Government's Policy

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 197, 17 February 1912, Page 7

Government's Policy

OUTLINED IN GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. FAR-REACHING PROPOSALS.

By Telegraph —Memo. Wellington, Yesterday. Tn the House of Representatives this afternoon the Governor's Speech was delivered as follows:

Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the Houße

of Representatives—

The circumstances which have arisen in consequence of the last general election have, in the opinion of my advisers, made it expedient that Parliament should be called together at an earlier date than usual. During the recess I have visited various parts of the Dominion and made myself better acquainted with the people. " I am glad to. be able to congratulate you upon the continued prosperity of the country. The outlook is most promising, and contentment and happiness obtain everywhere. LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

The very great and difficult question of revising our local government law has had the closest attention of my advisers, and a Bill will be introduced prodding a completely new and comprehensive scheme, under which, amongst other reforms, the finances of local bodies and the important question of the construction and maintenance of roads will be placed on a more stable and satisfactory footing. THE LEGISLATIVE CABINET.

This scheme will be made the basis for radical changes in the constitution of the Legislative Council, and a Bill to carry this into effect will be introduced. Under this measure a ptoportion of the members of the'Legislative Council will be elected by the members of the provincial councils to be created by the new Local Government Bill. A proportion will be elected by the members of the House of Representatives, and a certain number will be nominated by the Government. The Bill will be referred to the local public bodies for consideration and report. f , CLOSER SETTLEMENT.

My advisers consider that owing to the rapid disappearance of the last of unalienated Crown lands legislation must be passed providing for the more effective subdivision for closer settlement purposes of freehold estates of £25,000 unimproved value and upwards. To this end a Bill will be introduced giving the Crown power to take these estates cbmpulsorily at a price to be fixed by the Land Purchase 'Board. The Bill will provide that the land so resumed shall be sold to small settlers under a deferred payment system, and in the event of the proceeds exceeding the price paid to the owner for the land, such ex-' cess, with interest, will be paid to him, or should the price realised be less than the deficiency, will be deducted from the amount payable to the owner.

NATIVE LANDS,

In order to promote the speedier settlement of unoccupied native lands, my advisers deem it necessary to strengthen the staffing of the native land courts. and native land surveys. Provision will be made whereby surplus native lands shall be sold or leased on behalf of. the native owners through the Crown on the best terms obtainable. Such provision will operate concurrently with a vigorous prosecution of the purchase by the Crown of surplus native lands. In order that the areas reserved for the j use and occupation of the Maori owners J shall be effectively occupied by them, | special provision will be made under I proper safeguards to assist them financially and with advice and instruction in modern methods of farming. ' J AGGREGATION OF LAND. j More stringent provisions will be made to deal with the aggregation of landed estates in contravention of the law, and ! power will be given the Courts to forfeit j all land which has been in j breach of the law unless the Court is | fully satisfied that -the breach was unintentional. The existing scheme with regard to the limitation of area will be revised, and provision will be made for standards of living areas, based not merely upon the productiveness tut also upon the position, roading, etc., and all the main consideration affecting ,the areas in question. These standards jfrill be so fixed as to give an area which, properly worked, will provide on a safe average ample means of subsistence j for a man, his wife and family and sufficient margin for saving with a, view to independence. TRAFFICKING IN CROWN LEASES. Legislation will to prevent the present trafficking in Crown leases, and provision will be made that wh'ere a tenant sells his lease without satisfactory cause before a certain number, of years has expired a portion of the price he obtains for the goodwill of it will be taken by the State and the shorter the period the tenant retains his lease the larger the share the State will receive.

BUOYANT FINANCES. ■ Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives — My advisers will place before Parliament a statement of the finances of the Dominion, which, it is gratifying to know, are in a buoyant and satisfactory position. STIFFENING GRADUATED LAND

TAX. The graduated land tax will he adjusted and made more uniform, the rates being increased from the point of £30,000 unimproved value upwards, the main purpose of the new graduated land tax being to compel subdivision in order to insure closer settlement of the lands. An alteration in the method now applying to towns and cities will be submitted.

The land tax will also be revised and exemption for taxation purposes will "be | raised to £IOOO, so as to give further relief to farmers and occupiers of small holdings. TAXATION OF EARNED AND UNEARNED INCOMES. Legislation will also be introduced to distinguish for taxation purposes between earned and unearned incomes, so that earned incomes shall bear a smaller burden of taxation than those which are unearned. Also to reduce the tax payable by widows with limited incomes, and to distinguish between incomes of parents who are educating and maintaining a family, and those who have not such responsibility. INVESTIGATING SOCIAL CONDITIONS.

Honorable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House

of Representatives

My advisers fully recognise also that the increasing complexity of many social questions demands a competent and impartial investigation of the facts upon which these questions are based. It is prdposed to create a standing commission of industrial investigation, consisting of two representatives of the Labor unions and one each of the industrial, commercial and landed interests. This commission will enquire into any question affecting the cost of living, the existence of monopolies and other pressing social and industrial problems, including the question of unemployment and sickness, and after enquiry will report tnereon to Parliament. By this means my Ministers hope to provide the people as a whole with full and reliable information regard-

!ing the facts from which urgent social arid industrial questions are now arising, I' and also to furnish Parliament with the basis for necessary remedial legislation. DEALING WITH LABOR TROUBLES.

Improved legislation will be introduced dealing with the Labor troubles, which have recently arisen in New Zealand. In this connection my advisers propose to amend the present Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act in the direction of removing causes that lead to unnecessary friction between employers and employees. Under the proposed amendment the president of the Arbitration Court will not necessarily he a Supreme Court Judge or other lawyer, but, as has been found expedient in Canada, some practical and recognised authority in economic science.

PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL HARMONY.

My Government have had under careful consideration as a ' useful step towards industrial harmony the promotion of voluntary profit-sharing, with reasonable share for employees in the business in which they are employed in all suitable industrial enterprises by means of a new system of State-guarantee of capital required by the workers, on condition that workers and employers jointly indemnify the Sfate against loss. , . IMPROVING THE MIXTNG INDUSTRY.

The report of the Mines Commission has been received, which, together with evidence, will be duly-placed beiore you. My advisers will submit-important proposals for the benefit of those working in mines and for the improvement of this important industry.

ALTERATION OF ELECTORAL LAW.

Experience has shown that the present electoral law is not working satisfactorily, and that in practice many people entitled to vote are' disfranchised. Substantial changes in our electoral law will therefore be submitted for your consideration. REVISION OF CUSTOMS TARIFF, My advisers recognise that .the time has arrived for a complete revision of Customs tariff by experts and upon the scientific lines which have been adopted with such great success in Canada, Germany and other countries, with a view to a true protective system, encouraging suitable 1 local industries and enabling them to provide fuller employment and better wages for our people. In this connection, too, under the altered system of graduated tax upon land sufficient revenue will be obtained to warrant a reduction on tobacco and many articles in daily use required by small farmers, workerß and their wives and families.

RAILWAY CONCESSIONS,

(Further concessions will be made in railway passenger fares for children. Up to five years of age they will travel free,, and from five to fourteen years at quarter rates. This will give greater opportunities to those who can ill afford to pay to secure some change not only for health purposes but also for purposes of occupation and daily life. It is also proposed to revise railway freight rates with a view to the reduction of certain articles used by country settlers. RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council and Gentlemen of the House'of Representatives;

In order <to promote further opening up and development of the country, my Government will-continue to actively prosecute the making of railways; roads and bridges. HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY. ' , My advisers recognise that the health of the community is a national asset and should as far as possible be promoted and protected nationally. In furtherance of this object the principles of the existing system of trained nurses will be extended by providing medical attendance for all those who are not reasonably able to secure same, whether they be tho small farmer or worker or their wives o* children. Convalescent homes will also be established for mothers after maternity.

OLD AGE PENSIONS. Legislation dealing with' old age pensions will be submitted fixing the age for women at sixty years and for widows at 55 years without an restrictions as to children. Proposals for invalidity cases will also be placed* before you. A PUBLIC BUREAU OF JUSTICE.' It is proposed to establish a bureau of justice f by providing, at. the expense of the State iu all proper, cases legal assistance for the protection or .defence of a man's right 3 and liberty, where he has not the means of securing such assistance, a .'<'*'

DEALING WITH TRUSTS AND COMBINES.

Facts have come before my advisers which show that trusts and combines are operating to some extent in the Dominion, and as the existing legislation may prove insufficient to suppress the evil a BUI extending the present law. will be introduced. THE IRON INDUSTRY. - . ':•

The success which.has followed State enterprise in New Zealand' has induced my advisers to decide upon the national-1 isation of the iron industry by. providing cheaper material. The'iTori-wprking les-l tablishmehts that employ a largo number I of people will be able to greatly expanß"| their operations, and employment will;b«M found for a great number of workers- ion producing iron and steel from raw products.

THE OIL INDUSTRY. | If satisfactory arrangements cannptjbe made with regard to,the development! of the oilfields of the Dominion by private enterprise, or if any attempt is made Ito put it under thelcontrol of any trust .or combine, that industry will be nationalised as well. STATE COAL MINES FOR THE* NORTH.

Proposals will be submitted to establish a State coal mine and coal depots in the provincial district of Auckland! in order to give the inestimable advantage of cheaper coal to the pepple of that province. COTTAGE FARMS. My Ministers are satisfied that' it would be of great advantage to the 1 workers in the different centres if they were able to acquire cottage farms from the State sufficiently near their usual work to enable them to employ their spare time upon these farms in fruitgrowing, dairying, market gardening, or I other profitable purposes. The proposed system is based upon lines which have proved so successful in England and America and on the Continent of Europe.

AREAS 'FOR FRUIT GROWING; My, Government, as the results of practical experiments on poor, and what has hitherto been regarded as unproductive land, have decided to set aside areas for, disposal on easy terms for fruit growing 1 under co-operative associations and small holdings to individuals, and for this purpose will render reasonable financial assistance to enable the farm in the earlier stages to be profitably worked. CO-OPERATIVE GARDENS' BANKS. The legislation introduced last year for the creation and promotion of co-opera-tive gardens' banks will be proceeded with, but with more effective machinery than the Bill of last session contained. STATE NOTES. The Bill providing for a State note issue in New Zealand, which was before Parliament last year, will be re-intro-duced. THE RAILWAY DEPARTMENT. Anomalies exist in the first division of the Railway Department, and legj s i

1' tion will be submitted providing for a more equitable classification of the mem* W» of that branch of the service. -

I THE EDUCATION SYSTEM. My advisers hold that the ideal of [our education system should be to:make , it free from the primary school to the | university, and. proposals to give .'effect [to this will be submitted. SpeciaJ provision will also be made for the development of agricultural colleges and experimental farms to equip our present and future settlers with the best and most up-to-date scientific training. CONCLUSION. I feel confident you will give the, several matters I have brought under your notice, together with the measures that are to be submitted, your earnest and careful consideration, and I trust that your labors and decisions may, with God's blessing, result in materially promoting the prosperity, happiness, wellbeing and lasting benefit of the people' of New Zealand.