THE ADDRESS IN REPLY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2755, 8 July 1924, Page 4

THE ADDRESS IN REPLY.

SPEECH BY MU .7. LINK LATER

(Concluded from page 1.) the latest comforts of civilisation. This state of things has naturally caused a drift to the towns, which is to he deplored. The city housewife has all the conveniences in her home so far as electricity and gas are concerned and those in the country will soon enjoy the same privilege. Providing electricity to the country districts is one way of improvng the outlook in country life, and I earnestly ask members to remember that in voting money to help on the electrical works of the Dominion they arc making country life more acceptable to the people and in this manner are helping to keep the people on the land in N.Z. ADEQUATE ROADTNG

for the people is very necessary for the advancement of settlement in N.Z. especially in the baek-b.looks. The Hon. the Minister of Public Works is very sympathetic and good work in this direction is being doneall over N.Z. but of course road development cannot be taken in hand all at once, but it must he gradual. While T realise that a great deal remains to he done in the back-blocks of N.Z. so far as ronding is concerned much has been done and will without doubt, be done in future by the Government. In these days of rapid road transit it is absolutely necessary that methods of roadmaking should be placed on a more satisfactory basis and by the institution of the HIGHWAY BOARDS

which will take over the main arterial roads of the country and build them with permanent material the Government is moving in die right direction.

Part'of the money required for the road construction works will he provided from the tyre lax, hut it appears to me that no motorist would begrudge a motor registration fee provided he received an up-to-date road in return. The counties through which the Alain Highways pass have for years laboured under great disabilities because for many years, especially those enmities adjacent to large towns, have had to carry the through traffic without receiving any monetary assistance from those who use the road. Government has helped to a certain extent in ihe past,.hut the great harden has been carried by the ratepayer oMhe district through which the main roads traversed. In setting up Hu- Highway Board no provision has been made by Government; u]i to the present, to liiul the bilge sums necessary to he found hv the comities through which the highway is being constructed and no provision has been made for taking a poll under the Highways Ad of last Session. Tt seems to he onlv reasonable (hat Govermncnl should borrow the amount required by the Highways Board on the London market and lend the requirements of the local bodies from that sum. However, I understand certain amendments necessary to the Act of last year will he introduced and T trust provision for finance will not he overlooked. P*am fully convinced that more attention should be paid to the TEACHING OF AGRICULTURE and general farming knowledge in our schools and colleges. Our present Educational system is copied largely from that of the Old Land, but T" maintain that; the conditions in N.Z. are totally different from those existing here, where the great majority of the people are engaged in industrial pursuits. 1 am afraid that to-day we are turning out from our high schools and colleges too many of the “white cuff and collar” class, too main men of the professional class and too few of the class who, when they leave school, have not the desired knowledge necessary to make them successful farmers. I am pleased to know that (he Minister of Education is alive to this fact, and the prominence given iii our schools to agriculture and general farming knowledge is becoming more prominent every year. AVER A EDA AS A SITE FOR AN A URIC ULTUR E COL LEG E.

While I do not wish to appear parochial, I want to impress upon members the fact that we have at Wcraroa a very tine development farm which would be puite an ideal site for such a college. There the student could learn the theory of farming and would gel practical tuition in the development farm, which is conducted on the right lines for this purpose. We could turn out men from this college well fitted to make a complete success of any branch of farming. AFFORESTATION.

In referring to the activities of the Afforestation Department I would say they have been very important indeed and though some mistakes have been made the ultimate result will he to the benefit of coming generations in this Dominion. Since the Government Department was formed in IS!Ki approx imately 02,000 acres have been planted in forest trees. The value of this land when the forest is lully matured is estimated at from £4<>o to £l,500 per acre. 1 have had the privilege of visiting the experimental work that is being carried on by the Department near Group Downs on the sand dunes of the coast in that locality, and 1 want to say that 1 was very much impressed by the great possibilities of the sand dunes for afforestation. About 35 years ago the Railway Department planted a limited area of sand dunes adjoining the railway line near 4 oxton on almost hare sand. To-day that sand is covered by a forest that makes that land which was praeti-

