FINANCIAL DEBATE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 881, 29 July 1910, Page 7

FINANCIAL DEBATE.

SPEECH BY MR. G. M. THOMSON. FOR THE FREEHOLD. The debate on the Financial Statement was then continued. Air. G. M. THOMSON (Duncdin North) referred to the great recuperative power which had been shown by France, and which was largely due to the lact that that country was a nation of freeholders. If they wanted to give people an interest in their country, they must give them tho feeling that the land belonged to them, and that they could return to it. Ho hoped that when the Land Bill was submitted tho freehold idea would bo "iven elfect to in it as much as possible. He commended the Government's scliome for tho development of water power, and orcdioted that the eastern side of the South Island would become one of the wealthiest manufacturing districts in the whole world. Ho would bo sorry to see the administration of educational matters placed in the hands of a committee who had other very important affairs to deal with. As one who had had experience of educational matters, he would watch this scheme with a very jealous evo. Mr. Thomson- spoke at some length

on the competition of State analysts with private professional men, and said that the Government had killed out nearly every private analyst in the Dominion. Ho would have liked to see more reference to afforestation in the Financial .Statement. At present wo wore throwing away a very valuable asset. The native forests were being destroyed in enormous areas, apparently, without any consideration for the future.

The lion. T. Mackenzie: The destruction has been checked a good deal. Mr. Thomson: That is right. Continuing, Mr. Thomson urged thai an expert in regard to afforestation should be employed by the Government. Something should be done to develop tho country's fisheries, which at present were not organised on any proper basis. OTHER OPINIONS. Mr. HEED (Bay of Islands) said that, in his opinion, the amendment had been brought forward with a view to embarrassing the Government freeholders at the next general election. A motion ot a similar character against wnicli lie had voted had been used to his detriment during the recess. , Mr. MANDER (Marsdeu) denied Mr. Heed's contention, and stated that the population of New Zealand wasi not increasing as it would do under satisfactory land laws. There was no doubt that the Government had not got a bold, definite policy on the land question. In all probability the Land Bill would not bo brought down until late in the session, a fuss would then be raised by tho Socialistic element and tho leaseholders, and the Bill would in all probability be dropped again. He did not think that this country conld be satisfactorily settled with a prosperous, contented country population till the right was given to acquire the freehold. In the north of 'Vnckland roads and railways had been built which had enormously increased the timber royalties on Native lands, but no rates were contributed by the .Natives Water power "which cnuld not bo developed by the Government for years to come should be conditionally thrown open to private enterprise in tho meantime. Tho House rose at 11.10 p.m.