NEW LEGISLATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2850, 28 October 1908, Page 53

NEW LEGISLATION.

GOVERNMENT PROPOSES A HALT. SPEECH BY SnTj. G. WARD. After replying to the Oppceition criticism, and explaining at considerable length what the Liberal party had done for the Dominion since- it came into office, the Prime* Minister, in his speech at Palmerston North on 'Monday, 19th inst., gave an indication of the Government's proposals in regard to the future. He daitnod > for the Government that it had dealt with- some of the greatest and most difficult subjects that affected this or any other country. It had dealt with Labour legislation, land legislation, the tariff, Native legislation, and education, and he said that in doing so it was a record of which any Government might w<«ll be proud. Our legislation was ahead of that of most countries of the world. He was of opinion that, while orogress should be the watchword, a rest in legislation was desirable. He did not say that the Government could avoid what might prove to be requieite legislation in the future, but he thought that, ac it had done so much and met the general requirements of our country so effectively, its efforts now should be directed towards the good administration of our laws, the active -Wtt-lement of th© people on our lands, and the pursuance of fcfoa closer settlement policy that now existed. We were essentially an export country, and all in our power that could be done to help our producers to find the best and the most lucrative markets was very necessary. Our industries were reasonably protected, and c very opportunity should be afforded to th^m of extending and improving their output^ and co giving greater employment. He felt that the best interest of the country would be conserved by using the machinery of the Government in the direction of helping the stability, employment, and development of our pxxjducing power and industrial concerns- That there must be a considerable impetus given to settlement, production, and employment — in the North Island particularly, as the transport facilities by the opening of the North Island Main . Trunk railway, to which further feeders must in the ftrfcure be provided — was dearly, obvious. The Manawatu railway also, which presently would be State-owned, would be an important factor in developing increased railway traffic, and he hoped for additional settlement— not only to the districts through which it ran. but over areas beyond it, — as it was pertain greater work would bo done over it under Government administration than under private control, however good that control in the past might have been. By adopting this course a greater opportunity would be given to members of Parliament to discuss tho general administration of the country, and as our departments had been added to grcatlv during recent years he felt that in giving effect to a policy of this nature it would be calculated to inspire a greater confidence in, and general satisfaction to, the country a« a whole, and to carry out the work that Parliament was really in- ] tended for. The Government wanted to make conditions freer and better for all ; not to legislate for one class against another; not to get capital and labour at each other's throa-ts; not to engender bitterness and strife ; not to create class distinctions, of any kind ; not to favour a few as against the many ; not " to advocate or establish a policy of pulling everybody and everything down to a dead level, but to give increased opportunity to all ; to give a deaf ear to him who lifted idle hands and prayed 10 the State to give him each day hi»' -darH? bread, but a ready car to him who lifted willing hands and prayed, "Give me this day an honourable opportunity to earn my bread." The Government desired freedom but not the old nogativo freedom which, for millions m other countries, meant chiefly freedom to starve but noy/ freedom— freedom o oooortunity, freedom to get on by setting j chance; not the old Conservatism, which -f,elt privilege and reserved carpers and callings to a few monopolies in tho lia.uls of a limited number— ihat wa>=, land, capital, profession;), politics,— and under which a premium was required for many callings, such as la-.v and trades, which meant a limited franchise, restricted to a email section of the country as against manhood and womanhood suffrage Ihe Government advocato<l a piojrrossive ibor.ilism; not wild and unconsidercd license, but a liberty that provided opportunity to <ret on froo as far as possible— in 'act, opportunity for all anrl equal opportunity to the most humbly born to ascond the ladder of life. It« reforms mi<?h.t bo reduced to this Kr«at principle: opportunity for all Its land pohev had broken and was breaking up the monopoly of larj?e holc'ines. and was offering the opportunity of settlement to the landless. Its Land Acts all aimed at limitation of area, and, to widen the area of opportunity, the Advances- to Settlers' Act gave opportunity - to cet money on terms as good as the greatest land-owners in the country could procure. The policy of the Agricultural Department ga^e opportunity to small farmer? to eet information. „ instruction, market?, and the beat prices for the products of the toilers on the land. The Government policy as affecting worker and employer was to give free opportunity to both to improve their position It provided workers' homes to jr've the worker an opportunity to get a home and bring "P a family. The Advances to Workers Act

gave him the opportunity ro get money at the cheapest rate to get a home. The industrial laws gave opportunity to employers and workers to have a reasonable wags fixed and provision made against sweating and unfair competition. The Government policy gave opportunity to infants to liver under our Infant Life Protection Act by State guarantee of maintenance. The Government gave opportunity in maternity homes for motherhood under the best and most comfortable conditions. It gave ta children, to young men and women, the opportunity- of widespread education^ technical and primary to the university : and our national annuities, which h«- hoped Parliament would make law next session, provided opportunity for a poor man to make his position for himself secure when he was unable to work, and to provide for his widow and children against want or charity in the event of the death of tbe breadwinner. Was he not, therefore, right in saying that the Government gave freedom of opportunity to all? — (" Hear, hear.") Assuredly it did, and with the work it had already done, with the public finances atronsr, with a vigorous but prudent railway, Toadlng, and -bujlding policy, •was he not warranted in asking the people o< this happy Dominion to give the oppor-< tunity to the present Administration which was yet only young in office, t<< develop its policy of progress, humanism; land settlement, cheap money, cheap- railway and' transport charges, fresh nrttrkets, and last, but not least, a progressive railway, road,- and bridge-making policy, to open up and settle the lands of tbe country — in short, to further the interests, as if honestjy desired to do, of all classes in New Zealand. — (Loud applause.) Th« Government would do its best 1o promote the wellbeing of all classes without dis< tinction, and with the support of th* people it would help to make our loVely country a still happier and brighter one. not only for the present generation, but for those who were to follow us.— (Renewed cheering.)