The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27. THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 224, 27 October 1909, Page 2

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27. THE GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME.

There will be little fault found with the programme which the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) informed the lloure on Friday night he hoped to dispose of daring the present session. The Icugtny programme outlined ill the (lovernor s Speech has, metaphorically speaki.ig, had "the eyes picked out of it," and the more ui"ent policy measures, partL-u----latly those relating to local bodies' finance, land and defence, have been singled out for Parliamentary consideration. Fust place was given by Sir Joseph Ward in liU statement of business l« Mie Einance. Bill, designed to enable country settlers and the local bodies to obtain' cheap money. We have already I referred at length to this important do-

parture, arrangement* in connection w.lh nh'.cll the Premier was able to complete when in 1/mdon recently. A supply of •iiji.cv at a uniformly cheap rate is one o- the greatest boons that co,uld be conferred on local bodies, and in the course of time will result in the saving of many thousands of pounds annually in interest charges alone. The business will be under the control of the Advances to Settlers Ollice, and the functions of Vliw useful Department will be extended .» this direction as well asm the dmei.on ut further assisting settlers and worKcr, villi financial accommodation for thei.

needs If we mav judge from the unanimous approval with which the proposa, ha- been received by those whom Us operations will benelit, its passage through the House should be as smooth n. Unit promised the Settlement f.naucc Jiill, which Mr. Masscy inlormcd llv> Prime Minister the Opposition would assist in putting through. On a land re-sure it is somewhat remarkable to find both sides of the House working in such unusual harmony, but the explanation is not inexplicable when it is i.e n.cmbcvcd that the .land to be deal! with under the Hill does not refer to any of the Crown estates. Those whose opposition to the freehold applies only to tile undisposed of Crown lands can wlti perfect consistency support a measure tut tend- to the multiplying of s I holdings ihe be=t class of settlement nnv countrv can possess. It is the aim ui'lhe Hill to multiply small freenolds In- facilitating the subdivision of lie large oiies. Associations of five or more persons desiring to purchase a large area of land for division amongst their irembers will be enabled to do so on the mo-t favorable terms by the aid of a Cournmeiil guarantee to the full extent of iiie purchase money. The measure is oie of far-reaching importance, a.i.l wh.le it will probably release the Stale from the necessity of continual extensive purchase made by the Tamil for Set tlnienl Act. there is'no reason to think ihul the (iovcrnincnl's liability will he oilier than nominal, and that settlers will meet their obligations with less re

gul.irily mill promptitude than has been invariably the experience of the Land for Settlement Department. Next in importance the Prime Minister lias placed the Defence Mill, the provisions of which, so fur as the internal defence of the Dominion is concerned, are still known only to its sponsors —the Cabinet. The Ho xrnment's proposals with regard to naval defence are now well known, and Parliament will he asked to endorse the actions of Sir Joseph at the DefenceConference. The Defence Bill will also include proposals for the payment of the Dominion Dreadnought, which are believed to he in the direction of spread ing the payments over a term of years. The country is practically of one opinion regarding the naval defence scheme, and members will probably bp anxious to get it disposed of in order that they might oiiie more come to holds on the lan I laws, an -amendment of which is to be t.ihlcd by the Premier. So far no indication has been given of the nature ■of Ha, proposed amendment, and both haw-holders and freeholders will probably bo kept in excited suspense for another week or two. It is quite on the cards, however, that an attempt will b.' made to conciliate the representatives of both sides. The new Native Land Hill, upon the evolving of which the Native Minister has been engaged for some cor siilcrablc lime, should provide much material for discussion, but so long ,\s it v.akcs provision for means whereby the great areas' of idle land may b; brought into cultivation, by Maori' aed Eiuopean. it will be acclaimed throughout the North Island. The foregoing with important legislation dealing with liquet- in the King Country, comprise the main policy measures which the Prime Minister will endeavor to place on the Statute Book, and it is a programme W'l.irfi. if carried, will cause I li. second session of IfKIII to lie mi.cn bcrcd as one "f not achievement.