THE MEMBER FOR WAKATIPU.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14211, 12 May 1908, Page 4

THE MEMBER FOR WAKATIPU.

Those of the public who read speeches of political bearing may find in the presessional address giveji by the member for Wakatipu at Riversclale last week a refreshing antidote foi much of the rodomontade they are being continually offered as political gospel. Mr W. Fraser, M.P., may not speak very often, but his utterances command respect, and his record as the chosen representative of an important Otago electorate testifies to the measure of confidence he enjoys among the electors of the district in question. Mr Fraser's address to his constituents at Biversdale was characterised by moderation and common sense. His criticism of recent Government legislation was in no way acrimonious, but was somewhat searching. Iu respect to the land legislation of last session, the speaker touched with lucidity on the points in respect of which our prfesent land laws, in their embodiment of principles favoured by the land are fair and easy targets for criticism. The subject has been threshed threadbare enough, it is true, but the issue of freehold versus leasehold is one of perennial interest and importance. Mr Praser reminded his hearers of the contention that the Land Laws Amendment Act of 1907 had Hot interfered with the occupation with the right of purchase system, and at the same time of the somewhat irreconcilable fact that the system had been rendered in large measure inoperative for reasons perfectly apparent, since the measure had been so drafted as to practically prevent anyone acquiring a freehold for settlement purposes. Moreover, ho grew prophetic on the subject. Ho said lie was convinced that every man who went on to the land under the leasehold system would after n time agitate for the freehold at a reasonable price, and he believed that would come in his time. The majority of the farming communities belioved in the freehold, and the present or any other Government would never satisfy the majority of the people settled on the land until it gave them the tenure they understood and believed in. The doctrine of the necessity for the freehold h founded on principles so widely accepted, consciously or otherwise, by orery individual, that a prediction such as Mr Fraser makes is anything but far-

fetched notwithstanding the. clamour of tlio land nationalism- and tlio Socialist. The member for Wakatipu commands ■particular attention in tlio House as an authority' on matters of finance, and what he, had to say to his constituents at Raversdalo on this subject is worthy of tho attention of the people of the Dominion generally. He sounds a note of warning to them to be careful ill the conduct of their business operations ami in respect to their liabilities. They aro advised to regard less the fact of an overflowing revenue for the past year than the fall in the price of Now Zealand staple products, largely brought about by the recent American financial troubles, and tho certainty that during the next twelve months tho people of New Zealand will have a good deal less money to spend than they had last year. On the subject of the Tariff Bill and taxation generally, Mr Fraser drew pointed attention to the tendency that exists to overlook or to underestimate the additions which have accompanied remissions under an alteration of the tariff. In view of the great credit the Government takes to itself, for the concessions it has made to the people in this connection the reference is particularly interesting. A political address is perhaps scarcely complete nowadays without reference to tho topic of Socialism. On this subject the member for Wakatipu had nothing very new to say, but what he <lid say was concise and to the point. The number of people who are content to accept Socialism as a prospective panacea for all sorts of industrial ills will probably continue to grow in New Zealand up to a certain point. Many definitions are given of Socialism, and Socialists themselves disagree sometimes as to the fundamentals of their creed, but it is certain that to regard Socialism as 'desirable o, otherwise, according, to the extent to which it is urged that it should go, is a. rather dangerous attitude. The Government of New Zealand cannot continue indefinitely to pander to the Socialist as it has been doing. Of course, we shall not be greatly surprised to hear that, in- the opinion of those in whom the optimistic habit precludes misgivings, in what he has had to say about Socialism and other matters the member for Wakatipu has merely given utterance to a number of familiar Opposition jeremiads.