MR NEWMAN’S SPEECH.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10658, 29 May 1913, Page 6

MR NEWMAN’S SPEECH.

Following are some further portions of the report of Mr Newman’s speech.— CIVIL SERVANTS. Mr Witty, Ricearton, asked the Government whether they will remove all civil and political dlsabili- ■ ties from Civil Servants? Mr Massey replied that the whole subject of the organisation of the service and the status of Civil Servants is under the consideration of the Government. The question can only be replied to when the Government proposals are laid befdre Parliament. “ I can see no reason at present why Civil Servants should not be eligible for Town Boards, Counties, Boroughs, School Committees. But I question if it would be in the interests of the State if full civil and political rights were granted to State servants. W’ould it be In tire interests of the State that railway employees at a large station, I dissatisfied with the action of the stationmaster should write to the papers and get up public meetings to denounce him? If a stationmaster had no newer to dismiss men without justifying his conduct in the press, say, it would produce chaos. Then supposing (as was stated by a member in the House last session) a iiolice inspector, or collector of Customs or undersecretary of a great public department wants to have a shot at a seat in Parliament? Should he he allowed to send in his resignation temporarily and it defeated resume his place? What would happen to the department in the meantime? Of course an M.P. cau easily earn popularity by urging such a change as Mr Witty did, but my opinion is that at present it would not be in the interests of the State that full political rights should be given. BAirOP NEW ZEALAND. Mr Massey has stated that legislation dealing with the Bank will be brought down nest session, when doubtless the question of State Bank will cron up. It is urged that Banks make too high profits and a Stats Bank would improve matters. lam I not clear about this, and in view of the question coming before Parlia ment shortly I must keep an openmind in the meantime. State interference with banking IS affairs is not entirely satisfactory I when party feeling is strong Then I also a State. Bank could only advance | with the same margin of security as * any other Bank or it might come tc grief. Tiiere was great disappointment in Australia when this was found oat. The State issue cf notes as proposed by Sir Joseph Ward is I another “matter andfhas points in,its favour. After the Bank of New Zealand legislation has come down i and the matter is fully debated I will then be in a butter position to express a decided opinion on the poi_t So far the State connection with the Bank has been satisfactory to State, and Parliament will see that the State’s interests are pro tected in the negotiations. STATE GUARANTEED ADVANCES. The following statement shows the advances made to workers for erecting or acquiring homes as at the 81st March, 1913: —Applications received from Ist April, 1912, to Slsfc March, 1918, 1805, amounting to £574,498 The number of applications ou which fur year ending 81st March, 1918, advances were authorised, 1254, amounting to £887,175. The total sum’raised by the Government for investment ou mortgage is £2,09(), 941 12s 7d. The total sum Invested to 81st * March, 1918, amounts to £2,270.805, the repayments totalling £2(12,947 14s 9d, the actual balance of principal owing by I 0848 mortgagors ou mortgage of pro- | pertv tiffing £2,007,917 5s 3d. | LAND AGGREGATION. | The Opposition press have been writing most extravagantly on this subject. One writes:—“All through this district tiiere are agents out, their pockets lined with gold in order to tempt the small farmer to take advantage of the Reform Government’s legislation to converting leasehold into a freehold, and hand it over to the man possessed of capital, in this manner our host dairying lands are being converted into sheep runs, families are leaving the country, and the townships impoverished. ” The matter was referred to Mr Massey, and lie seat an officer to enquire, who reported as follows: 1 There has been aggregation to gome extent. 3. There has been no aggregation as a result of tin: passing of the Land Act of last year. 3. In the districts where aggregation was supposed to have taken place there have been no such cases sines the present Government

