THE REFORM RECORD.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1762, 29 May 1913, Page 5

THE REFORM RECORD.

SPEECH BY MR E. NEWMAN, M.P. „

AN INTERESTING REVIEW.

Mr. E. Newman, M.P. for Rangitikei, stood before a largo attendance at the Marton Town Hall last evening, to give an account of his stewardship. Tho Mayor of Marton (Mr. Miles) presided.

After reviewing tho courso of politics under tho Seddon, Ward, and Mackenzie Administrations, Mr. Newman (as reported in the "Wangamti Curonielo") tlesenlwil the situation wlien the Ketorm party, came into power. "Wo found ourseives," lie said "with a depleted exchequer, with short-dated loans tailing due, with that lrugo white elephant tho Otira tunnel heaped upon our shoulders, with.a huge Parliament Buildings liability to meet. (We are on tho edge of calling lor tenders for a job that will cost X150.0U0), with commitments on public buildings alono of half a million. Wo had to provide money required to niako tho superannuation funds solvent. Wo have set 1 aside, too, .£IO,OOO per annum as an insurance fund against iire on public buildings, which, as was stated by tho UnderSecretary for Public Works, are built out of loan money, and if burnt are rebuilt out of loan money." Promises of grants for back-blocks roads, bridges, and railways, of .£075,000, had been liiado ljeforo election, and there was only .£17,000 in the Treasury to meet them. The diflieulties of tho position were intensified by the Maekenzio loan of four and a bnlf millions falling duo in two years'.' Fortunately, Mr. Allen was successful in floating a new loan, in spito of tho Balkan war, and other circumstances making for a stringent money market. Mr. Newman then dwelt briefly on what tho new Government have already done, and what they are pledged to do before tlio next election. He cited the reforms achieved in the,land legislation last session, and detailed the various provisions dealing with the freehold. That was tho iirst evidence of fulfilment. Then there was the promise of Civil Service reform redeemed by tho Public Service Act; the promise of a reformed Legislative Council, redeemed by tho Bill introduced last session, which was killed by the Upper House, the members of which were not disposed to commit hari-kari. (Laughter.) "The only way now," Mr. Newman coil-, tinucd, "is for the Government to nominate sufficient supporters of tho olcctivo principle to enable tho Bill to bo put through." Another promise tho Government was redeeming was with regard to the reform of Native land legislation, as instance tlio Bill brought down by Mr. Herries, while still another important reform—local gbvornniejit— would bo dealt with next session. Ho dir. Newman) hoped that tlio grants to local bodies system would bo abolished and a Public works Board Eet up, and that all applications would be dealt with free of party and in tho interests of the Dominion alone. The Tariff. ■Referring to the cost of living, Mr. Newman said that the Government had indicated that their Customs tariffs would bo considered next session, mid ho trusted that opportunity would bo taken to reduce tho- cost of living. Clothing, boots and shoes, furniture, cups and saucers, carpets, all such were necessities, and 011 all such tlicv paid heavy duties in order that five per" cent, of our peoplo might work at protected industries. In other words, tho cost of' living of 1)5 per cent, was opix'essive, in order that five per cent, might work at protected industries. They must liaise a certain amount of revenue from Customs to pay their interest, but apart from that, ho felt sure, the true policy was to striko off the shackles on trade. Wo must have a revenue tariff, and at their inception certain industries suitable to our country should be encouraged by bonus or otherwise. After dealing with defence and otlwr matters, Mr. Newman turiied to tho subject of taxation, and instanced the following burdens' borne by country settlers;— Land tax ,£625,019, local-rates X 1,526,317, share of Customs XI,400,000; total, I .£3,552,236. Thoro were _ about 400,000 persons on tlio land, which worked out at X 9 per head. A settlor with six childI veil pays 011 an average X 72 per tinnum, which is as much as a small settler can bear.. The Opposition had stated that tho increase was a fraud and subterfuge, and that allowance for' improvements ui'der

tho new Valuation Act would counteract the increase in the graduated lax. It would interest the Opposition parly to know that the graduated tax increased ,£BO,OOO sinoe tho now Act was passed. Advantage had been taken of this opportunity to grant a concession to widows who are in indifferent circumstances, and who are maintaining families, so that in future they may be relieved -\vitlnn curtain limits of payment of land tax. Talking of humanitarian legislation, Mr. Newman instanced tho Hon. Mr. Tisher's proposal with regard to military pensions, and t ie Hon. Mr. Eerdman's amendment of tho Ju#ticcs of the Peace Act, making prevision for poor people who cannot afford to pay the cost of obtaining legal advico or of being defended in Court by a lawyer. Reform and the Worker. On tho subject of what tho Reform party is doing for the workers, Sir. Newman said: "Well, we aro all workers, but the Government is always referred to as the 'fat' man's Government, so let us see what in one brief session they aro doing to help the wage earners, and others not too well off. In the railway service (second division) the spccial allowances paid during the twelve months, January to December, 1912, amounted to X44,31G; additional increases under the Government Railways Amendment Act, 1012, which'came in forco on April 1, 1913, ,£39,21.5; first division, additional increases to be paid under tiie sanio Act for four years from April 1, at the rato of .£II,OOO a year, ,£44,000; or a total of .£127,501. The increases in tlio salaries and wages to civil servants' equal .£28,000. Wo spend also ,£IS,OOO in making the Public Servico superannuation funds solvent, ,£17,000 in making tho teachers' funds solvent, ami .£25,000 in making tho railways' funds solvent. The military pension. will cost: between .£20,000 and ,£25.000, and the alteration in the Widows' Pensions Act of last session wero estimated to cost .SAOOO. "What is proposed for next session ? Giving pensions to women at ago 60 will cost about .£BO.OOO. Who will say that at (ifl a woman should not liavo a pension? She has probably brought up a family, and is less able to, work for -a living than a man; but tho cost would bo .£BO,OOO. The invalid pension is estimated to cost ,£40,000. This pension is for the benefit of those permanently incapacitated for work either by accidont or by reason of being invalids, and who aro not in receipt of 'Cither tho old age or widows' pensions. Who will say that this is not required ? But tho cost will be ,£40,000. That is ,£120,000 per annum for these two humanitarian nroposals, following on a reduction in Hie duties oil articles of daily use!" (Applause.)