THE GOVERNMENT POLICY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 32

THE GOVERNMENT POLICY.

BILLS FOR NEXT SESSION. (FaOU OUB OWIT CoRBESPQNDfiNT.) AUCKLAND, May 23.

I While speaking at the Seamen's Union ! meeting last aight in- response to th& ptef, sentation made to him by the union, the 1 Hon. W. Hall-Jones indicated- *ome of fchei prominent measures which. Parliamenfl will have to deal with in the coming session. He said a Teachers' Superannuation Bill would be introduced,, and that the system would b&. extended, through: the whole civil service. The old-age pensions would be increased from-7« to lOs per week. Another matter would ha a bill dealing with the , extension of land settlement so as to make : it apply to workmen's homes, enabling, work- ! men to borrow more money for building; purposes. At present, owing to the tenure being leasehold, difficulty was experienced in borrowing sufficient money to build, but under the Government's proposal a man I would be able to borrow up to hail the value of the buildings. Royalties <m timber, ffax, and gum, which hitherto hacT gone into the Consolidated Fund, would be devoted to the work of iooal bodies after allowing for the cost of administration. It was the duty of the State to make provision that there should ber no aggregation of large estates, and that there snould be a limit to th© amount of land which any man could hold. That matter would receive attention. There was always a difference of opinion reffardinjf valuation, and he believed that the 'best system would be to allow each man to make his own valuation, permitting others to take ft at an increase of 10 per cent. The Hospital and CharitableAid Boards were now practically all elected .by the local' bodies, and he wanted to see the people brought more closely into touch with these institutions. He- proposed to submit proposals for the election of the boards by the people themselves by «he parliamentary franchise. Then the Government would proceed next session in a vigorous- manner with the administration ; whir'i had been ao successful in this colony. The Gove.rnment was some-times blamed for mismanagement, but who could not show any other man how to run his business? The present prosperity of the colony showed what had been done by a watchful eye which paid close attention to everything. He asked them to believe that the colony was the best* in the British Empire; that we had an energetlo people- who were determined to maintain °ur present prosperity, and if each did hi~ share there need be no fear for the future of the colony.