THE 'LIBERAL' RECORD

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1435, 9 May 1912, Page 4

THE 'LIBERAL' RECORD

DURATION OF LIFE INCREASED. • MR, LAUHKNSON AT STRATFORD. •;By Telegraph.—Pres6 Association.) ;| Sfratford, May 8 Tho Hon. G. Laurenson, Minister f»'f , Labour, addressed a crowded audience litre to-night. Ho said he regretted Io notice that many newspapers in Jlnwko's Bay had fallen into the hands of wealthy people. He trenchantly criticised a Wellington print, and prophesied that if all newspapers were conducted similarly the press ol the Dominion would degeuurute to ■ lie same level as the American press. llio Opposition blamed the Government for wasting money, and piling up the national debt. Jn five years the debt had increased by 19 millions, 6 millions had been spent on railways, and 4J millions oa advances to settlers and workers, lfc said that one of the best ways to ensure the prosperity of any country was to see that every man owned his own home, the Opposition got on the platform arid condemned the expenditure, but sat in the Ilo'ise mid never voted against it. Such ironio were political humbugs. Mr. Massey said them had been too great an increase ia the annual expenditure, but. where had tlw increase gone to? A quarter of a million extra had been spent on education.. Aoljudy had voted against it, and he thuujjht that expenditure would oa still further increased. Tlie expenditure on old age pensions had increased by JSISO.OOO owing to the number of people' coming of age. A mm of ,£700,000 extra was spent on the railways, but the railways produced a revenue of .£1,150,000. The samo thing occurred as regards the Post and lelcgraph Department. All the expenditure had been increased in such directions as no sane person would object to. . J. he Government wns blamed with being non-progressive, but ho detailed tho directions in which legislation had been in a ionvard direction. As to corruption, no charge had been proved. The Hino charges were well known before tlie election, and persons charged were tried by their constituents. Tho charges wero not brought against the persons concerned, out wero made in tho hops that the Goveminent would be besmirched, but this had not been done, The party hnd been in power for twenty years, and during . '"''e'wki'uptciM had been reduced by halt; the average life of man had increased from 31 to 40 years; the number of persons who paid income tax hnd increased by 50 per cent. There was a pressing necessity for more Ministers. Since 1573 the number oi Ministers had increased by only one. Hither the country had too many Ministers then or there were 100 few now. Since then tho number of Departments iad greatly increased. Perhaps it would be better to have Parliamentary undersecretaries. Mr. Myers held a number of portfolios, including that of Railways, but it would toko the undivided energies of the best man in the Dominion to look after the railways. • "Wβ intend," concluded Mr. Laurenson, "to go in for rapid settlement of land. Wo desire to put an end to big estates." It was improper that tho town population in New Zealand should be greater than the country population. This wns especially bad in tho easo of a growing country. A vote of thanks to Mr, Laurenson, and of confidence in the Government, waa carried bv acclamation.