Sir J. G. Ward.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7853, 20 June 1905, Page 3

Sir J. G. Ward.

SPEECH AT WINTON. • PROPOSED LEGISLATION. INCREASED GRANTS FOR ROADS (Per; Press Association.) WINTON, June. 19. Sir Joseph' . Ward • addressed a crowded meeting at Winton to-nigh.t, when ho received an exceedingly hearty ,welco"mo from an applicative audience, and a pote >of thanks and .confidence. After (Quoting, figures indicating- .the progjrrss of * the colony, the Minister pointed ou,t that the' I>and and,lncome Tax, had decreased from £4 Is fcer head in 1900 to £3 12s 5d last year, . and though- Customs taxation -had'increased 12» Id per head sinca 1896, 5s 7d of that was for .luxuries' ,H C paid a high tribute to Mr Reeves, High Coihmissioner. He said an arrangement had .been made whereby; the whole cost of mortgage? and accident indemnity will be borne liy the Advances* to Settlers Office, and' mortgagees - will not be called' upon to puv the pre. miums thereon falling due %n March 31 last. -

The Shops and 6niJcs Act should be remedied during thi* coining; session,. and V reasonably closing hours fixed.

Sir - Joseph promised to deal (later with some railway matters of fater-i est to the public. It bad been decided' to carry ground lime free, the same as ungrotad. He declared the State bad a duty to perform i n providing a superannuation scheme for the Civil Service, and thought tiw scheme could be|- divided including the Civil Service, public bodies, and employers, too, if they wished. There was Qvery chance of representations in regard' to the reduction of butter freights (being successful. He did not favour tho abolition of the Upper House or election toy the peo- ! pie. If any change was (made in tho i .Legislative Council it should be elect* ed by the House of Representatives. Sir Joseph took no exception to the formatit>n of an' Independent Labour Party, but thought the conditions of Workers, did not warrant it. Labour legislation was already advanced. He urged reciprocity in' trade with Australia, Canada, and .other countries where sound business arrangements could lie made. \s to railway construction, ho sounded a note of warning in regaW to pressure for new lines and binding members to insist upon each vote being expended within a year. Lines now in course o£ construction would receive" a very large sum this session, J 'and-tho North Island Main Trunk line should be regarded as the one line of the greatest national importanca. The Midland and Otago Central should also be carrtcll to a point of completion, and then otiher lines could be more vigorously proceeded with. The Orepuki-Waieu, line would also, receive consideration.

A larger programme, involving the expenditure oi £500,000, w a a foreshadowed for roading, suid larger provision would also lie made for, the extension of telephonic communication between the interior and the towns. , As the result of an interview with the Federal Postmaster-General he hoped the time was not far distant when wireless communication would be established with Australia.. He would submit a scheme to Cabinet.

Matters to be dealt with this session would include the development of motive power from rivers, classiiicat on of the Civil Service, increase of teachers' Salaries, settlement <J native iands, encouragement of scientifiq prospecting for gold, tree planting, irrigation, a superannuation scheme for teachers and Civil Servants, and the opening up of fresh markets. His opinion was that unsettled nativp lands should be acquired at a fair vfilue and the money invested for the natives.. This would produce a larger income lor them tui'd promote settlement and production. As to the Vancouver mail service he was sorry to say that our proposal to give £20,000 jf steamers from Vancouver called at. New Zealand instead of Brisbane had not yet been accepted, .