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Gisborne Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1854, 7 September 1906, Page 3

tlio Crown. Such uion should bcpormit tod to obtoin land, and no thoir iinnncini circumstances improved, they should be allowed to uiako it tiioir own. " Huvo you hod any opportunity of gauging the fooling in tho country regarding tha now proposals ?” i. oil yes," replied Mr Massoy ; thoro is muplo ovidenoo that tho proposals aro not popular. I can spook positively on 'list point, for I hovo had letters, tele, grams, and interviews with settlors (many i-f whom supported Mr Sodden), all indieating that there will ho a great accession of strength to tho Opposition in oonscquecoo of tho now land polioy, and for other reasons. As far ai tho now polioy ii aonorued it will, I am suro,have a\ory bad otfeot on settlement generally. At tho suno timo I dcsiro to call attention to tho f let that the dobato on the financial statement wus very unfairly reported in some of tho newspapers of tho oolony which support the Government. When tho Minister of Lands was givon a verbatim report, my spceoh was cut down to half a ooiumD, Under such ciroumstanoos it is impossihlo for tho poopln who road such papers to understand tho position, and I can only nGt them to suspend thoir judg mont until bo'h sides of tho oaso ore placed heforo them." 11 What about the possibilities of ndisso* lution and another gouoval election? ' '■ While 1 think tho proposals should not bo agreed to until tho electors have been oonsultod,” replied Mr Massey, “I am strongly of tho opinion that tho Ministry should not forco a general elootion until tho elrc'oral boundaries hovo been adjusted in noeordanon with tho E'eotornl Act, which provides tliat alter tho taking of every co isus suoh au adjustment must he mode, I am unable," oontinuod tho Leader of tho Opposition, "to spook as to tho probability or otberwiso of a dissolution during tho present Bcssioo, but it is nonsense to suggest that a dissolution would bo granted to the present Ministry in tho ovout of their being defeated on tho land proposals. A di-solution might bo granted to tho sucooeding Government if thoy were unable to oarry on by themselves or by means of a coalition, but certainly not to tho Government defeated in tho first instance,. Tuat is a well recognised priuoiplo for which there is ample precedent and authority.