cully useless, worth quiic flOl) per in 1 re. There are immense possibilities on the West Coast I'm- iiveplnnting, which will no! onlv bring into production an urea estimated a! .2(10,000 acres, Iml will keep* tlnsand from drifting ever land which is very valuable indeed. I uni convinced that it would In- u wise move for the Government In acquire the whole of the sand dunes of the West Coast. They could he bought t<>-da,v for a few shillings per acre and in a few years they would become a tremendous national asset. We have every reason to he satisved with the EXPANSION OF TRADE, that lias made the last year one of the most profitable of any yet experienced. The total trade of the Dominion has reached !)0 millions and the exports account for £51,052,006. The trade of this country has doubled since 1014 and Ibis is largely due to the increased produel ion from the land. It is estimated that 00 per cent, of the exports of last year came either directly or indirectly from tlie land. It is surely not unreasonable to plead lor better conditions on that land for the people, engaged in the farming industry. A good deal of dissatisfaction has been expressed as to the operation of: Ihe

ADVANCES TO SETTLERS ACT

and lli(' delay that lias taken place and been experienced bv some bor rowers in having their rcqiiireiueiils attended to. The term . under which advances are made arc more liberal Ilian is possible lo obtain from any Governmenl in 11 1 <• world Mini makes advances to its people oil similar lines to llial in operadon here. Following the passing of die Ad lasi

ion there has been a perfect dc luge of applications from -.cl th-i--., workers and local authorities. TinAd was placed on the Statute Book on -Tilly otldi lust war, and during seven months of its op* ration over C 0,000.000 were advanced to bor rowers, while at the clo-e of the Financial year the total has reached eight millions, a very consider able portion of which has gone to building houses. T think you will a-, giee with me in saying dial no Govern in cut could do more. And no previous Government lias done anything aiiprnaehing what has been done by this Government in this connection. T have heard a sin foment made Ihal die sum of two millions was laken from die Advances Department

and invested in war loans and has never been repaid, and Hint it is staled supplies Ihe reason why the Government is not able to In Ip the farming community lo*a greater ex1, -id. That dnlomonl i.- lies! disproved by saying that the capital of the Advances Department as represented hv the Government Audit Department, both borrowed and outstanding. amount:, i-> 22 millions

a' against I ! millions in moneys borrowed and outstanding in 101-1. The two millions roiV-rr* d to were taken from the Advances to Settlers Department in the days of Hie National Ministry. This sum has been repaid fourfold, eight miliums having been added to die finance of the Department by the Government. ’ -

An important matter which 1 feel sut’e deserves tin* consideration of the Government is the TOURIST TRAFFIC

to this Dominion. 1 believe that our scenic resorts should he better advertised both in N.Z. and other parts of the world. There seems to he no reason to me why we cannot get the “globe-trotters” and tourist to visit this wonderful land of: ours which is so richly endowed by Nature in grandeur and beauty of its scenery. Tt is estimated that on an average the tourist spends £BOO in the country, and this business is surely worth looking after. 1 know very well the Government: has not. done as much as it would have liked to have done in the past owing to financial stringency, hut 1 do suggest that advertising our scenic resorts would he a useful way of attracting revenue to N.Z, With regard to Hie RE-VALUATION OF SOLDIER SETTLEMENT throughout N.Z., T am pleased to note that this work is proceeding .satisfactorily. The valuers have a big task before them, hut I would urge the Government to hurry along this most important'work. Soldier settlers throughout N.Z. are very anxious to know exactly how they stand, and are deeply interested in the result of the Dominion Boards’ findings, because they know that their whole future success or failure depends on •t hem. ' [n conclusion, 1 wish to thank Gm, Mr Speaker and lion, members for the patience you have exercised during the delivery of my speech. We are all here to do our best for the country we represent, and though we may represent different shades of political opinions, 1 hope our combined deliberations may he of lasting good to the Dominion. If we could only think 'more of Country than of Party and take a. leaf out of the hook of the ancient Romans I think it would lie to the benefit of all concerned, for at that time, according to Macaulay:— Then, none were for a party Then all were for the Slate Then the great; man helped the poor And the poor man loved the great. The Romans were like brothers In the brave days of Old. It is now my privilege to second the motion that a respectful address be presented to the Governor-Gen-eral from this honourable House.