Address in Reply.

Manawatu Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 7759, 8 July 1903, Page 2

Address in Reply.

Afternoon Sitting. Tail Criticises Head. Mahuta's Appointment Canvassed. No Freehold-No Immigration Not Statesmanship—Ex-. .;• pediency.

(Per Press Association.) Wellington, Yesterday. The Il9u?e met at 2.30. The Grand Lodge of Freemasons of New Zealand Trustees Bill was introduced by Mr McNab and read a fyrst time. •. - ■ .■ '• : :u The following Bills were introduced and read a first time :—Wellington Hospital Contributors Empowering Bill (Feild): and Electoral Act Amendment Bill (Steward). Mr Parata resemed the debate on the Address in Reply. He held that the native land legislation 'was not attuning the results expected from it. Four years had passed, and not a particle of good had resulted from it. The outcome would be that those who wished to obtain land would have to take it up under the European system. In regard to Maori Sanitary Councils the legislation on this subject was in the right direction but uufortunately the natives appointed were men who had no knowledge of the work required of them. In regard to Mahuta's appointment to the Legislative Council, he held that there were members of the Lower House whose claims ' for such an appointment were strouger than those of M. ahuta. The arrogation ■of Kingship was an insult and a slur on the chiefs who upheld the mana of King Edward; and he charged the Government with having cast a slur: on the Maori people. He had no serious objection to Mahuta's appointment to the. Legislative Council, but he did seriously object to his appointment as a member of the Executive. • •■_■• . Mr Kirkbride, speaking in reference to the paragraph in the' Governor's speech suggesting that immigrants should be induced to come to the colony, combated a statement of the Hon. Mr Mills that it was only within the past ten years that the poor man i could take up land in this colony, and ■- said that the land^ laws under the old; provincial system were so liberal that' the laud laws of to-day could not be compared with them. What a farmer wanted first of all was security of tenure. People did not want to come out to this part of the world when they could get a leasehold where they were. . Mr Seddon: But not for 999 years. Mr Kirkbride: Not for 999 years; but there is a suspicion abroad that thnt lease is going to be snlashed 'up.'/ The Trades Councils had been passing resolutions asking'for revaluation of Crown leases. If we wanted to attract farmers to this colony, and divert thfat great stream of immigration that was flowing into Canada, we must have ■ moreTjtaPoffer them than the leasehold' and the? ballot. He condemned the present ballot system. If we decided to give preference it should be by reducing the duty on British goods, not by increasing the duty on foreign imports. Mr Witty announced himself as a supporter of the freehold. While he would not grant the settlers under the Land for Settlement Act'the freehold he would allow them to gradually pay off the capital values, and thus encourage thrift. The Government had bought too much dear land for close settlement. He believed the Government was a good - one, but its administration' might be improved. . ' Mr Herdman dealt first with the question of preferential trade, saying he thought the proper course for this Parliament .to take was to consider whether Mr Chamberlain's scheme would benefit the colony. ; The onus of, proof in thej motherland was on Mr Chamberlain.1 The onus of proof ;in New Zealand was on the Premier, and unless the latter could show that the scheme would'be of advantage to the colony the House. should vote against it."' The administration of the present Government.was not what it: ought to be. ..Men were placed? in public positions who were utterly' unworthy, to fill them.,. They were placed there because they, were friends of Ministers. We did not. get statesmanship in this country, but expediency. The public money; was used to get Government supporters into the House, and public institutions were stuffed by friends of the present administration. The House rose at 5.30.