SPEECH BY MR. MASSEY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 854, 28 June 1910, Page 6

SPEECH BY MR. MASSEY.

~' ' ' ''' '♦ , " •■' PROGRESSIVE LAND POLICY ADVO- ,:. ' . CATED. ' ( (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) ' Auckland, Juno 2". Mr. Massey, M.P., addressed a meeting on: Saturday night. Ho condemned the Crown Suits Act as a relic of barbarism. To meet tho rap- . idly-increasing : debt of ■■ the country, a progressive land ' policy/' was absolutely necessary, but it-, was impossible' unless the freehold was granted.: Canada, Argentine, Queensland, and West Australia gave the freehold. New Zealand would never hold her own in , the race of nations if it did not adopt this tenure. He admitted that last year's Act greatly ■simplified the law in regard to Native lands, but legislation.-v'as less important than administration, and' did anyone seriously look ■ for energetic administration from..tbe.'gehtlemari!.'who' controlled the Native Department? The solution of the problem would be giving the Natives the-same rights as Europeans. The Natives . should bo encouraged to occupy their own lands. "Where they failed to do so they "should be subject to the same ■ rates and . taxes as Europeans. This could not be,donetill.the,present complicated restrictions were, removed. The Native Minister would hot.go. .much further than Parliament-pushed him. Thanks to the popular vote at tho-last election, the : Opposition was growing in strength. Before long the voice of j: tho people would summon those who mismanaged their affairs to' hand the reins' 'of to better men. '.''.: V! '. ;' A vote of thanks was carried with acclamation. Subsequently Mr. Massey was banqueted by a large company at Hunt's Hotel.