THE REFORM LEADER.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1482, 3 July 1912, Page 8

THE REFORM LEADER.

A STRONG INDICTMENT,

the >mixed ministry ridiculed,

Mr! MASSEY (leader of tho Opposition) was again received with general applause -as he rose to move his amendment to the Address-in-lieply. Ifo stated that he wished to propose an amendment by way of the following addition: "We' feel it, however, to Iks our duty to submit to your Exccillency that it is essential that your Excellency's Government should possess the eonttdence of this House, and respectfully submit to your Excellency that this confidence is not reposed by the House in the Government us'at- present constituted." Mr. Massey said that lie had very littlo fault to iinil with tho speeches which ho had just heard. Ho had listened to both with a great deal of pleasure, and with regard to the speech of the member for Napier lie had enjoyed it immensely. 11c thanked the member for Wairau for his very sympathetic reference to the loss sustained by Mr. Herries, member lor Tauranga, in his recent bereavement. These references would he appreciated by Mr. Herries, as they were appreciated now by I Ilia friends on that side of the House. "I do not know," continued Mr. Massey, "whether these lion, gentlemen thought when they were speaking that they were supplying us with the very best possible arguments in favour of tho amendment and against the Government, which they sairl they were supporting. When the member for AVairau described the position of the great provinco of Marlborough, with its "grid-ironed" lauds, its unoccupied country, and want of population, did the lion, gentleman think back to tho fact that he is supporting a Government that has been in office for twenty-one years. Did he think that during the greater part of that time tlio Government in office had a tremendous majority—from 15 down to 10. if the position of Marlborough is bad, whose is the fault? Most assuredly that of tho Government, which the memlx»r for "Wairntt supports . . . The lion, gentleman told us tliat he supported occupation with Tight of purchase. He was very strong on that point. Does the Grivernment on the Treasury Benches to-day support occupation with right of purchase?" A Government member: Yes. Mr. Massey: "A still small voice on the other side answers in the affirmative, but I can prove from the lion, gentleman's own words that the Government, is very strongly opposed to security of tenure for (lie settler. The hon. gentleman said that railways were not being built in the province of Marlborough. Again, whose fault is that? That of the Government in power for the time being. Tho hon. gentlpninn denounced the second ballot. Who placed that measure on tlio Statute Hook? The lion, gentleman came to bles=. and remained lo <nir=r, and he cursed the Government he is supposed to support, willi hell, book, and candle. More Liberal Neglect. . Mr. Massey next turned to Ihe speech of tho member for Napier. Mr. Brown, he said, had rend a long' list of large 1 estates. Tlio fault for mch a ■ sad and sot.t state of affairs lor

which both tlieso lion, gentlemen supported. ]Tc did not urito with regonl to the seniimonts both lion, had oxpressod with regard to (nrilf rHonn. But if luxes oil phuns, children's ioys, mid linoleum wen; a burden on the workers it wa> itguin the Government with its majority that was The member for Napier had said that the increase of land values was due to the Government. Let him (Mr. Mas>cv) ask the membor i'or Napier wliat; would happen if (he price* of wool or butter fell by L's per tenl. 'l'Jic value of land would drop in proportion, mid it was because products commanded u high piic-e in the markets of the world, mid bocan>o of the industry and energy of settlers, that values had risen. The hon. gentleman had said that the Government had been cheeked in its land policy. Mr. Minsoy gave this statement a Hat contradict inn. The Opposition had endeavoured for many years to induce tho Government to pursue a vigorous settlement policy. Time after time tho Opposition had urged tho Government io vigorously /administer tho Land for Setlemenls Act.

