"MR MONCKTON DECLINES TO ANSWER."

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 December 1911, Page 2

"MR MONCKTON DECLINES TO ANSWER."

To the Editor

Sir,—l was pleased to see at 'ast night's meeting that Mr Ghas. Palmer got Mr Monckton into a corner and indirectly made him admit that tho Opposition in a body voted tooth and nail against the "Lands for Settlement Bill." Mr Monckton tried to make a laughing stock of the pamphlet which Mr Palmer held in his hand by saying that it was not 'Hansard" ; for his edification . I state emphatically that it was a true and corrcct copy of "Hansard," and for the benefit of your readers 1 will now quote Hansard and show them that the people would never have had this splendid and beneficial act on the Statute Book were it not for the present Government. "1894. Hansard, pn-go 656, volumo 83.

Mr Massey—Sir, I can hardly suport this Bill, for, though I recognise the existence of the evil which it is intended to deal with, and the necessity for dealing with it at some time or otiher, T do not Agree with the proposed remedy. I do not agree with the proposal to take land compulsorily. 1893. Hansard, page 574, volume 81,

Mr Allen.—T object to being a party to consfication. With regard to the third clause, I question very much the right of the Government to pass a law of that kind—that property should be taken away from a. man without any compensation. Sir, this Bill cannot possibly pass, I vote against it. 1894. Hansard, page 90, volume 85.

Mr Buchanan.—l rcgrot very much that this Bi 11 is likely to pass because it will do an enormous amount of mischief throughout the colony. 1897. Hansard, page 580, volume 100.

Mr Lang.'—T have no hesitation in saying it has done an immense amount of harm to the workig classes and the small settlors by keeping men with capital out of the country, and T shall oppose the Bill from beginning to end.

T know that the workers, and especially you people that ililave got small holdings about this district can see through the policy of _ the Opposition on the land Question; thev are in the House solely in the Interests of the squatter and the capitalist. Tf they wer'o in power still .Levin. Oban, Foxton. etc., would have been one liugh sheep station : and. workers, remember the soup kitchens would still have been in vogue and married men's wages 3s fid a dav. There w'ould h'nve been no dairv farm in rr about the district, only n, few snnatters posted here and there. Mr Monckton was frightened to whow Mr M«.ss°v mi in his true colours on the Lands for Settlement, Bill. AJI von neonle ton small holdings, workers of the soil, and dairy farnw.o on nonsilr wncnisn whom vdi| vumwt. on Thursday at pel).—Yours, etc.. LIBERAL. Levin. "Deo. 2, 1011.