FORTHCOMING LEGISLATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 130, 3 June 1903, Page 2

FORTHCOMING LEGISLATION.

STATEMENT BiT THE PREMIER. Per Press Association. Wellington, June 2. Before his departure for the West Ooist', the Premier, interviewed by a Pdst representative with referenda to pr< pjsad legislation for the forthcoming eesjiop, said that there would be an increase in the absentee tax and some anoma'ies which now exist with resp -ct to the assessment of land values would be removed. The dis ribation of New Zealand, m at would reoeive attention, and he though*-, when the scheme was fully el vborated, there would be little objection to iti The amount: involved in opening emporiums at tfc) centres named would not re<ch .£20,000. Mr Cameron, Produce Commissioner, will give detail?, probably in the form of an address to members of Parliiment.

There would also be legislation on the subject of combines and trusts, which would be rather in the direetion of regulation than of absolute prevention:

As to preferentiil trade, the Premier ( said that the speech he delivered in Kimiieil'-y gives very fully >he mind of the Govornmont on that subject. As to licacsiog matterp, the Premier said no fiuul decision had bean arrived at. No doubt bo'h the trade and the prohibitionists would ask for legislation bn v . they were not likely to agree as to terms. The Goveramentdid nottbink it fair that owing to a mistake on the put of a nlagutrat", as for injtanos in tho casi of Port Chalmers, property should b3, as the " trade" terms i f , "cimfisCited." It' th.re was to beany so, calls 1 confl citioa, it was entirely wrong for either licensing committers or magistrates to alfooita to themselves any right which the Legislature his said thill ba ves'ed in the people, On that po;n', hi thought the Legislature Would speak with no uncertain Sound and it would be the duty of the Government to £63 that the peop'.e alone determined wh it the Legislature empowered. Incident illy Mr Seddon referreJ to piKy committees and remarked that he had come to the conclusion that the law was at fault in placing in the hands Of partisans the administration of the law upon which there was such a diversity of opinion, and such gfeat interests at s'ake and the well-being of the people was involved. The Government intended to go on with tho St its fire insurance scheme, but the 811 would be a midifi :ation of that of last year. All reference to fire brigades wou'd be eliminated, and a sepante measure woul 1 bo introduced dea'ing with brigade/ organisation, etc.

An amending land Act would be introduced, and he hoped cirried, liberalising tbe terms upon whioh Grown tenants could get up-ra bush landci, a&d also amending the existing liw as regards applications! Tb.9 'present ays'eua of billotinp, he says, requires qualifying in giving discrimination to land boards tnd preventing the duplication of applications.