IN THE GALLERY.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3750, 23 July 1883, Page 2

IN THE GALLERY.

This week has been quite a contrast to last. Then every member carefully primed, having studied the particular wishes of his constituency, carefully felt the pulse of public opinion—the most omnipotent of all factors, in a debato of suoh a nature — having searched tho records of the past, and crammed himself moderately full of faots and figures—in many instances of the

latter apparently to but little purpose, judging by subsequent speakers—he eagerly tried to catch the Speaker's eye, so that the manufactured fireworks could be properly discharged, that the constituency, would sec their member was going; in accord with their wishes, and that the country could feel he had done his duty. Instead of this laborious style, which results in longwindod harangues, and an immense amount of useless labor, as not only was the debate a foregone conclusion but the particular member's views were thoroughly known and understood by bis fellow mombors, we havo had to a greatextont impromptu unrehearsed spopchos on an immense variety of subjects. It is not my intention to go through either the speeches or the subjects seriatitm, but will confine my notes of this week to the debate on the Land Acts Amendment Bill. Mr Rolleston, in introducing the measure, claimed that the leasing system, so far as it had been tried, had been a success, and what he now proposed was to extend that system a little further. The Minister for Lands is sin enthusiast on the leasing question, and if he can only achieve his ultimate aims—the principle of leasing as opposed to selling land, in other words perpetually leaving the lands in the hands of the State—he will have solved perhaps tho most difficult of all problems, and one which has engaged the attention of many of tho ablest men of the day. It is well known in old countries that, while capital sunk in estate yields the smallest of all returns, yet unearned increment from such is an incalculable amount, and that, while no speculations are safer, the returns are frequently enormous. Simply by the growth of the Lancashire cotton industry, the rental of the late Earl of Derby in his life time increased from forty thousand to nearly two hundred thousand per annum. And if the colony of New Zealand can achieve similar results the game is worth playing. Mr Itolleston speaks well, though seldom, perhaps less than any member of the Ministry. lie lacks the bouncing abilities of his chief, but while you avo listening , to him you feel that tho man is talking about that which he understands. You are never speculating, us you are witli the Coloniiil Treasurer, how much is bounce, nnd where is the fact. You are never in doubt as to the reality. The calm assurance of the speaker, the deliberate style of his utterance, inspires confidence. Mr Bathgate, who followed, gives j r ou the idea of a man terribly in earnest—too much so. While ho approved of the bill, he would have liked to have seen it amended so that pastoral hinds could not bo purchased on deferred payment at all. Mr Thomson supported tho bill because it would enable persons to take up land vrho could do so iv no other way. Mr Joyce, in an incisive speech, said the principle of leasing had come twenty years too late, as now tho best lands of the colony were in private hands. Ho advocated the selling as soon as possible of every acre of land in the colony, and then putting such a tax on land as would meet the taxation of the country. Of course originality is Mr Joyce's strong point. Mr Potrie went into figures to showthat the leasing system paid the State better thun selling outright. This gentleman spenks well, and handles his figures carefully. I always have a great respect for a man that can manage figures, for such men are scarce. Mr Montgomery contented himself by saying ho was in favor of a freehold system, but he knew the House was against him. After a strong speech from Mr Holmes in favor of the leasing system, Mr Fulton caught the Speaker's eye. The falling off in the land revenue was due, in his opinion, to very little good land being- offored. Mr Pearson was the last speaker on tbe subject. I confess that I have but a poor opinion of this legislator. He is one of those men whose presence in the Chamber ie to me a mystery. Why his constituents should elect such a man is a puzzle. Why such a man should desire to bo elected is equally puzzling. Nature has denied him a voice, and when Nature plays one that shabby trick it takes a deal of making up to recover that bad start. And that bad start Mr Pearson will never make up. His jerky voico and conceited manner nre fatal flaws. As the Minister of Lands had nothing to reply to, there was one listener loss in the G-ALLEEY.