A Government member: Who opposed that Act? Land Tenure. Mr. Massoy: "Ask the Prime Minister!" Tho member for Napier had been very eloquent on tho subject of tenure. Hail the hon. gentleman known Anything about the subject, lie would have known that tenuro had a great deal to do with the land question. If settlers were not satisfied with the tenure they would not go on the land. Mr. Brown: All tho land is 2°no nearly. Mr. Massey: "T think (lie hon. gentleman will linil his mistake within a very few months." '.llin Leader of the Opposition went 011 to say that be agreed that the man of small income had 110 chance (o save under existing conditions. Many Words and Few Ideas. "Tho Governor's Speech," Mr. Massey continued, "is in. many re-poets unique. It is remarkable on account of its length and for the number of words used to express very few idens nnd very few opinions. The Speech reminds- me of a remark by one of Shakespeare's characters about a half-pennyworth of bread and an intolerable deal of sack. I hope to deal to-night with the bread and leave tho sack for the gentlemen 011 tho Treasury benches!" What had become, asked Mr Massey, of the historical Speech brought down at the commencement of the short session? Hardly anything of it was left. Tho turning down policy had evidently been applied to it. The present Speech was mainly remarkable for what was omitted from it. There was 11a direct reference to tho necessity.for reform of. the Upper House, 110 reference to the promised changs from pro-audit to pe.-.t-niidit. so that it might bo known where every penny of public lhoncy went to. There va» no reference in the Speech to the fact that the High Coniniissionership was vacant and that the Trade C'oininis.vionerfliip had been ottered to, and accepted by. Sir Joseph Ward, and that he had afterwards resigned. Land matters were referred (0, but in a v.isrue and indefinite way. There was no direct promise of a Land Bill providing'a much-needed reform of the ballot system, and for an extension of settlement. A groat deal of land was lying idle, bnt the. Government had given no sign that it intended to' pursue a vigorous land policy. Tho Speech did not refer to the enormous expenditure which was being made outside Parliament Buildings. It made no mention of irrigation in Central Otago or to the urgent need for schools in country districts. Tho subjects not mentioned in the Speech, said Mr. Massey, aro far inoro important than the subjects that aro mentioned. Those responsible for tho Speech have not; built up a reputation for statesmanship, for wisdom, or even for knowledge. Ono point that had pleased him was (he number of proposals now put forward from the Government sido which formerly were put forward from the Opposition benches and strongly objected to by those opposite. Ho did not object. The Government in taking over these proposals had paid a compliment (0 "ho Opposition.

The Constitutional Position. "We are commencing a debate to-night," said Mr. Massey, "which may last for a day or two or for a week or two. I hope tluit it will bo worthy of tho New Zealand Parliament, and that though wo may hit hard, thcro will ho no hitting below tho bolt, and that wc shall have nothing to regret when tho debate comes to an end. "When I look at tho gentlemen who occupy tho Treasury benches, and think that tor four months they have controlled tho administration of this country, and have practically controlled the expenditure of millions; when I think that they have advised his Excellency on matters of State, it seems to 1110 to point very forcibly to the necessity for an amendment to the law to provide that no Government should Ixs allowed to occupy tho Treasury benches for more than, say, a month, without submitting itself for the approval or otherwise of Parliament. Tho very essence of the Const'tution is that tho men 011 tho Treasury benches must, possess the confidence of a majority of tho representatives of tho people." lie ventured to .say that had it not been for tho necessity of obtaining supplies, tho members of tho Government would still havo been peregrinating tho country for their own pleasure and political profit. Far From the Fold. "I havo not the slightest intention of referring to tho I'rimo Minister personally," said Mi. Massey. ""Wo regard him with very kindly feelings. Though ho has strayed very far from the fold, X regard him as mine own familiar friend-in whom I trusted." Mr. Massey quoted a former utterance by Mr. Mackenzie in which 110 severely criticised Ministers 'who go about the country electioneering instead of attending to their Parliamentary duties.' So far as this system is concerned. Mr. Mackenzio had said, this system of Government that , lias obtained in this country is not on the a-iglit lines. Thero should be a period during winch the Ministers of tho Departments under their control should be able to dovoto their attention, to their DepUrtinents. These, said Mr. Massey, were the opinions of Mr. Mackenzie when ho was an Independent Oppositionist. The statement lie had male then applied exactly to tho case of Mr. Mackenzie and his colleagues during tho last four months. "What had happened during the last four months had been tho most unconstitutional thing that had ever happened in tho history ot this country, or of any British-speaking country. Ho sincerely hoped that such, a thing would never again happen 111 tlio history of Now Zealand.

