PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2171, 9 June 1914, Page 6

PRE-SESSIONAL ADDRESS

BY SIR WALTKR. BUCHANAN, (£j Toleerapli.—Bpoofal Cwrfessottden-t.) MaStorton, June 8. Sir Walter Buchanan, M.P., delivered a pro-sessional address to a larg©'audience at Carterton to-night. He received an ovation, oft appearing oa the platform, and his speech .was punctual ed with applause. Ho elaimod that the Land Act had bee-ii a splendid pie£o of legislation for tho country, that tiro Government had doro nioro than .its predecessors in throwing open fend tor settlement, and that it had increased tho amount of advances to both settlers and to workers. Sti- Walter stated that although ho might bo regarded, as a largo landholder, he would support the Prime Minister in further taxation if it were necessary to king about the subdivision of estates, At the same time, he pointed o«t, that subdivision was already proceaSng apace, Tho speaker referred to tho good work in .front of tho Board of Ag.riowlt.vire, ami spoke in terms of strong approval of the* Public Service Act-, Ho dealt at sotu-e length with the recent strike,, and stated that there was no -doubt that tho speech made in the House by Sir Joseph Ward had done much to prolong the strike. He compared tho attitude of tho opposing leaders in. South Africa with that of Sir Joseph' Ward in a time of crisis. Sir Walter also devoted somo attention to defence, finance,,ai3d railways. Ho commented «jxm tho enormous expansion of the OSport trade, and took credit to the Government fof having provided suit-able homos far workors. He claimed that- tho Government had done its host to redeem itselection pledges, and any pledge that had not already been roc'ieomcd would bo fulfilled in the coming session. Sir Walter resumed his seat amidst hutd and continued applause, and was nficordecl u hearty vote of tlranks, followed by cheers.