THE COMING SESSION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 144, 22 June 1904, Page 2

THE COMING SESSION.

Commenting on the possibilities of 1 ho coming J'-ossion Ihe Now Zcalaml Titin s savs Some interest centres in tin' cpiestion of who is to succeed the. lat' l Hon. W. C. Walter as Speaker of tin- Legislative Council. The nanus of three gentlemen are mentioned—Sir A. .1. Cadman, Sir (J. M. (VKorko, ami tho Hon. (leorgo McLean. The first-named. it is understood, is nol particularly desirous of tho ollice. as his UoalUi has not 'JM'en •altogether «*»ti.<•factory :*but In* may. nevertheless. ho nominates! for the position. As on alternative, it is suggested lh:it Sir Maurice O'Uorko may be called l<> the Council and put forward as the CJovcrnmoTTt candidate for the Speakers-hip. While Sir •Maurice would undoubtedly adorn the position, it is .hy no m»ans clear that he would prove acceptable to the majority of the Council, in whose hands lies tho choice of Speaker. Many councillors, oven on tho CJovornniont Hide, who would resist the ■highest honour in their gift: lueing given <o a new member, no mailer how groat his ipialifications might '!<o. To those who view the matter in this licrht, Iho ITon. (Jeorgo McLean, one of the oldest and mos't reaper Ikl menvlvers of Ihe Vpper Tlouw». would flK* more acceptable. Long service and experience of I,he Council's particular forma must count for something in determining tho Speakership, and a closo contest for tho position may bo anticipated.

THE FREEHOLD. Tho constant assertion that tho freehold is Bought bv all agriculturalists aivd that "llight of Furchnw" is tho solution thoy prefer of tho-dif-ficulty felt by men without capital

in taking up land is in accord with I the fooling; oi' the entire countryside. ' Proof litis been accumulated upon proof too long for any impartial mun in the towns to doubt it, iiulcnk he ailows himself to be misled and duceivod by jmri is'ati mis l 'statements. Of oil i pplicaUons received for 7 , .sections ballot fed for on Wednesday ( last in the Auckland Land Oflice, ( every one was for "right, of pur- , chase." the land having iftoen opened j liiiJer the optional system. That is u> su> . says the AucUland Herald, .'>2 applicants out oi -VJ elected to pi>\ rent based on per cent. iuie.e:i oi tiif: capitalised value of the In ml. with "rig-lit of purchase" add-. d. lather than the lower rent based fll 1 per cent, interest "without right of purchase." No cash had to .be paid ; the Crown is thoroughly protected in its rights; and the Board lias the usual control it exercises over leaseholders ; but under "right of purchase" the successful settlers could hope to work them,':ehes into the freehold and then to escape from the landlord system. The verdict of the applicants was unanimous. The more the leasehold system is understood and the more it rivets its fetters upon the hands of the fiirming class, the more determined settlers become to avoid it and to have done with it.

ON THE FOURTH PAGE. Political Addresses. Changing Governors. Iron-making in America. The Premier's Health.