The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1899.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 406, 7 March 1899, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 1899.

In another column we print a digest of the speech of Mr Duthie, M.H.R., to his Wellington constituents. Mr Duthie is a clear-headed man, and has the courage of his opinions, his utterances in consequence are worthy of consideration. His condemnation of the policy and administration of Mr Seddon and his followers do not now need notice at our hands, as, with one or two exceptions, we have alroady dealt with them on very much _ the same lines as the member for Wellington adopted on Friday night. We will, therefore, deal with the _ policy measures which Mr Duthie intimated are iucluded in the programme upon

which the Opposition purpose contesting the general election, and to carry out, if returned, to power. In the first place ho tells us that finality must be given to the system of purchasing private estates. It is manifestly necessary that this should be the case, otherwise men with sufficent capital to purchase, and improve moderately large areas of land, will take their money and their ability to other climes. There are only two ways of promoting land settlement by poor men, and those are, by either providing government work, or for men to settle in the neighbourhood with capital to give employment to the small holder, and thus enable him to tide over the early days of settlement. The present government has recognised the former fact, but to gratify town agitators, has ignored the second.

Mr Duthia tells us that the Opposition would be prepared to allow settlors, no matter under what terms of tenure they may occupy, to acquire freeholds on payment of the capitalised value of the rental. This, of course, is opposed to the opinion of those who are tainted with the nationalising fad, and in consequence are unable to recognise that as Parliament is in the position to tax the land, for all practical purposes the land is national property. The holders of leases, however, Mr Duthie tells us, are not to be disturbed, and leases, we presume, are to be granted. Those who are opposed to freeholds argue that under the leasing system the land remains a constant source of revenue. It does so equally under the freehold system, because, as we pointed out above, the power to tax remains. In favour of giving freeholds there is the fact that capital is immediately required to prosecute public works, and the revenue acquired by the sale of land should be applied to this purpose, and not, as in former times, be absorbed into the general revenue. This, we glean, is the intention of the Opposition. As a natural sequel te the advocacy of the freehold system the Oppasition purpose reducing the mortgage tax, and thus enable the freeholder to borrow on more advantageous terms the capital he requires to complete his purchase or effect improvements. It is also proposed to sot up a Civil Service Board, in whom of course would rest the power of appointments to the Civil Service, and thus do away with the patronage of ministers with which to purchase support at the polls. It must surely coincide with public opinion that the power to reward political services by appointments to the Council should be abolished. It is proposed to substitue appointment by election. Since the ruling of the Colonial Office that a Governor is bound to appoint the nominees of Ministers the danger has become imminent that the Legislative Council would at an early date become simply a body to register almost without question the Bills passed by the \ssembly. The above proposals should meet with approval by the public, but after all, the most important matter for the electorates is to endeavour to return men who will insist upon puro administration, and regardless of all other considerations sternly insist upon the resignation of a ministry on the discovery of dirty administration. If the House of Representatives during the last eight years had been composed of this stamp of men the shrift of Mr Seddon would have been a short one. There is now, however, very good reason to hope that the country is alive to the situation, and that another and more scrupulous set of men will be found on ~ the Ministerial benches—men not tainted with the brand of Tammany, and men who recognise that Ministers owe a higher duty to the country than to keep themselves in office by any and every available means, be they reputable or desreputable, clean or unclean.