THE PRIME MINISTER IN AUCKLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13812, 28 January 1907, Page 2

THE PRIME MINISTER IN AUCKLAND.

IMPORTANT SPEECH. 'FRISCO AND VANCOUVER MAIL SERVICES. govermientHand policy. '.. TARIFF REVISION. ■ (Pxr Ukitiid Pmss Association.) STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER. AUCKLAND, January 27. On being interviewed on Saturday regarding tlio new Council appointments, the Prime Minister said: "There is bound to be criticism and differences of opinion upon the appointment of legislative councillors, but tlm question lias to be looked at from tho colonial standpoint and not from nil entirely Jocal one. It was a most difficult matter to settle, and the allocations and appointments were arrived at only after a consideration extending over somo weeks. The Government did what appeared to bo best for tho colony as a whole. Telegrams I have had since, tho appointments were made show that on tho whole they have been most favourably received. The Government had to give consideration to the men who were already representing different interests, and that necessarily came into the calculation. There aro a great number of good men in the country who would make excellent legislative councillors, but there is a limit to tho number of appointments, and tho Government ea.n only do what is fair and reasonable for the" requirements of tho country."

PUBLIC MEETING. ■ Last evening Sir Joseph addressed a largely-attended public meeting in Auckland, presided over by tho Mayor. Tho Prime Minister dealt with the leading political questions of the day. Referring to tho great development of fho City of Auckland , , ho said that that development Lad been tho subject of various comments for a long period of years. He could remember when Micro wefo people, some not outside Auckland, who used to say they could not understand how it ivas that Auckland was growing so fast, or what was behind it: yet the development of the city had attracted attention from end to end of the colony, and it was reflected in the increased harbour revenuo and the increase in population. It was entirely from tho fact that the, northern portion of New Zealand, the enormous extent of which a great many peoplo a few years ago did not recognise, was forcing Auckland City ahead, making it, tho peat and proud city it iras.—(Applause.) He would give «n illustration to show the material progress that would inspiro hope, at all ovents, that the increase in population which was going on now would continue, and that must bo to the general interest. During last year 39,233 persons arrived in tho colony, and there left Iho colony 26,300, an exoes3 of arrivals over departures of 12,000, and ilic. natural increase by births over deaths would exceed 16,000, so that they could reckon on an. addition to the population during that period of 29,000 pcople.-(Applause.)

EXPORTS AND INDUSTRIES. This country, with tho enormous increase going on day by day in. settlement and the products of settlement, was 6ending away now some £16,000,000 worth of products annually beyond its own requirements, and we required to have side by sido with that settlement an addition to tho population to enable the settlement to continue and grow greater.—(Applause.) The (oral output of tho manufacturing works according to the census for 1905 exceeded £22,800,000, and that, with a. population of pakehas and Maoris of liniler a million. In iB9S tho output was £9,500,000. In this ivns included the output of sawmills, freezing works, Haxmills, and btiltpi' and cheese factories. That total of £22,800,000 was a record any country in the ivorkl would he prowl of.—(Applause.)

MAIL SERVICES. They knew that for a. long time there had been great diversity of opinion amongst the people oi the colony wj'Hi regard to the 'Frisco mail service. He believed it was tho best and Ihe swiftest way to get mails from New Zealand lo (he Old Country, anil vice Versa. It was unfortunate (hat, owing to thn troubles of the company, the steamers..had been running irregularly of late, and in the- meantime ho renewal of the contract; hud Iweri agreed to. But lie, for one, was hopeful that the owners would get ihe boats into sufficient trim to enable them to run regularly, und> an intimation had just reached the Post Office that tho owners were prepared to build two or throe new steamers, and lie, believed that for all time this country would find that tho mail connection across America, was necessary, and that it. ivould always lie a valuable connection for this country.—(Applause.) AVha't New Zealand should aim at was to have , a Vancouver mail service and a 'Frisco mail service alternating at periods that , would give New Kcnlnml a comparatively short service to and from the Old Country. New Zealand should not cut off its' external connexions. It. wanted visitors and tourists and regular and swift connection-with England. If it could ohiain. with the assistance of Canada ami Australia, a. Canadian niail service leaving every three weeks it would have a. 10-dtiys' mail and passenger service, and that was tire goal that he, for one, was workiii<r for, and also making a connection via Suez. Intimation renfcheil him that day j.hat.tlieUnion S.S. Company nnd the Hudilart, Parker Company hail agreed io a fortnightly service for the same rale as for the monthly service—£2ooo for each trip, and that would ho £4000 a month.— (Applause.) NATIVE LANDS.