Industrial Unrest. Not one single reference was made in the Spejch to the industrial trouble from which New Zealand was suffering at tho present timo. At one time public men ill this country had been in tho habit of boasting that this was a country without strikes. Probably there had been more strikes within the last three or tour years in Now Zealand than in any other British community. , Mr. Ell: What is yonr remedy? Mr. Massev. I will tell you, though I am not on "my trial, and one of my Grievances is that the Government is not providing the remedy. The loss, said Mr. Massey, was not to Waihi alone. Tho whole of New Zealand was suffering from what' was going on at Wnibi. People who had invested capital in tho country would hesitate to have their money at ftako where there existed a possibility of what had occurred at Waihi occurring. I'eople were leaving Waihi in. hundreds, and people, wero also leaving New Zealand as n whole, and going away to Australia and other places. It was bad enough lo lose the money, which might bo frightened awav by the existing state of affairs, but ' ll'icso people who wore leaving tho country were more valuable than money, becauso we were losing these producing factors wliich wo needed so badly, and of which we had not nearly enough in this country. The lion. Mr. Ell had asked him what was the remedy. It was not tor him on his side of tho House' to suggest the remedy, but ho would say that before a strike was declared, a secret ballot ought to be taken. He said u "secret' ballot, because all possibilities of intimidation should be avoided. And someone had suggested Ihe other day that the strikers' wives should hive an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the intended strike. (Hear, hear.) Mr. M»~'-ey s.ii.l lh.it. !»«•' sympatic Willi strikers if their grievances were genuine. But what had Ihe Ministry done? Tie considered it was considerably to the disfavour of the Government that they had not endeavoured to remedy what was going on. Loans to Local Boriics. Mr. Mf'--ey Hint h" was not going to deal with Hii.-nice in tli.it »p'-»ch, heLaws. ja.

that occasion, mid partly lx.causo financial matters had been uealt with a few ilays agu. 13 lit lie was going to rcl'cr to a matter which lie liail dealt Willi 011 the platform in Auckland in the courso of 0110 of his recent speeches. The subject was practically the repeal oi file old I.oaiis to J.ocal llodios Act. His statements then lnul been challenged, but lio was going to repeat them now, anil givo members on the other side of tlio liouse an opportunity of correcting him. Tho length of the terms in that Act had been •11 years and years, and' tho rates of interest I', per cent., J per cent, and !IJ per cent. The Government lnul come along in 11)01) and practically asked tho House to repeal that Act, for which was substituted the tftate Guaranteed Advances Act. The old Act bad possessed advantages above the existing Act for borrowing by county councils and road boards, although the House had been given to understand as an inducement for them to support the Bill that the borrowing terms for these bodies would be better under the new measure. The rato mulcr the existing measure was not JM 17s. (id., as might appear to be the case, but X 5 Is., and there was practically a limit of .I'SOUO to the extent of their borrowing powers. The Hon. A. Jr. Jlyers: That includes the sinking fund! 111-. Jlns-ey: And the 3} per cent, includes tim sinking fund. The elfect of it all, continued Mr. Massey, was that road work was. hindered, and development work, consequently, suffered. Comity councils and road boards could not get the money they wanted, and theso bodies had to be considered, because they were doing the work of development. Mr. Massey concluded his reference to this matter.by saying that ho desired to get back to the better system. t Roads and Bridges. When the appropriation account had been laid upon tho table of tho llouso last Friday, continued Mr. ( .Massey, )io had perused it, and had noticed with considerable surprise that a very largo 1 propcrrion of the money voted for roads and bridges had not boen expended at all, and more than that, had not even been authorised. The purpose of tho House in voting money lor tlie construction of roads and bridges was to efleet tho opening up of the back-block districts, and ho gave it as his opinion that money voted for the construction of roads anil bridges ought to be expended, if possible, before tho winlcr succeeding the session of Parliament. If that return was correct, then, so far as tho local bodies were concerned, Now Zealand's system of lending to them had practically broken down. Xo one appreciated tho valuo to the country of (ho settlers more than the speaker. Tfe visited the country districts frequently, and lie saw what the settlers were dcrin'g. The whole thins turned upon the settlers being supplied with roads, not only the settlers sneer-,-:, but their very exist etice, teo. And not only the settlers' interests wore at stake, but, more important still, lbs interests of the country. He had seen an expression of opinion' from Hawke's Ttay recently to the effect that the settlers were worth their weight in gold. That was. of course, a figure of speech, but it was not far wrong. Ministry on Lr.nd Question.

