Pre-sessional Address.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 4, Issue 20, 14 March 1893, Page 2

Pre-sessional Address.

The member for Waipawa, Mr W. 0. Smith, has been addressing his constituents at Danevirk, giving them a resume of the work of the past session, and indicating to some extent what may be expected to occupy the attention of Parliament when they meet again, With his views on local taxation—namely, that the rates should be levied on the unimproved value of property—we entirely agree, thus giving every encouragement to the occupier to make improvements ; but that the State should part with its right to all the unearned increment in the land for 999 years is not in a CC ordance with our ideas of doing justice to the whole population of the colony, though one thing is certain that a lease in perpetuity at 4 per cent is a long way superior tenure and offers far greater facilities to the intending settler than any freehold can possibly present, and the record of applications now made to the Land Department fullv justifies this opinion. The views Mr Smith expressed on the Legislative Reform Act, Land for Settlements Act, Concilliaticn Bill, Ministerial salaries, and many other questions of importance were all sound, liberal, and progressive ; in fact, under a quiet retiring manner the member for Waipawa improves very much on acquaintance, and he possesses the valuable gift of sound common-sense, which his con-

stituents have long recognised, imd shown their appreciation of id a prac-< fcical form, by returning him as their member for many years. While, judging by the resolution carried at the meeting, conveying a hearty vote of thanks and confidence in him as their representative, it is quite clear to the outside world the electors in that neighborhood know when they have a good man and value his services accordingly.