A MARCH FORWARD

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7016, 3 January 1910, Page 5

A MARCH FORWARD

MILITARY AND FINANCIAL. PRIME MINISTER. ON THE SESSION’S WORK. THE MONEY SIDE OF LAND SETTLEMENT. SPECIAL TO TUB ” TIMES.’* CHRISTCHURCH, January 1. Interviewed during his brief stay hero on route tor Invercargill, the Prime Minister (Sir J. G. Ward) gave an interesting resume of the work of the session and his impressions as to its, importance to tho Dominion. A WORKING SESSION.

“We have just completed the work of the first session after the general elections,” said Sir Joseph. “Tho special short session held in June last was for one purpose of a distinctly national diameter, namely to deal with the- offer of tho Dreadnought by New Zealand. Tho only other work was an extension of the authorisations of the previous session until the beginning of the session which has just been completed. It was anticipated by some people that tho holding of a session so late in tho year Would result in comparatively little work being accomplished, but in tho light of results I think the most fastidious critic must recognise that this has not been the case. In my opinion the work earned out during (he first working session after tho general election easily establishes a record in this country. Generally speaking, the second session of Parliament has been the ono in which the bulk of tho work has been accomplished. The importance of the legislation carried through this Parliament may not be realised except by members of Parliament and the comparatively few whoso business it is to closely analyse our laws, but this session’s legislation, in my judgment, is of far-reaching consequence and importance. FINANCIAL SYSTEMS RECAST. “The recasting of the whole system of finance under which advances to settlers, and advances to workers, loans to local bodies, moneys for purchase of land under the Land for Settlement Act. tho fund required for purchase or native,lands, advices for mining purposes, and for the Hiauraki estate, is a revolution that will add materially to tho strength and utility of all tho interests that will be dealt with by the several departments. New Zealand is admittedly in many respects ahead of any other country in the world in what might bo termed work of a social or domestic character. Our people require, concurrently with the carrying out of the financial requirements under the several headings I have indicated, provision.to be made for developmental purposes, to provide railways, additional roads, and other public utility services. This runs into large sums, and this year the amount is £2,190,(534. It has appeared to .me for some time past that if we were to successfully carry on the important social branches of the work as well as public necessities which iare' distinct from those of a Social character, a revolution was practically essential in our financial arrangements to enable both those from whom w‘e borrow our money, and the people in our country, to bave a clear and distinct separation under tho various headings so os to ensure success in obtaining tilde money in the first instance and also , secure proper facilities for the purpose for which the money is to be provided. Thifc has now been done, and it is something that at least our country can he proud or that this system is unique, and has not been established in any other country in the world. CWithout being egotistical, I may express the opinion that before many years pass by the ofßoiency and advantages of the system will impreas 'Other Countries, and, like many other advanced laws which have been termed experimental but which have long since -passed 1 that stage, will be 'adopted by them. Had we succeeded in .accomplishing nothing else than establishing a greatly improved system upon a ‘strong basis for our financial requirements, the session would (have boon a memorable one. UNIVERSAL TRAINING.

“This, however, vs only a small portion of the work done/’ Sir Joseph continued. “Can one not in the important reform of internal defence, point with pride to the work of Parliament this session, when I say that though the system of universal training has been spoken of and advocated in other parts oif the Empire for several years past, New Zealand is first to pass legislation which provides the reality ? AVe have part the work of internal defence far ahead of the position of talking about, as universal training is now the law of the land. In connection with tiiis matter we have in the Defence Act incorporated hoy scouts, who are now a world-wide organisation as far as the British Empire is concerned. No other portion of the Empire has given them the status New Zealand hah conferred by Act of Parliament,, and I believe that this recognition, will ho tho soil which will cause the movement to grow in strength and usefulness. The regulations which are necessary to give effect to tho establishment of a system _ of universal training in the Dominion will be put in hand without delay. Necessarily it will tpko a little time to have the whole of the machinery created, but nothing will he left undone to ensure it being completed ah soon as it is possible to do so. ■ A committee will be appointed after tho holidays to visit both islands, in order to select a suitable area of land upon which tho permanent structures are to bo erected, and where general training will be continuously in. operation. LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. “ Tho Land for Settlement Finance Act is also a very important measure, tinder it, private people will he able to sell farms limited in area to associations of five or more persons. That must help forward that muchdcsired desideratum, the closer settlement of our lands. The financing, both for those who acquire the land and those who sell itj will he carried out comparatively easily, as the result of the State-guaranteed debentures. I look forward to this important branch of land settlement being largely availed of as soon as it becomes familiar to the people, and it will confer great benefits upon large numbers of people throughout the Dominion. In connection with tho purchase of native lands, one of the greatest difficulties for many years past has been tho want of a legalised system by which large areas of land, in many cases lying idle, could bo acquired by tho Government ai d placed at the disposal of settlers. It has been car-

