HON. MR. MILLAR IN DUNEDIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 59, 5 June 1907, Page 2

HON. MR. MILLAR IN DUNEDIN.

(iI.'ICiSTRLX (IF IiXPEJiI.UEXTAJ. i'AK.MS.

l'er Press Association. Diniedin, June J

Spelling at (lie opening of tin* winler show [<i-dny, the lion. -I. A. Millar said the president had mentioned that the Agricultural Department had decided not to establish ail experimental farm in (lie Soulli island. In his (.Ml 1 Millar's) opinion, there must lie sonic misunderstanding 011 that, point. 11' he knew the mind of his colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, 011 the matter, it was that there ought to lie greater concentration in the matter of experimental farms, and I hat tlicy should licit be so widely distributed. lie li.ui not, however, understood that .Mr McXab was oji]ioscd to thw estahlishnieiit of an experimental farm ill the South Island, and had so decided. As far as he (Mr .Millar) was concerned, he would have something to say on the subject if he ascertained that the president's .statement of the position was a correct one (applause). lie was fully convinced of the great good that experimental farms were to the comniunilv. Such farms were established

in Auckland and Wellington provinces, ;i lid It*' considered the system should lie continued in the South Island. The farmers of New Zealand, not of the Xortli Island only, lmd to compete against the markots of the world, mid it behoved us to do all that was possible to ensure our products being able to maintain their present high position. The Argentine was yearly pushing itself 'forward, and it was now only a matter of time when it would be our doughty competitor. ' Tie had only that day been informed by a friend that so groat was the progress being made in the Argentine, and so great was the effort that was being made to improve the quality of its output, that within a few years that country would send butter to the London market equal ill quality to that of New Zealand.

A POLICY SPEECH. Per Press Association. Dunedin, June 4.

The Hon. J. A. Millar addressed a meeting in the Princess Theatre to-night, dealing pretty fully with legislation paused last session and with regard to defence and arbitration. The Government, he said, had done everything possible to husband the colony's resources, and do something towards paying oil' the debt, and lie considered the recent surplus was' the result of good work. It was hoped, in the course of time, that the "dead" loan would be finally wiped right out. Reference was also made to the satisfactory increase in exports, imports and Customs returns, all showing the purchasing the power of the people was in 110 way reduced. The Government was lold that tho Land Hill was going to put them out, and Mr Massey had attempted to create the impression that the Government were attacking the freehold. There was not a line in the Bill attacking I lie freehold, except that of tho man holding over C 50 a OUU worth of unimproved value. The question was not tliaL ui' freehold v. leasehold, hut that of endowment or 110 endowment. Despile iiny statement made to the contrary, the aggregation of large estates was going 011. The reason for the outcry against the Bill was caused first, by excess of our assets over liabilities, as shown by the banking returns, and second, by tlie high price for wool, mutton and butter in the Old Country. Recent events showed defects in the Arbitration Act caused by the delay of the court to ileal with disputes. This delay must be avoided in future and he proposed to ask Parliament to authorise the creation of a Wages Hoard, instead of the present Conciliation Hoards, to deal with disputes as tliey arose. The court would remain, and the right of appeal to that body would .be granted under certain conditions. With regard to the cry that increase in wages had been swallowed up by increased cost ill living, he granted Unit, but asked where people would have been if (here had been 110 increase ill wages. He considered there was no justification for the rise in th" price of Hour, as there was none for a Melbourne firm being able to sell kauri cheaper than in Christchnreh. This wiiii the work of "rings."' lie recomnieniird of Commerce, and export duty to solve the difficulty. Tie intended bringing down improvements to the Workers' Compensation Act, and proposed ity-'HMsing the amount payable for death to CtiOO. So as to avoid unnecessary litigation, he would submit a schedule for the value oi' lost or injurec l limbs. Workers would then get greatei hen.'fits than under the existing Act, and while Here would be no inciease in tii" premiums, there would be a great suviug of legal expenses. lie wished to make himself quite clear as to the Saturday kill-holiday controversy, Ife hiif! been pracUc.'.llv forced to administer the liiv in this direction. It was his duly to do so, and lie would always endeavor to M'e ihe law carried onl as cjoM'ty as possible. t'niler the Shops and unices Ait, he intended to introduce legislation to deal with Chinese laundrv part n -I'-hips, which evaded the Act, and steps Would be taken to see that employees lit humifies were employees in fact.