COMING LEGISLATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13483, 9 May 1907, Page 5

COMING LEGISLATION.

: FORESHADOWED BY MR. $-;'"'•-' ' MASSE Y. ■ PROPOSED REDUCTION OF DUTIES. [by telegraph.—press association.] C'hristchcrch, Wednesday. Referring on his return from Cheviot to the approaching session of Parliament, Mr. Missey sa id there was a great deal of important business waiting to be done. The revision of the Customs tariff required to be undertaken, as there were at present a • great many anomalies, which caused annoyance to business men and the mercantile community , generally, and Parliament, ■ • should be given an opportunity of putting ' these matters right. "In view of the fact that the Treasurer has been able to announce a very substan- . tial surplus," he added, " I think that something should he done in the way of remov- • ln some of the duties from the necessaries • of life, and so reduce the cost of living to many 0 the people of the colony. Then there is the native land question, which, according to my way of thinking, is a long Wa 7 the most important question at present requiring solution. Either natives or . Europeans, must be given an opportunity 01 occupying the lands., I feel very strongly about this matter, and if the Go- _- vernment does not tackle it, and make some far 'more satisfactory arrangement than that which at present exists, it is not worthy of the position which it occu- ■: pies. ' ",-'■ 'Then there is the long-promised Local Government Bill, which I suppose will be 'ntroduced again, and at the end of the session will be numbered amongst the slaughtered innocents. In this respect reform is very much required, as if the colony *• to prosper and progress in the way we , desire,, great improvements will have to be "'ado in the means of communication, both b loads and railways, and the local governing bodies will 'have to be placed in a Ver y much better position so far as finance ,s concerned." Kl-S'