ricd on frotn year to year to some extent, but it was limited very greatly | on account of the necessary financial machinery not being in operation.” FACILITATING PURCHASES. “ The acquisition of native land formed part of the general administrative work of the country, and had to take its chance whether an amount of money in the ordinary way could bo spared for that purpose. Wo now have power to spend £500,000 a year, and on the face of it that means great activity compared with anything we have had in the past in the acquiring and cutting up of native lands. It is also in the interests of closer settlement. AVe have not in nny way weakened or decreased the power under the Lands for Settlement Act of acquiring landed estates, and this will bo .carried on as usual. One of the difficulties of recent times, however, that has to sorno extent chocked the usefulness of this important branch has been the high values that have been placed on estates by owners on tho ground that this protected them against compulsory acquisition of their estates by tho Government. 1 can understand tho motive which prompted them, but it has not been tho practice of tho Government to acquire estates compulsorily except in comparatively few instances where they stood in the way of the progress of a district or part of a district. In fact, up till now, less than twelve estates have been acquired compulsorily since tho Act has been in force. This speaks more eloquently than I can in justification of the statement that the Government docs not ruthlessly force people to sell their land whether they like it or not. As a matter of fact, there is comparatively no necessity for the compulsory clauses of the Act being used, as experience has demonstrated that more land is all over tho country than the full limit of finance provided by Parliament would admit of being acquired in any one year.” HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID REFORM. “ The altered provisions contained in the Hospitals and Charitable Aid Act are a distinct improvement upon that useful and necessary branch of the social work of the Dominion,” continued Sir Joseph. “ The law is now in every respect a more equitable one in the matter of imposing rates and placing the . contributory system from the executive Government upon a methodical and fair basis. Many of the difficulties of the past will be greatly minimised, and I believe that in future there will be less fighting_ for independent districts. An examination of the law will show that where contentions arose under the old Act about the overlapping of districts and the necessity for new ones, these difficulties are met in such a way that they will be capable of settlement without the heart-burnings engendered by the natural desire of the people in various localities to have the disposition and control of the money raised for charitable purposes.” In regard to the Friendly Societies Act, Sir Joseph said that its provisions went in the direction of ensuring that their operations would be carried on on a sound basis. He hoped that in time all the societies would come under the Act. DEATH DUTIES. “ The amendments in the death duties are of a most important character,” said Sir Joseph. “It is beyond all question that for many years we have been behind' in this respect, 1 and we have not had such up-to-date death duty and succession laws in operation in New Zealand as exist in other countries. No doubt some individuals will not like the new law', but so long as the principle is recognised (and it has to bo in this world) that the recipients of great wealth who have done little or nothing to create it should be called upon to give a larger proportion of that wdiich has been left to them to the State than the people who are in receipt of comparatively small legacies, the law must remain on that basis. Looking at the amended law without prejudice, I consider it a fair adjustment of what was not satisfactory so far as the repealed law was concerned.” THE DREADNOUGHT. “ The confirmation by Parliament by legislation of the offer of a Dreadnought to the British Navy, and provision of authority by winch the- undertaking is to be financed, completes the work that was commenced some months ago, and gives New Zealand a small attachment to that great Navy of which we are all so proud, and which, wherever it is, is helping to fly the British flag independently and supremely. It is a matter for gratification that there was no division called for in the House on this important matter, and it shows to the world that whatever differences we may have in minor or even major political matters, we are at one when it comes to a question of helping to protect the great British Empire and its widely-distributed interests. I think with pride of a Parliament that has shown no dissension or p'etty political feeling on that important question. I consider that in matters of defence we stand _ to-day preeminently on a more satisfactory basis than ever before. It is true that we could have had the protection of the British Navy without taking the course we have taken, but it would have been poor consolation that the British taxpayer was paying for what our clear duty demanded we should undertake. With our improved position in regard to the Navy, and a new basis for our improved internal defence in New Zealand, I think I am right in saying that the march forward in this rdspeot has been very striking indeed.”