MR GRAHAM M.H.R

Colonist, Volume XLIX, Issue 11969, 24 June 1907, Page 3

MR GRAHAM M.H.R

T AT^WAKAPUAKA. B On Saturday night, at the special invitation of the Wakapuaka Branch of the Farmers' Union, Mr J. Graham, M.H.R., addressed the electors at the Hillside Schooloroom. It was resolved to adjourn the meeting of the Farmers' Union in order to eve Mr Graham an opportunity of speaking fully, and MG. Dodsop was voted to the chair, there being a good atendance. The Chairman said they had asked Mr Graham to speak on the Land Bill and Arbirtation question. The labor question was gettiDg a serious one, for the men were beginning to control the masters rather than the masters the men, and if it^went on the masters would be nowhere. It the labor Unions were going to enforce their views in the country as well as in the towns, be did not see how it Would work, for if they had to go to N6lson to inspect the books before employing a man he did not know bow they could get on, and they oould not afford to pay men double wages and time and a half for working after hours, while they had to work after town hours. He- thought it was high time labor called a halt. (Applause.) Moat of them were employers and employees, and they were not sure how they stood under the Act. . , ... Mr Graham, who was received wito applause, firsfe repeated personally the thanks he had conveyed to all for hia having been elected for the fifth time as their representative, and said he had now repesented the district longer than any previous member. He said that at the election they hac to fight a combination of persons and capital, when many things were said that had no foundation. In the Waimeas, he was misrepresented regarding the great work, the improvement of the harbor, it being Baid that the Board was practically bankrupt, and that it was only waiting till after the election to disclose its position. Instead of that being a fact they were on the verge of a success as great as any contemplated when the works were undertaken. That very day this had been demonstrated, when a l-^d steamer was brought in two bouts after she cot; I 1 * possibly have entered but for the works, and was taken out at practically low water, without difficulty. The worKs was going to be a great success, and that without the Wring of a rate. In the Sounds district, they were injured because of the failure to get telephonic communication, but now, he was glad to say portions of that work were completed and the rest would be in a few days. He took the opportunity of expressing his thanks to the PostmasterGeneral. He then spoke feelingly of the losses the Coiony had sustained by the death of the Eight Hon R. J. Seddon, Colonel Pitt and other members of the Legislature, and referred with regret to the illness of

the 2 million acres it would be £40,000 a year. He said that if a man whosejwife and family had the pluck to take up land in tne back blocks, sacrifice the pleasures of life and lose many of tbe advantages of education they would deserve to have the land for nothing (applause) and it would pay the country to give it them on condition- tbat they made profitable use of it, for that would benefit the Colony. The possible revenue would be jElß4,ooo,but much of the land would not be taken up under the conditions. But tbat was the gross revenue and would be reducible by expenses, royalties, cost of survey, cost of roads, bridges, and thirds. Perhaps £100,000 a year would remain. Last year the cost of education was £700,000 that of Hospitals and Charitable Aid £300,000 and that of Old Age Pensions £300,000 fmaking £1,300,000. Mm isters spoke aa though the revenue from endowments would relieve the taxpayers, and recently Mr FowldS) a Land Nationalist and Single Taxer, whose views made him dangerous, said that if the Bill was not passed the pruning knife must be applied to Education. He thought that was a question for the taxpayers, and not Mr Fowlds to decide. (Hear, hear.) Free education to the University course was the most cherished return for the taxation they had to bear,for it was by education they raised the level of the Colony. They did not want to sink in the scale of the nations. When all the endowments were let they might get £100,000 a year, but they would get no more for 66 years, and the proportion of endowment revenue to the cost of these services would diminish. He then spoke of the conditions of these 66 years leases. At the end of the term they were to be appraised, but he asked who in 64 years would be capable of appraising the value of improvements effected 60 years before. Land, now svatrp or bush covered, would bear no evidence of the fact in 60 years. He also gave some experiences of valuations. The value of the leases might be quadrupled and he asked wno would take up leases under those terms. A leaseholder was to be given the privilege of paying up to 90 per cant of the value of the land, md if he paid up 50 per cent he was to be free of all covenants save payiDg rent, and the money so held by tbe State was to be liable to deductions if the value of improvements was not sufficient to meet depreciations. He asked who would support this scheme instead of occupation with right of purchase. He was not a farmer, and he asked their opinion. Much as he loved the country he would sooner

leave it. (An elector : You could not do anything else. ) .Nelson would suffer more than other parts of the Colony, for it had a larger proportion of land unalienated than others. Their lands bad remained locked up and unavailable so long, and people .would be unable to get freeholds as they could in other places, where the land had beed sold. If all the land were under this tenure, a 9 had .been pointed out in the Press, people would not go forit. He believed in occupation with right of purchase, and the object of the Government measu c could be attained by appropriating the revenues to the purposes named, and when land was sold investing the proceeds for the same purpose. More land was wanted for settlement, and where were they to get it? (A voice: Maori land.) 'He was answered. There were BJ4 million acres of Maori land which to a large extent was unused. Why should it hot be utilised. Till recently it paid no taxation. (Mrj Gill: It only pays half local taxation. ) He believed they could get four millions of acres easily, and he advocated its purchasa at a reasonabe price. They must also continue to acquire land for settlement from the large freeholders. They had been doing so by purchase, but the owners got the best of the Government every time. Another way was to compel the owners to sell privately. The Land Bill provided for limiting the area that might be hold to £50,000 worth on unimproved value, and a man was to have ten years to dispose of the balance. He noticed recently that the Bill was to be altered, but the same principles were to be retained. It was now proposed to limit holdings by a graduated land tax, and he thought that was a very good way. Dr Findlay, when referring to these proposals, said, "If you want something else let us know. " He did not think the Government would stand or fall by these proposals Under the Bill people were to be prevented in future from acquiring more than £15,000 worth of land Whether that was a proper limit he did not know, but a man could not take up more than 640 acres of first-class land, 2000 of second, and 5000 of third He thought the money value limitation was better than acreage limitation If he had omitted to mention anythiog he would be glad to answer questions but his desire was to ascertain the feeling of the men who spent their lives on the land Be wanted the opinion of the people who used the land- He had carefully considered it and was convinced that the Bill was not in the best interests of the Oo'ony, and that they had better leave things as they are. He said there would be a revision of the tariff next session, and in that he would do his best in their interests. He congratulated |them and the Colony on the continued prosper ity, and concluded by expressing his pleasure at having been invited to meet them, and in having met so representative a gathering. Questions were asked by Messrs O'Bierne, W. Gill, Morrison, Albor- [ ough, C. H. Martin, Wearing, and . replied to, but we have not space to i report these this morning. , Mr Corder moved, and Mr W. Gill I seconded, "That no Land Bill will be acceptable unless it contains the I option of the freehold. " The motion was carried unaniml ously. Votes of thanks to Mr Graham, . to the Press and to the Chairman were also carried by acclamation.