LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 16 July 1925, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

ADDRESS IN-UEPI.Y DEBATE REMARKS BY HON. VY. W. AN OATIRASS Spe.i.f.mg m Die Lof'i.shd.ivo Ro-Jtrd j.-i idtA Add rota in Reply J Rja.l. *, Dm ilon. Vv . YV. Snodgrass said j wish to congratulate the present Gevemme.-n upon ils proposed legislation in the :n----tcrests of the 1 welfare- & the people, ’lilt- welfare of the people of a country is the- mi,si important thing I hat any government e;iu undertake to promote. 1 note that there are three special 11 1 erene-rs ui 1.1 is Excellency's Speech to social and humanitarian legislation, viz: the. nurses' superannuation fund, the Destitute Persons Amendment Act, passed into law. These three items anil tin* Child Welfare Bill, which we all hope to see brought- forward and have particular reference to this phase of legislation. Other Bills winch are forecasted will also have- an indirect reierence to this matter. 1 trust honourable members will bear with me while 1 say that to my mind this is the most important, function that, any government lias to fulfil. The social happiness and • the prosperity of the pee pie should he its first care. A mailer in which 1 have been interested is that id the welfare of the- returned soldiers. That has hei’n and is hiring doall with, by the Government on tinvery soundest possible lines. The revaluation of Soldier settlement .lands has been eoimplcted in a very comprehensive manner. Kindlier development is forecasted in. the interests of these men. and 1 am sure that the result will he the means if giving satisfaction and success to these men if carried on in the usual intelligent manner by this Government-. The reference in the -Governor-General's address to the deterioration of jiast tires in New Zealand touches upon a subject in which 1 have been interested in as an amateur for souk* years past. In cur district we have a good deal of very poor land, itis only a. .small district, and perhaps it is because: id' its limitations that this phase of farming has appealed to- us more than it has done to settlers in any either district, in the Dominion. Jt- is of vital interest t<- us because our holdings are so small. One con lei almost imagine tl-at the: gentleman who framed that reference in the report had obtained hiA information from the district in which i have the honour to reside. 1 have seen the entire elimination of ferns and other grasses brought to perfection, over a large area of land adjacent to our city. In other blocks, where the country is rougher, .1 have seen settlers striving hard to accomplish the same resuits untlor very much greater disadvantages. I’lio report itself is most, interesting, ami deals wit']) this particular subject in paragraph (in) where it says:—

"It is almost- universally said in statements made , by. settlers that lack of capital was responsible, for the grader part of this trouble. Glteap money was said to lie the crying need of Ihe country.”

That paragraph (m) is not a technical part of. the- report., but it is probably the most important portion, from the standpoint of the settler who wishes to avail himself of the findings ;of, the ieport, and if the Government will give the assistance which is proposed, I an. sure that the results will be such, as it has been, my privilege to see- achieved on smaller sections by the personal efforts of tiie. set-tiers. I am sure that this proposal, if carried out. will be of the greatest. .-importance ami advantage to the, settlers,-of the country. There are one or tvyo matters to which no reference is made in His Excellency's, Speech, but which 1 trust will lie. the subject of amending legislation during the present session. The Main llig.i ways Act and the Motor Vehicles Act appear to have, given rise to difficulty in some districts.- In the unfortunate district from which- I come we.have very .little railway communication, the consdjitem-e being that our settlers—struggling men—are compelled to relv on -motor transport for the conveyance of their produce from their farms, ; id delivery .to -them of supplies. The ro.nis have been improved but unfortunately, owing to the classification made under the regulations, heavy t rathe has been prohibited. The interference with traffic is .so acute under the regulations that the owners of service anil mail cars have' bcyti . instructed that 111-- v are not to use certain portions of the reads in Nelson and Ahtrlboroug.-i during the winter. I am sure tnat when litis legislation was being placed on the statute-book honourable, menroe- s did ne4 anticipate that it. wuujd have such peculiar results. The intention i f the promoters of the main highways legislation was. to improve the means of communication, to encourage out-baekbhx-k settlors, and to give them tin. opportunity they so, seriously needed < f getting into closer communication with iheir. markets. I just mention these matters, because I think that some amendment is necessary owing to the difficulties which have arisen under finpresent legislation, and I trust that the necessary amendments will soon be made.