Ho wanted to attract the Attention of tho people of tlie colony to Ilia fnet that tlip Native Lnnd Commission had Wen appointed. The Government wanted result? from the starting of tiiat commission, and (■lint would do a groat deal ot good for that part of the colony mrticularly and for the colony as a ivliolt;.—(Applause.) There were nearly 6.000.000 acree ofNativo land doing compararivolv no gootl to the country, and (lie Administration now saw that while (here had hcen hifih ideals the rosuils did not show that iho system of the present machinery had produced (satisfactory results. A progressive land policy was needed, so as to ensure that, the people would have the opportunity of setting on the land, and that was what the Government was contending for. He realised that differences of opinion were likely to exist, but what had really to he done was. to pass legislation to ensure that. Ihe millions of acres still unoccupied should bo made available for settlement, and to bring about a substitution of the pnSeiit chaotic position )>v laws which will ctinsCHv tliG vigllls of the original holders and the rights of posterity.—(Ap--»luise.][

THE FREEHOLD. Hβ would like the critics of tho Government's land proposals to point to one sir.glo lino that meant that tho freehold was to be taken away from tho people Ho defied anyone to point to such a proposal. There had been, ho snid, all kinds of ideas disseminated for tho purposo of showing that the Government was a destructive one, that all obligations devolving upon the individual, tho sanctity of, contract between man and man and the Stato and tho people were to be ignored by tho Government in carrying out a destructive policy. "Let me say," h<? emphasised strongly, "that there is not a lino in tho bill which would give power to the Government to take away one aero of freehold." Hβ further stated that not oho of his colleagues were what ho might term pledged to tho bill line for lino. Instead of waiting to take away tho freohold, as one section of tho community interpreted tho action of tho Government to be, • they were making a proposal so that it would bo impossible for large estates to continue in this country. ' The proposal was to limit estates to the 1(01116 of £50,000. Tho opponents of this clause said they wero prepared to approve a system of graduated land tax, which meant that they wero prepared to increase tho land tux, and as a. natural corollary it would compel a man holding a largo area to get rid of a considerable portion of it. This, then, being the position, it was selfevident that they wero at one in their desire, according to their own argument*, to limit tho area that any one person with largo means could hold. "Then, if we arc at one," ho inquired, "should wo not como together as common sense people am[ say we arc trying to achieve , the one endthat of getting thousands of settlors in the colony, by the abolition of tho large landholders?"—(Applause,) If, however, tho £50,000 limit was hot approved, then ho took it that the increased land tax proposition would bo agreed to. Ho did not earo which it was, but it had to be one or tho other—not in tho interests of the Government, but in the interests of tho great mass of tho people in tho colony. "I want 'hare to say." ho continued, "that thoro is room for a difference of opinion as to whether it should bo an increased graduated land tax or limitation of the amount, and I eay that we pught to intelligently discuss that aspect in order to achieve the same end.". He reiterated that there was not a singlo proposal in tho Government's bill to tako away tho freehold. Ho referred to the Native Land Commission on tho lines of previous speeches, and said that the system to be followed in the present caee would ensure that that commission, 16 days after ihe. next session of Parliament, would furnish a. report on every block of land investigated, and say hoiv much of that land was available, and on what terms it should lie disposed o£ to Europeans. He went on to say that thero was a sootion of the community urging the Government to pass legislation conceding the right to men who 10 or 15 years ago obtained Grown lands under certain conditions of lease to dispense with thoso covenants and acquire tho freehold of tho land at the original value. "I toll you that you will never get any Legislature in. this country to do anything of the kind," the Prime Minister declared with emphasis. If the tenure was to lie altered, then there was the vitally important matter involved of cancelling a. sacred contract entered into between the tenant and tho State, and if onco an Administration was coerced into ov compelled by agitation to give effect to such a pernicious doctrine, one could not tell wheio the line would bo drawn. "I say, is it a right thing to-day to urge tliia • wholesale violation of contract, to agitate for such a doctrine in the hopj of getting a majority to support it!" Tho Priine Minister continued: "It would bo excessively dishonest lo apply it io contracts between individual and individual, and equally dishonest to apply it between'tho State nml individual." He contended that tho only safe and proper way of bringing such a change about as that agitated for was by mutual agreement—(Applause.) He believed that during next session of Parliament a. laridl bill would bo plactid on the Statute Book which would mneb the conditions of the country goiierdljf, which would meet, tho present rcqiiitc-hienfs and l tho future requirements of the people, but which would not givo the right lo any person, to demand that a leato lu* wight- liavo , should foe cancelled. He did not deeirp to cater to any insular fooling, and ho would remind them flint they could not liavo prosperity in 1110 soillh Without it btfints reflected to somo extent in IliPriiorth, and vice versa.

INCRBASE IN POPULATION. Ho referred to the magnificent increase of population in t.he North Island, and said that whilst, fomopcopli) in the Soul h Island might regret losing their population it was a, good thing for that of the North Island fo incronsp. He 'had always believed in the{principle of representation on the basis of population, and if as tho result of further increase in ils population . the North raado a. still greater gain in regard to representation it would well dreervc it. As ho hnd told llm people in-tho South, if they, in their turn, regained tho ascendency in regard to population they would again bo entitled to the larger sha.ro of representation.

