The Dominion. MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1913. MAKING PROGRESS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1885, 20 October 1913, Page 6

The Dominion. MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1913. MAKING PROGRESS.

- —— 5 The passing of the Land Bill a through tho House of Representa- f tives marks an important stage in t the work of the session, and in the o carrying out of the pledges made t by the lie form Party when in Oppo- n sition. The Bill is designed to make, g settlement on the land more attrac-' I tive not only to the man already g there, but to the prospective settler; o and it also provides means for assist- v ing to break up large estates, and to o prevent reaggregation. It is a Bill m which gives adequate expression to v the policy of the Government, which n is to build up a nation of small free- p holders. The conduct of the Oppo- m sition in connection with the measure p has been very remarkable. Nearly c one-half of the party, including its r leader, voted for the second reading a of the Bill, and by so doing affirmed n the principlo of granting to the t people of the country the right to a the freehold. Yet when the various a provisions of the measure came up t for consideration in Committee, they were bitterly opposed almost from li beginning to end. It is true that n some of the members of the Opposi- n tion who voted for the Bill at its t! second reading voted for some of its f provisions in Committee, but seven ral others joined with the leasehold p band of obstructionists and did their S 1 utmost to prevent it passing into e law. The leaseholders were at least h consistent, even if unreasonable, in t their opposition, but the same cannot, t. be said of some of the professing ii freeholders on the side of the oppon- t' cnts of the Government. The test f of the sincerity of these members can a perhaps best be gauged by their g votes when the third reading was n finally carricd. Despite all their p obstruction and efforts to block tho t passage of the Bill, they, in the end. c had not the courage to record their i votes against it. If the measure was r the bad thing they had attempted to v make it appear to be, why did their a leader and so many of his most pro- t: minent followers vote for its third ii reading, and thus assist to make it d the law of tho land 1 It was becauso e they knew that the Bill was in tho s interest of the country as well as in n the interests of the settlers and of g settlement; and thoy did not dare to t face the risk of voting against it. u While a great deal of unnecessary a time was wasted by tho opponents t of tho Land Bill in making protest y against the granting of the freehold t to Crown tenants, it perhaps served t; a good purpose, in directing the at- fi tention of the country to the manner r in which tho Government is carry- tl ing out its pledges. Hud it bccajn

| less determined to fulfil its obligations in cliis respect, the obstacles placed by the Anti-Reform Party in the way of the passage of this policy measure might well have provided ail excuse for modifying its pro- [ posals or of holding the whole matter over for another session. Now that this Bill Is safely through the House of Ke/presentatiyes, the way is clear for further policy measures. It is to bo hoped, however, that before entering on any further large party issues, the Government will see its way to lay before Parliament its proposals on e. non-party question which is of the greatest interest and importance. We refer, of course, to the question of naval defence. Thero have been, wc believe, go9d reasons for the delay which has taken place in. making a definite announcement as to the intentions of the Government in this respect, but judging by the latest intimation from the Prime Minister, the way is now clear for a full statement of the position. It has, of course, been pretty plainly hinted that whatever the policy the Government have in mina may be, it involves a departure from the present subsidy system in favour of a more direct and active responsibility in ' the matter of naval defence. The country, we believe, is fully ripo for the change, and is ready to take a larger and more equitable share of the burden of Imperial defence than it has been carrying. But thai does not mean that it is ready to plunge into any unduly costly scheme which may cripple its finances and unfairly hamper its opportunities of internal development. Ministers, we have no doubt, fully appreciate the fact that in any new scheme of naval defence which may involve the training of our own men for naval purposes; or the securing of a vessol or vessels of our own, wo must begin _ modestly. So long as a beginning is made along the right lines, it is better that we should proceed cautiously and sanely rather than for the sake of the immediate effect commit ourselves to obligations which the country may find it difficult to meet. In addition to the question of naval defence, the Government has several very important matters yet to bo dealt with this session. Bills relating to the Native Land question and to industrial disputes are now before Committees of the House, and further measures dealing with licensing reform, tariff revision, and electoral reform aro expected to be brought forward. These with the important measures, already passed will constitute a substantial proportion of the policy proposals which the Government foreshadowed when it assumed office. Much progress has been made, but the session's work will have to proceed at a faster rate if members expect to get to their homes before Ch'ristifias.