MB NEWMAN'S MARTON SPEECH.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12881, 29 May 1913, Page 3

MB NEWMAN'S MARTON SPEECH.

SOME INTERESTING POINTS

Tho following interesting points were irade by Mr. Edward Newman in his speech at Marton on Tuesday evening, and were "unavoidably crowded out oi tho report published in our issue of yesterday :— v CIVIL SERVANTS. Mr. Witty (Riccarton) asked the Government whether they will remove all civil and political disabilities from civil servants? The Hon. Mr. Massey replied: " Tho wholo subject of the organisation of the service and the status of civil. servants is under the consideration of tho Government. . The question can only be replied to when tho Government proposals are laid before Parliament." I can see no reason ■air' present why civil servants should not bo eligible for Town Boards, Coun-ties.-Boroughs., and School Committees, but question if it would bo in the intorestr; of tho State if full civil and political rights should be granted to State, servants. Would it be in the interest of the State th'^t railway employees at a largo station, dissatisfied with the action of tho stationmnster, ■ should writo to the papers and get up ...a public meeting and denounce him? If tho stationmnster had no power to ! dismiss men without justifying his con- ; duct in tho Press, say, it would prochieo chaos. Then 'supposing (as was . stated by a member in the House last session) p. -police insoeotor. or CollccI tor of Customs or Under-Seeretary jf I m creat Public Department, -wants to i- liavo a shot at a seat in Parliament? Should ho be allowed to send in his resignation temporarily, and if defeated resume, his plaeo What would ha open I t^> tho- Department in the meantime?" '-Of course-an M.P. can easily earn jio•nularity by urging such rx change p. a Mr. Witty did, but my opinion is th-at at present it would, not bo in the interests of the State that full politick i ripjits should bo given. But I can see no roasrn/ that they should not be mom•be'rs nf .School Committees, County Councils.Borough" Councils, .or Town Beards. Ido not pledge myself on tho subject. I want to hear arguments for an^l against* before I do so. BANK OF NEW ZEALAND. Mr- Massey has stated that legislation dealing with the Bank shall be brought down next session, when doubtless the question of n, St^.te Rank will cron up. It is urged that the hanks ninko too high profits', and that a State Bank would improve matters. I am not clear, about this, and in view j of tho question coming: before Parliament shortly I must keep an open mind in rho meantime. State interference with people's bail king; h-fFairs is not entirely satisfactory whe*l nnrly feeling is strong. Then a State Bank could on-'y advance with the same nnran sccuritv <nr' my other^Bank. or r>':<?li't mine to grief. There wns grer.t^d-'sTp^oint-ment in Australia when this war. found (Tilt The State issue, ef rot*V4 ?.;> proposer! by S'"'* Joseph Wa»-d is .?-other ri'.Httor.. and hns -points it i+s favour. After tho Bank of New Z^al^'-d legislation h<ns coroo down. ■ rx r"\ O'« matter hnn been fully debntpd. the-i otic. vvil! bo in a, better position to exprc-s •\ decid'Hl omnion .on '. the piv^t,.. . >;<;; for tbo . StatO' eo-nriection - tv?rn the T.-a-nV bnr, been satisfactory to the nud Parliament will sco that.the S+n.t'/s interests are protected in-negotkvtivor.s. AN EXPLODED CANARD. Tho Government Were accused of spending; the sum of £500 in the Ilawke's Bay for tho benefit of squat- j tors in order that they may motor with I ease, and comfort over'the'admirablymade roads. The reason given was that the district was represented by a squatter (Mr. G. Hunter). As stated by Mr. Hunter,. ..any person knowing tho j country knew that the road was of ah- ' solutely no benefit to squatters, aril was not likely to be used by them for j ■ motor traffic. Tho Government had ! voted £500 for tho erection hi bridges j or. the. road, because tho bridges al- ' re?,dv existing had been erected by nriv>ato individuals, and -were in a I .highly dangerous state. The road ran through closer settlement, and as theru na°. a school in the locality, children! bad. to make use. .of it. Further, tho locality in question is represented by Mr. - Esoott. member for Pahiatua, who is -a. small farmer, if ever there was one, and the climax is reached in the fact, as the "Dannevirke News" points out, ■Jhat'tno vote in cuiestion was placed on ■fbo estimates by the Mackenzie Government. THE POcst OFFK'F. CTRCCLAR— I ANOTHER CANARD. Bitter cr'tJoisn-"- bvo boe-^ mnd" with vorrnrri to. the TinliliVition of the Postal Department iveulntion.s. o^p of which throws upon postmasters .md officials in chnrffo the r^rvnn-'-Kih'litv of sr>pinjx .that tho nrivatn habits of their assisfnnt«i are beyond n"'»li" r^nmnph. and their con^not not '-'x^lv +o Iwi'txt them into troublo «r. to discredit the Department. On the strength of this regu'.ition tlio writer charges the OVTassey fJ-.^vornTP^-t ■ ivit-h introducing a new '• at«>c<iov*' 'iw. T^iieh i" an ontrageoiis >TiS"H +r> +iio -!f-rvi^^. T^e renlv to this r; tli.at. +'■>-> "-/viv" reful'itioi was introdneefi in ISHQ X v ATr. .CS.^rdoi ; it -■'"-jis cn^ti^urd by li-'r< «'ir>p-.'.?;<-irn in fi~e. and has remained in force to this ■ TWVTV AfiOPTTAATTrvV. Tho Opposition Press have been writing most extravagantly on this subject. One writes: "All through this district there <aro agents out, their pockets lin-c-d with gold in order to tempt tho small farmer to tako advantage of tho Reform Government's legislation to convert his leasehold into a freehold, and hand it over to the man possessed of capital. In this manner our best dairying lands are being converted into sheep runs, families are leaving, the country, and th^ townships impoverished." Tho matter was referred to Mr. Masaey,. anil ho sent an officer to enquiro, who reported as follows:—(1,

Thero has been aggregation to some extent; (2) thero has been no aggregation as a result of the passing of the Land Act of last year; (3) in the districts where aggregation was suppostd to have taken place there have been no such cases since the present Government camo into office. And as the agitation was continued tho matter was referred to the Lands Committee, which will give those people who are making statements- an opportunity of proving them, and at tho same time will bring to light the true facts of tho position. Clauso 1 of the Land Act, 1912, reads:

—''It 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 exceeds a total area of 3000 acres, calculated in the manner provided by sect. 97 of the Lnr>a Act. 1903." SURPLUS. Mr. McCallum, referring to the £700,000 surplus, is reported as conirlaining bitterly why Mr. Massey does not at once expend this surplus to relievo what is described as financial stringency from -which every department of the public service is at present suffering, saying: "What is the usQ of a surplus if he cannot spare a pound for a road, when he cannot house country school children decently, when he has not v- shilling to spare for the construction of one. solitary worker's home, and Wihen ho cannot make even a moderate advance to a settler?" The reply to this, of course, is obvious, and ■«

pointed out by the Hon. Mr. Fr.nso.r, Minister for Public Works. He says:—

"Doen Mr. McCMlum k^ow. anrl if h? does not know he certainly ought tu. flint the o^lv tr-a^sfer that can be made from the Consolidated Fund to the Pubiic Works Fund or .any other fund is by the expressed will of Parliament as srt forth in the Appropriation Act or during the sitting of Parliament by Imprest Supply Bill? Neither this Government nor any of its predecessors could have do^o What Mr. McCallum -.rofrrpsts should have been done, namely, to havo supplemented last year's Public Works Fund by transferring thereto tho present surplus of £700,-