LAND LEGISLATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13768, 5 June 1908, Page 6

LAND LEGISLATION.

FABIAN METHODS.

CRITICISM BY MR. MASSES

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OffX COS RES D ]

D.vßo.vvfi.Lr, Thursday. Mr. W. F. Massey (Leader of the Opposition) addressed a well-attended mcitm* here. -Mr. Wilson (president of tiua Poli•Ural Reform League) presiding. The speaker claimed that the Opposition had don* good work, and by outspoken .-ri. tieism had helped to save the freehold from the iniquitous Land 8i11..-* brought down last session. Mi Freddy had stated thai Parliament had pawl Mr. M, Nab's Land Bill into law. They h..d not. Ir war. a different Bill front .Mi. MeXab's thai was on the Statute- Book. The Endowment Bill now only applied to halt the Crown lands far too mm It. ho confessed. It made no! the sligtiteM flit* fcrence whether they had endowments .-.,- not. The colony wax committed l" rdncation and old age pensions. 'Hi- B"!l with the renewable lease was a pretext— a sham to please "lie socialistic element. Band nationalisation was .come, on with land for settlement hinds at the rate of halt" a million .ores evny year. If they gave tin- freehold of these lands they would stop hind nationalisation Iho Government were boating already of th» success of the ienow aide lease, hut when the Pailiamentaiy papers weic seen i! would he shown that they had m.thing to boast, about..

A great put of the poltiy ot the <.•>• vernment for the past ter years, '•>!«• tinned the speaker, had come Horn th«> Fabian Club. They wanted to nat tonal is* land, nationalise industry, and limn individual effort and enterprise So.wlt-tn was the question of the piesent and ~f the future. He did not Believe socialism was possible in this lountiy, nor in any Biitish community. Liberalism and so. cialism were not. synonymous temis. Liberalism was freedom, and what had built up the community, cleared the bush, and filled our ships, but private entei pi'ise? It was the duly of the Slate to encourage individual enterprise, but it was wrong for the Slate to take the place of individual effort'.

"Referring to the finances, Mr. .\|;ussey said lie did not favour the Government, borrowing inside the colony. Dining the last few months values had fallen, aid in the next year or two loss money would be available. Instead of coming into competition with farmers and chants tin- Government should go to lor money.

The* Native Land Commission was absolute nonsense, and not necessary. All information should have been in the hands of the Ministers long ago.

At Ihe conclusion of the .speech, a motion of than for the address and confidence in Mr. Massey wits rallied, and subsequently he was banqueted by the Political Reform League.