SPEECH BY MR MASSEY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2058, 1 May 1907, Page 2

SPEECH BY MR MASSEY.

Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, yesterday.

Mr. Massey, in the course of an address, said tliero was little to discuss apart from tlio Land Bill, as most of tho Government measures were introduced to give effect to the suggestions the Opposition. Ho instanced the extension of the Audit Department s functions, adoption of tho principle of sinking funds, and charging tio cost of maintenance to revenue instead of to the Public Works Fund, which mainly consisted of borrowed money. He claimed credit for the National Annuities Bill, and provision for the extension of the Advances to Settlers Act, enabling occupiers of homes under tho Workers’ Dwellings Act to obtain the freehold. He thought tho latter Act should apply to country districts and towns as well as to cities. Referring to Legislative Council appointments ,he believed tlint with the exception of that at New Plymouth the selection was worse than those of -the preceding Government. Ho said that the administration of railways was such that there was a loss not only to the people who should use tho railways but to the colony generally. He condemned the administration of the Public Works Department in Taranaki. Mr. Massey discussed the Land Bill much on the lines of former speeches. He denied the implication .that he had said ho was in favor of increasing tho graduated land tax. What he had said was that even the graduated land tax would be preferable to the castiron limitations of the Minister, because it would give the landowner a freer hand in dealing with his property. The effect of the Government limitations of land would decrease the Value of country landed securities, while leaving city lands as they were. If country holdings were to be limited so should city lands.