PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 94, 7 August 1908, Page 5

PARLIAMENTARY NEWS.

Jennings' Budget Sp^sch. In his speech on the Buoget, iVtr Jennings, the member ior Live district, dealt with many matter? r.l.i'C'.mgjne King Country, and made.an excellent case for greater attention being pa:u to tht- progressive electorate which lie represents. 'ihe extracts will be of interest to cm* rerciers : Before dealing with figures, I just want to touch upon one or two local matters. The first is tnc aavisacihty of the Minister for the Public YVorks authorising, as soon as possible, _tne construction of a bridge that will join the rich land districts or Auckland and Taranaki together —that is, the Mokau Bridge. That bridge, i am quite satisfied, owing to the great increase in settlement and the amount of stock-raising that is going on will pay the Government, even it they impose a toil for passengers, or on the stock that goes over it. It will be the main connecting link between Auck>, land and Taranaki; and it is the duty of the Government to construct that bridge, because this route is used by people from all parts of the North Island. Stock comes from Paimermerston North, Vv oodville, and Hawke's Bay, and is frequentlytaken through that district to the sale-yards at Onaupo and to the freezing works at V'. aitara. Another matter I should like to impress_ upon the Minister for Public Works is the advisability of having as soon as possible a survey made of a railway line to join the Auckland railway and I am quite sure that with the extent of country which is being opened up and the settlement that is going on there, it will soon be necessary to make the survey, and I hope to see the Kawhia line on the schedule of authorised lines. But there is one line very much dearer to my heart than all" the others—a line that I have advocated for over sixteen years, with a few honourable members. One was Sir Maurice O'Rorke and another my friend the honourable member for Parnell. We three advocated the Auckland-Taranaki connection, when others drew away, and left us to fight the battle alone. As has been discontent expressed to-night by one of the honourable members who has some connection with that railway that is. the i\orth Island.Main Trunk line connection—l say that ifthehon. the Minister for Public Works and Railways will remove some of those trucks and working appliances to the Auckland side — The Hon. Mr Hall-Jones.—Shift the men. Mr. Jennings. —And shift the men—we shall be deeply grateful; and I can assure you, Sir, that you will not hear one word of complaint from us on that score. In connection with the important question of land settlement, the ex-. tent of the settlement of the Crown lands of the Domion, particularly in the Egmont electorate, during the past five vears has been very considerable. In the Counties of VV aimarino, Clifton, Waitomo, Awakino and Kawhia the following figures will be of interest Number Land District of Acres Tenants. Wellington 211 118,000 Auckland 4§4 142,801 Taranaki 478 236,784 Totals 1,171 407,585 These figures are also independent of areas, both large and small, that have been taken up by settlers who have trafficked in Maori land. It is safe to assert that the family of each tenant averages three, and this means that 3,513 persons have been settled in districts that were only bush lands a few years ago, and the majority of whom'were landless people. As showing what has been done by hardworking settlers, in one county alone —that is/the Waimarino —the last valuation made shows an increase of nearly £1,C00.000. In reference to the'paragraph in the Budget dealing with special land settlement, I desire to say that that is a very wise step, and I congratulate the Hon. the Minister of Lands upon it. Before passing from_ the land question. I may say that 1 saw i aihape over thirteen years ago, when it was a bush district. I rode through from Te Kuiti with the honourable member for Mcnuitau (Mr Lang) amd ihe late Mr Crowther, represented Auckland City. I he CanterKnrv nad lUoi aiii\ed m tne , now stands _ with its j he tower ( - 'eated to c c» - 1 bdls - When I was there imrtsen years ago the chimes were these ot the tui, pipiwhararou, and other Aa'ave birds. Sir, take again Te Kuiti and Taumarunui. Within the last three or four years both these places have become flourishing towns, where they were formerly Maori kaingas. Tociav they stand out as models of what the sturdy pioneers can accomplish by industry and enterprise. The future prospect is just as great for our landless people if we pursue the same policy of active settlement. In that great country known as Rohae Potae there are some millions of acres ot lancl that present the same opportunity to the: people to go and make homes for themselves:, and add to the wealth of the Dominion. In my opinion, so long as the Government will carry out an active policy of putting people on the land, so far will thep stave off depression and bad times from this country.- _ Sir, that brings me to another point in regard to the reading and bridging, and again I must congratulate the Government on the st.-p trwy r' vc taken in connection v;i . ~- : rang of a • million, of nione; ' thi> purpose, and « 2 proposal to ?pend it at the subject, though ii may noi ;•«. of much interest to the towns peep's:. ;t is of the utmost importance t-= u'-c Kttler. Without gocd roacU it is impossible fot the products of the xarms t-., reach markets in a. sa l iac e.e condition. The detcrcmnrti'-.n • the Right Hon the Premier tu provide this additional sum will therefore meet with the greatest acceptance by the settlers throughout the Dominion. Manv a woman's eyo in the backblocks will brighter! when she knows

what is in front, in the way of active progress in regard to the read-con-struction. Sir, I want now to deal with the subsidies on loans. Personally, I regret that the Premier cannot sec his way to grant the subsidies to local bodies, particularly in nev/iy settled districts, when they raise the money under the Loans to Local Bod:.s Act. A loan, after all, to a local body is not a gift, and they could get the money frdm anyone having money to lend. Settlers in the backbiocks cannot afford to pay the rates and interest on the whole ot the loans required. They benefit the railways and the town centres, and serve the general travelling and trading public when they tax thernselvesto make good metalled roads. They also add to the revenue of the railways, and if these people, by raising a loan and rating themselves, do ali this good work for the general benefit of the Dominion, is it not right th£t they- should be subsidised to some' extent?.'y l personally believe very strongly in helping these who help themselves. If any newly formed local body will raise money and find funds fbr making roads, which in cases give access to Crown and Maori lands, I think it is a fair thing for the Minister of Finance to assist them as much as possible with subsidies. Sir, I hope premier will reconsider his his determination in this respect, give further attention to .the matter;; '