The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16th., 1921 THE FARMERS’ FRIEND.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 November 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16th., 1921 THE FARMERS’ FRIEND.

i If over the settlers and farmers in the ' Dominion had a genuine friend, it wa- , the Liberal Party. In the comprehensive policy the Liberals developed foi : the advancement of New Zealand, land and land administration were foremost planks, as the basis tor the ihn of genuine prosperity which was t< give the country stability and th people contentment in securing tliei home life. Let us briefly refer to a few of the Liberal enactments whi> ! were milestones in the material pic gress of New Zealand as it emerged from the morass of difficulty and stagnation the Conservatives of. those day: (yclept “Reformers” to-day) had landed the country. The Dairy Act was

passed in 1891 to open tbo world’s markets to the dairy farmer. Tn 1892 that wonderful epoch making measure the Lands for Settlement Act was passed, providing for tbo compulsory acquisition for close settlement of large estates on equitable terms; and in connection with this measure it is interesting to recall bow the Reformers of to-day viewed the real and permanent reform for which the Liberals were responsible. This is how a few of them voted on the Land for Settlement Bill: Sir James Allen—42 times voted against, only 5 times for, nnd 15 times did not vote. Sir AA T nlter Buchanan—3o times

against, 7 times for and 10 times did not vote. Sir AViiliam Herrics—23 times against once for and once did not vote. R.t. Hon. AV. F. Massey—37 times against, 8 times, for, and C times did not vote. Sir Frederick hang—36 times against, 7 times for, and 8 times did not vote. Sir AVm. Fraser—24 times against, 6 times for, and 21 times did not vote. Sir R,. IT. Rhodes—l 3 times against once for. and 4 times did not vote. Air (A. K. Newman —17 times against 6 times for and 15 times did not vote at all. Incidentally, it might be remarked there were an unusual number of divisions taken, which shows how the Conservative element then stone-wall-ed the measure—as they did many others—the Old-Age Pensions Bill notably so. Another Liberal measure of the greatest importance to the land settlement of the eoimtiy and the certain prosperity of the farming communities, was the Government Advances to Settlers Act of 1894. This measure reduced the high rate of interest previously paid by settlers on mortgages, and ever since secured to the people »s a whole cheaper money when borrowing, and in the execution of the mortgages, lower, in fact, nominal legal charges. But in regard to this measure again, the Reformers contested the hill almost line by line, predicting that the Liberals were creating a vast State pawn shop! 'lbis is how the Reform leaders voted in the effort to block one of the most beneficent measures on the New Zealand statute hook: Sir .lames Allen—33 times against. 7 times for. 7 times did not vote. Sir AA'altcr Buchanan—29 times against 5 times for, 10 times did not vote. Sir AViiliam Fraser—2l times against, 15 tunes for, 11 times did not vote. Sir William Herrics—l4 times against,

no times for. Sir Frederick Lang—39 times against

times for. 1 times did not vote. Rt. Hon. Mr IV. F. Massey—3-1 times against, 7 times for and 0 times did not vote. Sir George Hunter—lo times against, no times for. once did not vote. Mr A. K. Newman—24 times against. I times for, and o times did not vote. There is only space now to refer to the State Fire Insurance Bill of 1903, which has been a boon all round in the reduction of fire and accident insurance rates, the Government Advances to Workers Act, of 1906, which enlarged the scope of the 1894 act to set-tiers; and the Land Settlement and Finance Act of 1910, to assist groups of settlers of five or more to acquire farms. All tin's legislation briefly referred to, wag due to the initiative of the Liberal Party which has a record second to none in regard to legislative measures for the masses directly hencfitting tlie people as a whole, and thereby affording equal opportunities to all to participate in the improved conditions brought about by reasonable laws administered in the interests of the whole community.