EVENING SESSION.

Thames Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 10462, 13 September 1911, Page 1

EVENING SESSION.

WELLINGTON, Septembsr 12. When the House resumed at 7.30 the Financial debate commenced.

Mr Massoy said tho Financial Statomtoti, 'aJthough extraordinary long and containing a largo number of subjects, wag not vory statesmanlike, and most oi tho subject^ ware utterly irrevelant. It was a vote catching effort, but before many months Iho Premier would find" it in vain, as tho people would not sell their votes. Ho (Mr Massoy) claimed to bo tho author of tl»o Death Duties Act, and he believed tho Government was collecting £300,C00 instead <if -3150,000 under tho Act. Tho only reference to tho land question was family settlement, and if tha details are all- right he woulcl support it. A C4overnraent that did not bring forward and insist on a progi-v-S sivo land policy should get notice- to quit. During the past year the area settled by Ciwvn. lands was only onethird that of the previous year. Regarding the £5,000,000 loan it was time the country waf3 taken: into the Government's confidence and give particulars thereof-: ■'■-.." i ■■■ ' ;

Mr Mnssey resetted the absence of Mr Hogg, as lie wished to congratulate him on tho introduction of Mio !■■! -In note. Tho troublo in tho proposal was that the rcservn of gold brfiind the notes might; by withdrawn, find hoped tho Minister would not j;o furthor thnir indicated 'by the Statement. Ho would support Sir Joseph Ward in any humanitarian proposal. Thero had been- a tremendous increase in the cost of Government out of proportion to tho population.

Tho "Son. D. Buddo rose to reply. Criticism on legitimate lines, ho said, was always welcome, but he would show where the criticism was unsound. Mr Massey said it was a bad Government, but it had not appeared so after 21 years Tho greatest loss in population took place during tKe last, year of ills Oonser vativo Government. Coming to land settlement, Mr Massey said very little

land was made available, but the figures came, to 2,000,000 acres. The high price of land ruling prevented the Govern ment doing moro in the parly part of this financial year. In reference to the five million lean tho Minister read an extract from tho Standard, a Biitish OoiipcfrvUtive newspaper showing that tho price* of stock only Ml half percent for. a few hours, yet the. Leader of ■ tho Opposition raid tho country's credit was affected.. He did not. believe any of Mr Massey's statements -would affect tho progress of the country.

Tho Houso adjourned at 9 27 a in. Un il to morrow aflcrnown.

Mr Massey,. desired Wednesday tn be, -la?pt< : for ' questions, ibtit. Sir' Joseph Ward snid'ha wanted to-: get on with the bust>ness: of tho country When the debate \v;is finished', he would brine; down the Public Works ■Statement find P>i!!s indicated in tho Financial Staten-.ont.