SPEECH BY MR MASSEY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10959, 30 April 1907, Page 2

SPEECH BY MR MASSEY.

~i ♦ (Per Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, this day Mr MasseV,, m the course of an address, said Itbore . was little to discuss apart from the Land Bill, « 6 most of the Government measures wore introduced to give effect to the suggestions of the Opposition.- He instanced the extension of the Audit Department's function*, adoption of the principle of sinking fujbds, and charging 'the; cost of maintenance to revenue instead of to J,he public works furid, which- mainly consisted of borrowed money, H^ claimed credit for the Nat-ional-Annuities Bill and provision for the extension of the Advances to Settlers Act, enabling occupiers of homes under the Workers Dwellings Act to obtain the freehold. He thought the latter Act should apply to country districts and towhs as well "as to cities. Referring to Legislative Council appointments; he belioved that with the exception of tliat at New Plymouth the selection ' was worse than those oil the preceding Government. He said the '"administration of railways was such that- tnere was a loss not only to the people who Klmnld use the railways but to the colony generally. He condemned the administration of tho ''Public Works Department m Taranaki, Mr Ma,s«ey discussed the Land Bill much on the lines of former speeches. He denied the implication that he had said he was m favor of increasing the graduated land tax. What he had stiid was that even tho graduated land tax would be,preferable to the east iron limitations of the Minister because it would give tjie landowner a freer hand m dealing with Ills propc'ity. The effect of the' Government, limitations of land would decrease the value- of country landed securities, while leaving city lands as they were. If country holdings were to be limited: so should city lands. ______________________