Jrr. Jlassey then went on lo refer to tho laud question. Ho said that he thought that the land question was far the most important thing Hie Parliament had to deal with. He had been very much dis appointed with the reference to this ques tion in the Governor's Speech. However, lie understood the difficulties of tlio Ministry. The Jlinistry's trouble was the differences of opinion of its members regarding method? of settlement and security of tenure. The speaker's opinions on the land question were well known, and lie did not intend to back down upon them in the slightest. But how stood the Jiinistry? First, what ivas Jir. Laureuson's position? There had been a Bill before tho House some years ago—the Workers' Dwellings Act—and there was an idea in connection with it that the occupants of the dwellings should have ail opportunity of becoming their own landlords. Jir. Jlassey had supported that. But the present Jlinistcr for Labour (Mr. Laurenson) had saUr then that if the Prime Jrinister gave the freehold to the workers for their homes lie could not refuse it to tho farmers in the country. Jir. Laurenson had then boen so strongly opposed to the freehold that he had been willing to sacrifice tho workers so as to avoid this opinion regarding the farmers. As to the Prime Jlmister (tho Hon. T. Jlackenzie), Jlr.i Jlassey did not think that that gentleman had gone back on his opinions, but a man was often judged by tlio company whicli lie kept. Jir. lianan had saiil that he/was sorry that tenants were to get an opportunity of converting their tenure into freehold, because it was against the principles of leasehold. Tlio Hun. Jir. Jl'Donald was a freeholder. What about Jir. Russell?. (Laughter.) Jir. Russell had said that he was a leasebolder, and that ho made no bones about the position in which he stood in regard lo tho land tenure of tho country. Then there was Jir. Ell's attitude, and Jir. Unxlon had always voted leasehold, and that applied to the member of the Ministr yreprcscnting tho Maori race (tlio Hon. Tc Rangihiroa). The Cabinet contained six pronounced leaseholders. The Prime Minister: Oh, no!

Mr. Massey said ho.had shown clearly til at there were. The Prime Minister: I will show you. There were also in the Cabinet, added Mr. Mas»cy, three freeholders, and ono gentleman who was doubtful. Was It Fair? 111-. Massey quoted a proposed clause of the Land Administration Act of two years ago, the effect of which was that leasehold settlers would have had to surrouder to the Government when they sold their lcaso3 the difference between tho value at which they took up the lease, and the value realised. Was this r. fair proposal to meet the case of a man settling on second or third-class land in tho back country, ami working to bring it into cultivation. Most country members of the House knew that tlio Unimproved value was made up to the increased valuo by the industry of tho settler, because improvements were not properly exempted. Yet for a proposal like this, Messrs. Ell, Laurenson, Russell, and Hanan had voted. He had moved an amendment to the same Bill; providing that the optional system should apply, to all lands under the Lands for Settlement Act, and he gave his reason at the time—the strongest possible reason—in order that tho country might avoid) borrowing: Nine of tho present Ministers voted against that amendment. This was the

position of the Ministry on the land question, and ho did not think it would nppeal to the men settled on the land, whether they were leaseholders or freeholders:. But it shoved without any doubt that it was impossible for tho present Ministers to bring down a dcfitiito policy on this very important subject. A Heterogeneous Lot. What applied to tho land question applied in a less degree to other subjects. The Prime Minister used to be a vcrv ardent-Frec-tTader. Perhans he hnd not changed his mind, but he was associated now with men of quite other views o n the temperance question the Mini*trv contained men of differing views— mid i,' o did not see how it could be otherwise Some • of them were strong baremajority men, and. somo equallv «tr'in» supporters of the three-fifths mnjorlf\\ 'I here was at least one memb.v of th-i Ministry who was in favour of reform of the Legislative Council; where wore t.lio others there opposed to reform? On the Labour question there was one Minister who had given expression lo more pronounced views against tho Labour legislation than any other member tho speaker had ever met, and in the samo Ministry thero wore men verv stronglv iu favour of it. On almost a'nv. subject it was impossible for Ministers'to agree. They were the most heterogeneous lot. of men that had ever sat ou tlio Treasury benches of any country. As a House divided against itself could not stand, a Cabinet divided against itself could not last very long, and could not long possess the confidence of the people of this or any ot'her country. The Land. tie urged the Vieeessity for anieinliuenr of the Land and Income Tax so t'ai- as the graduated tai- was concerned, n m | also fur an amendment ol the Valuation Act in regard lo the allowance for improvement-. lie proposed to tell the Government what he thought about it, although Itie Government had not declared their minds yet. The graduated tax began at the value of .fijflOfl. and it went beck lo (lie first pound. There was no exempiion at all. This minimum ein-h-iiruil the vttler Hm had '-'oil nrrns JiiiafflL3lßtUu.4MUjiii.SSt As£fc oa&

