THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 863, 8 July 1910, Page 6

THE HOUSE

THE ADDRESS-IN-REPLY DEBATE. MR. BOLLARD ADVOCATES INSTRUCTION IN AGRICULTURE. Continuing the Address-in-Reply debate when tho House resumed yesterday, Mr. BOLLARD (Eden) said that he regretted that it was not proposed to introduce a better scheme for teaching the scienco and practice of agriculture, lie did not despise (he experiment farms, but wiiat was wanted was a school of agriculture near each of the four centres. As regards Lincoln College, he said that it was 100 costly tor tho smaller farmers to send their sons there. He knew that there wore many, farmers who did not see tho necessity for such schools as he was advocating, but he would remind them that up till now they had been working 011 virgin soil, which in time would become exhausted, hi support of his contention he would like to remind members that the agricultural industry was by far the most important in the Dominion. Thero had of late been some theoretical teaching of agriculture in high schools, but the time of the students was really wasted if they were not able to put their knowledge into practice. He knew that the Minister for Agriculture understood his work. Why then did 110 not wake up? Were his colleagues blocking him? If New Zealand had good land laws, and were properly opened up by roads and railways, it would go ahead by leaps and bounds.

Back-blocks Settlement, Mr. PKARCIi (I'ntcu) denied a statement in the Speech from the Throne to the elfcct that increased efforts wore made last, year to help the back-blocks settlers. It was not a fact, at any rale, with reference to tho districts between Wanganul auil >ie\v Plymouth. In cases of votes for opening up the back country, it should be permissible to deduct the engineering expenses. No one in the House was more in favour of compulsory training, but lie was against extending the age limit. It would bo much better lo leave the Act as at present in regard to compulsory training for a few years at least;. ' Mr. JENNINGS (Tauniarunui) declared that when railways were to be constructed laud should be set aside for the payment of the line, as was the case with the North Island Alain Trunk line. The I'hange made in regard to the Konds Department was a mistake. In connection with the national annuities scheme, Sir. Jennings pointed out that; friendly societies already provided assurance Itnhalf the population. Ho suggested Hint a block of land should he set aside fur the friendly swietius, so thai lliey.

could hiiild homes far their aged members. He went on lo say that if there were 1(1 lie a mole vifi irons land settlement policy the Dominion, and the North Island in particular, would make much greater strides than in any other portion oi its cdß'l'f.

A Repatriation Proposal. Excluding West Australia there wen--30,000 Xew Zealanders in Australia, and he would like to see them assisted to come back to the Dominion to settle, here. Mr. BUXTON (Geraldino) remarked that in his opinion the Land* Settlement Finance Act was a splendid measure. Onlv the other day an association had been put through in his district, and one or two others were being formed. As regards noxious weeds, better result, would be obtained if the owners and not the tenants were made responsible for their destruction. Mr. Buxton went on to criticise the current method of gathering agricultural statistics, which was not at all satisfactory.

llr. noGAN (Wangauui) said that with reference to the advances to workers scheme loans should be available on houses already erected, as well as on houses that it was proposed to build. Tlib test as to whether a loan should bo advanced should be one as to security, lie would not object lo settlers gelling tlie freehold under the Land Settlement Viuonce Act. 'nut they should net get it under the Lands for Settlement Act. Tho present, system ut promotions on the railways was very unsatisfactory. In that connection he trusted that crs long tno veto of the Minister would be dene away with. He did not see any .reason for adopting tile post-audit, system. Local government reform had now become an urgent necessity. He opposed the proposal to extend the age limit in regard to compulsory military training.

Opposed to the Land Bill. 110 did nof soo any need for fut'lhet laud legislation. It"' iast measure vert? again bionylit down, with only slight amendments, It would nut mcoi with liia approval. Mr. LANG (Manukau) said that ho would likr- to ask members representing districts in which there were large areas of Native land, ii' tln\v_ were satisfied with tho Native land policy of the Government. Time alter time during the past fifteen years it had been stated by tile Government that the idle Native lands were going to be opened np at a more rapid rate, and this being so, how much importance could now be attached to the Hon. A. Ngata's recent asMiranee on tho point? He knew of his own personal knowledge that for at least fifteen years pus' the large Native landowners had been very desirous of disposing of their surplus lands at fair rates, but had not. hurt propel- facilities to enable them to do so. Much had been said during the ilelwte by Ministerialists as to the policy of the Government. Fie would like to ask if the Government had .any settled policy on any question. What was their land policy!' It was either leasehold or freehold, according to tins weight of feeling on the Government side. Sir Joseph Ward: We have never advocated leasehold alone. .Mr. Lang: Oh, yes, you have. Why, Mr. M'Nab told a Manakau audience thai the Government intended to pass his Bill as it stood when introduced.

Noxious Weeds. Mr. Lang went on to ask what was tho Government doing to destroy noxious weeds on Crown lands. Hon. T. Mackenzie: They are spending ,C(i(W!l a year. .Mr. Lang: Well, I don't know whore the mou"y is being -ji-n!. Continuing, Mr. T.ang said it was his opinion prison labour should bo used to clear the large tracts of Crown land of noxious wends. Mr. WRIGTtT (Wellington South) said it was strange that when prosperous times were prevailing the Government look the credit, whilst in dull times the blame was cast 011 the Opposition. When standing for election, he had not blamed the Government for the depression. He had, however, blamed them for not, during prosperous times, put something aside for therainvday. The Land Bill was like "the old man of the sea," it came up time after time. It appeared to him that what would happen this year again was that it would be eventually dropped. It was his opinion that the Government was responsible for the unique position in which they now found themselves in. regard to this question. If the Government had stuck to its determination of a few years ago, it would have found itself surrounded by a. band which would not have been so much divided 011 the ;<;iestion. Mr. Wright condemned the "taihoa" policy in regard to Native lands. One of tho reasons advanced by the Native Department for not opening up these lauds more quickly was that it could not get surveyors, lie was confident that an advertisement in the leading newspapers of the Dominion to-morrow would bring forward all the surveyors that were wanted. Tho real trouble was that the Government was short of money. Mr. AVright replied to Mr. Stallworthy's applause of the Government by quoting from leading articles against the Literal Administration written by Mr. Stallworthy in lflOO for the Wairoa "Bell." In conclusion, Mr. Wright stated that he had no confidence in the Government. He believed that the time had come when the Government, should resign or be defeated, and that if the Government- went to the people to-morrow the electors wouid not return a majority of them to the House, lie believed that" there would be a change of Government before'long, and with it would come an era of prosperity unknown hitherto in New Zealand. The Debate Concluded.

Air. MACDONALD (Bay of Plenty) replied at some length. I[o claimed' tliat of rccent years a great advance had been made with regard to Native land legislation, especially by the Act of last session. The House adjourned at 10.15 p.m.