worked very hard for this, and I may claim that it is largely the result of my efforts, backed by the cordial and generous support of nearly every member of the House.' It is now possible for a person to possess a' homo valued at £340 and still draw the full pension of £26 a year without handing over the home to' the Public Trustee. The pensioner may possess a home worth £4OO and still draw £2O a year, or worth £SOO a year and still draw £lO a year. In regard to the land question a truce has been declared until next year. The victory rests temporarily with the Radical sentiment in the House, but unless national feeling on the question of retaining the ownership of the remaining Crown lands of New Zealand for the" people can be thoroughly aroused during the next six months, retrogressive land legislation will bo inevitable in 1910. So far as physical strength and material means will permit it is the duty of every public man and private citizen to endeavour to save the national estate from further encroachment."