would say a man of this class was a social pest. Suppose ho had a mortgage In tho extent of .I'IOOO, lio was compelled to pay graduated tax on tho wliolo value of the land, On the one hand be had to pay taxes on his debts, and on tho other hand lie paid a mortgage tax. Of course, the graduated tax was a bursting up tax, but where should it commence? It should commeneo where a, mail held sullicient land to interfere with settlement. (Hear, hear.) Jle said that at present tho tax started too low, and the exemption should be raised. And he was willing thot the tax should be increased to any amount necessary to provide land for settlement, where .settlement was required. (Applause.) This was where the Government 'went wrong. They had never had a sufficient number of men on their side of tho House who thoroughly understood the land question. There should be some discrimination in the incidence of the lax upon the man who used his land properly mid the man who kept it for speculative purposes. (Applause.) Ho did not wish to elaborate his point about valuation of improvements, but it was an undoubted fact that the more a man improved his land, the more his unimproved value was raised, and he was taxed for his industry. Tt was the intention of the Government to provide, for more satisfactory exemption of improvements. He did not think they would have an opportunity'of introducing their Bill, but if they did he would havo much pleasuro in supporting— it. Sinco ho had been in Parliament y&Hiad stocd for close settlement and security of tenure lo the settler. That was tho position. on which he stood now, and that was tho position of members on his side of the House. He was very strongly of opinion that tho best tiring that could be done to keep at a distance industrial, struggles that had in ado their appenranec in other countries would be to put the pooplo on the land. Certainly the Gov. eminent had not done enough ill the past to foster settlement.

The Royal Commissions. Jir. Massey went on to deal with tho commissions thai had been'touring the country during the last few weeks. How fond tho Government were of commissions and conferences! There was that conforenco to deal with the Louil Government Bill, and he mentioned that to call a conference to discuss a Bill that was lo be submitted to Parliament was an unconstitutional action. Ho admitted that the men at the conference understood tho subject, but thero were men in tho Houso who had had tho experience to enable tliem to deal with it also A good many commissions had been set up in this country—tho Land Commission, the Timber Commission, and tho Education Commission, which had cost the country thousands of pounds. Probably the Edit-, cation Commission was the best of tho lot. lie had his own opinion about these commissions, and it was tho exception that they returned value to the taxpayer for what they had cost. Ho might here quota the Prime Minister on the Minister for Internal Affairs and the Minister for Labour, and vice versa, but lie would refrain. But here was the opinion of the present Jrinister for Internal A flairs on commissions, at a tinio when things were not nearly so bad as they were at present: "If Mr. Seddon cannot deyiso a policy without setting up a Royal Commission to find one for him, then lie ought to go out of office, and make room for men w ho have ideas of their own." The Hon. G. W. Russell: What year was that? Jir. Jlassey: 1894. Jrr. Russell: I was very young then. Mr. Massey: I don't think the honourable gentleman was very young oi Tery innocent in '94. But, he added, taxpayers were meant to be taxed, and the Jliuistry must havo a policy whatever tho cost. J ' About Appointments,

Ho woulil like to hear something definite from the Government as to what they proposed to do about the High Commissioner. The Commissioner certainly should not have been appointed until tho want-of-eonfidence motion was dealt with, and this was ono more reason why Parliament i-hould have been called together earlier. He criticised the methods or appointing the Xew Zealand member of the Trade Commission, but said lie did not wish to find fault with Sir Joseph Ward. The Prime Minister: The Home peonle appoint the commissioners. Mr. Massey: But you made the recommendation. Tiro Prime Minister: No, I nominated him. Mr. jlassey went on to say that ho bad always objected to members of Parliament being appointed to commissions. Ho thought, similarly tlint the Government should not have apnointed new members of tho T.ezislative Council until tlioy were assured that they had tho confidence of Parliament. What the Country Wants. The country wanted a strong, stable Government; it wanted patriotic, progressive men who would ptit the interest of the country before the interest of party. He disapproved strongly of the appeal, which he thought an improper appeal, to party- for party purposes, and not an appead to the country for country purposes. It seemed to him (hero was a note of intimidation in the appeal. The country wanted men who would think ot' the" future, Xew Zealaiuters who believed that 'New Zealand was the best country in the worlfl, and that they belonged to the best race in the world. It. wanted levelling up, and not levelling down; it wanted men to onconraga industry and enterprise, and he believed the fact of this discussion and this amendment would be to put such men on tho Treasury benches of the country. He formally moved the, amendment. jir. Slassey sat down amid applause.