The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1911. THE FIRST DEBATE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7868, 2 August 1911, Page 6

The New Zealand Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1911. THE FIRST DEBATE

The debate which, opened in the Legislature yesterday represents an expensive concession to precedent which could very well be banished to the limbo of forgotten things. The Hon. S. T. George’s description of tho proceedings as “ a waste of time” is much too moderate. There is also a waste of money and of effort. Still, as it seems hopeless to expect that people who are consumed with desire to reform everybody except themselves will cut away tho encumbrance of red tape which imposes upon Parliament this portentous discussion, there is nothing for the country to do but meekly bear tho infliction and the cost. Nearly everything that was said last night had been said before and will he said again. Even the leader of tho Opposition, who had encouraged the community to expect something definite about the Mokau transaction, contented him* self with railing at Mr Loughnan’s “ idiotic challenge,” asking the Native Minister to “take the initiative,” and denouncing the whole business as “one of the most disgraceful ” on record. It is probable that in this Mr Massey disappointed his friends, since ho had a very good opportunity of descending from the general to the particular and presenting a resolution to the House. He has been demanding inquiry into something or other in connection with Mokau for some weeks past, hut the community is still left in doubt concerning the exact phase of tho transaction requiring investigation. If there is any justification for referring to the Mokau purchase as one of the most disgraceful on record it must be hlaok indeed, for some most omasdng iniquities are on record in connection with native land transactions in this country. However, wo may look for some more precise statement from the leader'of the Opposition later on, though his utterances last night give the impression that ho may he more concerned with wasting time than giving point to the rather vague charges made against verious people from tho platform and in tho press. For the rest tho debate was noticeable for the effective reply made hy the Hon. George Fowlds to Mr Massey, and for the prominence given hy Sir Jennings and Mr Witty to tho question of land settlement. Mr Jennings was able to show that in the Waikato a remarkable record in tho way of settlement had been established during tho last few years. The figures ho quoted are alone sufficient to meet tho reckless but oft-repeated jibe of the Opposition that the Government is “doing nothing to open up tho country.” Both the mover and seconder referred to aggregation as a practice demanding the immediate attention of Parliament, and in doing this they touched upon what is really tho beginning, middle and end of the land question. Unhap--pily neither were very clear about their proposed remedies for this undoubted evil. Apparently they incline to tho belief that the problem can be met by statutory limitation of area. Possibly it may be, but we have grave doubts on the subject, and these are not made less pronounced by the failure of those people who advocate this line of action to produce a workable plan. It is becoming more clear to everyone who stops to think about land aggregation, that tho only really effective way to put an end to it is by the simple direct method of taxation. The aggregation of land is rampant all over the country, and it cannot be long before tho force of public opinion compels Parliament to deal with tho problem by methods that will not only be preventive, hut will compel division.