MINISTERIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 215, 30 January 1913, Page 8

MINISTERIAL.

SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER. MB. HERRIES ON NATIVE LAND. Per Press Association., Hastings, Last Night. The Prime Minister and Minister of I Railways received a number of deputations here 1 to-day"on local matters. Replying to a deputation of natives, Mr. Hemes said that it was proposed to amend the law in regard to native matters, but the alterations would be submitted to prominent natives before going before the House. He hoped to place both the Maori and the pakeha on the same footing. The only solution of the native land question was to give separate titles, or, if the land could not be subdivided into afeas which one man could cultivate, the titles should be given to' hapus or families. Instead of trying to separate the races they should try and unite them, but the Government Would have to retrace the steps of past Governments, whose native legislation had been in the wrong direction. He hoped to make titles easier and cheaper I next session. I A PRESENTATION.

In the evening addresses were given by the Prime Minister, the Hon. W. 11. Herries, Messrs. Campbell, Pearce and Buick, M.P.'s, Sir Wm. Russell and Mr. E: 11. Williams, the latter presenting Mr. Campbell with an illuminated address on N behalf of his constituents, and to murk their appreciation. With the exception of that of the Prime Minister, the addresses were of a complimentary nature to Mr. Campbell, THE LAND POLICY.

The Prime Minister, who was given a hearty reception by the crowded audience in the Theatre, recounted the work done last session, and claimed that as far as time permitted the Government had worked hard to redeem their pledges. Speaking of the land policy, he said that thoy had given thousands of settlers the' opportunity of becoming their own landlords. What they were doing for settlers in the country they intended also to do for workers in the townsprovide them with the means of owning their own homes. Hawkc's Bay had not been forgotten in the matter of land settlement, and more would have been done had they had the money. Referring to the comment in the Opposition press stating that some settlers in the south had got their land below its value, | he said that he had not received an I official report of the matter, but he iadded that even had a dozen men got land at less than its value it would not prevent the Government giving the settlors what they had been asking for for so long—the opportunity to make their holdings their own. THE CIVIL SERVICE. Regarding the civil service, he said that the Government had good men as commissioners, and in future civil servants' advancements and promotions would depend on their own ability, and

not on their friendship with members of Parliament. ELECTORAL REFORM. Regarding electoral reform, he said that both Houses were agreed to the principle that members who made the laws of the country should be elected by the people who have to obey the law? FINANCE. He regretted the financial commitments left as legacies by their predecessors. At the present time there were commitments amounting to £500,000 'outstanding. No one could find fault with the present financial position of the country. The revenue was never more flourishing, but the difficulty lay in obtaining loan money. Mr. Allen was now in London, and he believed he would be successful in his mission. He refuted the statements that the Government was pledged to stop borrowing. What they were pledged to do was to see that borrowed money was expended properly THE COUNTRY'S PROSPERITY.' The country was never more prosperous than it was at present, and he was confident that the bulk of the people had confidence, not only in the country but also in the present administration There were a few who did not believe l*Jv p ov ! , . rnm " nt - 1 "* instanced the Red Federations and the Brown Federations, and said that thev could afford to ignore them both. All thev wanted was sensible, industrious and loyal men on their side, and they had them Thev were going to do the best thev could lor the country, and whether their term was long or short that was a matter for the electors to decide. He hoped that when the time came for them (o [go out of office they would be leavin" the country ,n a much better condition than it was in when they came i, to power. ao