A CONSTRUCTIVE PLATFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 3, 22 May 1914, Page 4

A CONSTRUCTIVE PLATFORM.

• Mr. Fred Pirani, ex-member for Palmerston, is tho Government candidate for Wanganuij and delivered his first speodh there 011 Monday evening by way of reply to tllie Leader of the Opposition. Apart from his criticism of Sir Joseph Ward's speech and of the past administration of Libera] Governments, criticism which was caustic if not altogether conclusive, the constructive part of his speech was about as "meaty" aa lias been delivered by any Government candidate. Thiia is all the more surprising coming from one who, whilst in Parliament, was noted moro for his critical and destructive ability than for his administrative and constructive power. That he lias benefited by his enforced sojourn in the wilderness is shown by the progressive ideas which he now enunciates. Whether ifchoy will commend themselves to his political chiefs is another matter. Most of the reforms are real reforms, and for that reason may not be viewed in a favourable light. They go almost as far as the most ardent Liberal desires. Mr. Pirani set out by stating that he tad always been strongly in favour of an Elective' Executive and Upper House, and he favored a State Note Issue and reduction of borrowing abroad. In regard to the land question, he declared that there wa*

l)lenty of room for reform, although some of tho leading questions had already been settled by the Masscy Government. One of the most important reforms required was the abolition of gambling in connection with Crown lands by means of the ballot box, and the inauguration of a system of selection of applicants. The method he proposed was tliat any applicant should be allowed to register his name with the Land Office, and after inquiry had been made should, be placed upon the selection list in order of application. When

land was open for selection the board I should intimate the fact to the applicants iu order of application that they should exercise their option within a certain time, those not doing so to fall automatically to the bottom of fo» list. The system of compulsory »»- quisition of private land under Covert-

ment guarantee should be extended and perfected, and means taken to ensure that tihe provisions were more widely known. To prevent the aggregation of land unfairly, legislation should be passed blocking the granting of titles for more than a prescribed area of land at the Land Transfer Office. If the graduated tax already in existence was not sufficient to ensure subdivision of estates' it should be increased and provision embodied in the law to compel subdivision of large estates at the death of the present owner. Death duties should be altered so as to bear less hardly on the recipients of small legacies and provision made that when landed property was bequeathed hardship should not be inflicted upon the recipient by demanding the duty in cash when it was not advisable to dispose of the land. The development of roads and light railways should be pushed forward, and land should not be disposed of for settlement until proper means of access wora provided Mr. Pirani's views on other questions are equally progressive, and auah as any democrat might consistently and thoroughly support. Mr. Pirani is one of the most forceful speakers the Dominion possesses, and equipped as he is with a remarkable memory and keenness of perception, his chance of success against the present Labor member cannot be considered negligible.