came into office. As the agitation was continued the matter was referred to the Lands Committee, which will give those people who are making statements an opportunity of proving them, and at the same time will bring to light the true facts of the position Clause lof the Land Act, 1913, reads:-—“lt shall not be lawful for any person to become the purchaser in fee simple of any area of settlement land of any description owned, held or occupied by him under any tenure, whether in severalty or Jointly with any person exceeding a total area of 8000 acres, calculated in the manner provided by section 97 of the Land Act, 1908.” EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. A leading Opposition newspaper I said:--*‘Mr Allen immediately Ids feet touched the pavement of Lon- I don blabbed to a press interviewer j an offer that -was calculated to com- | mit the youthful Territorials of I New Zealand to foreign service at 3 the dictation of any Defence Minister who chanced to be in power at the moment.” The reply is that in I an interview of Mr Allen with a i‘3- | presentative of the London Morning Post, Mr' Alien made no offer but merely • said that New Zealand | wants to be able to send an espedi- | tionary force abroad if necessary. I He expressely added that these men I would of course be volunteers. Besides to show the impossibility of I Territorials being sent abroad sec- j tiou 23 of the Defence Act, 1909, says: 11 Any part of the Territorial Force shall be liable to serve in any part cf New Zealand, but no part oi the Te-.ritorial Force shall be carried or ordered to go out of New Zealand.” HOIST WITH THEIR OWN PETARD. Tire Government were accused __of spending £SOO in Hawkes Hay for the benefit of squatters in order that they maymotor with ease and comfort over the admirably made roads. The reason given was that the district was represented by a squatter (Mr G. Hunter). As stated by Mr Hunter, any person knowing the country know that the road was oi ahsoluutely no benefit to squatter.-', and was not likely to bo used by them for motor traffic. Tho Government had voted £SOO for the , erection of bridges on the road, because the bridges already existing had been erected by private individuals, and were in a highly I dangerous state. The road ran through closer settlement, and as there was a school in tho locality, children had to make use of it. Further: —The locality in question is represented by Mr Escort member for Pahiatua, who is a small farmer if ever thers was one. a no. the cl max is reached in tho fact, as. the Dacnevirke News points out, that tho vote in question was nluced on the estimates by tho Mackenzie Government. THE SURPLUS. Mr McOalium, referring so _vhe £700,000 surplus, is rt porfceu as complaining utterly whv Mr Massey s does'not at once expend this surplus to relieve what is described as financial stringency from which every department of the Public service ix at present suffering, saying: Y bat is the use of a surplus if he scare a pour.fi for a rood, wnen no cannot house country school children decently, when he. has not a shilling to snare for the construction of one solitary worker s home, aud when he cannot make even a moderate advance to a settler?” ; The reply to this, of course, is j obvious, and is pointed out * by the Hou. Mr Fraser' Minister for Public , Works. He says:—‘‘Does Mr McCall urn km:\v, ami if he docs not know he certainly ought to, that the ('only transfer that can be made from the Consolidated Fund to the Public Works Fund of any other fund !■’ bv the expressed will of Parliament as set forth in the Appropriation Act or during the sitting of Parliament by Imprest bnppl y Li 11 ? Neither this Government nor any of its predecessors could have done what Mr McCailum suggests should have been done, namely, to have supplemented last year’s Public Works Fund by transferring thereto the preseut surplus of £< 90,000. ’ 5 SOUTH LA N D LE A SB. | Loud complaints have been made of what is described as “’That Goal Gift,” the Southland lease. “The Public Estate sacrificed by the Reform Partv. ” It was stated recently Hiaf. New‘Zealand was startled by a report from Invercargill _ that a holder of a lease in perpetuity ban uudfr the Land Act of 19i 2 acquired the freehold oi Ho acres _of laud known to be ooal nearing, an-, estimated to be worth over £• iif 1,000, for the trilling sum of £47. Almost before the public had lecovered its breath niter this amazing announcement this lucky individual, Mr Gavin Brighton, applied for the freehold cf two Other coal bearing leaseholds. The reply . is that the matter was submitted to the Supreme Court, with the result that the Court decided that the Government had not parted v/itn -he minerals at all, the, land being leased, not the minerals. ANOT HE R H CIS T. Bitter criticisms have been made With regard to the publication of the Postal Department regulations, one of which throws upon postmasters and officials iu charge the responsibility of seeing that the private habits _ of their assistants are beyond public reproach and their conduct not likely to bring them into,, trouble or to discredit tiie, department. Oa the strengrn ox tins regulation tho writer charges the Massey Government with introducing u new ’ ‘ Massey. la w. wiiicu is a-, outiiigeous iiisuii to Loo .-..‘aAgo, " Tim reply to Ed;: m th ; - j “jievv” rug"-bit lon was i oAnm.vmd i in 4 1899 by Mr Seddon ; it was coo- ’ E’-nih by hi.' sm memo:;-;; in o:\mm ■ : ami has remained m xci 4 gg to ggs ! : -ay.