LAND FOR SETTLEMENT. Rcferrini* to tho lands far eeltlement scheme, lie said that the acquisition of these estates of course had this effect .of increasing the total value of these lands, and also of those adjoihiilg, to a tremendous extent, and in this connection ho. would point out that tliev must bo careful not to allow tho prices paid to got' beyond a. point at which it was possible to dispose of the lands to settlers at a fair rental. It was here he thought that the advantage of the Government's policy in regard' to the ldtgft estates came in. By asking the owners of these estates to cut off the fringes of their estates and dispose of them at fair prices on tho freehold system during a reasonable period they were doing that which tended to prevent the danger of wlficll Had na<] Spoken. POLICY PROPOSAL!?. During (lie iiext eeaibii of Parliament the Government would submit. four leading policy proposal"; The first would ho tho land bill, and the second the endowment scheme, which he thought should ho separated,, from the other land proposals and embodied in a distinct measure. It would then be easier in the Miaturcd judgment of tho House to bo a-pplicd to the endowment proposals than if the whole question of land tenures was kept odritinually cropping up in connection with tho matter. By separating these proposals and placing them in another bill they would not impair the principle in any way, and he thought that the judgment of the House could then bo applied to it with greater expedition. The Ciorerunwil' expected to place this measure on the. Statute Book nest session. The third jilanl; was the Native lands proposals, which would be- submitted oh the lines already indicated to them,

THE TARIFF. Tlio other leading policy proposal would be Urn legislation dealing with the tariff. The investigations in connection with this matter were now being carried out. The primary object would be to lighten the ■bnnlctis of tho people by removing the duties from tho necessaries of life.—(Applause). Tho alterations would alw> go in tho direction of permitting raw material required to be used for manufactures in tho colony to como in frco of duty, and thus, place our manufacturers in tho position of being ablo to compete with fchoee outside. Tho alterations generally 6poaking would not go upon tho lines of extreme Protection, hut the lines of judiciously building up our industries.—(Applause.) - .

OTHER MATTERS. ■'■ Ho did not say that tlio Government would restrict itself to thrao four items. There were ofchor matters which would probably be dealt wit.li, including the questions of a classification and a superannuation eohemo for tho wholo of tho Blato scrvante on a fair basis. Ho snoko on tho (iiiostion of tho Imeprial Conference, tho introduction of alien races, and tho improvement of the national defence system which was expected to result from tho appointment of the new defonco council. Ho also referred to tho maintenance of tho Australian squadron, his remarks on this head being eiinilar to thoso made at. Dunedin. Every matter of which.ho had given notice of motion in the conference must come back to tho Parliament of this colour for ratification beforo tho colony would bo committed to it. Ho wuold not accept tho responsibility of agreeing to groat propositions that would affect tho future of this colony without their receiving the. mature consideration of Parliament.—(Applause.) Ho wanted to say in tho interest of tho shipping world and owners of ships, that the Government tho previous day 'had submitted to the Governor tho name of a further delogato to tho Maritime Conference. Ho bad ascertained from tho Commonwealth that four delegates wcro being , sent from there, and iJJew Zealand must have the eamo number, as, though not so large a country, New Zealand liad very great (-.hipping interests, and for that reason the officers and engineers wero urging , that a further representative on their behalf should be seat'. Mr A. R. Hislop, wJio was secretary of tho Engineers' Federation, had been selected to tho otihor •representative.—(Applause.) In conclusion > Sir Joseph remarked that ho has had the experienco during the last week or two of how wonderfully good tho people of this colony woro to their representative who was about to take part in a great gathering in their interests in tho Old Land. In Dunedin, Christcluuch, nnd Wellington, ae well ae all along the li|io on Friday, on his way north, ho Oiad had ovideneo of tho enthusiasm and goodwill of the people, and with such tokens of cordial sympathy and affectionate goodwill any publio man going to a conference of liko importance would bo inspired with greater confidence to do his utmost on behalf of tho colony ho wae cent to ropresent. THANKS AND CONFIDENCE. Mi- J. Evans, vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, moved the following motion, which wits carriod unanimously:' —■'That this meeting thank tho Hon. the Primo Minister for liie interesting and statesman'iko address, and on tho ovo of his doparturo to attend tho Imperial Confcronoo in London wishes him God-speed and a safe return, and at the. same time assures him that he takes with him the confidence and goodwill of tho peoplo of Now Zealand.

Sir Joseph, in briefly acknowledging the resolution, sincerely thanked tho meeting, and remarked that tho goodwill of the community was of importance and valuo to him in going away to represent tho colony at tho Imperial Conference. To-morrow the Primo Minister will be entertained at luncheon by tho Chamber of Commerce, and tie samo afternoon will leave for Sydney on route for England.

■ AT PUKEKOHE. The Prime Minister was entertained at luncheon at Pukokohe on Saturday by tho Town Board, and then performed the ceremony of unveiling a photograph to the late Prime Minister in tho school at Pukekohe and also tho Seddou memorial lamp in the sariio township. . Short speeches .wero mado by Sir Joseph Ward and Mr W. F. Masses, M.H.-B. . In answer to deputations, Sir Joseph stated that the Governmeht Would contribute towards the cost of replacing roadj unci bridges damaged by the late floods.